ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Tu’apulelulu ‘Epeleli 7, 2022

FAITH TAKES HOLD OF CHRIST

‘OKU PIKI ‘A E TUI KIA KALAISI

GALATIANS 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

KALETIA 2:20

Kuo tutuki au ki he Kolosi mo Kalaisi: pea ko ‘eku mo‘ui ‘oku fai, ‘oku ‘ikai kei ko au, ka ko e mo‘ui ‘oku fai ‘e Kalaisi ‘iate au: ‘io, ko e mo‘ui ‘oku ou fai ‘eni ‘i he kakano ko e mo‘ui ‘i he tui, ko e tui ki he ‘Alo ‘o e ‘Otua, ‘a ia na‘a ne ‘ofeina au, mo ne foaki ia ‘e ia ke pekia koe‘uhi ko au.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe    

In order to have faith you must paint a true portrait of Christ. The scholastics caricature Christ into a judge and tormentor. But Christ is no lawgiver. He is the Lifegiver. He is the Forgiver of sins. You must believe that Christ might have atoned for the sins of the world with one single drop of His blood. Instead, He shed His blood abundantly in order that He might give abundant satisfaction for our sins.

Here let me say that these three things—faith, Christ, and imputation of righteousness—are to be joined together. Faith takes hold of Christ. God accounts this faith for righteousness. This imputation of righteousness we need very much, because we are far from perfect. As long as we have this body, sin will dwell in our flesh. Then, too, we sometimes drive away the Holy Spirit; we fall into sin, like Peter, David, and other holy men. Nevertheless we may always take recourse to this fact, “that our sins are covered" and that “God will not lay them to our charge."

MARTIN LUTHER

Kimu’a pea ke ma’u ‘a e tui totonu, kuopau ke ke ma’u ‘a e ‘ata mo’oni ‘o Kalaisi. ‘Oku tuku mai ‘e he kau mataotao faka-’atamai, ha Kalaisi ko ha fakamaau mo ha fakamamahi. ‘Oku ‘ikai ko ha tokotaha foaki lao pe ‘a Kalaisi. Ko Ia ‘a e Foaki-mo’ui. Ko Ia ‘a e Fakamolemole ‘o e angahala. Mahalo na’a ke pehee na’e huhu’i ‘e Kalaisi ‘a e angahala ‘a mamani ‘aki ha fo’i tulutaa toto pe. Ka, na’e tafe hono ta’ata’a ke fe’unga mo lato kotoa ai ‘a e tu’utu’uni ki he’etau ngaahi angahala.

Ko e ngaahi me’a ni ‘e tolu: Tui, Kalaisi mo e ma’oni’oni ne tuku mai - ‘oku fakataha’i kinautolu. ‘Oku piki ‘a e tui kia Kalaisi. ‘Oku lau ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e tui ko eni ko e ma’oni’oni. Ko e ma’oni’oni ‘oku tuku mai, ‘oku fu’u mahu’inga fau pea tau fiema’u, koe’uhi, he ‘oku tau mama’o fau mei he haohaoa. Lolotonga ‘etau kei ‘i he sino ko eni, ‘oku kei nofo pe ‘a e angahala ‘i hotau kakano. Pea ‘i he’ene pehee, ‘oku tau fa’a teke’i ‘a e Laumalie Ma’oni’oni; ‘oku tau to ki he angahala, hange ko Pita, Tevita mo e kau ma’oni’oni. Ka te tau kei tu’u pe ‘i he mo’oni ko eni, “ ‘oku ‘osi ‘ufi’ufi ‘etau angahala” pea ‘e “ ‘ikai toe lau ia ‘e he ‘Otua kiate kitautolu.”