ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Pulelulu ‘Epeleli 25, 2018

Ko e ‘uhinga ‘o e “faka‘ilonga” mo e “sila”

(understanding the “signs” and “seals” of the sacraments)

Fehu‘i #43

Ko e hā ‘a e ngaahi sakalamēniti pe ngaahi ouau fakalotu?

Ko e ngaahi sakalamenití pe ngaahi ouaú, kuo tuku mai ‘e he ‘Otuá  pea fakahoko ‘e Kalaisí, ‘a ia ko e papitaisó mo e kai ‘o e ‘ohomohé, ko ha ngaahi faka‘ilonga hāmai pea mo e sila ke fakamahino kuo ha‘i fakataha kitautolu ko ha fakataha‘anga (komiunitī) ‘o e kau tui, ‘aki ‘a e pekiá mo e toetu‘ú. Pea ‘i he‘etau faka‘aonga‘i mo fakahokó, ‘oku ngaue‘aki leva ia ‘e he Laumālie Ma‘oni‘oní ke fakahā kakato mo sila‘i ‘a e ngaahi palomesi ‘a e koosipelí kiate kitautolu.

What are the sacraments or ordinances?

The sacraments or ordinances given by God and instituted by Christ, namely baptism and the Lord's Supper, are visible signs and seals that we are bound together as a community of faith by his death and resurrection. By our use of them the Holy Spirit more fully declares and seals the promises of the gospel to us.

LOMA 6:4

Pea ko e me‘a ‘i hotau papitaiso ki he‘ene pekia, pea tā na‘a tau kaungā telio mo ia; koe‘uhi, hangē na‘e fokotu‘u ‘a Kalaisi mei he pekia ‘e he ‘Afio ‘a e Tamai, pehē ke fai‘aki ‘e kitautolu foki ha mo‘ui ‘oku fo‘ou hono anga.

LUKE 22:19-20

Na‘a ne to‘o foki ha fo‘i mā, ‘o ne fakafeta‘i, mo ne pakipaki ‘o ‘ange kiate kinautolu, ‘o ne pehē, Ko hoku sino ‘eni, ‘a ia ‘oku foaki koe‘uhi ko kimoutolu: mou fai ‘eni mōku fakamanatu. Na‘a ne to‘o pehē foki ‘a e ipu, hili ‘a e ‘ohomohe, ‘o ne pehē, Ko e ipu ni ko e fuakava fo‘ou ia ‘oku fai‘aki hoku toto, ‘a ia ‘oku lilingi koe‘uhi ko kimoutolu.

ROMANS 6:4

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order

that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

LUKE 22:19-20

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”

Commentary - TIMOTHY KELLER

They are both signs and seals. We call them signs because they symbolize the blessings of salvation, forgiveness for sins, reception of the Holy Spirit, and the ability to commune with Jesus Christ in his presence. But they're not only signs; they're also seals. That means they actually bring these blessings to us. They assure us and stir up our faith, and it's our faith that receives those blessings.

(ko e fakamatala mahu‘inga eni ke mahino‘i ‘e he kalisitiané fekau‘aki mo e sakalamenití)

- Liliu faka-Tonga

Ko e sakalameniti ‘o e ‘Ohomohe ‘a e ‘Eikí  pea mo e Papitaisó, ko e ongo faka‘ilonga pea mo e sila. ‘Oku tau ui ko e faka‘ilongá, koe‘uhí  he ‘oku na ‘omi ‘a e fakatātā ‘o e ngaahi tāpuaki ‘o ‘etau ma‘u ‘a e fakamo‘uí, fakamolemole‘i ‘o ‘etau ngaahi angahalá, ma‘u ‘o e Laumālie Ma‘oni‘oní, pea mo ‘etau feohi mo Sisu Kalaisi ‘i hono ‘aó. Ka ‘oku ‘ikai ngata pe ‘i he faka‘ilongá, ka ko e ongo sila foki. ‘Oku ‘uhinga eni, ‘oku na matu‘aki ‘omi ‘a e ngaahi tapuaki ko ení  kiate kitautolu. ‘Oku na fakamo‘oni mo fakapapau mai mo toe hunuaki ‘etau tuí , pea ko ‘etau tuí ‘oku tofanga ‘i he ngaahi tapuaki ko ení.