ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Tusite Novema 28, 2017

Tautapa ki he‘ene meesi

( Appeal to His mercy )

Fehu‘i #19

‘Oku ‘i ai nai ha founga ‘oku malava ke tau hao ai mei he tauteá pea toe fakafoki kitautolu ki he hoifua ‘a e ‘Otuá ?

( Is there any way to escape punishment and be brought back into God's favor?)

‘Io, na‘e ‘osi fakakakato pe ‘e he ‘Otuá , ‘iate Ia pe, ‘a e ngaue ke fakafiemālie‘i ‘ene fakamaau totonú , ‘i he‘ene meesí  ‘ata‘atā pe, pea ne fai hotau fakaleleí  pea ne fakahaofi kitautolu mei he angahalá mo hono tauteá , ‘o fou ‘i he Fakamo‘uí .

( Yes, to satisfy his justice, God himself, out of mere mercy, reconciles us to himself and delivers us from sin and from the punishment for sin, by a Redeemer )

‘Aisea 53:10-11

Ka na‘e finangalo ‘a Sihova ke laiki ia; kuo ne tuku ke ne mahaki‘ia: Ka ke ka ‘atu hono laumālie ko e feilaulau-halaia, te ne sio ki hano hako, te ne fakalahi hono ngaahi ‘aho, pea ko e finangalo ‘o Sihova ‘e tu‘umālie ‘i hono nima. Te ne mamata ki he fua ‘o e mamahi ‘o hono laumālie, ‘o ne fiemālie: ko e me‘a ‘i he‘ene poto ‘e ngaohi ke angatonu ha tokolahi ‘e he‘eku Sevāniti faitotonu; pea te ne fafa ‘enau ngaahi hia.

ISAIAH 53:10-11

Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.

Commentary - MIKA EDMONDSON

The movie theater experience just isn't the same without the lights off. I learned this firsthand when, after the first thirty seconds of Star Wars: The Force Awakens accidentally played in a lit theater, three irritated guys stormed out and demanded that the staff turn the lights down. A dark backdrop contrasted against a light image adds volume and drama to the total experience.

We might say that the catechism is set up that way as well. God's just and righteous judgment against our sin provides the dark back drop against which the glory of the gospel shines through. After we've understood the depth of our calamity, we can better appreciate the true magnitude of God's rescue plan for us.