ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Falaite Ma’asi 25, 2022

FAITH LOOKS TO CHRIST

KO E TUI´ ‘OKU SIO KIA KALAISI

HABAKKUK 2:4

The enemy is puffed up; his desires are not uprightbut the righteous person will live by his faithfulness.

HAPAKUKI 2:4

Vakai, ko e mafi ia; ‘oku ‘ikai tu‘u totonu ‘a e loto ‘oku ‘iate ia: ka ko e mā‘oni‘oni te ne mo‘ui mei he‘ene tui.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe    

The true Gospel has it that we are justified by faith alone, without the deeds of the Law. The false gospel has it that we are justified by faith, but not without the deeds of the Law. The false apostles preached a conditional gospel. So do the papists. They admit that faith is the foundation of salvation. But they add the conditional clause that faith can save only when it is furnished with good works. This is wrong. The true Gospel declares that good works are the embellishment of faith, but that faith itself is the gift and work of God in our hearts.

Faith is able to justify because it apprehends Christ, the Redeemer. Human reason can think only in terms of the Law. It mumbles, "This I have done, this I have not done." But faith looks to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, given into death for the sins of the whole world. To turn one's eyes away from Jesus means to turn them to the Law. True faith lays hold of Christ and leans on Him alone.

MARTIN LUTHER

Ko e Kosipeli mo’oni, ‘oku ne talamai, ‘oku fakatonuhia’i kitautolu ‘e he tui´ ‘ata’atā pe, ‘o ta’e kau ai ‘a e ngaue ‘a e Lao. Ko e Kosipeli loi´, ‘oku ne talamai ‘oku fakatonuhia’i kitautolu ‘e he tui´, ka kuopau ke tanaki ki ai ‘a e ngaue ‘a e Lao. ‘Oku malanga’i ‘e he Kosipeli loi´ ‘a e kosipeli ‘oku ‘i ai hono ngaahi makatu’unga. ‘Oku pehe pe mo e tui ‘a e ha’a Tu’i Tapu. ‘Oku nau talamai, ko e tui´, ‘a e makatu’unga ‘o e fakamo’ui. Ka ‘oku nau tanaki mai ‘a e makatu’unga ko eni, ‘oku toki malava pe ‘a e tui´ ke fakamo’ui ‘o kapau ‘oku kau ki ai ‘a e ngaue lelei. ‘Oku hala eni. Ko e Kosipeli mo’oni´, ‘oku talamai, ko e ngaue lelei´ ko e fua ia ‘o e tui, ka ko e tui ‘oku fakamo’ui, ko e me’a’ofa mo e ngaue pe ia ‘a e ‘Otua ‘i hotau ngaahi loto.

‘Oku malava ‘a e TUI ‘o fakamo’ui, he ‘oku ne piki kia Kalaisi, ko e Huhu’i. Ko e fakakaukau ‘a e tangata´ ‘oku tu’u pe ia ‘i he tu’unga ‘o e Lao. ‘Oku ne ngongohe mai, “Kuo u ‘osi fai ‘a ē, ka ‘oku te’eki te u fai ‘a ē.” Ka ‘oku sio ‘a e tui´ ia kia Sisu Kalaisi, ‘Alo ‘o e ‘Otua, na’e feia koe’uhi ko e anagahala ‘a mamani kotoa. Kapau ‘oku sio kehe ha taha meia Sisu, ‘oku ne hanga leva ia ki he Lao. Ko e Tui mo’oni, ‘oku ne pipiki kia Kalaisi pea ne falala kakato kiate Ia tokotaha pe.