Sapate ‘Akosi 7, 2022

TREASURES OF DIVINE GRACE

KO E KOLOA ‘O E KELESI FAKA-LANGI

PHILIPPIANS 2:9

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

FILIPAI 2:9

Ko hono ō pē ia foki na‘e mātu‘aki hākeaki‘i ai ia ‘e he ‘Otua, mo ne foaki kiate ia ha hingoa ‘oku mā‘olunga ‘i he hingoa kotoa pē:

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

When our minds rise to a confident anticipation of righteousness, salvation, and glory, let us learn to turn them to Christ. We still lie under the power of death, but He, raised from the dead by heavenly power, has the dominion of life. We labor under the bondage of sin and, surrounded by endless vexations, are engaged in a hard warfare (1 Timothy 1:18). But He, sitting at the right hand of the Father, exercises the highest government in heaven and earth, and triumphs gloriously over the enemies whom He has subdued and vanquished. We lie here mean and despised; but to Him has been "given a name" (Philippians 2:9) which angels and men regard with reverence, and devils and wicked men with dread. We are pressed down here by the scantiness of all our comforts, but He has been appointed by the Father to be the sole Dispenser of all blessings.

For these reasons, we shall find our advantage in directing our views to Christ, that in Him, as in a mirror, we may see the glorious treasures of divine grace.

JOHN CALVIN

Ko e taimi ‘oku ake ai ‘i he’etau fakakaukau ‘a e ‘amanaki ki he ma’oni’oni, fakamo’ui mo e langilangi, tuku mu’a ke tataki ‘etau tokanga kia Kalaisi. ‘Oku tau kei nofo ‘i he malumalu ‘o e ivi ‘o mate, ka ko Ia, na’e fokotu’u mei he mate ‘e he mafai mei Langi, ‘oku ne aoniu ‘a e mo’ui. ‘Oku tau ngaue ‘i he ngaahi ha’iha’isia ‘a e angahala pea ‘akiloa kitautolu ‘e hotau ngaahi vaivaia’anga mo tau kau ki he milimilisino fakalaumalie malohi (1 Timote 1:18). Ka ko Ia, ‘oku ne ‘afio ‘i he To’omata’u ‘o e Tamai, ‘oku ne pule ki hevani mo mamani, he kuo ne ikuna’i kafakafa hono ngaahi fili. ‘Oku tau kei ‘i mamani, ko e koto vaivai mo e fehi’anekina; ka ko Ia, ‘e “foaki kiate Ia ha Huafa” (Filipai 2:9) ‘e punou ki ai ‘a e kau ‘angelo mo e tangata pea ‘e teteki ki ai ‘a e fanga tevolo mo e kau fai kovi. ‘Oku fetekeekina kitautolu ‘i heni ko e tulia ‘o e ngaahi me’a fakataimi, ka kuo fakanofo Ia ‘e he Tamai ko e Tokotaha ke ne tufa mai ‘a e ngaahi tapuaki kotoa pe. 

Ko e ‘uhinga ia, ‘oku kau lelei ai kiate kitautolu ke hu’u ‘etau tokanga kia Kalaisi, he ko Ia tokotaha pe, ‘o hange ko ha’atau mamata ki ha sio’ataa, te tau lava ai ke sio ki he naunau ‘o e ngaahi koloa ‘o e kelesi faka-Langi.

Tokonaki ‘Akosi 6, 2022 

A FOUNTAIN AND STREAM

KO E FAUNITENI MO E VAITAFE

JOHN 4:10

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

SIONE 4:10

Pea tali ‘e Sīsū ‘o ne me‘a ki ai, Ka ne ke ‘ilo ‘a e me‘a‘ofa ‘a e ‘Otua, pea ka ne ke ‘ilo pe ko hai ia ‘oku ne pehē atu, ‘Omi haku inu; pehē ko koe ne ke fai ‘a e kole kiate ia, pea kuo ne ‘atu ha vai mo‘ui.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

Faith occupies the position of a channel or conduit pipe. Grace is the fountain and the stream; faith is the aqueduct along which the flood of mercy flows down to refresh the thirsty sons of men. It is a great pity when the aqueduct is broken. It is a sad sight to see around Rome the many noble aqueducts which no longer convey water into the city, because the arches are broken and the marvelous structures are in ruins. The aqueduct must be kept entire to convey the current; and, even so, faith must be true and sound, leading right up to God and coming right down to ourselves, that it may become a serviceable channel of mercy to our souls.

Still, I again remind you that faith is only the channel or aqueduct, and not the fountainhead, and we must not look so much to it as to exalt it above the divine Source of all blessing, which lies in the grace of God.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Ko e Tui, ko e senolo pe ia, pe ko ha paipa fakatafe. Ko e KELESI, ko e fauniteni ia mo e vai. KO e tui, ko e fakatafenga vai ia ‘oku tafe hifo ai ‘a e meesi, ke fakaai ‘a e fieinua ‘a e fa’ahinga ‘o e tangata. Pea ko ha toki me’a fakamamahi, ka faifaiange kuo maumau ‘a e ngaahi tafengavai. ‘Oku pehee ‘a Loma ‘i he ngaahi ‘aho ni, na’e talanoa’i ‘a hono ngaahi tafenga vai ‘i ono’aho, ka ‘oku ‘ikai te nau toe fakatafe ha vai ki loto kolo he ‘aho ni, he kuo maumau ‘a e ngaahi langa talaa ko eni. Ko e tafenga vai, kuopau ke tauhi lelei mo tokanga’i ke lava hono fatongia. ‘I he founga tatau, ko ‘etau tui, kuopau ke tau tauhi mo tokanga’i ke mo’oni mo tonunga, ke lava ‘ene ngaue ko e tataki kitautolu ki he taloni ‘o e ‘Otua pea ke toe hifo foki kiate kitautolu; ko e me’angaue ke fakafou ai ‘a e ‘a e meesi ki hotau laumalier.

KO ia ai, ‘oku ou toe fakamanatu atu, ko e Tui, ko e tafenga vai pe ia, ‘o ‘ikai ko e fauniteni ia. ‘E ‘ikai te tau sio ki he tui ‘o hiki hake ia ke ma’olunga ange ‘i he ma’unga’anga ‘o e ngaahi tapuaki kotoa pe, ‘a ia  ko e KELESI pe ‘a e ‘Otua.

Falaite ‘Akosi 5, 2022

NOTHING BUT DIVINE GRACE

‘IKAI HA TOE ME’A, KO E KELESI PE ‘A E ‘OTUA

1 CORINTHIANS 12:4

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;

1 KOLINITO 12:4

Pea ko eni, ‘oku tufa kehekehe ‘a e ngaahi kelesi, ka ‘oku taha ai pē ‘a e Laumālie

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

What remains now for free will if all the good works which proceed from us are acknowledged to have been the gifts of the Spirit of God? Let godly readers weigh carefully the apostle's words. He does not say that we are assisted by God. He does not say that the will is prepared, and is then left to run by its own strength. He does not say that the power of choosing aright is bestowed upon us, and that we are afterwards left to make our own choice. Such is the idle talk in which those persons who do their utmost to undervalue the grace of God are accustomed to indulge.

But the apostle affirms that everything good in us is His creation, by which he means that the whole man is formed by His hand to be good. It is not the mere power of choosing aright, some indescribable kind of preparation, or even assistance, but the right will itself which is His workmanship; otherwise Paul's argument would have no force. Man is nothing but by divine grace.

JOHN CALVIN

Ko e ha leva ‘etau lau ki he tau’ataina ‘a e fili ‘a e tangataa, kapau ko e ngaahi ngaue lelei ‘oku tau fai, ko e ngaahi me’a’ofa pe ia ‘a e Laumalie ‘o e ‘Otua? Tau tuku ki he kau lotu mo’oni ‘oku nau lau ‘a e tohi ni ke tau sivi fakalelei ‘a e lea ‘oku fai ‘e he ‘aposetolo.  ‘Oku ‘ikai te ne pehee, ‘oku tokonia kitautolu ‘e he ‘Otua. ‘Oku ‘ikai te ne pehee, ‘oku teuteu’i ‘a e loto ‘o e tangata pea tuku atu ke ne fili ‘i hono ivi pe ‘o’ona. ‘Oku ‘ikai te ne pehee, ko e ivi ki he fili ‘oku tonu, kuo ‘omi ia kiate kitautolu, pea tau toki fili leva. Ko e ngaahi lea eni ‘oku anga ki ai kakai ‘oku nau tukuhifo ‘a e mahu’inga ‘o e kelesi ‘a e ‘Otua ka nau ‘asi hake.

Ka ‘oku fakamo’oni mai ‘a e ‘aposetolo, ko e me’a lelei kotoa pe ‘oku ‘iate kitautolu, ko ‘Ene fakatupu ia. ‘Io, ko e tangata, kuo ngaohi ia ‘e he to’ukupu ‘o e ‘Otua ke ne hoko ‘o lelei. ‘Oku ‘ikai ko e mafai ke te fili ‘o tonu, pe ko ha fa’ahinga teuteu makehe mo ha poupou; ka ko e loto kuo ‘osi tonu ‘o fakatatau ki he’ene fakatupu fo’ou kitautolu: ‘Io, ko hono aofangatuku, ko e tangata, ‘oku ‘ikai hano tu’unga, talunga mo e kelesi ‘a e ‘Otua.

Tu’apulelulu ‘Akosi 4, 2022 

A FEAST FOR OUR SOULS

KO E TEPILE MAHU MA’A HOTAU LAUMALIE

ROMANS 5:15

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.

LOMA 5:15

Ka ‘oku ‘ikai ke fai tatau ‘aupito ‘a e ‘omi kelesi mo e faihala. He kapau na‘e mate ‘a e tokolahi ‘i he fai hala ‘a e toko taha, huanoa ‘ene a‘usia ‘a e tokolahi, ‘o fu‘u hulu atu, ‘e he ‘ofa ‘a e ‘Otua, mo ‘ene me‘a‘ofa, ko e me‘a ‘i he ‘ofa ‘a e tangata ‘e toko taha ko Sīsū Kalaisi.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

It was of mere grace that God gave us His only begotten Son. The grace is great in proportion to the dignity and excellency of what is given: the gift was infinitely precious, because it was a person infinitely worthy, a person of infinite glory; and also because it was a person infinitely near and dear to God. The grace is great in proportion to the benefit we have given us in Him: the benefit is doubly infinite, in that in Him we have deliverance from an infinite, because an eternal, misery; and do also receive eternal joy and glory. The grace in bestowing this gift is great in proportion to our unworthiness to whom it is given; instead of deserving such a gift, we merited infinitely ill of God's hands. The grace is great according to the manner of giving, or in proportion to the humiliation and expense of the method and means by which way is made for our having of the gift.

JONATHAN EDWARDS

Ko ‘Ene kelesi pe, na’e foaki ai ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a Hono ‘Alo ma’a kitautolu. Ko e kelesi lahi ‘o taau mo e mafimafi mo e langilangi ‘o e koloa na’e foaki. Ko e me’a’ofa na’e ta’ehanotatau ‘a hono mahu’inga, he ko e foaki ‘e ha tokotaha ‘oku laulotaha hono mahu’inga, pea motu atu hono naunau’ia; ‘oku ta’engata ‘a hono langilangi; pea ko e pesona ‘oku pipiki ki he mafutefua ‘o e ‘Otua, he ko e pele ‘a e ‘Otua. ‘Oku lahi ‘a e kelesi ‘o taau mo e ngaahi tapuaki ‘oku tau ma’u ‘iate Ia: ko e ngaahi tapuaki ko eni, ‘oku ta’efakangatangata he ‘oku ne fakahaofi kitautolu mei ha popula mo ha mamahi ta’engata pea fetongi’aki ha fiefia mo ha langilangi ta’engata.

Ko e kelesi ‘o hono hilifaki ‘o e me’a’ofa ko eni, ‘oku mahulu atu ‘o fakatatau ki hotau tu’unga ta’etaau. Na’e ‘ikai ke tau tuha mo ha fu’u me’a’ofa pehee fau, ka ko ha mala ta’engata pe na’e tonu ke tau ma’u mei he to’ukupu ‘o e ‘Otua. Ko e kelesi ko eni, ‘oku lahi fau, ‘o fakatatau ki he founga na’e fou mei ai ‘a e foaki, pea ‘oku hohoa tatau mo e ‘aufuato ‘o e mahu’inga ‘o hono tuku mai ‘o e fu’u me’a’ofa ni.

Pulelulu ‘Akosi 3, 2022

NOT OF WORKS

‘IKAI KO HA NGAAHI NGAUE  

EPHESIANS 2:9

not of works, lest anyone should boast.

‘EFESO 2:9

na‘e ‘ikai tupu mei ha ngaahi ngāue, koe‘uhi ke ‘oua na‘a ai ha taha ‘e fa‘a pōlepole.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

Not of works. Instead of what [Paul] had said, that their salvation of grace, he now affirms, that “it is the gift of God." Instead of what he had said, "Not of yourselves," he now says, "Not of works." Hence we see that the apostle leaves nothing to men in procuring salvation. In these three phrases - not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works - he embraces the substance of his long argument in the epistles to the Romans and to the Galatians that righteousness comes to us from the mercy of God alone, is offered to us in Christ by the gospel, and is received by faith alone, without the merit of works.

This passage affords an easy refutation of the idle cavil by which papists attempt to evade the argument that we are justified without works. Paul, they tell us, is speaking about ceremonies. But the present question is not confined to one class of works. Nothing can be more clear than this. The whole righteousness of man, which consists in works-nay, the whole man, and everything that he can call his own-is set aside.

JOHN CALVIN

‘Ikai ko ha ngaue. ‘Oku tanaki ‘e Paula ha fakamaama ki he lea na’a ne fai kimu’a, ko e fakamo’ui ko e fou mei he kelesi, pea ‘oku ne fakamo’oni mai heni, “ko e me’a’ofa ia ‘a e ‘Otua.” Na’a ne pehee, “na’e ‘ikai meiate kimoutolu ia” pea ko eni ‘oku ne fakamahino mai, “ ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha ngaue.” ‘I he’ene pehee, ‘oku ‘ikai toe tuku ‘e he ‘aposetolo ha me’a ki he tangata ke ne fai ke ma’u ai hono fakamo’ui. Ko e kupu’i lea ko ‘e tolu; na’e ‘ikai meiate kimoutolu ia - ko e foaki mei he ‘Otua - na’e ‘ikai tupu mei ha ngaahi ngaue; ‘Oku nau hanga ‘o pukenima ‘a e uho ‘o e ngaahi fakamatala ‘a Paula ‘i he tohi Loma mo e tohi ki Kaletia; ko e ma’oni’oni ‘oku tau ma’u mei he ‘alo’ofa ‘ata’ataa pe ‘a e ‘Otua, pea ‘oku tau ma’u meia Kalaisi ‘i he Kosipeli, pea ‘oku ma’u pe ia ‘i he tui pe, ‘o ‘ikai kau ai ha ngaue. 

Ko e potutohi ko eni, ‘oku ne taa’i ‘a e lau ‘a e kau takilotu ‘i he kamata’angaa ‘o pehee, ‘oku ‘ikai lava ha fakatonuhia ta’e kau ki ai ha ngaue. Na’a nau pehe, ko e lau ia ‘a Paula ki he ngaahi ouau. Ka ko e fakamaama ‘oku tau lave ki ai, na’e ‘ikai ‘uhinga ia ki ha oua pe ‘e taha. ‘Oku ‘ikai ha toe faka’uli’ulilatai ‘i he mo’oni ko eni. Ko e kotoa ‘o e ma’oni’oni ‘a e tangata, ‘a ee ‘oku ma’u mei he ngaue - ‘a e minigimingi’i me’a ‘a e tangata - mo e me’a kotoa pe te ne lau ko ‘ene me’a - kuo li’aki kotoa ia heni.

Tusite ‘Akosi 2, 2022

GLAD TIDINGS OF GRACE

KO E TALANOA FUNGANI ‘O E KELESI

JOHN 15:16

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

SIONE 15:16

Na‘e ‘ikai ko kimoutolu na‘e fili au, ka ko au na‘a ku fili kimoutolu, pea na‘a ku fakanofo kimoutolu, ke mou ‘alu kimoutolu ‘o fua, pea ke nofo ma‘u homou fua; koe‘uhiā ke ‘ilonga ha me‘a te mou kole mei he Tamai ‘i hoku hingoa ke ne ‘atu ia.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe    

 

Unbounded goodness and love enter into the very essence of the Godhead. It is because “his mercy endureth forever” that men are not destroyed; because "his compassions fail not" that sinners are brought to Him and forgiven. Remember this, or you may fall into error by fixing your minds so much upon the faith which is the channel of salvation as to forget the grace which is the fountain and source even of faith itself.

Faith is the work of God's grace in us. No man can say that Jesus is the Christ but by the Holy Ghost. "No man cometh unto me," saith Jesus, "except the Father which hath sent me draw him." So that faith, which is coming to Christ, is the result of divine drawing. Grace is the first and last moving cause of salvation; and faith, essential as it is, is only an important part of the machinery which grace employs. We are saved "through faith," but salvation is "by grace." Sound forth those words as with the archangel's trumpet: "By grace are ye saved." What glad tidings for the undeserving!

CHARLES SPURGEON

Ko e lelei ta’efakangatangata mo e ‘ofa, ‘oku fetaiaki ‘i he uho ‘o e Tolu-taha’i-’Otua. Koe’uhi, ko e “tolonga ‘o ta’engata ‘a e ‘alo’ofa ‘a e ‘Otua,” ‘oku ‘ikai ai ke faka’auha ‘a e fa’ahinga ‘o e tangata; Pea koe‘uhi “‘oku ‘ikai ke ‘osi ‘ene fai faka‘atu‘i”, ‘oku ha’u ‘a e angahala kiate Ia ‘o ma’u fakamolemole. Manatu ma’u ki heni, ka ‘ikai te ke to ki he fehalaaki ‘o e nofo ho’o fakakaukau ‘i he lahi ho’o tui, ‘a ia ko e tafenga pe ia ‘o e fakamo’ui, pea ngalo ‘a e KELESI ko e fauniteni mo e tupu’anga ‘o e ma’u’anga tui

Ko e TUI, ko e ngaue ia ‘a e KELESI ‘a e ‘Otua ‘iate kitautolu. ‘Oku ‘ikai ha taha te ne lava ke fakamo’oni, ko Sisu ko Ia ‘a e Kalaisi, ka ‘i he Laumalie Ma’oni’oni pe. “Oku ‘ikai ha’u ha taha kiate Au,” ko e folofola ia ‘a Sisu, “ka ‘i hono tohoaki ia ‘e he Tamai na’a ne fekau mai au.” Ko ia ai, ko e TUI, ‘i he’ete ha’u kia Sisu, ko e ola (fua) ‘o e tohoaki ‘a e ‘Otua. Ko e KELESI, ko e kamata’anga mo e faka’osinga ‘o e ngaue ‘o e akamo’ui;  pea ko e TUI, neongo ‘a ‘ene tu’u lotoloto ‘i hono mahu’inga, ka ko e konga mahu’inga pe ia ‘o e misini ‘oku fakaivia ‘e he KELESI. ‘Oku fakahaofi kitautolu “ ‘i he TUI,” ka ko hotau fakamo’ui, ‘oku ma’u mei he KELESI. Fakaongo ‘a e lea ni, hange ko e talupite ‘a e ka’ate ‘angelo, “He ko e KELESI pe kuo mou mo’ui mei ai.” Ko ha toki tala fungani ki he kau ta’e’iloa mo ta’etaau!

Monite ‘Akosi 1, 2022 

AN INVALUABLE FREEDOM

KO E TAU’ATAINA MAHU’INGA FAU

EPHESIANS 1:7

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

‘EFESO 1:7

‘a ia, ‘i he‘etau ‘iate ia, ‘oku tau ma‘u ni ‘a e huhu‘i, ko e me‘a ‘i hono ta‘ata‘a, ko e fakamolemole ‘o ‘etau ngaahi angahala, ‘o fakatatau ki he mohu me‘a ‘o ‘ene kelesi.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe    

By His death He has restored us to favor with the Father, and therefore we ought always to direct our minds to the blood of Christ as the means by which we obtain divine grace. After mentioning that through the blood of Christ we obtain redemption, [Paul] immediately styles it "the forgiveness of sins" to intimate that we are redeemed because our sins are not imputed to us. Hence it follows that we obtain by free grace that righteousness by which we are accepted of God, and freed from the chains of the devil and of death.

The close connection which is here preserved, between our redemption itself and the manner in which it is obtained, deserves our notice; for so long as we remain exposed to the judgment of God, we are bound by miserable chains, and therefore our exemption from guilt becomes an invaluable freedom. According to the riches of His grace, He now returns to the efficient cause, the largeness of the divine kindness which has given Christ to us as our Redeemer.

JOHN CALVIN

Koe’uhi ko ‘Ene pekia, kuo fakalelei ai kitautolu mo e Tamai, pea ‘oku taau ke tau fakamama’u ki he ta’ata’a ‘o Kalaisi, ko e ma’u’anga ‘o ‘ene kelesi. ‘I he hili pe ‘ene pehee, kuo tau ma’u hotau huhu’i ‘i he ta’ata’a ‘o Kalaisi, ‘oku fakaha mai ‘e Paula, ko e kelesi ko eni, ko e “ fakamolemole angahala” he kuo totongi hotau mo’ua pea ‘oku ‘ikai toe lau ia kiate kitautolu. ‘Io, kuo tau ma’u ‘a e ma’oni’oni ko e kelesi tala’ofa, pea kuo tali ai kitautolu ‘e he ‘Otua, pea kuo vete ange hotau popula ki he ngaahi ha’i ‘aione ‘a e tevolo mo mate. 

Ko e fekau’aki vaofi ‘a hotau huhu’i mo e founga na’e fai’aki, ‘oku mahu’inga ke tau tokanga ki ai; lolotonga ko ia ‘etau nofo ‘i he malumalu ‘o e fakamaau ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘oku ma’u kii’i kitautolu ‘e ha ngaahi lopa uakamea, pea ko hotau faka’ataa mei he tu’ungfa halaiaa, ko ha tau’ataina matu’aki mahu’inga fau. Fakatatau ki he mohume’a ‘a ‘Ene kelesi, ‘oku Ne fakafoki ki he lava’anga fungani, ‘a e lahi faufaua ‘o ‘Ene ngaahi ‘alo’ofa, kuo foaki mai ai ‘a Kalaisi ma’a kitautolu ko hotau Huhu’i.