Tu‘apulelulu Fepueli 1, 2018

Ko “Ia” ‘oku tu‘u ai ‘etau tuí ‘oku tau mo‘ui aí

(It is the object of faith that saves us)

Fehu‘i #29

‘Oku founga fēfē ‘etau ma‘u ‘a e fakamo‘uí ?

‘I he tui ‘ata‘atā pe kia Sisu Kalaisi mo ‘ene pekia ko hotau fetongi ‘i he kolosí, he neongo ‘etau halaia ‘i he‘etau talangata‘a ki he ‘Otuá pea tau kei malele pe ki he ngaahi kovi kotoa pe, ka kuo hanga ‘e he ‘Otuá, ‘o ‘ikai kau ki ai ha‘atau ngaue lelei, ‘i he‘ene kelesi haohaoá, ‘oku ne foaki kiate kitautolu ‘a e ma‘oni‘oni haohaoa ‘a Kalaisí ‘i he taimi ‘oku tau fakatomala ai mo tui falala kiate Ia.

How can we be saved?

Only by faith in Jesus Christ and in his substitutionary atoning death on the cross; so even though we are guilty of having disobeyed God and are still inclined to all evil, nevertheless, God, without any merit of our own but only by pure grace, imputes to us the perfect righteousness of Christ when we repent and believe in him.

‘EFESO 2:8-9

He ko e kelesi pē kuo mou mo‘ui mei ai, ko e me‘a ‘i ho‘omou tui; ‘io, na‘e ‘ikai meiate kimoutolu ia, ka ko e foaki mei he ‘Otua: na‘e ‘ikai tupu mei ha ngaahi ngāue, koe‘uhi ke ‘oua na‘a ai ha taha ‘e fa‘a pōlepole.

EPHESIANS 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Commentary - KEVIN DEYOUNG (cont…)

Many people will wax on and on about faith and belief and say “I'm a person of faith” or "You've got to have faith." But faith by itself doesn't mean anything. It is the object of faith that saves us. It's not being a person who has strong beliefs, who is sincere, or who has a mystical belief in spiritual things that saves us. It's faith in Jesus Christ. He's the object. It's the object of our faith that saves us. Faith is only an instrument. It's not the one good deed that God sees and says, "Well, you don't have much going for you, but you have faith, and I really like that." No. Faith is what joins us to Christ, and then he saves us. It's the object that matters.

Pulelulu Sanuali 31, 2018

Ko e TUÍ pe!

( its FAITH Alone!)

Fehu‘i #29

‘Oku founga fēfē ‘etau ma‘u ‘a e fakamo‘uí ?

‘I he tui ‘ata‘atā pe kia Sisu Kalaisi mo ‘ene pekia ko hotau fetongi ‘i he kolosí, he neongo ‘etau halaia ‘i he‘etau talangata‘a ki he ‘Otuá pea tau kei malele pe ki he ngaahi kovi kotoa pe, ka kuo hanga ‘e he ‘Otuá, ‘o ‘ikai kau ki ai ha‘atau ngaue lelei, ‘i he‘ene kelesi haohaoá, ‘oku ne foaki kiate kitautolu ‘a e ma‘oni‘oni haohaoa ‘a Kalaisí ‘i he taimi ‘oku tau fakatomala ai mo tui falala kiate Ia.

How can we be saved?

Only by faith in Jesus Christ and in his substitutionary atoning death on the cross; so even though we are guilty of having disobeyed God and are still inclined to all evil, nevertheless, God, without any merit of our own but only by pure grace, imputes to us the perfect righteousness of Christ when we repent and believe in him.

‘EFESO 2:8-9

He ko e kelesi pē kuo mou mo‘ui mei ai, ko e me‘a ‘i ho‘omou tui; ‘io, na‘e ‘ikai meiate kimoutolu ia, ka ko e foaki mei he ‘Otua: na‘e ‘ikai tupu mei ha ngaahi ngāue, koe‘uhi ke ‘oua na‘a ai ha taha ‘e fa‘a pōlepole.

EPHESIANS 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Commentary - KEVIN DEYOUNG (cont…)

“What must I do to be saved?” There’s no more important question in this life or for the next life. The answer to our catechism question provides a wonderful summary of what it means to have faith in Christ - the sort of faith that saves - and how God saves through faith. This summary contains two key words. First is the very first word: only. Only faith in Jesus Christ. You see, it wouldn't be terribly controversial to talk about faith. People are into faith and believing something. But it's only faith, not faith plus something else. It's not faith in addition to your background, faith plus your family of origin, faith plus how many good things you can do for social justice, or faith plus how often you pray. It's only faith, and it's faith in Jesus Christ - there is an object to it.

Tusite Sanuali 30, 2018

Ko e fehu‘i mahu‘inga tahá

( the most important question of all)

Fehu‘i #29

‘Oku founga fēfē ‘etau ma‘u ‘a e fakamo‘uí ?

‘I he tui ‘ata‘atā pe kia Sisu Kalaisi mo ‘ene pekia ko hotau fetongi ‘i he kolosí, he neongo ‘etau halaia ‘i he‘etau talangata‘a ki he ‘Otuá pea tau kei malele pe ki he ngaahi kovi kotoa pe, ka kuo hanga ‘e he ‘Otuá, ‘o ‘ikai kau ki ai ha‘atau ngaue lelei, ‘i he‘ene kelesi haohaoá, ‘oku ne foaki kiate kitautolu ‘a e ma‘oni‘oni haohaoa ‘a Kalaisí ‘i he taimi ‘oku tau fakatomala ai mo tui falala kiate Ia.

How can we be saved?

Only by faith in Jesus Christ and in his substitutionary atoning death on the cross; so even though we are guilty of having disobeyed God and are still inclined to all evil, nevertheless, God, without any merit of our own but only by pure grace, imputes to us the perfect righteousness of Christ when we repent and believe in him.

‘EFESO 2:8-9

He ko e kelesi pē kuo mou mo‘ui mei ai, ko e me‘a ‘i ho‘omou tui; ‘io, na‘e ‘ikai meiate kimoutolu ia, ka ko e foaki mei he ‘Otua: na‘e ‘ikai tupu mei ha ngaahi ngāue, koe‘uhi ke ‘oua na‘a ai ha taha ‘e fa‘a pōlepole.

EPHESIANS 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Commentary - KEVIN DEYOUNG

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas are in prison when a violent earthquake occurs. Prisoners are escaping, and the jailer wakes up and is absolutely dismayed that everyone is running off. The jailer is about to kill himself, and Paul stops him. And the jailer asks this very famous question: "Sirs, what must I do to be saved ( 30) Paul gives him the short, biblical, absolutely beautiful: “Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household” (v.31).

Monite Sanuali 29, 2018

Ko e angahala pe au, ne pekia ai ‘a Kalaisi

( I am a sinner for whom Christ died)

Fehu‘i #29

‘Oku founga fēfē ‘etau ma‘u ‘a e fakamo‘uí ?

‘I he tui ‘ata‘atā pe kia Sisu Kalaisi mo ‘ene pekia ko hotau fetongi ‘i he kolosí, he neongo ‘etau halaia ‘i he‘etau talangata‘a ki he ‘Otuá pea tau kei malele pe ki he ngaahi kovi kotoa pe, ka kuo hanga ‘e he ‘Otuá, ‘o ‘ikai kau ki ai ha‘atau ngaue lelei, ‘i he‘ene kelesi haohaoá, ‘oku ne foaki kiate kitautolu ‘a e ma‘oni‘oni haohaoa ‘a Kalaisí ‘i he taimi ‘oku tau fakatomala ai mo tui falala kiate Ia.

How can we be saved?

Only by faith in Jesus Christ and in his substitutionary atoning death on the cross; so even though we are guilty of having disobeyed God and are still inclined to all evil, nevertheless, God, without any merit of our own but only by pure grace, imputes to us the perfect righteousness of Christ when we repent and believe in him.

‘EFESO 2:8-9

He ko e kelesi pē kuo mou mo‘ui mei ai, ko e me‘a ‘i ho‘omou tui; ‘io, na‘e ‘ikai meiate kimoutolu ia, ka ko e foaki mei he ‘Otua: na‘e ‘ikai tupu mei ha ngaahi ngāue, koe‘uhi ke ‘oua na‘a ai ha taha ‘e fa‘a pōlepole.

EPHESIANS 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Commentary - CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON (cont…)

God must change his nature before one soul for whom Jesus was a substitute can ever by any possibility suffer the lash of the law. Therefore, Jesus having taken the place of the believer-having rendered a full equivalent to divine wrath for all that his people ought to have suffered as the result of sin, the believer can shout with glorious triumph, "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?" Not God, for he has justified; not Christ for he has died, "yes rather has risen again." My hope does not live because I am not a sinner, but because I am a sinner for whom Christ died; my trust is not that I am holy, but that being unholy, he is my righteousness. My faith does not rest upon what I am, or shall be or feel, or know, but in what Christ is, in what he has done, and in what he is now doing for me. On the lion of justice the fair maid of hope rides like a queen.

Sapate Sanuali 28, 2018

Totongi kakato ‘e Kalaisi hoku mo‘ua!

( Christ paid my debt)

Fehu‘i #29

‘Oku founga fēfē ‘etau ma‘u ‘a e fakamo‘uí ?

‘I he tui ‘ata‘atā pe kia Sisu Kalaisi mo ‘ene pekia ko hotau fetongi ‘i he kolosí, he neongo ‘etau halaia ‘i he‘etau talangata‘a ki he ‘Otuá pea tau kei malele pe ki he ngaahi kovi kotoa pe, ka kuo hanga ‘e he ‘Otuá, ‘o 'ikai kau ki ai ha‘atau ngaue lelei, ‘i he‘ene kelesi haohaoá, ‘oku ne foaki kiate kitautolu ‘a e ma‘oni‘oni haohaoa ‘a Kalaisí ‘i he taimi ‘oku tau fakatomala ai mo tui falala kiate Ia.

How can we be saved?

Only by faith in Jesus Christ and in his substitutionary atoning death on the cross; so even though we are guilty of having disobeyed God and are still inclined to all evil, nevertheless, God, without any merit of our own but only by pure grace, imputes to us the perfect righteousness of Christ when we repent and believe in him.

‘EFESO 2:8-9

He ko e kelesi pē kuo mou mo‘ui mei ai, ko e me‘a ‘i ho‘omou tui; ‘io, na‘e ‘ikai meiate kimoutolu ia, ka ko e foaki mei he ‘Otua: na‘e ‘ikai tupu mei ha ngaahi ngāue, koe‘uhi ke ‘oua na‘a ai ha taha ‘e fa‘a pōlepole.

EPHESIANS 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Commentary - CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON

Being justified by faith, we have peace with God. Conscience accuses no longer. Judgment now decides for the sinner instead of against him. Memory looks back upon past sins, but yet with no dread of any penalty to come, for Christ has paid the debt of his people to the last jot and tittle, and receive the divine receipt; and unless God can be so unjust as to demand double payment for one debt, no soul for whom Jesus died as a substitute can ever be cast into hell.

It seems to be one of the very principles of our enlightened nature to believe that God is just; we feel that it must be so, and this gives us our terror at first; but is it not marvelous that this very same belief that God is just, becomes afterwards the pillar of our confidence and peace! If God is just, I, a sinner, alone and without a substitute, must be punished; but Jesus stands in my place and is punished for me; and now, if God is just, I, a sinner, standing in Christ, can never be punished. 

Tokonaki Sanuali 27, 2018

‘Ikai ha lea ‘e fe‘unga..mālō fau e ‘ofa hulu!

( the most loving act of all)

Fehu‘i #28

Ko e hā e me‘a ‘e hoko ki he kau pekia ‘oku ‘ikai te nau kau mo Kalaisi fou ‘i he‘enau tuí ?

‘I he ‘aho ‘o e fakamaaú, te nau ma‘u ‘a e tu‘utu‘uni fakalilifu kae angatonu ‘o honau tauteá. ‘E kapusi kinautolu mei he ‘ao ‘o e ‘Otuá, ki heli, ke fakahoko ai honau tautea fakamamahí  ke ta‘engata.

What happens after death to those not united to Christ by faith?

At the day of judgment they will receive the fearful but just sentence of condemnation pronounced against them. They will be cast out from the favorable presence of God, into hell, to be justly and grievously punished, forever.

SIONE 3:16-18, 36

He na‘e ‘ofa pehē ‘a e ‘Otua ki māmani, ko ia na‘a ne foaki hono ‘Alo tofu-pē-taha-ne-fakatupu, koe‘uhi ko ia kotoa pē ‘oku tui pīkitai kiate ia ke ‘oua na‘a ‘auha, kae ma‘u ‘a e mo‘ui ta‘engata. He tala‘ehai na‘e fekau ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e ‘Alo ki māmani ke fakamaau? ‘a māmani; ka koe‘uhi ke mo‘ui ‘a māmani ‘iate ia. Ko ia ‘oku tui pīkitai kiate ia ‘oku ‘ikai ke fakamaau? ia; ka ko ia ‘oku ‘ikai ke tui, kuo ‘osi fakamaau? ia; koe‘uhi kuo ‘ikai te ne tui ki he huafa ‘o e ‘Alo tofu-pē-taha-na‘e-fakatupu ‘e he ‘Otua. . . .Ko ia ‘oku ne tui pīkitai ki he ‘Alo ‘oku ne ma‘u ‘a e mo‘ui ta‘engata: ka ko ia ‘oku ‘ikai te ne talangofua ki he ‘Alo ‘e ‘ikai te ne mamata ia ki he mo‘ui; ka ‘oku nofo ma‘u kiate ia ‘e he houhau ‘a e ‘Otua.

JOHN 3:16-18, 36

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal Life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. … Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Commentary – JOHN LIN (cont…)

[**continuing the discussion on hell and God’s love**]

Unless you believe in hell, you'll never know how much Jesus

loves you and how much he values you. Jesus experienced hell himself  on the cross. Jesus was separated from his Father. On the cross Jesus cried, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mat 27:46). When Jesus lost the eternal love of the Father, he experienced an agony, a disintegration, an isolation greater than anything anyone of us would have experienced in eternity in hell. He took the isolation and disintegration that we deserve upon himself. Unless you believe in hell and see what Jesus took for you, you will never know how much he loves you.

The real issue is not how a loving God would allow there to be a hell. The issue is, if Jesus Christ would experience hell for me, then, tuly, be must be a loving God. It's not, “Why would God allow hell?” It’s, “Why would God experience hell for me?” And yet he did.

Prayer

Judge of All the Earth, we tremble to think of the judgment that Awaits all outside your covenant. Before it is too late, may those we love be reconciled to you so that they do not suffer the punishment that is theirs, and would have been our, apart from you. Amen.

Falaite Sanuali 26, 2018

Ko e lahi faufaua ‘o ‘Ene ‘ofá  na‘e fakae‘a he kolosí

( God’s love paid a real price on the cross)

Fehu‘i #28

Ko e hā e me‘a ‘e hoko ki he kau pekia ‘oku ‘ikai te nau kau mo Kalaisi fou ‘i he‘enau tuí  ?

‘I he ‘aho ‘o e fakamaaú, te nau ma‘u ‘a e tu‘utu‘uni fakalilifu kae angatonu ‘o honau tauteá. ‘E kapusi kinautolu mei he ‘ao ‘o e ‘Otuá, ki heli, ke fakahoko ai honau tautea fakamamahí  ke ta‘engata.

What happens after death to those not united to Christ by faith?

At the day of judgment they will receive the fearful but just sentence of condemnation pronounced against them. They will be cast out from the favorable presence of God, into hell, to be justly and grievously punished, forever.

SIONE 3:16-18, 36

He na‘e ‘ofa pehē ‘a e ‘Otua ki māmani, ko ia na‘a ne foaki hono ‘Alo tofu-pē-taha-ne-fakatupu, koe‘uhi ko ia kotoa pē ‘oku tui pīkitai kiate ia ke ‘oua na‘a ‘auha, kae ma‘u ‘a e mo‘ui ta‘engata. He tala‘ehai na‘e fekau ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e ‘Alo ki māmani ke fakamaau? ‘a māmani; ka koe‘uhi ke mo‘ui ‘a māmani ‘iate ia. Ko ia ‘oku tui pīkitai kiate ia ‘oku ‘ikai ke fakamaau? ia; ka ko ia ‘oku ‘ikai ke tui, kuo ‘osi fakamaau? ia; koe‘uhi kuo ‘ikai te ne tui ki he huafa ‘o e ‘Alo tofu-pē-taha-na‘e-fakatupu ‘e he ‘Otua. . . .Ko ia ‘oku ne tui pīkitai ki he ‘Alo ‘oku ne ma‘u ‘a e mo‘ui ta‘engata: ka ko ia ‘oku ‘ikai te ne talangofua ki he ‘Alo ‘e ‘ikai te ne mamata ia ki he mo‘ui; ka ‘oku nofo ma‘u kiate ia ‘e he houhau ‘a e ‘Otua.

JOHN 3:16-18, 36

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal Life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. … Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Commentary – JOHN LIN (cont…)

[**continuing the discussion on hell and God’s love**]

Think of it this way. Saying, "I know God loves me because he would give up everything for me" is much different from saying, “I know God loves me because he did give up everything for me.” One is a loving sentiment, the other is a loving act. And while we may try to make God more loving by diminishing the reality of hell and God's wrath, all we've really done is diminish the love of God. Without a real hell, we can't understand the real price that Jesus paid for our sin. And without a real price that was paid, there's no real love, there's no real grace, and there's no real praise for what he has done!

Tu‘apulelulu Sanuali 25, 2018

Hulu‘i mai ‘e heli ‘a e tu‘utu‘uni ‘o e kolosí

( the reality of hell gives light to the cross)

Fehu‘i #28

Ko e hā e me‘a ‘e hoko ki he kau pekia ‘oku ‘ikai te nau kau mo Kalaisi fou ‘i he‘enau tuí  ?

‘I he ‘aho ‘o e fakamaaú, te nau ma‘u ‘a e tu‘utu‘uni fakalilifu kae angatonu ‘o honau tauteá. ‘E kapusi kinautolu mei he ‘ao ‘o e ‘Otuá, ki heli, ke fakahoko ai honau tautea fakamamahí  ke ta‘engata.

What happens after death to those not united to Christ by faith?

At the day of judgment they will receive the fearful but just sentence of condemnation pronounced against them. They will be cast out from the favorable presence of God, into hell, to be justly and grievously punished, forever.

SIONE 3:16-18, 36

He na‘e ‘ofa pehē ‘a e ‘Otua ki māmani, ko ia na‘a ne foaki hono ‘Alo tofu-pē-taha-ne-fakatupu, koe‘uhi ko ia kotoa pē ‘oku tui pīkitai kiate ia ke ‘oua na‘a ‘auha, kae ma‘u ‘a e mo‘ui ta‘engata. He tala‘ehai na‘e fekau ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e ‘Alo ki māmani ke fakamaau? ‘a māmani; ka koe‘uhi ke mo‘ui ‘a māmani ‘iate ia. Ko ia ‘oku tui pīkitai kiate ia ‘oku ‘ikai ke fakamaau? ia; ka ko ia ‘oku ‘ikai ke tui, kuo ‘osi fakamaau? ia; koe‘uhi kuo ‘ikai te ne tui ki he huafa ‘o e ‘Alo tofu-pē-taha-na‘e-fakatupu ‘e he ‘Otua. . . .Ko ia ‘oku ne tui pīkitai ki he ‘Alo ‘oku ne ma‘u ‘a e mo‘ui ta‘engata: ka ko ia ‘oku ‘ikai te ne talangofua ki he ‘Alo ‘e ‘ikai te ne mamata ia ki he mo‘ui; ka ‘oku nofo ma‘u kiate ia ‘e he houhau ‘a e ‘Otua.

JOHN 3:16-18, 36

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal Life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. … Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Commentary – JOHN LIN (cont…)

But most importantly, until we acknowledge the reality of hell, we cannot truly understand the meaning of the cross. Put another way, we cannot understand God's love until we understand the reality of has wrath. God's wrath is a settled, controlled opposition and hatred of anything that is destroying what he loves.  God's wrath flows from his love for creation. It flows from his justice. He's angry at greed, self-centeredness, injustice, and evil because they're destructive. And God will not tolerate anything or anyone responsible for destroying the creation and the people that he loves.

Pulelulu Sanuali 24, 2018

Ko heli mo e nunu‘a ‘o e angahalá

( Hell and the consequences of sin)

Fehu‘i #28

Ko e hā e me‘a ‘e hoko ki he kau pekia ‘oku ‘ikai te nau kau mo Kalaisi fou ‘i he‘enau tuí  ?

‘I he ‘aho ‘o e fakamaaú, te nau ma‘u ‘a e tu‘utu‘uni fakalilifu kae angatonu ‘o honau tauteá. ‘E kapusi kinautolu mei he ‘ao ‘o e ‘Otuá, ki heli, ke fakahoko ai honau tautea fakamamahí  ke ta‘engata.

What happens after death to those not united to Christ by faith?

At the day of judgment they will receive the fearful but just sentence of condemnation pronounced against them. They will be cast out from the favorable presence of God, into hell, to be justly and grievously punished, forever.

SIONE 3:16-18, 36

He na‘e ‘ofa pehē ‘a e ‘Otua ki māmani, ko ia na‘a ne foaki hono ‘Alo tofu-pē-taha-ne-fakatupu, koe‘uhi ko ia kotoa pē ‘oku tui pīkitai kiate ia ke ‘oua na‘a ‘auha, kae ma‘u ‘a e mo‘ui ta‘engata. He tala‘ehai na‘e fekau ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e ‘Alo ki māmani ke fakamaau? ‘a māmani; ka koe‘uhi ke mo‘ui ‘a māmani ‘iate ia. Ko ia ‘oku tui pīkitai kiate ia ‘oku ‘ikai ke fakamaau? ia; ka ko ia ‘oku ‘ikai ke tui, kuo ‘osi fakamaau? ia; koe‘uhi kuo ‘ikai te ne tui ki he huafa ‘o e ‘Alo tofu-pē-taha-na‘e-fakatupu ‘e he ‘Otua. . . .Ko ia ‘oku ne tui pīkitai ki he ‘Alo ‘oku ne ma‘u ‘a e mo‘ui ta‘engata: ka ko ia ‘oku ‘ikai te ne talangofua ki he ‘Alo ‘e ‘ikai te ne mamata ia ki he mo‘ui; ka ‘oku nofo ma‘u kiate ia ‘e he houhau ‘a e ‘Otua.

JOHN 3:16-18, 36

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal Life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. … Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Commentary – JOHN LIN (cont…)

Second, the existence of hell helps us to understand the consequences of sin. In some ways, hell is the outworking of what we as sinful people have always wanted: autonomy and independence from God. In hell, we are therefore cut off from God and from everything that God is. So in hell, there's no love, there's no friendship, there's no joy, there's no rest, because those are all things that exist only where God is present [in His mercy].

Tusite Sanuali 23, 2018

Ko e natula ‘o e ‘Otuá pea mo ‘ene fakamaau ta‘engatá

( hell and God’s nature . . .)

Fehu‘i #28

Ko e hā e me‘a ‘e hoko ki he kau pekia ‘oku ‘ikai te nau kau mo Kalaisi fou ‘i he‘enau tuí  ?

‘I he ‘aho ‘o e fakamaaú, te nau ma‘u ‘a e tu‘utu‘uni fakalilifu kae angatonu ‘o honau tauteá. ‘E kapusi kinautolu mei he ‘ao ‘o e ‘Otuá, ki heli, ke fakahoko ai honau tautea fakamamahí  ke ta‘engata.

What happens after death to those not united to Christ by faith?

At the day of judgment they will receive the fearful but just sentence of condemnation pronounced against them. They will be cast out from the favorable presence of God, into hell, to be justly and grievously punished, forever.

SIONE 3:16-18, 36

He na‘e ‘ofa pehē ‘a e ‘Otua ki māmani, ko ia na‘a ne foaki hono ‘Alo tofu-pē-taha-ne-fakatupu, koe‘uhi ko ia kotoa pē ‘oku tui pīkitai kiate ia ke ‘oua na‘a ‘auha, kae ma‘u ‘a e mo‘ui ta‘engata. He tala‘ehai na‘e fekau ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e ‘Alo ki māmani ke fakamaau? ‘a māmani; ka koe‘uhi ke mo‘ui ‘a māmani ‘iate ia. Ko ia ‘oku tui pīkitai kiate ia ‘oku ‘ikai ke fakamaau? ia; ka ko ia ‘oku ‘ikai ke tui, kuo ‘osi fakamaau? ia; koe‘uhi kuo ‘ikai te ne tui ki he huafa ‘o e ‘Alo tofu-pē-taha-na‘e-fakatupu ‘e he ‘Otua. . . .Ko ia ‘oku ne tui pīkitai ki he ‘Alo ‘oku ne ma‘u ‘a e mo‘ui ta‘engata: ka ko ia ‘oku ‘ikai te ne talangofua ki he ‘Alo ‘e ‘ikai te ne mamata ia ki he mo‘ui; ka ‘oku nofo ma‘u kiate ia ‘e he houhau ‘a e ‘Otua.

JOHN 3:16-18, 36

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal Life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. … Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Commentary – JOHN LIN

One of the Bible's more difficult and often misunderstood teachings is that of hell being a real, conscious, eternal punishment. And this is understandable. All of us have people in our midst who don't know Christ - friends, family members, neighbors, colleagues – about whom we would rather not think that hell could be their future. In fact, people have had discomfort about the idea of hell throughout history, because on the surface it seems inconsistent with everything we read in the Bible about God's mercy and love. And yet the Bible's teaching on hell as conscious and eternal suffering is unavoidable. Actually, without the existence of hell, much of what we know about God's love comes into question.

First, Jesus, the most loving man who ever lived, spoke about hell more frequently and vividly than all other authors combined. He described it as Gehenna, which was a garbage heap where fires burned constantly, or as the outer darkness, where there's no illumination but only misery. In the story he tells of the rich man and Lazarus, hell is a place of conscious and real suffering. Jesus warns us about hell again and again (Matt. 13:41-42: Mark 9:42-48; Luke 16:19-31).

Monite Sanuali 22, 2018

Ko e ha ‘a e lau ‘a e Folofola?

( what does the Bible say?)

Fehu‘i #28

Ko e hā e me‘a ‘e hoko ki he kau pekia ‘oku ‘ikai te nau kau mo Kalaisi fou ‘i he‘enau tuí  ?

‘I he ‘aho ‘o e fakamaaú, te nau ma‘u ‘a e tu‘utu‘uni fakalilifu kae angatonu ‘o honau tauteá. ‘E kapusi kinautolu mei he ‘ao ‘o e ‘Otuá, ki heli, ke fakahoko ai honau tautea fakamamahí  ke ta‘engata.

What happens after death to those not united to Christ by faith?

At the day of judgment they will receive the fearful but just sentence of condemnation pronounced against them. They will be cast out from the favorable presence of God, into hell, to be justly and grievously punished, forever.

SIONE 3:16-18, 36

He na‘e ‘ofa pehē ‘a e ‘Otua ki māmani, ko ia na‘a ne foaki hono ‘Alo tofu-pē-taha-ne-fakatupu, koe‘uhi ko ia kotoa pē ‘oku tui pīkitai kiate ia ke ‘oua na‘a ‘auha, kae ma‘u ‘a e mo‘ui ta‘engata. He tala‘ehai na‘e fekau ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e ‘Alo ki māmani ke fakamaau? ‘a māmani; ka koe‘uhi ke mo‘ui ‘a māmani ‘iate ia. Ko ia ‘oku tui pīkitai kiate ia ‘oku ‘ikai ke fakamaau? ia; ka ko ia ‘oku ‘ikai ke tui, kuo ‘osi fakamaau? ia; koe‘uhi kuo ‘ikai te ne tui ki he huafa ‘o e ‘Alo tofu-pē-taha-na‘e-fakatupu ‘e he ‘Otua. . . .Ko ia ‘oku ne tui pīkitai ki he ‘Alo ‘oku ne ma‘u ‘a e mo‘ui ta‘engata: ka ko ia ‘oku ‘ikai te ne talangofua ki he ‘Alo ‘e ‘ikai te ne mamata ia ki he mo‘ui; ka ‘oku nofo ma‘u kiate ia ‘e he houhau ‘a e ‘Otua.

JOHN 3:16-18, 36

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal Life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever

believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. … Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Commentary – J.C. RYLE (cont…)

There is but one point to be settled, "what says the word of God." Do you believe the Bible? Then depend upon it, hell is real and true. It is as true as heaven--as true as justification by faith--as true as the fact that Christ died upon the cross--as true as the Dead Sea. There is not a fact or doctrine which you may not lawfully doubt if you doubt hell. Disbelieve hell, and you unscrew, unsettle, and unpin everything in Scripture. You may as well throw your Bible aside at once. From “no hell” to “no God” there is but a series of steps.”