God created humanity in His image to glorify and enjoy Him forever.[1] Though this powerful God is brimming with love[2], he is also righteous and incapable of overlooking sin.[3]
Adam and Eve rebelled against their Creator when they sought to be equal with Him.[4] Ever since, his creatures have been born in sin[5]–the disobeying of God’s commands in word,[6] thought,[7] or deed.[8] The penalty for these infractions is separation from God in everlasting hell.[9]
The good news is that Jesus Christ—both all God[10] and all man[11]—is the unsullied Lamb[12] that came into the world to save sinners.[13] In the great exchange, Jesus bore God’s wrath and the sins of the world on the cross[14] and at the same time gives His righteousness to all those who trust in Him.[15]
A Christian is someone who repents[16] and joyfully follows Jesus.[17] Because no good works can save,[18] sinners must believe in the death and resurrection of Christ alone.[19] This is the gospel.
(Xitsonga) Xikwembu xi tumbuluxile vanhu hi xifaniso xa xona ku xi dzunisa ni ku tiphina hi xona hi laha ku nga heriki. Loko Xikwembu xa matimba xi tele rirhandzu, na swona xi lulamile. A xi koti ku honisa xidyoho.
Adama na Eva va tlurile nawu wa Muvumbi loko va lavile ku ringana na yena. Ku sukela ka nkarhi wolowo, vanhu hinkwavo va tikume evudyoheni leswi nga ku tlula milawu ya Xikwembu hi marito, miehleketo na swiendlo. Xigwevo i ku hambanyisiwa na Xikwembu hi ku ya etiheleni leti nga heriki.
Mahungu lamanene hi leswaku Yesu Kriste—hinkwavo Xikwembu na munhu—i Xinyimpfana lexi nga riki na xisandzu lexi nga ta emisaveni ku ponisa vadyohi. Eku cincaneni lokukulu, Yesu u rhwale vukarhi bya Xikwembu na swidyoho swa hina exihamban’weni, hi nkarhi wo fana u nyiketile ku lulama ka yena eka hinkwavo lava n’wi tshembhaka.
Mukriste hi loyi a hundzukaka a landzela Yesu hi ku tsaka. A ku na mintirho leyinene leyi nga hi ponisaka, se hi pfumela erifuni ne ku pfukeni ka Yesu ntsena. Lawa i mahungu lamanene. Leyi i Evangeli.
[1] 1 Cor. 10:31.
[2] Ps. 36:7; Eph. 2:4; 1 Jn. 4:8-12, 16.
[3] Ps. 7:11; Rom. 1:17, 10:3; Phil. 3:9.
[4] Gen. 3:1-7.
[5] Rom. 3:23, 5:12; 1 Jn. 1:8-10.
[6] Prov. 7:21-23; Rom. 3:13-14; James 3:6.
[7] Gen. 6:5; Matt. 5:28.
[8] Ex. 20; Rom. 3:20.
[9] Rom. 6:23; James 1:15; Rev. 21:8.
[10] Jn. 1:1, 10:30; Tit. 2:13.
[11] Jn. 1:14; Phil. 2:5-8.
[12] John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:19.
[13] 1 Tim. 1:15; 1 Jn. 4:9-10
[14] Isaiah 53:4-10; Gal. 3:13; 1 Peter 3:18.
[15] Matt. 22:1-14; 2 Cor. 5:21.
[16] Luke 5:32; Acts 20:21; 2 Peter 3:9.
[17] Jn. 10:27.
[18] Rom. 3:28; Eph. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:5.
[19] Rom. 4:5; 1 Cor. 15:3-4.
Between Two Cultures 