Kama Katika Adamu Wote Hufa

“Kwa hiyo, kama vile dhambi iliingia ulimwenguni kwa mtu mmoja, na kwa dhambi hiyo mauti; na hivyo mauti ikawafikia watu wote kwa sababu wote wamefanya dhambi” (Warumi 5:12). “Mtu mmoja” ambaye Mtume Paulo anamtaja ni mtu wa kwanza, Adamu. Aliumbwa mkamilifu; na alipotenda dhambi, alipoteza si ukamilifu wake tu, bali pia haki yake ya kupata uzima wa milele. Dhambi ya Adamu na hukumu ya kifo iliyotokana nayo ilipitishwa na kupitia kwa wazao wake wote. Kila mtu katika historia amekufa kwa sababu ya dhambi ya Adamu.

As In Adam All Die

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all have sinned” (Rom 5:12). The “one man” the Apostle Paul is mentioning is the first man, Adam. He was created perfect; and when he sinned, he lost not only his perfection, but also his right to everlasting life. Adam’s sin and the death penalty that resulted because of it were passed down to and through all his descendants. Everybody throughout history has died because of Adam’s sin.

Katika Kristo Wote Watahuishwa

“Kwa maana ikiwa kwa kosa la mtu mmoja mauti ilitawala kwa huyo mtu mmoja, si zaidi sana wale wanaopokea wingi wa neema na zawadi ya haki ya Mungu watatawala katika uzima kwa huyo mtu mmoja, Yesu Kristo. Basi, kama vile kosa moja lilivyotokeza hukumu kwa watu wote, vivyo hivyo matokeo ya tendo moja la haki yalikuwa kuhesabiwa haki kwa uzima kwa watu wote” (Rum. 5:17,18). “Kwa maana kama vile katika Adamu wote wanakufa, vivyo hivyo katika Kristo wote watahuishwa” (1Kor. 15:22). 

In Christ Shall All Be Made Alive

“For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men” (Rom. 5:17,18). “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22). 

Tunakuomba utambue mambo mawili yanayopingana ambayo yanatofautishwa katika maandiko haya: MAUTI kupitia kwa Adamu, na UZIMA kupitia Yesu Kristo. Utapata tofauti hizi mbili kuu zikitofautishwa katika Biblia nzima. Kifo ni adhabu ambayo imepitishwa kutoka kwa Adamu tangu alipotenda dhambi kwa kutotii na kupoteza makao yake katika Edeni. Kristo, hata hivyo, baada ya kushinda kifo, sasa anatupa uzima wa milele. Kila mtu ambaye ameishi na kufa tangu Adamu amekufa kwa sababu ya dhambi ya Adamu; lakini maneno haya ya Mtume Paulo yanatoa tumaini la kweli kwa wanadamu wote. Kwa sababu ya Yesu Kristo na dhabihu Yake, tumaini la uzima wa milele limetolewa kwa wote. “Basi, kama kwa kosa moja hukumu ilikuja kwa watu wote kuwa na hukumu; vivyo hivyo kwa tendo moja la haki karama ilikuja kwa watu wote hata kuhesabiwa haki na uzima” ( Rum. 5:17, 18 - ASV).

We ask you to notice the two great opposites that are contrasted in these texts: DEATH through Adam, and LIFE through Jesus Christ. You will find these two great opposites contrasted throughout the Bible. Death is the penalty that has been passed down from Adam ever since he sinned through disobedience and lost his home in Eden. Christ, however, having conquered death, now offers us everlasting life. Everybody who has lived and died since Adam has died because of Adam’s sin; but these statements by the Apostle Paul truly offer a real hope for all mankind. Because of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice, the hope of everlasting life is given to all. “So then as through one trespass the judgment came unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness the free gift came unto all men to justification of life” (Rom. 5:17, 18 - ASV)

Fidia

“Kwa maana Mungu ni mmoja, na mpatanishi kati ya Mungu na wanadamu ni mmoja, Mwanadamu Kristo Yesu; ambaye alijitoa mwenyewe kuwa ukombozi kwa ajili ya wote, utakaoshuhudiwa kwa majira yake” (1 Tim. 2:5, 6). 

Ili kuielewa Biblia ipasavyo, ni lazima sio tu kusoma mistari yake, lazima pia tujue maana ya maneno yanayopatikana katika mistari hiyo. Tafadhali soma maandishi haya tena, na ufikirie juu ya maana ya maneno yote yanayopatikana ndani yake. Neno fidia linamaanisha nini kwako? Ni bei inayolingana (kulingana na konkodansi ya Young) ambayo lazima ilipwe kabla ya kile kilichopotea au kuchukuliwa kurejeshwa. Hebu fikiria kidogo maisha ya Bwana wetu, yaliyotolewa kama dhabihu, yalilingana na nini. Ilikuwa bei inayotakiwa na haki ya Mungu.

A Ransom

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Tim. 2:5, 6). 

In order to properly understand the Bible, we must not only read its verses, we must also know the meaning of the words found in the verses. Please read this text again, and think about the meaning of all the words found in it. What does the word ransom mean to you? It is a corresponding price (according to Young’s concordance) that must be paid before what was lost or taken away can be returned. Think for a moment what it was that our Lord’s life, offered as a sacrifice, corresponded to. It was the price required by God’s justice.

Huenda ukakumbuka kwamba baada ya Adamu na Hawa kutenda dhambi, hawakupoteza tu ukamilifu wao wa kibinadamu, bali pia walianza mchakato wa kufa mara moja kwa sababu ya dhambi yao. (Ona Mwa. 3:1-4, 6-7, 19, 23-24 .) Dhambi na adhabu yake ya kifo ilipitishwa katika vizazi vyote. (Ona Rum.5:12 & Eze.18:4.) Dhabihu za Israeli wa kale zilitumiwa "kufunika" dhambi za watu mwaka baada ya mwaka lakini hazikuondoa kabisa au kuondoa dhambi zao. Hiyo ilikuwa kwa sababu uhai wa wanyama haukuwa bei iliyohitajiwa ili kukomboa uhai mkamilifu wa kibinadamu wa Adamu ambao alipoteza katika Edeni. Sheria ya Mungu yenye haki ilihitaji kitu chenye thamani sawa na ukamilifu wa Adamu, ili kuondoa dhambi na kifo kutoka kwa wanadamu na kurudisha kile kilichopotea. Hivyo, mwanadamu mkamilifu tu, asiye na dhambi, ndiye angeweza kulipa bei hiyo kuwa dhabihu kwa ajili ya ukamilifu wa kibinadamu uliopotea katika Edeni. Fidia ilihitaji kulipwa (gharama inayolingana)—uhai mkamilifu wa kibinadamu kwa ajili ya uhai mkamilifu wa kibinadamu. Mwana wa Pekee wa Mungu aliacha utukufu aliokuwa nao kwa Baba; “Alijifanya kuwa hana utukufu” (Flp. 2:7 NRSV) utukufu wote na haki zote alizokuwa nazo kama kiumbe wa mbinguni ili kuwa mwanadamu. Kwa hiyo, alikuwa bei inayolingana na hiyo, na angeweza kutoa uhai Wake kuwa fidia kwa ajili ya kile ambacho Adamu alipoteza, si kwa ajili yake tu bali kwa ajili ya wote waliokuwa viunoni mwake. Maisha makamilifu ya kibinadamu ya Yesu, yaliyotolewa dhabihu kwenye Msalaba wa Kalvari, kwa hiyo yalikubalika kwa Mungu. Tunajua hili kwa sababu Baba alimfufua kutoka kwa wafu. Ambapo mwanadamu hapo awali alikuwa na kifo ndani ya Adamu, sasa ana uzima uliopanuliwa kwake katika Kristo. 

You may recall that after Adam and Eve sinned, they not only lost their human perfection, but they also began the dying process immediately because of their sin. (See Gen. 3:1-4, 6-7, 19, 23-24.) Sin and its penalty of death were passed down throughout all generations. (See Rom.5:12 & Ezek.18:4.) The sacrifices of ancient Israel were used to “cover” the sins of the people from year to year but never really took away or removed their sin. This was because the life of animals was not the price required to redeem the perfect human life of Adam that he lost in Eden. God’s just law required something of equal value to Adam’s perfection, in order to remove sin and death from humanity and bring back what was lost. Thus, only a perfect human being, free of sin, could pay the price as a sacrifice for the human perfection that was lost in Eden. A ransom needed to be paid (a price to correspond)--a perfect human life for a perfect human life. God’s Only Begotten Son left the glory He had with the Father; He “emptied himself” (Phil. 2:7 NRSV) of all the glory and the rights that belonged to Him as a heavenly being to became a man. He was, therefore, that corresponding price, and able to offer His life as a ransom for that which Adam had lost, not only for himself but for all in his loins. The perfect human life of Jesus, sacrificed on Calvary’s Cross, was therefore acceptable to God. We know this because the Father raised Him from the dead. Where mankind once had death in Adam, he now has life extended to him in Christ. 

Yesu, Fidia kwa Wote

Ni matumaini yetu kwamba umeona neno WOTE uliposoma 1 Tim. 2:5, 6 iliyotajwa mapema, na kwamba unatambua kwamba Yesu alijitoa mwenyewe kuwa “fidia kwa ajili ya wote.” Je, neno lote lina maana gani kwako? 

Jesus, a Ransom for All

It is our hope that you noticed the word ALL when you read 1 Tim. 2:5, 6 mentioned earlier, and that you realize Jesus did indeed give himself “a ransom for all.” What does the word all mean to you? 

Kuna ahadi nyingi za ajabu katika Biblia zinazotia ndani tumaini kwa watu wote wanaoishi sasa, pamoja na wale wote ambao wamewahi kuishi au watakaowahi kuishi kwenye sayari hii. Tukimwacha yeyote katika ahadi hizi, haiwezi kusemwa kwamba Yesu alikufa kwa ajili ya “wote.” Tayari tumenukuu Rum. 5:17, 18. Tafadhali fungua Biblia yako na usome tena mistari hiyo ili kuburudisha kumbukumbu lako. Ona jinsi wanavyotuambia kwamba wanadamu wote wamekuwa wakifa tangu Edeni kwa sababu ya dhambi iliyopitishwa katika vizazi vyote. Mstari wa 18 unasema, hata hivyo, kwamba kwa sababu ya dhabihu ya Kristo, “zawadi ya bure ilikuja juu ya watu wote kwa kuhesabiwa haki kwa uzima.” Inapaswa kuwa wazi kutokana na kauli hii kwamba kila mtu kila mahali lazima apate nafasi ya kumpokea Kristo kwa ajili ya wokovu wao. Mtume Paulo hakusema fursa hii ilitolewa kwa watu wanaoishi sasa hivi. Ahadi hiyo ilitolewa na Mungu mwenyewe na ni kwa ajili ya kila mzao wa Adamu aliyepata kuishi au atakayeishi hapa duniani.

There are many amazing promises in the Bible which include a hope for all the people now living, in addition to all who have ever lived or who will ever live on this planet. If we leave anyone out of these promises, it cannot be said that Jesus died for “all.” We have already quoted Rom. 5:17, 18. Please open your Bible and read those verses again to refresh your memory. Notice how they tell us that all mankind has been dying ever since Eden because of sin passed down through all generations. Verse 18 says, however, that because of Christ’s sacrifice, “the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” It should be clear from this statement that everybody everywhere must have the opportunity of accepting Christ for their salvation. The Apostle Paul did not say this opportunity was presented just to the people presently living. The promise was made by God himself and is for every descendant of Adam who ever lived or will live on this earth.

“....Msiogope; kwa kuwa mimi ninawaletea habari njema ya furaha kuu itakayokuwa kwa watu wote” (Luka 2:10). Ni nani waliojumuishwa katika “watu wote” waliotabiriwa na malaika wa Bwana katika mstari huu? Ikiwa kweli Yesu alikufa kuwa fidia kwa ajili ya wote, kama inavyosemwa wazi katika 1 Tim. 2:5-6, je, watu wote hawapaswi kuwa na fursa ya kushiriki katika furaha kuu ya maisha na kifo cha Bwana wetu kama Mwokozi wa wanadamu wote? Je, wao pia wasiwe na nafasi ya kufaidika nayo? Yohana Mbatizaji, mtangulizi wa Kristo, alisema, alipomwona Yesu akikaribia Mto Yordani, “...Tazama! Mwana-Kondoo wa Mungu, aichukuaye dhambi ya ulimwengu” (Yohana 1:29)! Ona jinsi Yohana alivyosema Yesu angeondoa, si kufunika tu dhambi za kila mtu. Maneno ya Yesu mwenyewe yalikuwa, “Lakini mimi, nitakapoinuliwa juu ya nchi, nitawavuta wote kwangu” (Yohana 12:32). Fikiria kwa muda jinsi ambavyo Yesu angeweza kuwavuta kila mtu, hata wale ambao walikuwa wamekufa kabla ya kusema maneno hayo. “Lakini twamwona Yesu, aliyefanywa mdogo punde kuliko malaika, sasa amevikwa taji ya utukufu na heshima, kwa sababu alikabiliwa na mauti, ili kwa neema ya Mungu aionje mauti kwa ajili ya kila mtu” (Waebrania 2:9).

“....Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (Luke 2:10). Who is included in the “all people” prophesied by the angel of the Lord in this verse? If Jesus did indeed die as a ransom for all, as clearly stated in 1 Tim. 2;5-6, shouldn’t all people have the opportunity of sharing in the great joy of our Lord’s life and death as Savior of all mankind? Should they not also have a chance to benefit from it? John the Baptist, forerunner of Christ, said, as he saw Jesus approaching the River Jordan, “...Behold! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)! Notice how John said Jesus would take away, not merely cover, everyone’s sin. Jesus own words were, “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself” (John 12:32). Think for a moment how it would be possible for Jesus to draw everyone, even those who had already died before he made that statement. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9).

“Maandiko yaliona tangu zamani ya kwamba Mungu atawahesabia haki Mataifa kwa imani, na yalitangaza Injili mapema kwa Ibrahimu: “Mataifa yote yatabarikiwa kupitia wewe” (Gal. 3:8). (Linganisha na Mwa.12:3 na 22:18.) Ona jinsi hata Wamataifa wanaweza kuhesabiwa haki kwa imani katika dhabihu ya Kristo! Yesu Kristo ndiye “uzao” wa kweli wa Abrahamu ambaye kupitia kwake mataifa yote yatabarikiwa (Gal. 3:16). Alionja mauti kwa ajili ya kila mtu na amezichukua dhambi za ulimwengu. Kufikia sasa, ni watu wachache sana ambao wamewahi kuishi wamefaidika na dhabihu ya Bwana wetu. Hata hivyo, ahadi za Mungu, kama zilivyoandikwa katika mistari iliyotangulia, siku moja zitatimizwa. Imeandikwa katika 1 Yohana 2:2 kwamba Yesu hakufa kwa ajili ya dhambi za Kanisa Lake tu, bali pia kwa ajili ya dhambi za ulimwengu wote.

“The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you” (Gal. 3:8). (Comp. to Gen.12:3 and 22:18.) Notice how even Gentiles can be justified by faith in Christ’s sacrifice! Jesus Christ is the true “seed” of Abraham through whom all nations will be blessed (Gal. 3:16). He tasted death for every man and has taken away the sins of the world. To date, very few people who have ever lived have benefited from our Lord’s sacrifice. Even so, God’s promises, as recorded in the preceding verses, will one day be carried out. It is recorded in 1 John 2:2 that Jesus did not die only for the sins of His Church, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Upendo wa Mungu kwa Wote

Mungu wetu si Mungu wa kikundi kimoja kidogo cha watu. Mungu wetu ni Mungu wa ulimwengu wote na Muumba wa kila mtu anayeishi juu yake. Wanadamu wote walipotea kwa njia ya dhambi na waliteseka na adhabu ileile ya kifo, bila kujali waliishi katika nchi gani au waliishi lini, au waliamini nani. Kwa hiyo, wanadamu wote lazima wapate fursa ya kuwa huru kutokana na dhambi na kifo.

God’s Love For All

Our God is not just the God of one small group of people. Our God is the God of the entire world and the Creator of everyone who lives on it. All humanity was lost through sin and suffered the same penalty of death, regardless of what country they lived in or when they lived, or who they believed in. Therefore, all humanity must have the opportunity to become free from sin and death. 

Mungu ni Upendo (1 Yoh. 4:8,16), na upendo wake unaenea kwa wote. Ana mpango ambapo kila mtu ambaye amewahi kuishi, wakati uliopita, wa sasa au wa wakati ujao atapata fursa ya kupata uzima wa milele. Tunapotambua ukubwa wa upendo wa Mungu kwa viumbe vyake vyote, tunapotea katika mshangao, upendo, na sifa! “Lo! Jinsi zilivyo kuu utajiri wa hekima na ujuzi wa Mungu! Jinsi zisivyotafutika hukumu zake, na njia zake hazitafutikani” (Rum. 11:33 - ASV)!

God is Love (1 Jn. 4:8,16), and His love extends to all. He has a plan whereby everyone who has ever lived, in the past, present or future will have the opportunity of gaining everlasting life. When we realize the magnitude of God’s love for all His creation, we are lost in wonder, love, and praise! “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past tracing out” (Rom. 11:33 - ASV)!

Mara nyingi sana, kauli mbiu ya watu katika dini mbalimbali hutamkwa hivi kishairi: “Mungu anibariki mimi na mke wangu, mwanangu John na mke wake, sisi wanne na si zaidi.” Asante Mungu kwa uhakikisho wake kwamba baraka zake zinazokuja hazitakuwa za wachache tu! Ndiyo, kwa hakika, neema na baraka za Mungu zitapita mipaka ya mataifa, dini, rangi, na wakati! Wataenea kila sehemu ya dunia kwa wakati Wake ufaao!

Far too often, the motto of people in various religions is poetically expressed like this: “God bless me and my wife, my son John and his wife, us four and no more.” Thank God for His assurance that His coming blessings will not be for just a few! Yes, indeed, God’s grace and blessings will exceed the boundaries of nations, religions, races, and time! They will spread to every part of the earth in His due time!

Faida ya Fidia kwa Kanisa

Yesu alitoa uhai wake mkamilifu si kwa ajili ya dhambi za Kanisa tu, bali pia kwa ajili ya dhambi za ulimwengu wote (1 Yohana 2:2). Lakini kila mmoja kwa mpangilio wake na wakati wake. Sio wote wanaoitwa kwa mwito wa juu na Mungu wakati huu wa sasa. Watu wa ulimwengu watapata fursa yao ya kubarikiwa kupitia kwa Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo na Kanisa Lake aminifu. Tunajua kwamba si mabilioni yote ya dunia wanaoishi sasa au ambao wamewahi kuishi wameitwa na Mungu kuelewa ujumbe wa kweli wa injili au kuonyeshwa njia ya ufuasi. Kwa kweli, katika historia, ni idadi ndogo tu ya watu wamesikia hata jina la Yesu Kristo, jina la PEKEE chini ya mbingu ambalo tunaweza kuokolewa kwalo (Matendo 4:12). “Kwa maana ahadi hiyo ni kwa ajili yenu, na kwa watoto wenu, na kwa wote walio mbali, na kwa wote watakaoitwa na Bwana Mungu wetu” (Matendo 2:39-39). Aya hii inadhihirisha jambo tunalolieleza. Bwana anafanya wito. Sio kila mtu sasa anaitwa.

Benefit of the Ransom to the Church

Jesus offered His perfect life not only for the sins of the Church, but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). But each in his own order and time. Not all are being called to a high-calling by God at this present time. The people of the world will have their opportunity of being blessed through our Lord Jesus Christ and His faithful Church. We know that not all of earth’s billions now living or who have ever lived have been called by God to understand the true gospel message or shown the road of discipleship. In fact, throughout history, only a small number of people have even heard the name of Jesus Christ, the ONLY name under heaven by which we might be saved (Acts 4:12). “For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him” (Acts 2:39 - ASV). This verse bears out the point we are making. The Lord is doing the calling. Not everyone is now being called.

Kanisa Lililoitwa

“Kanisa” limetafsiriwa kutoka kwa neno la Kigiriki ekklesia, linalomaanisha “wito,” au “wale walioitwa.” Kanisa linaundwa na washiriki wa mwili wa Kristo ambao wameitwa na Mungu kutoka katika ulimwengu. Paulo anasema kwamba wale walioitwa wanapaswa “kufananishwa na mfano wa Mwana mpendwa wa Mungu” ( Rum. 8:28, 29 ). Kulingana na 2 Petro 1:4 , washiriki binafsi wa Kanisa wameepuka uharibifu ulio duniani. Wale waliosalia ulimwenguni hawajaepuka uharibifu huu, bali ni wengi tu ambao Mungu amewaita na ambao wamekubali wito. 2 Kor. 4:4 inatuambia jinsi “mungu (Shetani) wa dunia hii amepofusha fikira zao wasioamini.” Wale ambao wameitwa na Mungu na ambao wamekubali wito, hata hivyo, wameangaziwa kuhusu ukweli wa Mungu kupitia Roho Wake Mtakatifu. 

A Called out Church

“Church” is translated from the Greek word ekklesia, which means “a calling out,” or “those called out.” The Church is composed of members of Christ’s body who have been called out of the world by God. Paul states that these called-out ones are to “be conformed to the image of God’s dear Son” (Rom. 8:28, 29). According to 2 Peter 1:4, individual members of the Church have escaped the corruption that is in the world. Those who remain in the world have not escaped this corruption, but only as many as God has called and who have accepted the call. 2 Cor. 4:4 tells us how “the god (Satan) of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not.” Those who have been called by God and who have accepted the call, however, have been enlightened regarding God’s truth through His Holy Spirit. 

Kuitwa Katika Tumaini Moja

"Kwa maana sisi sote tulibatizwa katika Roho mmoja kuwa mwili mmoja - ikiwa ni Wayahudi au Wagiriki, watumwa au watu huru - nasi sote tulipewa Roho huyo mmoja kunywa" (1 Kor. 12:13). Ndiyo, waamini Wayahudi na Wamataifa walishiriki katika tumaini moja ambalo Mungu anatuita. Tunasoma katika Kut. 19:4-6, Kum. 14:2, Kum. 26:18-19 na Zab. 135:4 jinsi Mungu alivyowaahidi Waisraeli wa kale kwamba ikiwa wangemtii, wangekuwa “mali yenye kuthaminiwa . . . ufalme wa makuhani na taifa takatifu.” Kwa kumkataa Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo, wengi wa Wayahudi walishindwa kupata ahadi hizi kutoka kwa Mungu.

Called In One Hope

“For we were all baptized with one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Cor. 12:13). Yes, both the Jewish and Gentile believers shared in the one and same hope in which God is calling us. We read in Ex. 19:4-6, Deut. 14:2, Deut. 26:18-19 and Psa. 135:4 how God promised ancient Israel that if they obeyed Him, they would become a “treasured possession . . . a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” By rejecting our Lord Jesus Christ, most of the Jews failed to acquire these promises from God.

Yesu alisema katika Mt. 21:43 kwamba baada ya Wayahudi kumkataa, ahadi ya Mungu kwao itatolewa kwa watu wa mataifa mengine. Katika Warumi 11:17 , Paulo alitoa picha ya wageuzwa-imani wasio Wayahudi kuwa “chipukizi la mzeituni mwitu” “linalopandikizwa” miongoni mwa Wayahudi waliokuwa wamebaki waaminifu. Watu hao wa Mataifa walichukua mahali pa “matawi yaliyovunjika,” Wayahudi waliokuwa wamemkataa Yesu. Watu wa Mataifa wanaopandikizwa ndani ya “mti” wa Waisraeli wanakuwa kama mti wenyewe, Waisraeli wa kweli wa kiroho katika maana kamili ya neno hilo. Ukiwa na hili akilini, fikiria andiko lifuatalo kutoka kwa 1 Petro 2:9, 10 ambalo liliandikiwa watu wa Mataifa: “Bali ninyi ni mzao mteule, ukuhani wa kifalme, taifa takatifu, watu wa milki ya Mungu, mpate kutangaza habari njema. sifa zake yeye aliyewaita mtoke gizani mkaingie katika nuru yake ya ajabu. zamani ninyi hamkuwa taifa, lakini sasa ninyi ni watu wa Mungu; wakati mmoja hamkuwa na rehema, lakini sasa mmepokea rehema. Ona ufanano wa vyeo waliopewa Mataifa na vyeo vilivyopewa Waisraeli wa kale hapo awali. Pia tafadhali angalia jinsi Petro alivyotumia neno linaloitwa katika kifungu hiki, akikumbuka kwamba neno kanisa linamaanisha "kuitwa." Ni Wayahudi walioitwa kwanza na Mungu; sasa Mataifa nao wanaitwa kutoka katika ulimwengu. Efe. 4:4 inatangaza kwamba kuna mwili mmoja na roho moja, na kwamba wale walioitwa wameitwa katika tumaini moja.

Jesus stated in Matt. 21:43 that after the Jews rejected Him, God’s promise to them would then be offered to the Gentiles. In Romans 11:17, Paul presented a picture of the Gentile converts as the “wild olive shoot” being “grafted in” among the Jews who had remained faithful. Those Gentiles replaced the “broken branches,” the Jews who had rejected Jesus. Gentiles who are grafted into the Israelite “tree” become as the tree itself, true spiritual Israelites in the full meaning of the word. With this in mind, consider the following text from 1 Peter 2:9, 10 which was written to the Gentiles: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” Notice the similarity of the titles given to the Gentiles with the titles previously given to ancient Israel. Also please notice how Peter used the word called in this text, keeping in mind that the word church means “called out.” It was the Jews who were first called out by God; now the Gentiles are also being called out of the world. Eph. 4:4 declares that there is one body and one spirit, and that those who are being called are called in one hope.

Kuitwa Kutawala Pamoja na Kristo

Je, unaanza kuelewa tumaini ambalo Kanisa linaitwa? Sio hatima ya Kanisa kwamba wanakuwa tu kundi lisilotenda la waumini, baada ya kuunganishwa na Kristo. Badala yake, kusudi lao la wakati ujao ni kuwa “ukuhani wa kifalme.” “Hamjui ya kuwa watakatifu watauhukumu ulimwengu? Na ikiwa mtauhukumu ulimwengu, je, hamwezi kuhukumu mambo madogo” ( 1Kor. 6:2 )? Je, unaona ukubwa wa ahadi ya Mungu kwa Kanisa katika mstari huu? Kutoka humo kutatoka kundi la ushindi la watakatifu -- waamini wa kweli, Wayahudi na Wamataifa, ambao siku moja pamoja na Yesu watahukumu ulimwengu wote kwa haki. “Yeye ashindaye, nitampa uwezo wa kuketi pamoja nami katika kiti changu cha enzi, kama vile mimi nilivyoshinda nikaketi pamoja na Baba yangu katika kiti chake cha enzi” (Ufu. 3:21). Yeye aketiye juu ya kiti cha enzi anatawala; hivi watakatifu waliotukuzwa watakuwa wanafanya baada ya kupata taji zao. “Yeye ashindaye na kuyafanya mapenzi yangu hata mwisho, nitampa mamlaka juu ya mataifa, naye atawachunga kwa fimbo ya enzi ya chuma; atawavunja-vunja kama vyombo vya udongo, kama vile mimi nilivyopokea mamlaka kutoka kwa Baba yangu” (Ufu. 2:26, ​​27). Tunaweza kuona hapa jinsi wao pia watakuwa na mamlaka na nguvu.

Called to Reign With Christ

Are you beginning to understand the hope in which the Church is called? It is not the destiny of the Church that they merely become an inactive group of believers, after they are joined with Christ. Rather, their future purpose is to be a “royal priesthood.” “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases” (1 Cor. 6:2)? Do you see the magnitude of God’s promise to the Church in this verse? From it will come the overcoming body of saints -- true believers, both Jew and Gentile, who will one day with Jesus judge the whole world in righteousness. “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne” (Rev. 3:21). One who sits on a throne is reigning; this the glorified saints will be doing after they obtain their crowns. “To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations--He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery -- just as I have received authority from my Father” (Rev. 2:26, 27). We can see here how they also will have authority and power.

“Umewafanya kuwa ufalme na makuhani wa kumtumikia Mungu wetu, nao wanamiliki juu ya nchi” (Ufu. 5:10). Maandiko haya yaliyotolewa katika 12 hadi 14 yanaonyesha kwa uwazi sana kazi ya wakati ujao ya wale wa Kanisa wanaofanya “wito na uteule wao kuwa hakika” (2 Pet. 1:10). Watakuwa “ufalme wa makuhani” ambao ‘watauhukumu ulimwengu,’ wakiwa na “mamlaka juu ya mataifa” na ‘watatawala juu ya dunia.

“You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth” (Rev. 5:10). These texts given in 12 through 14 show very clearly the future work of those of the Church who make their “calling and election sure” (2 Pet. 1:10). They will become “a kingdom of priests” who will “judge the world,” having “authority over the nations” and they will “reign on the earth.”

Katika Ufu. 7:4-8 , familia ya Mungu inayotawala inaonyeshwa kuwa inatoka katika makabila 12 ya Israeli. Tunakuwa Waisraeli wa kweli tunapomkubali Kristo Yesu kikamilifu na kumtii. “Na kama ninyi ni wa Kristo, basi, mmekuwa uzao wa Ibrahimu, na warithi sawasawa na ahadi” (Gal. 3:29). 1 Kor. 12:13 inazaa kurudia hapa: "Kwa maana sisi sote tulibatizwa katika Roho mmoja kuwa mwili mmoja - kwamba Wayahudi au Wagiriki, watumwa au watu huru - nasi sote tulipewa Roho huyo mmoja tunywe." Tumetoa picha tofauti sana ya kusudi la Mungu kwa watakatifu kuliko yale ambayo makanisa mengi yanaamini na kufundisha. Biblia inaonyesha wazi kwamba watakatifu watatawala pamoja na Mwana wa Mungu duniani kwa miaka l000 (Ufu. 20:6). Watu wengi sana hawajui hata kidogo watakuwa wanafanya nini ikiwa wamebahatika kwenda mbinguni, isipokuwa watakuwa pamoja na Yesu. Alichowaitia Mungu ni mengi zaidi! Ndiyo, mipango ambayo Mungu anayo kwa ajili ya Kanisa litakalounganishwa na Bwana wao inakaribia kueleweka! Ni matumaini yetu kwamba nanyi pia mtaongozwa na Roho Mtakatifu wa Mungu kuona ukweli uliobarikiwa tunaouthamini sana.

In Rev. 7:4-8, God’s ruling family is pictured as coming from the 12 tribes of Israel. We become true Israelites upon our full acceptance of Christ Jesus and obedience to Him. “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:29). 1 Cor. 12:13 bears repeating here: “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” We have presented a much different picture of what God’s purpose is for the saints than what most churches believe and teach. The Bible clearly shows that the saints will reign with God’s Son on earth for l000 years (Rev. 20:6). So many people have no idea at all what they will be doing if they are fortunate enough to go to heaven, except that they will be with Jesus. What God has called them for is so much more! Yes, the plans God has for the Church who will be united with their Lord are almost beyond comprehension! It is our hope that you also will be guided by God’s Holy Spirit to see the blessed truth we cherish so dearly.