Tusite Me 31, 2022

A STATE OF GRACE

KO E TU’UNGA MO’UI ‘O E KELESI

1 PETER 1:3-5

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 PITA 1:3-5

Ha taha ā ke fakamālō‘ia, pe ko e ‘Otua mo Tamai ‘a hotau ‘Eiki ko Sīsū Kalaisi; ‘a ia, ‘i he lahi ‘o ‘ene meesi, na‘a ne fakatupufo‘ou kitautolu ke ma‘u ha ‘amanaki ‘oku mo‘ui, ko e me‘a ‘i he toetu‘u ‘a Sīsū mei he pekia; ‘io, ke ma‘u ha tofi‘a ‘oku ta‘e‘auha mo ta‘emele mo ta‘emae, ‘a ia kuo ta‘ofia ‘i hēvani mo‘omoutolu; ‘a kimoutolu ‘oku le‘ohia, he kāpui ‘e he māfimafi ‘a e ‘Otua ko e me‘a ‘i he tui, ke lava‘i ‘a e fakamo‘ui ‘a ia kuo ‘osi sāuni ke fakae‘a mai ‘i he kuonga fakamui.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

It is by God's power also that we are preserved in a state of grace. As grace is at first from God, so 'tis continually from Him, and is maintained by Him, as much as light in the atmosphere is all day long from the sun. Men are dependent on the power of God for every exercise of grace, and for carrying on the work of grace in the heart, for the subduing of sin and corruption, and increasing holy principles, and enabling to bring forth fruit in good works, and at last bringing grace to its perfection, in making the soul completely amiable in Christ's glorious likeness, and filling it with a satisfying joy and blessedness; and for the raising of the body to life, and to such a perfect state, that it shall be suitable for a habitation and organ for a soul so perfected and blessed. These are the most glorious effects of the power of God that are seen in the series of God's acts with respect to the creatures.

JONATHAN EDWARDS

‘Oku tauhi kitautolu ‘i he tu’unga mo’ui ‘o e kelesi, ‘i he ivi pe ‘o e ‘Otua. Ko e kelesi na’e fuofua kamata ‘e he ‘Otua, te ne tauhi hokohoko ai pe mo ne tokanga’i, ‘o hange ko e maama ‘oku ne huhulu ‘a e ‘atimosifia. ‘Oku fakafalala ‘a e tangata ki he ivi ‘o e ‘Otua ‘i he tapa kotoa ‘o ‘Ene ngaahi kelesi, pea mo hono fakahoko ‘o e ngaue ‘a e kelesi ‘i he loto, ki hono ikuna’i ‘o e angahala mo e kinoha’a pea pehe ki hono fakatupulaki ‘o e ngaahi ‘ulungaanga faka-’Otua, ‘o fakaivia ai pe ‘a hono fakafua mai ‘o e ngaahi ngaue lelei, pea fakahaohaoa ai pe ‘a e kelesi, ‘i hono fakakakato ‘a e mo’ui ‘a e laumalie ke ne hokosi ‘a e langilangi ‘o e mo’ui ‘a Kalaisi, pea fakafonu ‘a e mo’ui ‘i he fiefia mo e tapuaki; pea ‘i he hokosia ‘a e toetu’u ‘a e sino, ‘i ha tu’unga haohaoa te ne a’usia, ke ne hoa mo taau mo e nofo’ia haohaoa ‘i he ‘aho ko ee. Ko e ngaahi ola langilangi’ia eni ‘o e ivi ‘o e ‘Otua ‘oku ha mai ‘i he’ene ngaahi ngaue fakaofo ‘i he fa’ahinga ‘o e tangata.

Monite Me 30, 2022

UNMIXED GRACE

KO E KELESI ‘ATA’ATAA PE

EPHESIANS 2:4-5

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

‘EFESO 2:4-5

Ka ko e ‘Otua, ‘a ia ‘oku ne mohu ‘alo‘ofa, ko e me‘a ‘i he ‘ofa lahi ‘a ia na‘a ne ‘ofeina ‘aki ‘a kitautolu, neongo kuo tau mate ‘i he ngaahi talangata‘a, na‘a ne kaungā fakamo‘ui hake kitautolu mo Kalaisi, (ko e kelesi pē kuo mou mo‘ui mei ai),

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

Paul asserts that the salvation of the Ephesians was entirely the work, the gracious work of God. But then they had obtained this grace by faith. On one side, we must look at God, and, on the other, at man. God declares that He owes us nothing, so that salvation is not a reward or recompense, but unmixed grace.

The next question is, in what way do men receive that salvation which is offered to them by the hand of God? The answer is by faith; and hence he concludes that nothing connected with it is our own. If, on the part of God, it is grace alone, and if we bring nothing but faith, which strips us of all commendation, it follows that salvation does not come from us. Ought we not then to be silent about free will, and good intentions, and fancied preparations, merits, and satisfactions? There is none of these which does not claim a share of praise in the salvation of men, so that the praise of grace would not, as Paul shews, remain undiminished.

JOHN CALVIN

‘Oku talamai ‘e Paula, ko e fakamo’ui ‘o e kakai ‘Efeso, ko e ngaue ‘ata’ataa pe ia, ‘io, ko e ngaue fai manava’ofa pe ia ‘a e ‘Otua. Ka na’a nau ma’u ‘a e kelesi ko eni, fou ‘i he’enau tui. ‘I he tapa ‘e taha, te tau sio ki he ‘Otua, pea ‘i he tafa’aki ‘e taha, te tau sio ki he tangata. Kuo fakaha mai ‘e he ‘Otua, ‘oku ‘ikai ke mo’ua mai kiate kitautolu ke ne ‘omi ha momo’i me’a ‘e taha; ko ia ai, ko e fakamo’ui, ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha totongi pe ko ha fetongi ‘o ha me’a, ka ko e kelesi ‘ata’ataa pe ia.

Ko e fehu’i hoko leva, ko e ha ‘a e founga ‘oku ma’u ai ‘e he tangata ‘a e fakamo’ui ‘oku ‘ataa ke ne ma’u mei he to’ukupu ‘o e ‘Otua? Ko e tali ki ai, ko Tui pe; pea ‘oku ‘ikai ha momo’i me’a ‘oku lave ki tui, ko ha’atau me’a. ‘I he fekau’aki mo e ‘Otua, ko e Kelesi ‘ata’ataa pe. Pea kapau ‘oku ‘ikai ha’atau me’a ‘e fakakau ki ai, ngata pe ‘i he tui, pea ‘oku to’o kotoa ha’atau toe ngaue mei ai, pea ko e fakamo’ui ‘oku ‘ikai ‘atautolu ia. ‘Ikai ‘oku totonu ke tau fakalongo ai, ‘o ‘oua te tau toe lau ‘etau tau’ataina ke fili, ha lelei ‘iate kitautolu, ha tokonaki ke fai, ngaue lelei pe ha toe me’a? Ko e kotoa ‘o e ngaahi me’a ko eni, ‘e kei ‘i ai pe ‘enau kaunga ke to’o ‘a e langilangi ‘o e fakamo’ui ke hiki ai ‘a e tangata, pea ‘e ‘ikai leva ke haohaoa ‘a hono fakahikihiki’i a’e kelesi.

Sapate Me 29, 2022 

A PERFECT SAVIOR

KO E FAKAMO’UI HAOHAOA

2 TIMOTHY 2:1

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus

2 TIMOTE 2:1

KA ko koe, nga‘ata, ke ke hoko ‘o kaukaua ‘i he kelesi ‘oku ‘ia Kalaisi Sīsū.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

The innocence, purity, and righteousness of Christ, which He offered up for our guilt and condemnation, deliver us from sin, guilt, and suffering; and we are reckoned worthy of the favor of God for the reason that Christ, who was absolutely free from all sinful inclination, was able to satisfy fully the justice of God. Although He is so high and holy, namely, very God, He nevertheless is our Savior.

From this it follows that His righteousness and innocence, which are wanting in us, are also imputed to us; for God made Him unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. So we now have access to God through Christ, because He is our Savior and a pledge of the grace of God unto us. He is our Surety, our Bondsman, our Mediator, our Advocate, and our Intercessor; yea, He is a perfect Savior to us. Those who have thus received the Gospel and assuredly trust therein are born of God; for the shortsightedness of the human mind can neither perceive nor understand the heavenly and mysterious council of God's grace.

ULRICH ZWINGLI

The angama’a, haohaoa, ma’oni’oni ‘a Kalaisi, na’a ne tuku atu ko e feilaulau ma’a ‘etau halaia mo e mala’ia, ke fakatau’ataina kitautolu mei he angahala, halaia mo e tautea; pea kuo lau ai pe kitautolu ‘oku tau taau ma’ae fofonga mai ‘a e ‘Otua, koe’uhi pe ko Kalaisi; ‘a Ia na’e ‘ikai ha’ane angahala, pea na’a ne fakafiemalie’i ‘a e fakamaau ‘a e ‘Otua. Pea neongo ‘oku taumaopeope atu Ia, he ko e ‘Otua tofu pe Ia, ka kuo ne hoko ko hotau Fakamo’ui.

Pea ‘i he tu’unga ko ia, ko ‘Ene mao’oni’oni mo ‘ene haoahaoa, ‘a e ongo me’a ‘oku tau masiva ai, kuo lau ia ma’a kitautolu; he kuo fakahoko ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a Kalaisi ma’a kitautolu ko hotau poto’anga, haohaoa, fakama’oni’oni mo hotau huhu’i. Pea ‘i he’ene pehee, ‘oku tau apaapangofua ki he ‘Otua koe’uhi ko Kalaisi, koe’uhi he ko Ia hotau Fakamo’ui pea ko e palomesi ia ‘o e kelesi ‘a e ‘Otua ma’a kitautolu. Ko Ia ko hotau Koloa malu’i, ko hotau Ponite, ko hotau Koeli, ko hotau Taukapo pea mo hotau Hufia. ‘Io, ko hotau Fakamo’ui haohaoa. Ko kinautolu kuo nau ma’u ‘a e Kosipeli pea nau falala kakato kiate Ia, kuo nau fanau’i fo’ou ‘i he ‘Otua. Ko e ‘atamai pokosi’i ‘o e tangata, ‘oku ‘ikai te ne malava ke ma’ukupusi pe mahino’i ‘a e misiteli faka-langi ‘o e kelesi ‘a e ‘Otua. 

Tokonaki Me 28, 2022

THE FOUNTAINHEAD OF SALVATION

KO E MATAVAI ‘O E FAKAMO’UI

PSALM 103:10-11

He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

SAAME 103:10-11

Kuo ‘ikai te ne fai kiate kitautolu ‘o fakatatau mo ‘etau ngaahi angahala, Pe totongi kiate kitautolu ‘o fakatatau mo ‘etau ngaahi hia. He hangē ko e mā‘olunga ‘a e langi ki he fonua, ‘Oku pehē ‘a e lahi ‘o ‘ene ‘alo‘ofa Kiate kinautolu ‘oku ‘apasia kiate ia.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

“By grace are ye saved, through faith" (Ephesians 2:8). I think it well to turn a little to one side that I may ask my reader to observe adoringly the fountainhead of our salvation, which is the grace of God. “By grace are ye saved." Because God is gracious, therefore sinful men are forgiven, converted, purified, and saved. It is not because of anything in them, or that ever can be in them, that they are saved; but because of the boundless love, goodness, pity, compassion, mercy, and grace of God.

Tarry a moment, then, at the wellhead. Behold the pure river of the water of life, as it proceeds out of the throne of God and of the Lamb! What an abyss is the grace of God! Who can measure its breadth? Who can fathom its depth? Like all the rest of the divine attributes, it is infinite.

CHARLES SPURGEON

“He ko e kelesi pē kuo mou mo‘ui mei ai,ko e me‘a ‘i ho‘omou tui” (‘Efeso 2:8). ‘Oku ou tui ‘e lelei ke tau afe si’i heni ‘o vakai ki he fu’u tapuaki ‘o e fauniteni ‘o hotau fakamo’ui, ‘a e kelesi ‘a e ‘Otua. “He ko e kelesi pē kuo mou mo‘ui mei ai.” Koe’uhi ko e anga’ofa ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘oku malava ai ‘a e tangata angahala ke fakamolemole’i, ke liliu, ke fakama’a mo fakamo’ui. ‘Oku ‘ikai ko ha me’a ‘oku ne ma’u ‘iate ia, pe ko ha me’a te ne ma’u ‘oku makatu’unga ai hono fakamo’ui; ka koe’uhi pe ko e ‘ofa ta’engata, angalelei, mana’ofa, meesi mo e kelesi ‘a e ‘Otua.

Ki’i nofo hifo heni, ‘i he ve’e vai. Faka’uta ange ki he vaitafe haohaoa ‘o e vai mo’ui, ‘a ‘ene tafe hifo mei he taloni ‘o e ‘Otua mo e Lami. Ko ha toki vanu faufaua, ka ko e kelesi ‘a e ‘Otua! Ko hai te ne lava ke fua hono maokupu? Ko hai ‘oku ne ‘ilo’i hono loloto? Hange pe ko e kotoa ‘o e ngaahi kelesi faka-’Otua, ‘oku ta’e fa’alaua!

Falaite Me 27, 2022 

THE MOTHER OF VIRTUES

KO E FA’EE ‘A E NGAAHI KELESI FAKA-’OTUA

2 PETER 1:5-7

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

2 PITA 1:5-7

Pea koe‘uhi ko e me‘a ko ia, ke fai ‘e kimoutolu foki homou tūkuingata ke lava ‘i ho‘omou ma‘u tui na ‘a e ‘ulungāanga lelei; pea ‘i ho‘omou ma‘u ‘a e ‘ulungāanga lelei, ke lava ‘a e mafai ke ‘ilo; pea ‘i ho‘omou ma‘u ‘a e mafai ke ‘ilo, ke lava ‘a e anga fakama‘uma‘u; pea ‘i ho‘omou ma‘u ‘a e anga fakama‘uma‘u, ke lava ‘a e kātaki; pea ‘i ho‘omou ma‘u ‘a e kātaki, ke lava ‘a e nofo ki he ‘Otua; pea ‘i ho‘omou ma‘u ‘a e nofo ki he ‘Otua, ke lava ‘a e fe‘ofa‘aki fakalotu; pea ‘i ho‘omou ma‘u ‘a e fe‘ofa‘aki fakalotu, ke lava ‘a e ‘ofa.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe   

Faith is the root-grace: all other virtues and graces spring from it. Tell me of love: how can I love Him in whom I do not believe? If I do not believe that there is a God, and that He is the rewarder of all them that diligently seek him, how can I possibly love Him? Tell me of patience: How can I exercise patience unless I have faith? For faith looks to the recompense of the reward: she says that all things are working together for our good," she believes that from our distresses the greater glory shall spring, and therefore she can endure. Tell me of courage: but who can have courage if he has not faith?

Take what virtue you will, and you will see that it depends on faith. Faith is the silver thread upon which the pearls of the graces are to be strung. Break that, and you have broken the string—the pearls lie scattered on the ground, nor can you wear them for your own adornment. Faith is the mother of virtues.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Ko Tui ‘a e kelesi tefito: ‘oku fou kotoa ‘a e ngaahi kelesi (anga faka-’Otua) mei ai. Tau vakai kia ‘ofa: te u ‘ofa fe fe ki ha taha ‘oku ‘ikai te u Tui ki ai? Kapau ‘oku ‘ikai te u Tui ‘oku ‘i ai ha ‘Otua, pea ko Ia ‘oku ne totongi ‘a e kau kumi hakili kiate Ia, pea ‘e fe fe ha’aku ‘ofa kiate Ia? Ta ua lau kia fa’a kataki: ‘e lava fe fe keu kataki kapau ‘oku ‘ikai te u ma’u ‘a e Tui? He ‘oku sio ‘a Tui ki he totongi ‘e ma’u: ‘oku ne pehee, ‘oku fengaue’aki ‘a e me’a kotoa ki he lelei, he ‘oku ne tui, ko ‘etau ngaahi mamahi ‘e mapuna mei ai ha langilangi fakatupu fiefia, pea ko ia ai, ‘oku ne kitaki atu. Ta u lau kia loto to’a: ka ko  hai ia ‘e loto to’a kapau ‘oku ‘ikai ha’a ne Tui?

To’o ha taha pe ‘o e ngaahi ‘ulungaanga faka-’Otua, pea te ke fakamo’oni, ‘oku nau fakafalala kotoa kia TUI. Ko Tui, ‘a e filo lanu siliva ‘oku tui ki ai ‘a e ngaahi mata’itofe ‘o e ngaahi kelesi ‘a e ‘Otua. Motuhi ia, pea mokulu kotoa ‘a e ngaahi fo’i mata’itofe ki he kelekele, pea ‘e ‘ikai te ke lava ke tui ko ha’o kahao teuteu. Ko Tui, ‘a e fa’ee ‘o e ngaahi kelesi faka-’Otua.

Tu’apulelulu Me 26, 2022

THE MERIT OF WORKS CEASES

FAKANGATA ‘A E NGAUE’I ‘O E FAKAMO’UI

ROMANS 3:21-24

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

LOMA 3:21-24

Ka ‘i onopooni kuo fakae‘a ha fakatonuhia mei he ‘Otua, ‘a ia ‘oku ta‘ekau ai ‘a e lao, ka ‘oku ‘i ai ha lau ki ai ‘i he Lao mo e Tohi palōfita. ‘Io, ko e fakatonuhia mei he ‘Otua ‘oku fou mai ‘i he tui kia Sīsū Kalaisi ki he kakai kotoa pē ‘oku tui. He ‘oku ‘ikai ha fai kehekehe; he kuo fai angahala kotoa pē pea ‘oku ‘ikai te nau a‘usia ‘a e hōifua ‘a e ‘Otua; ka nau ma‘u foaki pē ‘a e fakatonuhia ‘i he‘ene ‘ofa pē ‘a‘ana, ko e me‘a ‘i he totongi huhu‘i ‘a ia kuo ‘ia Kalaisi Sīsū.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe    

Whosoever obtains righteousness by works, his merits come into account before God. But we apprehend righteousness by faith, when God freely reconciles us to Himself. Whence it follows that the merit of works ceases when righteousness is sought by faith; for it is necessary that this righteousness should be freely given by God, and offered in His Word, in order that anyone may possess it by faith.

To render this more intelligible, when Moses says that faith was imputed to Abram for righteousness, he does not mean that faith was that first cause of righteousness, but only the formal cause; as if he had said that Abram was therefore justified, because, relying on the paternal lovingkindness of God, he trusted to His mere goodness, and not to himself, nor to his own merits. For it is especially to be observed that faith borrows a righteousness elsewhere, of which we, in ourselves, are destitute; otherwise it would be in vain for Paul to set faith in opposition to works, when speaking of the mode of obtaining righteousness.

JOHN CALVIN

Ko ia pe ‘oku ne pehee ‘oku ne ma’u ‘a e ma’oni’oni ‘i he’ene ngaue, kuopau ke fakamaau’i ‘a e ola ‘o ‘ene ngaue ‘e he ‘Otua. Ka ko kitautolu ia, na’a tau ma’u ma’oni’oni fou ‘i he tui, ‘i he taimi na’e fakalelei ai kitautolu ‘e he ‘Otua kiate Ia. ‘Io, na’e fakangata ‘a e ngaahi ngaue ko eni, ‘i he taimi na’a tau ma’u ma’oni’oni ai ‘i he’etau kakapa ki he Tui; he ko e ma’oni’oni eni ia na’e foaki ta’etotongi ‘e he ‘Otua, fou ‘i he’ene Folofola, koe’uhi ke ma’u ia ‘e he taha pe ‘e tui.

‘I hono toe fakalea ke mahino ange, ‘i he taimi na’e hiki ai ‘e Mosese ‘o pehee, na’e tui ‘a ‘Epalame pea lau ia ma’a ne ma’oni’oni, na’e ‘ikai ‘uhinga ia, na’e fakatupu ‘e he tui ‘ene ma’oni’oni, ka ko e founga pe ia; na’e hange pe ko ha’ane pehee mai, na’e fakatonuhia’i ‘a ‘Epalame, koe’uhi ko ‘ene fakafalala ki he ‘ofa faka-Tamai ‘a e ‘Otua, mo ‘ene angalelei, ‘o ‘ikai falala kiate ia pe, pe ki ha’ane ngaue. He ‘oku kole ‘e he tui ‘a e ma’oni’oni mei ha potu kehe, he ko kitautolu ia, ‘oku tau hala ‘ataa; ko e ‘uhinga ia na’e ‘omi ai ‘e Paula ‘a e tui ke mahino ‘oku tu’u fehangahangai mo e ngaue, ke mahino ko e founga pe ia ‘o hono ma’u ‘o e ma’oni’oni, ka ‘oku ‘ikai ko e tupu’angaa ia.

Pulelulu Me 25, 2022

FAITH THAT SECURES

KO E TUI ‘OKU NE PUKE NIMA’I KITAUTOLU

1 JOHN 3:23-24

And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

1 SIONE 3:23

Pea ko eni ia ‘a e tu‘utu‘uni ‘a ‘Ene ‘Afio, ke tau tui ki he huafa ‘o hono ‘Alo ko Sīsū Kalaisi, pea ke tau fe‘ofa‘aki ‘o hangē ko e tu‘utu‘uni na‘a ne tuku mai. Pea ko ia ‘oku ne tauhi ‘ene ngaahi tu‘utu‘uni ‘oku ne nofo ma‘u ‘i he ‘Ene ‘Afio, pea mo ‘Ene ‘Afio ‘iate ia. Pea ko eni ia ‘a e me‘a ‘oku tau ‘ilo ai ‘oku ne nofo‘ia kitautolu, koe‘uhi ko e laumālie kuo ne foaki mai.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe    

We ought, my friends, to be extremely careful of our faith - both of its rightness and of its strength, first of all, we consider the position which faith occupied in salvation. Faith is the salvation-grace. We are not saved by love, but we are saved by grace, and we are saved by faith. We are not saved by courage, we are not saved by patience; but we are saved by faith. That is to say, God gives His salvation to faith and not to any other virtue.

It is nowhere written, He that loveth shall be saved. It is nowhere recorded that a patient sinner shall be saved. But it is said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." Faith is the vital part of salvation. If a man lacks faith he lacks everything. "Without faith it is impossible to please God." If a man has true faith—however little he has of any other virtue—that man is secure.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Si’oku ngaahi kaungame’a, ‘oku mahu’inga ke tau tokanga ‘aupito ki he’etau tui - tatau pe ‘i hono tu’unga ‘oku totonu ke ‘i ai mo hono malohi - ‘o hange pe ko e fuofua taimi ne tau tui ai pea ma’u hotau fakamo’ui. Ko Tui, ‘a e kelesi ‘o e fakamo’ui. ‘Oku ‘ikai ke tau mo’ui ‘i he ‘ofa, ka ‘oku tau mo’ui ‘i he kelesi, ‘io, ‘oku tau mo’ui fou ‘i he tui. ‘Oku ‘ikai ke tau mo’ui ‘i he’etau to’a; ‘oku ‘ikai ke tau mo’ui ‘i he’etau fa’a kataki; ka ‘oku tau mo’ui fou ‘i he tui. ‘I hono toe fakalea ‘e tahaa, ‘oku foaki ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e fakamo’ui ki he Tui, ‘o ‘ikai ki ha toe kelesi ‘e taha.

‘Oku ‘ikai ha potu tohi ‘oku pehee mai ai, “Ko ia ‘oku fai ‘ofa, ‘e fakamo’ui.” ‘Oku ‘ikai hiki ‘i ha potu tohi, ko e tokotaha angahala ‘oku ne ma’u ‘a e fa’a kataki, te ne ma’u ‘a e mo’ui. Ka ‘oku tau ma’u ‘a e lea ko eni, “‘Ilonga ‘a ia te ne tui mo papitaiso te ne mo‘ui” (Ma’ake 16:16). Ko e Tui, ‘a e konga mahu’inga ‘o e fakamo’ui. Ka ‘ikai ma’u ‘e ha taha ‘a e tui, ‘oku ‘ikai te ne ma’u ha me’a. “Ka ‘oka ta‘ekau ‘a e tui, ‘oku ‘ikai momo‘i lava ha‘ate fakahōifua ia” (Hepelu 11:6). Pea ka ma’u ‘e ha tangata ‘a e tui mo’oni - neongo pe ‘oku lahi fe fe - ko e tokotaha ko iaa, kuo ‘osi malu’i ‘i he’ene ‘Afio.

Tusite Me 24, 2022 

FAITH IS WORSHIP

KO E TUI, KO E LOTUU IA

HEBREWS 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

HEPELU 11:6

Ka ‘oka ta‘ekau ‘a e tui, ‘oku ‘ikai momo‘i lava ha‘ate fakahōifua ia: he ko ia ‘oku ‘unu‘unu ki he ‘Otua, kuo pau ‘oku ne tui ‘oku ‘i ai ia, pea te ne hanga ‘o totongi kiate kinautolu ‘oku kumi hakili kiate ia.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe    

Faith in God constitutes the highest worship, the prime duty, the first obedience, and the foremost sacrifice. Without faith God forfeits His glory, wisdom, truth, and mercy in us. The first duty of man is to believe in God and to honor Him with his faith. Faith is truly the height of wisdom, the right kind of righteousness, the only real religion. Faith says to God: “I believe what you say."

When we pay attention to reason, God seems to propose impossible matters in the Christian creed. To reason it seems absurd that Christ should offer His body and blood in the Lord's Supper; that baptism should be the washing of regeneration; that the dead shall rise; that Christ the Son of God was conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary, etc. Reason shouts that all this is preposterous. Are you surprised that reason thinks little of faith? Reason thinks it ludicrous that faith should be the foremost service any person can render unto God. Let your faith supplant reason.

MARTIN LUTHER

Ko e Tui ki he ‘Otua, ko e lotu fisifisimu’a ia, ko e ngafa mahu’inga taha, ko e mu’aki talangofua pea mo e feilaulau tu’ukimu’a. Ka ‘ikai ‘a e tui, ’oku tau tukuange ‘a e langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua, ‘a hono poto mo ‘ene meesi kiate kitautolu. Ko e ngafa ‘uluaki ‘a e tangata, ke tui ki he ‘Otua pea ke ne fakalangilangi’ia Ia ‘aki ‘a e tui ko ia. Ko e tui, ko e ma’olunga taha ia ‘o e poto, ko e ‘alunga totonu ‘o e ma’oni’oni, pea ko e lotu mo’oni tahaa ia. ‘Oku pehee ‘e he tui ki he ‘Otua: “ ‘Oku ou tui ki ho’o ngaahi lea.”

Kapau te tau sio ‘aki ‘etau fakakaukau faka’atamai, ‘oku ngali ta’emalava ‘a hono ‘omi ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e tokateline faka-Kalisitiane. Ki he ‘atamai ‘o e tangata, ‘oku angakehe ‘a hono foaki ‘e Kalaisi ‘a hono sino mo hono ta’ata’a ‘i he ‘Ohomohe; ke hoko ‘a e papitaiso ko e fakama’a ia ‘o e fanau’ifo’ou; ke toetu’u ‘a e mate; fanau’i ‘a Kalaisi ko e ‘Alo ‘e he taupo’ou ko Mele.. ‘Oku kalanga mai ‘a e ‘atamai ‘o e tangata, “Oku hala ‘aupito!” ‘Oku ke ofo, ‘a hono fakasikaka’i ‘e he ‘atamai ‘o e tangata ‘a e tui? ‘Oku pehee ‘e he ‘atamai ‘o e tangata, ‘oku hala ‘aupito ‘a hono fakamu’omu’a ‘a e Tui ‘i he tauhi ki he ‘Otua. Tuku ke hanga ‘e ho’o tui ‘o fetongi ho’o fakakaukau faka’atamai.

Monite Me 23, 2022

EMBRACING THE PROMISES

PIKITAI KI HE NGAAHI PALOMESI

HEBREWS 10:21-23

and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

HEPELU 10:21-23

pea ‘i he‘etau ma‘u ha taula‘eiki ‘oku fungani, ‘a ia ‘oku pule ki he ‘api ‘o e ‘Otua; ko ia ke tau ‘unu‘unu atu mo e loto mo‘oni, kuo ma‘uma‘uluta ‘etau tui, kuo luluku hotau loto ‘o fakama‘a mei he konisēnisi kovi, pea kuo pālutu hotau sino ‘i he vai fakama‘a. Ke tau kuku ma‘u, ta‘engaue, ‘a e fai fakahā ‘o ‘etau fakatu‘amelie, (seuke, ko ia na‘a ne tala ‘a e ngaahi palōmesi ko e toko taha ‘oku fai ki he‘ene lea).

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe    

Let us attempt great things, for those who believe in the name of the Lord succeed beyond all expectation. By faith the worker lives. The right noble Earl of Shaftesbury said, the other afternoon, of Ragged school teachers and their work, "It was evident to all thinking persons that we had a great danger in the ignorance of the children of the lower classes, and so the senators began to think of it, and the philosophers began to think of it, and good men of all sorts began to think of it; but while they were all engaged in thinking, a few plain, humble people opened Ragged schools, and did it. This is the kind of faith of which we need more and more; we need so to trust in God as to put our hand to the plough in His name. It is idle to spend time in making and altering plans and doing nothing else; the best plan for doing God's work is to do it."

Brothers, if you do not believe in anybody else, believe in God without stint. Believe up to the hilt. Bury yourselves, both as to your weakness and your strength, in simple trust in God.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Tau fakahoko ha ngaue lahi, he ko kinautolu ‘oku nau tui ki he ‘Otua, ‘oku nau lava me’a pea ope atu. ‘Oku makatu’unga ‘a e mo’ui ‘a e kau ngaue ‘i he’enau tui. Na’e ‘i ai ha ako’anga ‘i ha potu ‘e taha na’a nau fehangahangai mo ha palopalema ‘i he laukonga ‘a e fanau mei he ngaahi famili masivaa. Na’e nofo hifo ‘a e kau pule ako, mo e kau mataotao mo e kakai lelei kehekehe ke nau fakakaukau’i ‘a e palopalema. Ka ‘i he lolotonga ‘a e nofo ‘a e kau me’a ni ‘o fakakaukau’i ‘a e palopalema, ne tu’u mai ha ni’ihi pe mei he ki’i kolo ‘o fakaava ‘a e ako pea nau fakahoko ‘a e ngaue na’e fiema’u ke fakahoko. Ko e fa’ahinga tui eni ‘oku fiema’u ke fakatupulaki. ‘Oku fiema’u ke tau falala ki he ‘Otua pea tau ala ki he palau ‘i Hono Huafa. ‘Oku maumau taimi ‘a e nofo pe ke palani ngaue mo liliu, kae ‘ikai fai ha me’a. Ko e palani lelei taha ki hono fakahoko ‘a e ngaue ‘a e ‘Otua, ko hono fakahoko leva ‘a e ngaue ko ia.

Fanga tokoua, ka ‘ikai te ke tui ki ha taha kehe, pea tui pe aa ki he ‘Otua ‘o ‘ikai ha toe tala’a. Tu ‘aki ho kotoa. Tanu ho’o taukei mo ho’o vaivai’anga fakatou’osi, ka falala taha pe ki he ‘Otua.

Sapate Me 22, 2022

A PROFESSION OF FAITH

KO E LEA (FAKAMO’ONI) TUI ‘A E NGUTU

ACTS 4:12

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.

NGAUE 4:12

‘Io, pea ‘oku ‘ikai ke tu‘u ‘i ha taha kehe ‘a e fakamo‘ui; he tala‘ehai ‘oku ‘i ai mo ha hingoa kehe ‘i he lalo langi kuo fokotu‘u ‘i he lotolotonga ‘o e kakai, ‘a ia kuo tu‘utu‘uni ke tau mo‘ui ai.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe   

When the apostle speaks of a profession of our faith in Christ, as one duty which all Christians ought to perform as they seek salvation, it is the profession of a saving faith. His words plainly imply it: "If thou shalt confess with mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." The faith which was to be professed with the mouth was the same which the apostle speaks of as in the heart, but that is saving faith. The latter is yet plainer in the following words: "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Believing unto righteousness is saving faith; but it is evidently the same faith which is spoken of, as professed with the mouth, in the next words in the same sentence. And that the Gentiles, in professing the Christian religion, or swearing to Christ, should profess saving faith, is implied Isaiah 45:23-24: "Every tongue shall swear; surely shall one say, In the Lord have I righteousness and strength"; i.e., should profess entirely to depend on Christ's righteousness and strength.

JONATHAN EDWARDS

Ko e fakamatala ‘a e ‘aposetolo fekau’aki mo ‘etau tui kia Kalaisi, pea ko e fatongia totonu ‘a e kau Kalisitiane ‘i he’enau fekumi ki he fakamo’ui, ko e vete ‘a honau ngutu ‘i he tui ‘oku fakamo’ui. ‘Oku mahino ‘aupito ‘a ‘ene fakamatala: “Koe‘uhi, kapau te ke fakahā ‘aki ho ngutu, ko e ‘Eiki ‘a Sīsū, pea ke tui ‘aki ho loto kuo fokotu‘u ia ‘e he ‘Otua mei he pekia, ‘e fakamo‘ui koe” (Loma 10:9). Ko e tui ‘oku fakahaa’i ‘e he ngutu, ko e tui tatau pe ia ‘oku fai mei he loto, ka ko e tui ia ‘oku fakamo’ui. Pea ‘oku ne toe fakamahino mai pe ‘i he veesi hoko, “He ‘oku fai ‘a e tui ‘aki ‘a e loto ke ma‘u ‘a e fakatonuhia, ka ‘oku fai ‘a e fakahā ‘aki ‘a e ngutu ke ma‘u ‘a e fakamo‘ui.”

Ko e tui ‘oku ma’u ai ‘a e ma’oni’oni, ko e tui fakamo’ui ia. Ka ‘oku mahino mai, ko e tui pe ia ‘oku fai ‘aki ‘a e vete ‘o e ngutu (lea). Pea ko e kau Senitaile, ‘i he’enau fakahaa’i ‘enau tui ki he lotu faka-Kalaisitiane, fakamo’oni kia Kalaisi, ‘oku nau fai ‘eni ‘i he tui ‘oku fakamo’ui. “Kuo u fuakava ‘iate au –kuo ‘alu atu ‘a e lea mei hoku ngutu mā‘oni‘oni, pea ‘e ‘ikai foki–‘e peluki kiate au ‘a e tui kotoa pē, ‘e fuakava kiate au ‘a e ‘elelo kotoa. 24‘Oku ‘ia Sihova ‘a e ‘ū mā‘oni‘oni mo e mālohi–ko e lau ia ‘e fai kiate au–‘oku nau a‘u mai ki He‘ene ‘Afio, pea ‘e fakamaa‘i ‘a kinautolu kotoa na‘e ‘ita kiate ia” (‘Aisea 45:23-24).