ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Tusite Sune 28, 2022

GOD'S PLEASURE: SAVING SINNERS

KO E MOKOI ‘A E ‘OTUA: KE FAKAMO’UI ‘A KAU ANGAHALA

ISAIAH 42:3

A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth.

ISAIAH 42:3

Ko e kofe kuo foa ‘e ‘ikai te ne laiki, pea ko e vavae ‘oku kohu ‘e ‘ikai te ne tāmate‘i: te ne fai mo‘oni ‘ene fakahoko ‘a e fakamaau.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

The Law is a mirror to show a person what he is like, a sinner who is guilty of death, and worthy of everlasting punishment. What is this bruising and beating by the hand of the Law to accomplish? This, that we may find the way to grace. God is the God of the humble, the miserable, the afflicted. It is His nature to exalt the humble, to comfort the sorrowing, to heal the brokenhearted, to justify the sinners, and to save the condemned. The fatuous idea that a person can be holy by himself denies God the pleasure of saving sinners.

God must therefore first take the sledgehammer of the Law in His fists and smash the beast of self-righteousness and its brood of self-confidence, self-wisdom, self-righteousness, and self-help. When the conscience has been thoroughly frightened by the Law it welcomes the Gospel of grace with its message of a Savior who came into the world, not to break the bruised reed, nor to quench the smoking flax, but to preach glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, and to grant forgiveness of sins to all the captives.

MARTIN LUTHER