ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Monite Ma’asi 28, 2022

CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM

KO E HAKO ‘O ‘EPALAHAME

GALATIANS 3:7

Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.

GALATIANS 3:7

Ko ia, ‘oku mou vakai mei ai, ‘Ilonga ‘a kinautolu ‘oku ‘i he tui, ko kinautolu ia ‘a e hako ‘o ‘Epalahame.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe   

Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are children of Abraham. This is the main point of Paul’s argument against the Jews: the children of Abraham are those who believe and not those who are born of Abraham's flesh and blood. This point Paul drives home with all his might because the Jews attached saving value to the genealogical fact: "We are the seed and children of Abraham."

Let us begin with Abraham and learn how this friend of God was justified and saved. Not because he left his country, his relatives, his father's house; not because he was circumcised; not because he stood ready to sacrifice his own son Isaac, in whom he had the promise of posterity. Abraham was justified because he believed.

Paul's argumentation runs like this: "Since this is the unmistakable testimony of Holy Writ, why do you take your stand upon circumcision and the Law? Was not Abraham, your father, of whom you make so much, justified and saved without circumcision and the Law by faith alone?" Paul therefore concludes: "They which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham."

MARTIN LUTHER

Ko ia ke mou ‘ilo ko kinautolu ‘oku ‘i he tui, koe fānau ‘akinautolu ‘a ‘Epalahame. Ko e konga mahu’inga eni ‘o e tali ‘a Paula ki he kakai Siu: Ko hako ‘o ‘Epalahame ‘a kinautolu pe ‘oku tui, ‘o ‘ikai ko kinautolu na’a nau fanau’i mei he kakano mo e toto ‘o ‘Epalahame. Na’e matu’aki tokanga ‘a Paula ke mahino ‘a e fo’i mo’oni ko eni, he na’e lau ‘e he kau Siu, ‘enau ma’u ‘a e fakamo’ui ki he’enau piki fakatoto kia ‘Epalahame: “Ko kimautolu ‘a e tupu’anga ‘o e hako ‘o ‘Epalahame.”

Ta u kamata ‘ia ‘Epalahame ke tau ako pe na’e anga fe fe ‘a hono fakatonuhia’i mo fakamo’ui ‘a e kaume’a ko eni ‘o e ‘Otua. Na’e ‘ikai ko ‘ene hiki mei hono fonua, mo hono kakai, mo e fale ‘o ‘ene tamai; na’e ‘ikai ko hono kamu ia; na’e ‘ikai ko ‘ene teuteu ke feilaulau’i ‘a hono foha ko ‘Aisake, ‘a ee na’e palomesi ‘e tupu ai hono hako. Na’e fakatonuhia’i ‘a ‘Epalahame ‘i he’ene tui.

Ko e poini eni na’e feinga ‘a Paula fakamahino’i: “Koe’uhi ko e fakamo’oni ta’e toe veiveiua eni ‘a e Tohitapu, ko e ha ‘oku mou kei fakafalala ai ki he kamu mo e Lao? ‘Ikai ko ‘Epalahame ho’o mou kui, ‘oku mou polepole ‘aki, na’e fakatonuhia’i mo fakamo’ui ia ‘o ‘ikai kau ai kamu mo e Lao, ka ko e tui?” Pea ko e aofangatuku ‘a Paula ‘a eni: “‘Ilonga ‘a kinautolu ‘oku ‘i he tui, ko kinautolu ia ‘a e hako ‘o ‘Epalahame.”