Pulelulu Novema 1, 2017

‘Oku tau ikuna ‘i he ‘Atama hono uá

( We are victorious through the second Adam )

Fehu‘i #14

Na‘e fakatupu kitautolu ‘e he ‘Otuá  ke tau ta‘emalava ‘a hono tauhi ‘ene lao? 

( Did God create us unable to keep his law? )

‘Ikai, ka koe‘uhí  ko e talangata‘a ‘a e ‘uluaki matu‘a, ‘Atama mo ‘Ivi, na‘e tō kotoa ‘a e fakatupu; ‘oku fanau‘i kotoa mai kitautolu ‘i he angahala mo e halaia, pea hinga mo hotau natulá ‘o ta‘emalava ai ke tau tauhi ‘a e lao ‘a e ‘Otua. 

( No, but because of the disobedience of our first parents, Adam and

Eve, all of creation is fallen; we are all born in sin and guilt, corrupt in our nature and unable to keep God's law )

Loma 5:12

Ko ia, ko e hoko ‘a e fakamo‘ui na‘e tatau mo e hoko ‘a e angahala ki māmani, ‘i he tangata pē taha; mo e hoko ‘a e mate ‘i he angahala; mo ‘ene a‘usia pehē ‘a e kakai kotoa pē ‘e he mate, koe‘uhi ne angahala kotoa pē.

ROMANS 5:12

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and

death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.

Tohi vete ‘a Tevita Pisikolove (hoko atu…)

‘I he taimi na‘e hinga ai ‘a ‘Atama ko hotau fakafofonga, na‘e popula ‘a hotau natula ki he angahala pea mole meiate kitautolu ‘a e loto ketau hohoi mo kumi ki he ‘Otua.  Ka ‘i he taimi na‘e hoko mai ai ‘a Sisu Kalaisi, ko e ‘Atama hono ua ia, ko e me‘a na‘e to ai ‘a ‘Atama, na‘e ikuna ia ‘e he ‘Atama hono ua.  Ko e ‘Atama ‘uluaki na‘e hokomai ia mo e mate ‘i he talangata‘a mo e siokita.  Ko e ‘Atama hono ua, ‘a Sisu Kalaisi, na‘e hokomai ia mo e mo‘ui fou ‘i he talangofua mo e feilaulau ‘i he kolosi. 

Commentary - David Bisgrove (cont…)

See, when Adam sinned as our representative, our nature became enslaved to sin so that we no longer want or seek God. But when Christ came, he was the second Adam, and where the first Adam failed, the second Adam succeeded. Where the first Adam brought death through his disobedience and selfishness, the second Adam, Jesus Christ, brought life through his obedience and sacrifice on the cross.

Lotu

‘E ‘Otua mohu meesi, ‘oku ‘ikai ha lelei ‘e taha ‘iate kimautolu ‘i homau natula tangata.  Ko e ngaahi foha kimautolu mo e ngaahi ‘ofefine ‘o e ‘uluaki ‘Atama pea ‘oku ma holi pe ki he ngaahi me‘a kuo ke tapu‘i.  Foaki mai ha natula fo‘ou fou ‘i he fanau‘i fo‘ou ‘ia Kalaisi, ko e ‘Atama hono ua, kae lava ai ke mau tauhi ho‘o lao ‘i he ivi ‘o e Laumalie Ma‘oni‘oni.  ‘Emeni.

Prayer

Merciful Lord, we are corrupt in our very natures. We are sons and daughters of the first Adam who desire what you forbid. Give us a new nature through new birth in Christ, the second Adam, that we might be able to keep your law in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Tusite ‘Okatopa 31, 2017

Fakamele‘i ‘e angahala

Corrupted by sin

Fehu‘i #14

Na‘e fakatupu kitautolu ‘e he ‘Otuá  ke tau ta‘emalava ‘a hono tauhi ‘ene lao? 

( Did God create us unable to keep his law? )

‘Ikai, ka koe‘uhí  ko e talangata‘a ‘a e ‘uluaki matu‘a, ‘Atama mo ‘Ivi, na‘e tō kotoa ‘a e fakatupu; ‘oku fanau‘i kotoa mai kitautolu ‘i he angahala mo e halaia, pea hinga mo hotau natulá ‘o ta‘emalava ai ke tau tauhi ‘a e lao ‘a e ‘Otua. 

( No, but because of the disobedience of our first parents, Adam and

Eve, all of creation is fallen; we are all born in sin and guilt, corrupt in our nature and unable to keep God's law )

Loma 5:12

Ko ia, ko e hoko ‘a e fakamo‘ui na‘e tatau mo e hoko ‘a e angahala ki māmani, ‘i he tangata pē taha; mo e hoko ‘a e mate ‘i he angahala; mo ‘ene a‘usia pehē ‘a e kakai kotoa pē ‘e he mate, koe‘uhi ne angahala kotoa pē.

ROMANS 5:12

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and

death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.

Tohi vete ‘a Tevita Pisikolove (hoko atu…)

‘Oku ‘ikai ‘uhinga eni ke pehe ‘oku ‘ikai ha lelei ‘i he tangata.  ‘Oku ngaohi kitautolu ‘i he ‘imisi ‘o e ‘Otua pea ‘oku tau kei malava pe ke fai ‘a e ngaue lelei mo faka‘ofo‘ofa.  Ka kuo hanga ‘e he angahala ‘o fakamele‘i ‘a hotau mafai ke ‘ofa mo talangofua ki he ‘Otua ‘aki ‘a e kotoa hotau loto, ivi, mo e ‘atamai.  Kuo uesia ‘e he angahala ‘a e tapa kotoa ‘o ‘etau mo‘ui, pea ‘i he taimi ‘oku fanau‘i ai kitautolu ‘i he angahala mo e halaia pea kuo mele ai pe hotau natula pea ta‘e malava ketau tauhi ‘a e lao ‘a e ‘Otua. 

Fakatātā:  Fakakaukau ki ha laione kuo halofia pea kuo tuku atu ha ongo peleti me‘akai ‘e ua ‘i mu‘a ‘iate ia – ko e peleti ‘e taha ko e kakano‘i manu kei ‘ota, ko e peleti ‘e taha ko ha vesitapolo.  ‘Oku malava ke fili ‘e he laione ha taha ‘i he ongo peleti, ka koe‘uhi ko hono natula, te ne fili pe ‘e ia ‘a e kakano‘i manu.

Commentary - David Bisgrove (cont…)

Now this doesn't mean that people are devoid of all goodness.

We're made in God's image and therefore we're still capable of doing good and beautiful things. But sin has corrupted our ability to love and obey God with our whole hearts, strength, and minds. Sin has infected every part of us, so that we're all born in sin and guilt, corrupt in our nature, and unable to keep God's law.

Consider one example. Imagine a hungry lion, and imagine putting two plates of food in front of him-one a plate of raw red meat, the other a plate of perfectly cooked string beans. The lion can choose either one, but because of his nature he's always going to choose the red meat. 

Monite ‘Okatopa 30, 2017

Hū ‘a angahala ‘o tō ai e tangatá

Sin enters like a virus and caused the fall of man

Fehu‘i #14

Na‘e fakatupu kitautolu ‘e he ‘Otuá  ke tau ta‘emalava ‘a hono tauhi ‘ene lao? 

( Did God create us unable to keep his law? )

‘Ikai, ka koe‘uhí  ko e talangata‘a ‘a e ‘uluaki matu‘a, ‘Atama mo ‘Ivi, na‘e tō kotoa ‘a e fakatupu; ‘oku fanau‘i kotoa mai kitautolu ‘i he angahala mo e halaia, pea hinga mo hotau natulá ‘o ta‘emalava ai ke tau tauhi ‘a e lao ‘a e ‘Otua. 

( No, but because of the disobedience of our first parents, Adam and

Eve, all of creation is fallen; we are all born in sin and guilt, corrupt in our nature and unable to keep God's law )

Loma 5:12

Ko ia, ko e hoko ‘a e fakamo‘ui na‘e tatau mo e hoko ‘a e angahala ki māmani, ‘i he tangata pē taha; mo e hoko ‘a e mate ‘i he angahala; mo ‘ene a‘usia pehē ‘a e kakai kotoa pē ‘e he mate, koe‘uhi ne angahala kotoa pē.

ROMANS 5:12

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and

death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.

Tohi vete ‘a Tevita Pisikolove (hoko atu…)

‘I he kamata‘angá, na‘e ma‘u ‘e ‘Ivi mo ‘Atama ha feohi mo e ‘Otuá na‘e makehe mo haohaoa.  Na‘e malava ke na ‘ofa mo talangofua haohaoa kiate Ia.  Ka na‘e a‘u ki ha tu‘unga kuo ‘ahi‘ahi‘i kinaua ‘e setane ‘aki ‘ene lohiaki‘i kinaua ‘o taku ‘oku ‘ikai lelei ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘oku ‘ikai falala‘anga, pea ko e tau‘ataina mo‘oní ‘oku ma‘u ia ‘i he‘ete mavahe mei he ‘Otuá mo ‘ene laó.  Ko ia ai ‘i he taimi na‘e tui ai ‘a ‘Atama pea ne muimui ‘i he loi ko eni, ‘oku talamai ‘e Paula ‘ia Loma 5, na‘e hū ‘a ‘angahala ki mamani ‘o hange ha hu ha vailasí ki he sino ‘o e tangata; na‘a ne kāpui kotoa ‘a e fa‘ahinga ‘o e tangatá mei he fo‘i momeniti ko iá ‘o a‘u mai ki he ‘aho ni.  Ko e ‘uhinga eni ‘oku ma‘u ai ‘e he longa‘i fanaú  talu mei he‘enau kei valevalé ‘a e loto siokita, ‘o nau tala ko e me‘a kotoa pe ko e me‘a ia ‘a nautolu (‘a‘aku).

Commentary - David Bisgrove (cont…)

So Adam and Eve had a perfect relationship with God. They were able to love and obey him perfectly. But then we're told that Satan tempted them wit a lie that God isn't good, that he can't be trusted, that real freedom is found apart from God and his law. And so when Adam believed and acted on that lie, Paul tells us in Romans 5, sin entered the world the way a virus enters the body, infecting all mankind from that time on. This is why from my earliest days, and my children's earliest days, and, in the future, their children's earliest days, we all say, “Mine."

Sapate ‘Okatopa 29, 2017

‘Oku ‘ikai toe hela ako‘i ‘a e angahalá

Sin comes naturally to us

Fehu‘i #14

Na‘e fakatupu kitautolu ‘e he ‘Otuá  ke tau ta‘emalava ‘a hono tauhi ‘ene lao? 

( Did God create us unable to keep his law? )

‘Ikai, ka koe‘uhí  ko e talangata‘a ‘a e ‘uluaki matu‘a, ‘Atama mo ‘Ivi, na‘e tō kotoa ‘a e fakatupu; ‘oku fanau‘i kotoa mai kitautolu ‘i he angahala mo e halaia, pea hinga mo hotau natulá ‘o ta‘emalava ai ke tau tauhi ‘a e lao ‘a e ‘Otua. 

( No, but because of the disobedience of our first parents, Adam and

Eve, all of creation is fallen; we are all born in sin and guilt, corrupt in our nature and unable to keep God's law )

Loma 5:12

Ko ia, ko e hoko ‘a e fakamo‘ui na‘e tatau mo e hoko ‘a e angahala ki māmani, ‘i he tangata pē taha; mo e hoko ‘a e mate ‘i he angahala; mo ‘ene a‘usia pehē ‘a e kakai kotoa pē ‘e he mate, koe‘uhi ne angahala kotoa pē.

ROMANS 5:12

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and

death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.

Tohi vete ‘a Tevita Pisikolove

Ko ‘ete hoko ko ha tamai pe fa‘eé, ‘oku te ma‘u ha faingamalie ke te mamata ai ki he tukunga ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e tangata.  Fakatātā; ko e matu‘a kotoa pe ‘oku nau fou ‘i he vaa‘ihala ‘o ‘enau feinga‘i ‘enau longa‘ifanaú ke nau lea faka‘apa‘apa, ke lea fakamolemole mo poto ‘i he fakamalo mo e fevahevahe‘aki.  Ka ‘oku ‘ikai toe hela ako‘i ‘a e siokitá  ia mo e kēe‘i ‘o ha me‘a va‘inga ‘a ha taha kehe. 

‘Oku ha‘u ‘a e ongo ko ‘eni mei fe?  ‘Oku tokoni ‘a e Tohitapu ke ne ‘omi ‘a e fakahinohino fekau‘aki mo e tu‘unga siokita ‘o e tangata.  Fakatokanga‘i, na‘e ngaohi ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a ‘Atama mo ‘Ivi ‘i hono ‘imisi.  ‘Oku ‘uhinga eni, ‘oku na fakae‘a mo fakaha atu ‘a e lelei ‘a e ‘Otua.  Na‘e fakamo‘oni‘i ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e tu‘unga lelei ‘o e tangata ‘i he taimi na‘a ne vakai ai ki he‘ene fakatupu, ‘o kau ai ‘a ‘Ivi mo ‘Atama, pea ne pehe “ ‘oku lelei ‘aupito.”

Commentary - David Bisgrove

Being a parent is a wide-open window into the human condition. For example, I'm constantly having to remind and encourage and cajole my young children to say "please" and "thank you" and to share. But I never have to encourage them to say "mine!" or to grab things that don't belong to them or to hoard toys from one another Now where does this self-centered impulse come from? The Bible is helpful here because it gives us a vocabulary to talk about why we seem to be born with this self-centered disposition. You see, we're told that when God created Adam and Eve, he created them in his image. That means, among other things, that they reflected his good ness. God affirmed their goodness when he looked at his creation, including Adam and Eve, and said, "It is very good."

Tokonaki ‘Okatopa 28, 2017

Angahala ‘a e tokotaha, afuhia kotoa

All were affected by the sin of one

Fehu‘i #14

Na‘e fakatupu kitautolu ‘e he ‘Otuá  ke tau ta‘emalava ‘a hono tauhi ‘ene lao? 

( Did God create us unable to keep his law? )

‘Ikai, ka koe‘uhí  ko e talangata‘a ‘a e ‘uluaki matu‘a, ‘Atama mo ‘Ivi, na‘e tō kotoa ‘a e fakatupu; ‘oku fanau‘i kotoa mai kitautolu ‘i he angahala mo e halaia, pea hinga mo hotau natulá ‘o ta‘emalava ai ke tau tauhi ‘a e lao ‘a e ‘Otua. 

( No, but because of the disobedience of our first parents, Adam and

Eve, all of creation is fallen; we are all born in sin and guilt, corrupt in our nature and unable to keep God's law )

Loma 5:12

Ko ia, ko e hoko ‘a e fakamo‘ui na‘e tatau mo e hoko ‘a e angahala ki māmani, ‘i he tangata pē taha; mo e hoko ‘a e mate ‘i he angahala; mo ‘ene a‘usia pehē ‘a e kakai kotoa pē ‘e he mate, koe‘uhi ne angahala kotoa pē.

ROMANS 5:12

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and

death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.

Tohi vete ‘a ‘Epalahame Pua (hoko atu…)

Ka ‘i he taimi tatau, ‘oku ou tui, na‘e ‘ikai fuoloa ‘a e tauhi ‘e he tangata ‘a e tu‘unga haohaoa mo fiefia ko eni; ka ‘i hono tukuange ia ke tau‘ataina ‘ene fili, na‘a ne maumau‘i ‘a e lao ‘a hono ‘Otua mo e Tu‘i.  Ko hono nunu‘a, na‘e to ‘a e tangata ki ha tu‘unga halaia, angahala mo e ‘auha.  Pea koe‘uhi ko e ‘ulu fakanatula ia mo e ‘ulu fakafonua ‘o e fa‘ahinga ‘o e tangata, na‘e afuhia kotoa ‘a hono hako a‘e muimui mai ‘i he angahala ‘a‘ana.  Ko ‘ene angahala na‘e to ia ke tuku fakaholo ‘o e to‘utangata ‘o mamani kotoa.  Kuo hoko leva ‘a e fa‘ahinga ‘o e tangata, ‘i honau natula angahala, ko e fanau ‘o e tautea; ‘oku nau ongongofua ki he kovi ka nau situ‘a mei he lelei; mate ‘i he angahala, pea nofo mala‘ia   ‘i he malumalu ‘o e lao haohaoa ‘a e ‘Otua.  ‘Oku ‘ikai ha ‘amanaki ki he he mo e fakapo‘uli ko eni, ka ko ha veteange ‘e fai ‘e Sisu Kalaisi ko e ‘Atama hono ua.

Commentary - ABRAHAM BOOTH (cont…)

On the same warrant, I believe, that man did not long continue in these holy and happy circumstances; but, being left to the freedom of his own will, he transgressed the law which his Maker and Sovereign had given him; in consequence of which he fell into a state of guilt, depravity, and ruin. And as he was not only the natural but federal head and representative of his unborn posterity, he sinning, all his offspring sinned in him and fell with him, the guilt of his first sin being imputed, and a corrupt nature derived, to all who descend from him by natural generation. Hence it is that all men are by nature the children of wrath; averse to all that is spiritually good, and prone to evil; dead in sin, under the curse of the righteous law and obnoxious to eternal vengeance. From which state of  complicated misery there is no deliverance but by Jesus Christ, the second Adam.

Falaite ‘Okatopa 27, 2017

Na‘e haohaoa pe tonu ‘a e fakatupu ‘a e ‘Otuá

God’s work in creation was well and good

Fehu‘i #14

Na‘e fakatupu kitautolu ‘e he ‘Otuá  ke tau ta‘emalava ‘a hono tauhi ‘ene lao? 

( Did God create us unable to keep his law? )

‘Ikai, ka koe‘uhí  ko e talangata‘a ‘a e ‘uluaki matu‘a, ‘Atama mo ‘Ivi, na‘e tō kotoa ‘a e fakatupu; ‘oku fanau‘i kotoa mai kitautolu ‘i he angahala mo e halaia, pea hinga mo hotau natulá ‘o ta‘emalava ai ke tau tauhi ‘a e lao ‘a e ‘Otua. 

( No, but because of the disobedience of our first parents, Adam and

Eve, all of creation is fallen; we are all born in sin and guilt, corrupt in our nature and unable to keep God's law )

Loma 5:12

Ko ia, ko e hoko ‘a e fakamo‘ui na‘e tatau mo e hoko ‘a e angahala ki māmani, ‘i he tangata pē taha; mo e hoko ‘a e mate ‘i he angahala; mo ‘ene a‘usia pehē ‘a e kakai kotoa pē ‘e he mate, koe‘uhi ne angahala kotoa pē.

ROMANS 5:12

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and

death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.

Tohi vete ‘a ‘Epalahame Pua

‘Oku ou tui, na‘e fakatupu ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e langi mo mamani mo e me‘a kotoa pe ‘oku ‘i ai.  Pea na‘a ne fakatupu ‘a e tangata ‘aki hono ivi mo e mafai faka‘Otua ke ne pule ki mamani.  Na‘a ne ngaohi ‘a e tangata ‘i hono ‘imisi pea ‘i hono tatau; angatonu, angama‘a mo ma‘oni‘oni; ‘o ne malava ke tauhi mo fakalangilangi‘i ‘a e ‘Otua ‘o e fakatupu.

Commentary - ABRAHAM BOOTH

I believe, that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, with all their numerous inhabitants. Last of all, and nobly conspicuous amongst the amazingly diversified productions of his almighty power and infinite skill .., he created man, and constituted him lord of this lower world. Male and female created he them, after his own image and in his own likeness: upright, innocent, and holy; capable of serving and glorifying their bountiful Creator

Tu‘apulelulu ‘Okatopa 26, 2017

Tautapa ki he‘ene meesi

Appeal to His mercy

Fehu‘i #13

‘Oku malava ‘e ha taha ke tauhi haohaoa ‘a e lao ‘a e ‘Otua?

( Can anyone keep the law of God perfectly? )

Mei he tō ‘a e tangatá, kuo te‘eki ke ‘i ai ha taha te ne lava ke tauhi haohaoa ‘a e lao ‘a e ‘Otua, ka ‘oku ne maumau‘i ma‘u pe ‘i he fakakaukau, lea, mo e ngaue. 

( Since the fall, no mere human has been able to keep the law of God perfectly, but consistently breaks it in thought, word, and deed)

Loma 3:10-12

10) Pea ‘oku hoa mo ia ‘a e me‘a kuo tohi, ‘Oku ‘ikai ‘aupito ha faitotonu; ‘Oku ‘ikai ‘aupito ha taha. 11) ‘Oku ‘ikai ha fai fakapotopoto, ‘Oku ‘ikai ha taha ‘oku kumi ki he ‘Otua. 12) Kuo nau afe kotoa pē; Kuo nau hoko ko e koto ‘auha kotoa pē: ‘Oku ‘ikai ha taha ‘oku angalelei, ‘Oku ‘ikai ‘aupito ha taha.

Roman 3:10-12

As it is written; None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good not even one.

Lotu

‘Otua tapuha, ka tuku kimautolu ki homau tu‘unga tangata, te mau maumau‘i ho‘o lao ‘i he faingamalie kotoa pe.  ‘Oku ‘ikai te mau toe tuli tonuhia, he ‘oku mau halaia ‘i he lotolotonga ‘o e taloni ‘o e fakamaau.  ‘Oku fakahalaia‘i kimautolu ‘e ho‘o lao pea ‘oku ne tu‘utu‘u ‘a e ngaahi feinga kehekehe ke mau tauhi ki ho‘o ma‘oni‘oni pea ‘oku ne tohoaki kimautolu ke mau hinga lafalafa ‘o fakamo‘oni ‘a ‘emau fiema‘u ha fakamo‘ui ke ne huhu‘i kimautolu.  ‘Emeni.

Prayer

Holy God, left to our own devices, we transgress your law at every

turn. We have no defense, but must plead guilty before your throne of judgment. Your law condemns us and cuts through our pretensions to righteousness, convincing us that we desperately need a Savior. Amen.

Pulelulu ‘Okatopa 25, 2017

Ko e tau‘ataina mo‘oní

True freedom

Fehu‘i #13

‘Oku malava ‘e ha taha ke tauhi haohaoa ‘a e lao ‘a e ‘Otua?

( Can anyone keep the law of God perfectly? )

Mei he tō ‘a e tangatá, kuo te‘eki ke ‘i ai ha taha te ne lava ke tauhi haohaoa ‘a e lao ‘a e ‘Otua, ka ‘oku ne maumau‘i ma‘u pe ‘i he fakakaukau, lea, mo e ngaue. 

( Since the fall, no mere human has been able to keep the law of God perfectly, but consistently breaks it in thought, word, and deed)

Loma 3:10-12

10) Pea ‘oku hoa mo ia ‘a e me‘a kuo tohi, ‘Oku ‘ikai ‘aupito ha faitotonu; ‘Oku ‘ikai ‘aupito ha taha. 11) ‘Oku ‘ikai ha fai fakapotopoto, ‘Oku ‘ikai ha taha ‘oku kumi ki he ‘Otua. 12) Kuo nau afe kotoa pē; Kuo nau hoko ko e koto ‘auha kotoa pē: ‘Oku ‘ikai ha taha ‘oku angalelei, ‘Oku ‘ikai ‘aupito ha taha.

Roman 3:10-12

As it is written; None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good not even one.

Tohi vete ‘a Lio Sūsita (hoko atu…)

Na‘e folofola ‘a Sisu, “ka fakatau‘ataina koe ‘e he ‘Alo, te ke tau‘ataina mo‘oni” (Sione 8:36).  Pea neongo na‘a tau to ‘ia ‘Atama, ka kuo fokotu‘u kitautolu fakataha mo Kalaisi.  ‘Oku tau pau‘ia ko e ‘Otua na‘a ne fokotu‘u ‘a Sisu mei he pekia ‘oku ne ngaue ‘iate au pea ‘ikai te ne tukuange au kae‘oua ke ne fakaa‘u kitautolu ki he langilangi ta‘engata pea ‘e ‘ikai ke toe ‘i ai ha faingata‘a‘ia pe fefa‘uhi mo e angahala.  Te tau toki malava ketau talangofua kakato mo tau‘ataina ki he tokotaha na‘a ne ngaohi kitautolu mo huhu‘i kitautolu. 

Commentary - LEO SCHUSTER (cont…)

Jesus said, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed

" John 8:36). And though we fell in Adam, we have been raised with Christ. We're confident that the God who raised Jesus from the dead is lovingly at work in us and won't let us go until the day when he will bring us into his everlasting presence in glory where we will no longer struggle. There we will finally, fully, and freely obey the One who made us and redeemed us.

Tusite ‘Okatopa 24, 2017

Ko e puipuitu‘a ‘o e ongoongolelei

Backdrop to the good news

Fehu‘i #13

‘Oku malava ‘e ha taha ke tauhi haohaoa ‘a e lao ‘a e ‘Otua?

( Can anyone keep the law of God perfectly? )

Mei he tō ‘a e tangatá, kuo te‘eki ke ‘i ai ha taha te ne lava ke tauhi haohaoa ‘a e lao ‘a e ‘Otua, ka ‘oku ne maumau‘i ma‘u pe ‘i he fakakaukau, lea, mo e ngaue. 

( Since the fall, no mere human has been able to keep the law of God perfectly, but consistently breaks it in thought, word, and deed)

Loma 3:10-12

10) Pea ‘oku hoa mo ia ‘a e me‘a kuo tohi, ‘Oku ‘ikai ‘aupito ha faitotonu; ‘Oku ‘ikai ‘aupito ha taha. 11) ‘Oku ‘ikai ha fai fakapotopoto, ‘Oku ‘ikai ha taha ‘oku kumi ki he ‘Otua. 12) Kuo nau afe kotoa pē; Kuo nau hoko ko e koto ‘auha kotoa pē: ‘Oku ‘ikai ha taha ‘oku angalelei, ‘Oku ‘ikai ‘aupito ha taha.

Roman 3:10-12

As it is written; None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good not even one.

Tohi vete ‘a Le‘o Sūsita (hoko atu…)

Ko e tu‘unga fakaloloma eni ketau fakakaukau loto atu ki ai, ka ‘oku ‘ikai ko e aofangatuku ia ‘o e tala ‘o e tangata; ko e kamata pe ia.  Ko e ongoongo fakaloloma ‘eni ‘oku hoko ko e puipuitu‘a ‘o e ongoongo fakafiefia mo lelei ‘o e kosipeli, ‘a ee ‘oku ne ‘omi ‘a e mo‘ui mo e ‘amanaki.  Neongo ‘oku ‘ikai ketau lava ke tauhi haohaoa ‘a e lao ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘oku ‘i ai ha tokotaha na‘a ne tauhi haohaoa ‘a e lao ko ‘eni ma‘a kitautolu.  Na‘e fai tonunga ‘e Sisu ‘ene talangofua ki he‘ene tamai, ‘o a‘u pe ki he‘ene pekia he kolosi, koe‘uhi ke lava ‘e kitautolu kuo tu‘u ‘etau falala ‘iate Ia tokotaha pe, ketau tu‘u ta‘e manavahe kuo to‘o ‘a e halaia pea fakatau‘ataina kitautolu ‘e he ivi ‘o e ha‘i ‘o e angahala pea kuo tau tau‘ataina.

Commentary - LEO SCHUSTER (cont…)

That's very discouraging, of course, to contemplate, but it's not

the end of the story; it's just the beginning. It's the bad news that

stands as the backdrop for the spectacularly good news of the gospel, which brings life and hope. Though we're unable to keep the law of God perfectly, there is One who kept the law perfectly for us. Jesus faithfully obeyed his Father, even to the point of death on the cross, so that we who trust alone in him might no longer live under the guilt, power, and bondage of sin but be set free.

Monite ‘Okatopa 23, 2017

Kuo motu hotau vā mo e ‘Otuá

Broken fellowship with God

Fehu‘i #13

‘Oku malava ‘e ha taha ke tauhi haohaoa ‘a e lao ‘a e ‘Otua?

( Can anyone keep the law of God perfectly? )

Mei he tō ‘a e tangatá, kuo te‘eki ke ‘i ai ha taha te ne lava ke tauhi haohaoa ‘a e lao ‘a e ‘Otua, ka ‘oku ne maumau‘i ma‘u pe ‘i he fakakaukau, lea, mo e ngaue. 

( Since the fall, no mere human has been able to keep the law of God perfectly, but consistently breaks it in thought, word, and deed)

Loma 3:10-12

10) Pea ‘oku hoa mo ia ‘a e me‘a kuo tohi, ‘Oku ‘ikai ‘aupito ha faitotonu; ‘Oku ‘ikai ‘aupito ha taha. 11) ‘Oku ‘ikai ha fai fakapotopoto, ‘Oku ‘ikai ha taha ‘oku kumi ki he ‘Otua. 12) Kuo nau afe kotoa pē; Kuo nau hoko ko e koto ‘auha kotoa pē: ‘Oku ‘ikai ha taha ‘oku angalelei, ‘Oku ‘ikai ‘aupito ha taha.

Roman 3:10-12

As it is written; None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good not even one.

Tohi vete ‘a Le‘o Sūsita (hoko atu…)

‘Oku angafefe ‘a hono uesia kitautolu ‘i he ‘aho ni?  Koe‘uhi ko e to ‘a e ‘uluaki matu‘a, ‘oku ‘ikai ketau faingata‘a‘ia fakalaumalie pe ka ‘oku tau matu‘aki motu mei he tefito.  ‘Oku ‘ikai ketau vaivai pe ; ‘oku tau matu‘aki hala pe ‘i he ivi ke talangofua ki he ngaahi lao ‘a e ‘Otua mo fakalangilangi‘i Ia.  Kuo tau motu mei he ‘Otua na‘a ne fakatupu kitautolu, mei he fa‘ahinga ‘o e tangata, pea mei he kotoa ‘o e fakatupu.  ‘I hotau tu‘unga mate fakalaumalie ko eni, ‘oku ta‘emalava ke tau talangofua ki he lao ‘a e ‘Otua ‘o ‘ikai ‘i he ngaue pe mo e lea, ka ‘oku kau ai pe mo ‘etau fakakaukau, mo e faliunga kehekehe hotau loto.  ‘Oku talamai ‘e Selemaia, “ko e loto ‘o e tangata ko e me‘a kaka pea hilio ‘i hono kovi” (Selemaia 17:19).  Ko ia ai ‘oku tau tu‘u ko e halaia pea mo e muli ‘i he ‘ao ‘o e ‘Otua Ma‘oni‘oni ‘o Langi mo mamani.

Commentary - LEO SCHUSTER (cont…)

How does it affect us today? As a result of the fall we're not just

spiritually impaired but incapacitated. We're not just weak; we have no innate power to obey God's law and glorify him. We're estranged from our Creator, from one another, and from the rest of creation. In this spiritually disabled condition, we're unable to obey God's law not only in our actions and words, but even in our thoughts, attitudes, and motivations. As the prophet Jeremiah put it, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it (17:19). And so we stand alienated and guilty before the holy God of heaven and earth.

Sapate ‘Okatopa 22, 2017

Fakatupu kuo maumau

Broken creation

Fehu‘i #13

‘Oku malava ‘e ha taha ke tauhi haohaoa ‘a e lao ‘a e ‘Otua?

( Can anyone keep the law of God perfectly? )

Mei he tō ‘a e tangatá, kuo te‘eki ke ‘i ai ha taha te ne lava ke tauhi haohaoa ‘a e lao ‘a e ‘Otua, ka ‘oku ne maumau‘i ma‘u pe ‘i he fakakaukau, lea, mo e ngaue. 

( Since the fall, no mere human has been able to keep the law of God perfectly, but consistently breaks it in thought, word, and deed)

Loma 3:10-12

10) Pea ‘oku hoa mo ia ‘a e me‘a kuo tohi, ‘Oku ‘ikai ‘aupito ha faitotonu; ‘Oku ‘ikai ‘aupito ha taha. 11) ‘Oku ‘ikai ha fai fakapotopoto, ‘Oku ‘ikai ha taha ‘oku kumi ki he ‘Otua. 12) Kuo nau afe kotoa pē; Kuo nau hoko ko e koto ‘auha kotoa pē: ‘Oku ‘ikai ha taha ‘oku angalelei, ‘Oku ‘ikai ‘aupito ha taha.

Roman 3:10-12

As it is written; None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good not even one.

Tohi vete ‘a Le‘o Sūsita

Na‘e fakatupu kitautolu ‘e he ‘Otua ketau ‘ofa, fiefia, fakalangilangi, mo talangofua kiate ia, pea ‘i he‘etau fai pehe, ketau tupulaki ‘i hotau tu‘unga ko e tangata mo e fefine.  Ka ko e ha nai e ‘uhinga ‘oku faingata‘a fau ai ‘etau fai ‘a e ngaahi me‘a ko ‘eni?  ‘Oku tau tatau pe mo ha misini pelepelengesi mo fihifihi ka kuo maumau, ‘oku ‘ikai ke tau kei ngaue ‘o fakatatau ki he tukunga na‘e ngaohi kitautolu ki ai talu ‘a e to ‘a e ‘uluaki ongomatu‘a.  Ko e ha nai ‘a e to pe ko e hinga ko ‘eni?  Na‘e ngaohi ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e tangata ‘o fokotu‘u kiate ia ‘a e mafai ke ne lava ke tauhi haohaoa ‘a e lao, ka na‘e mole ‘a e tu‘unga ko ‘eni ‘i he taimi na‘e angatu‘u ai ‘a e ‘uluaki tangata, ‘Atama, ‘i he‘ene talangata‘a ki he ‘Otua.  Na‘e to ‘a e tangata ki he angahala pea na‘a ne fakahinga kotoa kitautolu fakataha mo ia.  ‘Oku fakamatala‘i ‘e he Tohitapu ‘a e tu‘unga ko eni ‘i ha ngaahi founga kehekehe – angatu‘u fakalaumalie, ko e kui, ko e mahaki, ko e ha‘isia pea mo e mate. 

Commentary - LEO SCHUSTER

God created us to love, enjoy, glorify, and obey him, and in so doing flourish as human beings. Why then do we struggle so much to do that? Like an incredibly sophisticated piece of machinery that's broken, we don't operate the way we were designed to because of the fall.

What's the fall? God created humans with the capacity to keep his law perfectly, but that was lost when the first human and representative of the human race, Adam, chose to rebel and disobey God. He fell into a condition of sin and dragged all of us with him. The Bible describes that condition in a variety of ways-spiritual rebellion, blindness illness, bondage, and death.