Pulelulu ‘Akosi 31, 2022 

THE REAL CHRIST

KO E KALAISI MO’ONI

ROMANS 3:28

For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

LOMA 3:28

He ‘oku mau pehē, ‘oku fakatonuhia ha tangata ‘aki ‘a e tui, ‘ata‘atā mei he ngaahi ngāue fakalao.

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko e Kalasi pe   

AIl that teach you to do works, instead of teaching you to believe - those who hold forth Christ to you as a maker and a judge, and refuse to let Christ be a Helper and a Comforter, torment you, by putting works before and in the way of God in order to atone for your sins and to merit grace: such are the teachings of the pope, priests, monks and their high schools, who with their masses and religious ceremonies cause you to open your eyes and mouth in astonishment, leading you to another Christ and withholding from you the real Christ.

For if you desire to believe rightly and to possess Christ truly, then you must reject all works that you intend to place before and in the way of God. They are only stumbling blocks, leading you away from Christ and from God. Before God no works are acceptable but Christ's own works.

MARTIN LUTHER

Ko kinautolu ‘oku nau ako’i koe ke ke ngaue, ‘o ‘ikai te nau ako’i koe ke ke tui – mo kinautolu ‘oku nau fakahaa’i ko Kalaisi ko e tokotaha fa’u lao pea ko e Fakamaau, pea nau faka’ikai’i ‘a Kalaisi ko e Tokoni pea mo e Taukapo, ‘oku nau fakamamahi’i koe ‘aki ‘enau fakamu’omu’a ‘a e ngaue ‘i he ‘alunga ‘o e ‘Otua ke ma’u ai ho Fakamo’ui mo fakamolemole’i ai ho angahala mo ngaue’i ‘a e kelesi: ‘oku pehē ‘a e ngaahi akonaki ‘a e kau takimu’a ‘o e lotu, ‘a e kau faifekau, mo e kau tokoni mo e ngaahi ako’anga, ‘a ia ‘i he’enau ngaahi ouau mo e ngaahi to’onga lotu ‘oku nau fai ‘a e ngaahi me’a ‘oku ofo ai ‘a e tokolahi pea ‘oku nau tataki ‘a e ni’ihi ki ha kalaisi ‘e taha ‘o makehe mei he Kalaisi mo’oni.

Kapau ‘oku ke hohoi ki he tui totonu mo ke ma’u ‘a e Kalaisi mo’oni, pea kuopau ke ke li’aki kotoa ‘a e ngaahi ngaue na’a ke fakakaukau ke ke fakamu’omu’a ‘i he hala ki he ‘Otua.  Ko e ngaahi maka fakatukia pe ‘eni ia ‘oku nau taki hee’i koe mei a Kalaisi pea mo e ‘Otua.  ‘I he ‘ao ‘o e ‘Otua mo ‘ene fofonga mai, ‘oku ‘ikai ha toe ngaue fakatupu hoifua ka ko e ngaue pe ‘a Kalaisi.

Tusite ‘Akosi 30, 2022

THE GLORY OF THE TRINITY

KO E LANGILANGI ‘O E TOLU-TAHA’I-’OTUA

JOHN 13:31

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him

SIONE 13:31

Pea kuo ne ‘alu atu ki tu‘a, pea folofola ‘a Sīsū, Ko eni kuo fakalāngilangi‘i ‘a e Fanautama ‘a Tangata, pea kuo fakalāngilangi‘i ‘a e ‘Otua ‘iate ia:

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko e Kalasi pe   

In all this God designed to accomplish the glory of the blessed Trinity in an eminent degree. God had a design of glorifying Himself from eternity; yea, to glorify each person in the Godhead. The end must be considered as first in order of nature, and then the means; and therefore we must conceive that God having professed this end, had then as it were the means to choose; and the principal mean that He adopted was this great work of redemption. It was His design in this work to glorify his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and by the Son to glorify the Father: John 13:31-32: "Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, God also shall glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him." It was His design that the Son should thus be glorified, and should glorify the Father by what should be accomplished by the Spirit to the glory of the Spirit, that the whole Trinity, conjunctly, and each person singly, might be exceedingly glorified.

JONATHAN EDWARDS

Ko e fokotu’utu’u ‘a e ‘Otua ke ne fakakakato ‘a e langilangi toputapu ‘o e Tolutaha’i ‘Otua ‘i ha founga makehe ‘aupito.  Na’e fokotu’utu’u ‘e he ‘Otua ke ne fakalangilangi’i ‘e ia Ia talu mei ‘Itaniti; pea ke fakalangilangi’i foki mo e pesona ‘o e tolutaha’i ‘Otua.  Ko hono iku’anga na’e taau ke fatu ‘o fakatatau ki he fokotu’utu’u ‘o e natula ‘o e ‘Otua, pea pehē ki hono founga fakahoko; ‘i he’ene pehē, te tau vavalo ‘i he hili hono palani ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a hono fakakato ‘a ‘ene kaveinga, na’e fatu foki mo e founga ke fakahoko ‘aki; pea ko e founga taupotu na’a ne fili ko e ngaue kaafakafa ‘o e huhu’i ‘o e tangata.  Ko ‘ene palani haohaoa ke fakalangilangi’i ‘a hono ‘Alo tofu pe ‘e taha ko Sisu Kalaisi; pea ke fakalangilangi’i ‘e he ‘Alo ‘a e Tamai: Sione 13:31-32: 31Pea kuo ne ‘alu atu ki tu‘a, pea folofola ‘a Sīsū, Ko eni kuo fakalāngilangi‘i ‘a e Fanautama ‘a Tangata, pea kuo fakalāngilangi‘i ‘a e ‘Otua ‘iate ia: 32pea ‘e fakalāngilangi‘i ia ‘e he ‘Otua ‘i he ‘ene ‘Afio, pea ‘e vave ni ‘ene fakalāngilangi‘i ia. Ko ‘ene palani ke fakalangilangi’i ‘a e ‘Alo pea ke fakalangilangi’i foki pea mo e Tamai ‘i hono fakahoko ‘e he Laumālie ki he langilangi ‘o e Laumālie, pea ko e kotoa ‘o e Tolu taha’i ‘Otua, ke nau ma’u ‘a e langilangi taautaha ‘iate kinautolu pe pea toe falute ke nau fakataha ai ‘o fema’uma’utaha ai.

Monite ‘Akosi 29, 2022 

NOTHING APART FROM CHRIST

KA ‘IKAI ‘A KALAISI, ‘OKU HALA KOTOA

JOHN 15:5

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

SIONE 15:5

Ko au pē ko e vaine, ko kimoutolu ko e ngaahi va‘a: ko ia ‘oku nofo ma‘u ‘iate au, mo au ‘iate ‘ia, ‘oku fua lahi ‘a e toko taha ko ia: he ka māvae mo au, ‘oku ‘ikai te mou fa‘a fai ha me‘a.

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko e Kalasi pe   

Take heed, therefore, take heed, I say, lest you presume to get rid of the smallest of your sins through your own merit before God, and lest you rob Christ, the Lamb of God, of His credit. John indeed demands that we grow better and repent; but he does not mean us to grow better of ourselves and to strip off our sins by our own strength, this he declares powerfully by adding, "Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." He means that each one is to know himself and his need of becoming a better man; yet he is not to look for this in himself, but in Jesus Christ alone.

Now may God our Father according to His infinite mercy bestow upon us this knowledge of Christ, and may He send into the world the voice of John, with great numbers of evangelists! Amen.

MARTIN LUTHER

Tokanga, pea ke toe tokanga, ‘oku ou lea kiate koe, na’a faifai kuo ke pehe te ke lava ke tukuange ha meme’i angahala ‘i ho ivi fakaetangata ‘i he fofonga mai ‘a e ‘Otua, he te ke kaiha’asi ai mei a Kalaisi, ko e Lami ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘a hono langilangi.  ‘Oku ui kitautolu ‘e Sione ketau ha’u ki he maama pea ketau fakatomala; ka ‘oku ‘ikai te ne ‘uhinga ketau tupulaki ha ngaahi lelei fakaetangata pea tau hanga ‘o hu’ihu’i ‘etau ngaahi angahala ‘i hotau mafai fakaetangata, pea ‘oku hā ia ‘i he’ene na’ina’i ko ‘eni, “vakai ko eni ‘a e Lami ‘a e ‘Otua ‘oku ne ‘ave ‘a e angahala ‘a mamani.”  Na’e ‘uhinga ‘a Sione ketau taki taha ‘ilo ‘a kitautolu pea mo ‘etau  ngaahi fiema’u, ka na’e ‘ikai ke ‘uhinga ketau sio ai pe ki hotau tu’unga tangata, kā ketau sio kia Kalaisi tokotaha pe.

Ko ia ke hangaifofonga mai ‘a e ‘Otua ko e Tamai fakatatau ki he’ene ngaahi meesi ta’engata ke ne ‘omi kiate kitautolu ketau ‘ilo’i mo’oni ‘a Kalaisi, pea ke ne fekau’i atu ki mamani ‘a e le’o ‘o Sione, ‘o fou ‘i ha kau ‘evangeliō tokolahi.  ‘Emeni.

Sapate ‘Akosi 28, 2022

OUR SOLE HOPE

KO ‘ETAU ‘AMANAKI LAULOTAHA

HEBREWS 6:19

We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,

HEPELU 6:19

‘a e ‘amanaki ko ia ‘oku tau ma‘u mo‘o taula hotau laumālie, ko e taula mālohi mo ma‘uma‘uluta, pea kuo lī ki he loto tatau;

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko e Kalasi pe   

It is Christ that died. "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth." Now, poor soul! Will you come into this lifeboat, just as you are? Here is safety from the wreck! Accept the sure deliverance. "I have nothing with me," say you. You are not asked to bring anything with you. Men who escape for their lives will leave even their clothes behind. Leap for it, just as you are.

I will tell you this thing about myself to encourage you: my sole hope for heaven lies in the full atonement made upon Calvary's cross for the ungodly. On that I firmly rely. I have not the shadow of a hope anywhere else. You are in the same con-dition as I am, for we neither of us have anything of our own worth as a ground of trust. Let us join hands and stand together at the foot of the cross, and trust our souls once for all to Him who shed His blood for the guilty.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Ko Kalaisi pe na’e pekia.  “Ko hai ia te ne talatalaaki’i ‘a e kakai fili ‘a e ‘Otua?  He ko e ‘Otua ia kuo ne fai honau fakatonuhia.”  ‘E si’oku laumālie´ te ke ha’u ki he vaka ‘o e fakamo’ui, ‘i he tu’unga pe ‘oku ke ‘i ai?  ‘Oku ma’u ha malu heni´ tali ‘a e fakahaofi mo’ui ‘oku fai atu.  “’Oku ‘ikai ha me’a te u ma’u, tokua ko ho’o lea ia.  ‘Oku ‘ikai ke toe talaatu ke ke ha’u mo ha me’a.  Ko e tokotaha ‘oku hola ki he mo’ui ‘oku ne li’aki ‘a e me’a kotoa pe kae kalofaki ‘ene mo’ui.  Puna ke ke hao ‘o ‘oua te ke toe lau ha me’a.

Teu talaatu ‘a e me’a ko ‘eni fekau’aki mo ‘eku mo’ui ke hoko ko ha fakalotolahi kiate koe:  ko ‘eku ‘amanaki pe ‘e taha ki he nofo langi ‘oku hilifaki kotoa ki he totongi huhu’i na’e fai ‘i he kolosi ‘o Kalevale ma’a e faka’otua mate.  Ko e me’a ia ‘oku tu’u ai ‘eku falala.  ‘Oku ‘ikai ha’aku toe ‘amanaki ki ha toe me’a ‘e taha.  ‘Oku ke ‘i he tu’unga tatau mo au, he ‘oku ‘ikai  ha me’a te ta ma’u‘i ke tu’u ki ai ‘e ta falala.  Ha’u ke ta fetakinima pea ke ta tu’u fakataha ‘i he lalo kolosi, ke ta falala kakato tā tu’o taha ‘aki hota kotoa kiate Ia na’a ne lilingi hono ta’ata’a koe’uhi ko e halaia.

Tokonaki ‘Akosi 27, 2022 

THE POWER OF GOD IN CHRIST

KO E IVI ‘O E ‘OTUA ‘IA KALAISI

ROMANS 10:4

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

LOMA 10:4

He ko Kalaisi ko e fakangata ia ‘o e lao, kae mā‘oni‘oni ‘a e tangata kotoa pē ‘oku tui.

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko e Kalasi pe   

Note this fact carefully, that when you find in the Scriptures the [term] God's justice, it is not to be understood of the self-existing, imminent justice of God, as many of the fathers held, lest you be frightened; but, according to the usage of Holy Writ, it means the revealed grace and mercy of God through Jesus Christ in us by means of which we are considered godly and righteous before Him. Hence it is called God's justice or righteousness effected not by us, but by God through grace, just as God's work, God's wisdom, God's strength, God's Word, and God's mouth signifies what He works and speaks in us.

For therein is revealed a righteousness of God, as it is written in Habakkuk 2:4: "The righteous shall live by his faith." Here you see that he speaks of the righteousness of faith and calls the same the righteousness of God, preached in the Gospel, since the Gospel teaches nothing else but that he who believes has grace and is righteous before God and is saved.

MARTIN LUTHER

Fakatokanga’i fakalelei ange ‘a e me’a ni, ‘i he taimi ‘oku ke vakai ai ‘i he Folofola ki he kaveinga ‘o e faitotonu ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘oku ‘ikai ‘uhinga ia ki hono tu’unga mo’ui pe ‘iate Ia, ‘o hange ko e ma’u ‘a e ni’ihi.  Kae fakatatau ki he lau ‘a e Tohitapu, ‘oku ‘uhinga ia ki he meesi mo e kelesi kuo fakae’a mai ‘ia Sisu Kalaisi kiate kitautolu, ‘o lau kitautolu ko e kau mā’oni’oni ‘i he’ene fofonga mai.  Pea ‘i he’ene pehē, ko e fakamaau totonu ‘a e ‘Otua pe ko ‘ene mā’oni’oni, ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha ngaue ia ‘a kitautolu ka ‘oku ‘a e ‘Otua pe ia fou ‘i he kelesi, hange pe ko e ngaue ‘a e ‘Otua, poto ‘a e ‘Otua, malohi ‘a e ‘Otua, Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua, pea mo e fofonga ‘o e ‘Otua ‘oku ne faka’ilonga’i ‘a ‘ene ngaahi ngaue pea ‘oku ne folofola mai ‘o fou ‘iate kitautolu.

Pea ‘oku fakae’a ‘a e mā’oni’oni ‘a e ‘Otua ‘o fakatatau ki he lau ‘a Hapakuki 2:4: “ko e mā’oni’oni ‘e mo’ui pe ‘i he’ene tui.”  ‘I he potu tohi ko ‘eni ‘oku ne folofola ai fekau’aki mo e tui ‘a e mā’oni’oni pea ne ui pe ia ko e mā’oni’oni ‘a e ‘Otua, pea ‘oku malanga’i ia ‘i he koosipeli, koe’uhi he ko e koosipeli ‘oku ne ako’i pe ‘a e mo’oni ko ‘eni; ko ia ‘oku tui ‘oku ne ma’u ‘a e kelesi pea mo e mā’oni’oni ‘i he fofonga hifo ‘a e ‘Otua pea kuo fakamo’ui ia.

Falaite ‘Akosi 26, 2022

CHRIST'S DIVINE GLORY

KO E LANGILANGI FAKA-‘OTUA ‘O KALAISI

2 PETER 1:17

For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

2 PITA 1:17

He na‘a ne ma‘u mei he ‘Otua ko e Tamai ‘a e faka‘apa‘apa mo e fakalāngilangi‘i, he ‘omai kiate ia ‘a e le‘o ko ia na‘e pehē fau ‘e he Sikaina nāunau‘ia, ‘o pehē, Ko hoku ‘Alo Pele ‘ena, ‘a ia kuo toka ki ai ‘eku hōifua.

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko e Kalasi pe   

The apostle Peter mentions it as what gave him and his companions good and well-grounded assurance of the truth of the Gospel, that they had seen the divine glory of Christ-2 Peter 1:16: "For we... were eyc-witnesses of his majesty." The apostle has respect to that visible glory of Christ which they saw in His transfiguration: that glory was so divine, having such an ineffable appearance and semblance of divine holiness, majesty, and grace, that it evidently denoted Him to be a divine person.

But if a sight of Christ's outward glory might give a rational assurance of His divinity, why may not an apprehension of His spiritual glory do so too? Doubtless Christ's spiritual glory is in itself as distinguishing, and as plainly shows His divinity, as His outward glory-nay, a great deal more: for His spiritual glory of His transfiguration showed Him to be divine, only as it was a remarkable image or representation of that spiritual glory.

JONATHAN EDWARDS

Ko e ‘apositolo ko Pita ‘oku ne lave ki he me’a ‘oku tokoni kiate ia mo hono kaungā ngaue ke fakatu’uma’u ‘a e pau’ia ‘o e koosipeli ‘oku nau malanga’i, ‘a ia ko ‘enau mamata ki he langilangi ‘o Kalaisi – 2 Pita 1:16: ka ko e kau sio tonu kimautolu ki hono lāngilangi.”Na’e ‘apasia mo’oni ‘a e ‘apositolo ki he langilangi ‘o Kalaisi na’a ne mamata ki ai ‘i he mo’unga ‘o e fakakehe: ko e langilangi faka-‘Otua, na’e makehe atu ‘a ‘ene hā mai ‘i hono fotunga, ‘i he naunau’ia mo e fotu makehe ‘o e kelesi mo e langilangi, ‘o hulungia Ia ko ha tokotaha tofu pe mei Langi.

Pea kapau ko e hāsino ‘a e langilangi ‘o Kalaisi na’a ne fakapapau’i mai ‘a hono tu’unga faka-‘Otua, ko e ha ‘oku ‘ikai ke pehe ai ‘a ‘etau puke ki he naunau fakalaumālie ‘oku tau ma’u meiate Ia?  ‘Oku ‘ikai toe fehu’ia ‘a e langilangi fakalaumālie ‘o e fotu mai ‘a Kalaisi, ke ne fakae’a ‘a hono tu’unga ‘Otua ‘o hange ko ia na’e fai ‘i he fakakehe: Ko e naunau ‘o hono tu’unga fakalaumālie na’e hā mai ‘i he mo’unga fakakehe na’e fakae’a mai ai ‘a hono tu’unga ‘Otua, ka ko e ‘ata mai pe ki tu’a ‘a e taumāopeope atu ‘o e langilangi ‘o e naunau ‘oku ta’ehā.

Tu’apulelulu ‘Akosi 25, 2022

HIS OWN PURPOSE AND GRACE

KO ‘ENE TAUMU’A PE MO ‘ENE KELESI

2 TIMOTHY 1:9

who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

2 TIMOTE 1:9

‘A ia na‘a ne fakamo‘ui kitautolu, mo ne ui ki ha lakanga tapu; ‘o ‘ikai koe‘uhi ko ha ngāue ‘atautolu, ka koe‘uhi ko hono finangalo ‘o‘ona, pea koe‘uhi ko e kelesi na‘e foaki mai ‘ia Kalaisi Sīsū mei he ngaahi kuonga ‘o ‘Itāniti:

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko e Kalasi pe    

In the second epistle to Timothy, first chapter, and ninth verse are these words: "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling." Now, here is a touchstone by which we may try our calling. It is "a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace." This calling forbids all trust in our own doings and conducts us to Christ alone for salvation, but it afterwards purges us from dead works to serve the living and true God.

As He that hath called you is holy, so must you be holy. If you are living in sin, you are not called, but if you are truly Christ's, you can say, "Nothing pains me so much as sin; I desire to be rid of it; Lord, help me to be holy." Is this the panting of thy heart? Is this the tenor of thy life toward God, and His divine will?

CHARLES SPURGEON

‘I he ‘Ipiseli hono ua kia Timote, vahe ‘uluaki veesi nima, ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e ngaahi lea ni: “‘A ia na‘a ne fakamo‘ui kitautolu, mo ne ui ki ha lakanga tapu” ko e kaveinga mahu’inga eni fekau’aki mo hotau ui.  ‘Oku lau ko e ui tapu, ‘ikai fakatatau ki he’etau ngaahi ngaue, kae fakatatau ki he taumu’a mo e kelesi pe ‘a e ‘Otua.  Ko e ui ko ‘eni ‘oku ne tapui ‘a e toe falala ki ha’atau ngaue kā ‘oku ne tataki kitautolu kia Kalaisi tokotaha pe ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e Fakamo’ui.  ‘Oku ne fakama’a foki kitautolu ‘i he hili ‘etau mo’ui mei he ngaahi ngaue mate ketau tauhi ki he ‘Otua mo’ui mo mo’oni. 

Koe’uhi ko ia na’a ne ui koe ‘oku mā’oni’oni, ko ia kuo pau foki ke ke mā’oni’oni foki mo koe.  Kapau ‘oku ke lata ki he mo’ui angahala, ‘oku ‘ikai koe ia ‘i he fa’ahinga kuo ui, kā ‘o kapau ko e me’a ‘a Kalaisi koe, pea ‘oku malava ke ke pehe “’oku mahuhu ‘a ‘eku mo’ui ‘i he angahala; ko hoku loto ke fakaka’anga mo’oni ia meiate au; ‘e ‘Otua, tokonia au ke u mā’oni’oni.”  Ko e hohoi eni ‘a ho loto?  Ko e hu’u eni ‘a ho’o mo’ui ‘i ho vā mo e ‘Otua pea mo hono finangalo ma’a ho’o mo’ui?

Pulelulu ‘Akosi 24, 2022 

THE GREATEST WONDER

KO E NGAUE FAKAOFO TAUPOTU TAHA

TITUS 3:5

he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

TAITUSI 3:5

na‘e ‘ikai tupu ‘ene fakamo‘ui kitautolu mei ha ngaahi ngāue na‘a tau fai ‘i ha‘atau mā‘oni‘oni, ka ko e me‘a pē ‘i he‘ene ‘alo‘ofa na‘a ne fakamo‘ui kitautolu, ‘i he pālutu‘anga ‘o e fanau‘i fo‘ou, pea mo e fakafo‘ou ‘e he Laumālie Mā‘oni‘oni:

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko e Kalasi pe    

Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. It is a very surprising thing, a thing to be marveled at most of all by those who enjoy it. I know that it is to me even to this day the greatest wonder that I ever heard of, that God should ever justify me. I feel myself to be a lump of unworthiness, a mass of corruption, and a heap of sin, apart from His almighty love.

I know by a full assurance that I am justified by faith which is in Christ Jesus, and treated as if I had been perfectly just, and made an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ; and yet by nature I must take my place among the most sinful. I, who am altogether undeserving, am treated as if I had been deserving. I am loved with as much love as if I had always been godly, whereas aforetime I was ungodly. Who can help being astonished at this?

CHARLES SPURGEON

Na’e hifo ‘a Sisu Kalaisi ki mamani ke fakamo’ui ‘a e kau angahala.  Ko ha me’a faka’ohovale eni, ko ha me’a ‘oku ofoofo ai ‘a e tokolahi tautefito kiate kinautolu ‘oku nau ‘inasi he tapauaki ko ia.  ‘Oku ou ‘ilo hifo kiate au ko e tapuaki fakaofo taha eni kuo te a’usia pe fanongoa, ke hanga ‘e he ‘Otua ‘o fakatonuhia’i au.  ‘Oku ou ongo’i hifo ‘a hoku tu’unga ta’etaau, ko ha konga toto pe ne li’aki, ko ha fokotu’unga angahala pe, ka ne ta’e’oua ‘a e lahi faufau ‘o ‘ene ‘ofa.

‘Oku ou ‘ilo fakapapau ‘i hoku loto kuo fakatonuhia au ‘o fou ‘i he’eku tui ‘a ia ‘oku tu’u ‘ia Sisu Kalaisi, pea ne lau pe au ‘o hange kuo u haohaoa, pea kuo ngaohi au ko e ‘ea ‘a e ‘Otua pea kaungā ‘ea mo Kalaisi; ka neongo ia, ko hoku natula ‘e kei lau pe au mo e kau angahala fulikivanu.  Ko au, ko e ta’etaau, kuo ngaohi au ke u taau.  ‘Oku ‘ofa’i au ‘aki ha ‘ofa lahi ‘o hangē pe ha tokotaha na’e haohaoa pe talu mei mu’a, neongo ko e faka’otua mate au ‘i hoku taimi kimu’a.  Ko hai ha taha ‘e ta’emo’utaafu’a ‘i ha fu’u tapuaki lahi faufaua?

Tusite ‘Akosi 23, 2022 

EXCEEDING LOVE

KO E ‘OFA HULU

JOHN 15:13

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

SIONE 15:13

Tala‘ehai ‘oku ai ha ‘ofa ‘a ha taha ‘e lahi ‘i he ‘ofa ko ē, ke ne li‘aki ‘ene mo‘ui koe‘uhi ko hono ngaahi kaume‘a.

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko e Kalasi pe   

The Scripture everywhere represents it, as though the great things Christ did and suffered were in the most direct and proper sense from exceeding love to us. Thus the apostle Paul represents the matter: Galatians 2:20: "Who loved me, and gave himself for me." Ephesians 5:25: "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it." And Christ Himself, John 17:19: "For their sakes I sanctify Myself."

And the Scripture represents Christ as resting in the salvation and glory of His people, when obtained as in what He ultimately sought, as having therein reached the goal, obtained the prize He aimed at, enjoying the travail of His soul in which He is satisfied, as the recompense of His labours and extreme agonies; Isaiah 53:10-11: "When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied; by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities."

JONATHAN EDWARDS

‘I he potu kotoa pe ‘i he Folofola, ‘oku hā ai ‘a e ngaahi ngaue lava me’a ‘a Kalaisi ‘o mahino ko ‘ene feilaulau na’e feia ko e hulu faufau ‘o ‘ene ‘ofa kiate kitautolu.  ‘Oku talamai ‘e Paula:  Kaletia 2:20: “’A ia na’a ne ofeina au, ‘o ne foaki ‘e ia Ia koe’uhi ko au.” ‘Efeso 5:25: “’a e ngaahi husepaniti mou ‘ofa ki homou ngaahi uaifi ‘o hange ko e ‘ofa ‘a Kalaisi ki he siasi ‘o ne foaki ‘e ia Ia ma’ana.”  Pea na’e folofola pe ‘a Kalaisi, Sione 17:19: “koe’uhi ko kinautolu ‘oku ou fakatapui ‘e au Au.”

‘Oku fakaha foki ‘e he Folofola, ko Kalaisi ‘oku hu’u ‘a hono finangalo ke fakamo’ui pea mo e langilangi ‘a hono kakai, ‘i hono ma’u ‘o fakatatau ki he kaveinga lau’itaniti, pea ‘i he’ene a’usia, kuo ne ma’u ‘a e pale ‘o ‘ene kaveinga, pea lato hono laumālie ko e pale ‘o ‘ene ngaue lavame’a mo e mamahi lahi; ‘Aisea 53:10-11: Ka na‘e finangalo ‘a Sihova ke laiki ia; kuo ne tuku ke ne mahaki‘ia: Ka ke ka ‘atu hono laumālie ko e feilaulau-halaia, te ne sio ki hano hako, te ne fakalahi hono ngaahi ‘aho, pea ko e finangalo ‘o Sihova ‘e tu‘umālie ‘i hono nima. Te ne mamata ki he fua ‘o e mamahi ‘o hono laumālie, ‘o ne fiemālie: ko e me‘a ‘i he‘ene poto ‘e ngaohi ke angatonu ha tokolahi ‘e he‘eku Sevāniti faitotonu; pea te ne fafa ‘enau ngaahi hia.”

Monite ‘Akosi 22, 2022 

SUBJECT TO CHRIST

LALO’AOA KIA KALAISI

COLOSSIANS 1:18

And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

KOLOSE 1:18

pea ko ‘Ene ‘Afio ko e ‘Ulu ‘o e Sino ko ia ko e Siasi; he ko e Kamata ia, ko e ‘Uluaki na‘e fakatupu mei he kau Pekia; koe‘uhi ke ne hoko ‘i he me‘a kotoa pē ko e Tu‘ukimu‘a.

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko e Kalasi pe   

The whole universe is put in subjection to Jesus Christ; all heaven and earth, angels and men, are subject to Him, as executing this office, and are put under Him to that end, that all things may be ordered by Him, in subservience to the great designs of His redemption. All power, as He says, is given to Him in heaven and in earth, that He may give eternal life to as many as the Father has given Him; and He is exalted far above all principality and power, and might and dominion, and made Head over all things to the church.

The angels are put in subjection to Him, that He may employ them all as ministering spirits for the good of them that shall be the heirs of salvation. And all things are so governed by their Redeemer that all things are theirs, whether things present or things to come; and all God's works of providence in the moral government of the world, which we have an account of in Scripture history, or that are foretold in Scripture prophecy, are evidently subordinate to the great purposes and end of this great work.

JONATHAN EDWARDS

Ko e kotoa ‘o e ‘Univeesi ‘oku lalo’aoa kia Sisu Kalaisi; ko Hevani mo mamani, kau ‘angelo mo e tangata, ‘oku nau fakaongoongo kotoa kiate Ia, ko Ia ko e pule, pea ‘oku nau lalo’aoa kiate Ia ‘o a’u ki he ngata’anga, he kuo tu’utu’uni ma’ana ke ne pule ki he me’a kotoa pe, ‘o fakatatau ki he mafai mo e fokotu’utu’u ‘o ‘ene ngaue huhu’i.  Ko e mafai kotoa pe, hange ko ‘ene Folofola, kuo foaki kiate Ia ‘i Hevani mo mamani, koe’uhi´ ke ne foaki ‘a e mo’ui ta’engata kiate kinautolu kuo foaki kiate Ia ‘e he
Tamai; pea kuo fakahikihiki’i Ia ‘o mavahe hake mei he ngaahi mafai mo e tu’unga pule, mo ha toe mafai ‘i ha potu pe, pea kuo fokotu’u ia ki he pule ‘i he me’a kotoa pe ‘a e siasi.

Kuo tu’utu’uni ‘a e kau ‘angelo ke nau taliangi kiate Ia, koe’uhi´ ke ne ngaue’aki kinautolu ko ha ngaahi laumālie talafekau ma’a e lelei ‘a kinautolu kuo nau hoko ko e ‘ea ‘o e Fakamo’ui.  Ko e ngaahi me’a kotoa pe kuo pule ki ai ‘a e Fakamo’ui ke hoko ‘a e me’a kotoa pe ko ‘enau koloa, ‘a e ngaahi me’a ‘i he taimi lolotonga mo e ngaahi me’a ‘i he kaha’u; pea ko e ngaue fakapalovitenisi kotoa ‘a e ‘Otua ‘i he’ene pule fakamolale ki mamani, ‘o fakatatau ki hono hiki ‘i he hisitolia ‘o e Folofola, he ko ia kuo kikite’i ‘e he kau palofita, ‘oku nau lalo’aoa kotoa ki he kaveinga fisifisimu’a mo e faitu’utu’uni mo e finangalo ‘o e ‘Otua.

Sapate ‘Akosi 21, 2022

FULLY GOD AND FULLY MAN

‘OTUA KAKATO MO TANGATA KAKATO

JOHN 1:14

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

SIONE 1:14

Pea na‘e hoko ‘a Folofola ko e kakano; ‘o ne fokotu‘u hono tāpanekale ‘i hotau lotolotonga, pea na‘a tau mamata ki hono Sikaina (ko ha lāngilangi na‘e taau mo ha ‘alo-tofu-pē-taha kuo ha‘u mei he‘ene tamai)–ta ‘oku ne fonu ‘i he kelesi mo e mo‘oni.

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko e Kalasi pe    

The true substance of Christ is most clearly declared in those passages which comprehend both natures at once. Numbers of these exist in the Gospel of John. What we there read as to His having received power from the Father to forgive sins; as to His quickening whom He will; as to His bestowing righteousness, holiness, and salvation; as to His being appointed judge both of the quick and the dead; as to His being honored even as the Father, are not peculiar either to His Godhead or His humanity, but applicable to both.

In the same way He is called the Light of the world, the Good Shepherd, the only Door, the true Vine. With such prerogatives the Son of God was invested on His manifestation in the flesh, and though He possessed the same with the Father before the world was created, still it was not in the same manner or respect; neither could they be attributed to one who was a man and nothing more.

JOHN CALVIN

Ko e uho mo’oni ‘o kalaisi ‘oku hā mahino mai ia ‘i he ngaahi potu tohi ‘oku fakamatala ai ki he ongo natula ‘o Kalaisi mo ‘ena fetaiaki.  ‘Oku lahi ‘a e ngaahi fakamatala ‘a Sione ki he ngaahi mo’oni ko ‘eni.  ‘Oku tau ma’u ‘a e fakamatala fekau’aki mo ‘ene ma’u ‘a e mafai mei he Tamai ke fakamolemole ‘a e ngaahi angahala; pehe foki mo ‘ene fokotu’u mei he mate fakalaumālie ha taha pe ‘oku hu’u ki ai hono finangalo; pehe foki mo ‘ene foaki ‘ene mo’ui haohaoa, mā’oni’oni mo ‘ene fakamo’ui; ‘ikai ko ia pe ka kuo fakanofo ia ko e fakamaau ‘o e mo’ui mo e mate; kuo fakalangilangi’i ia ‘e he Tamai ‘o tatau pe ‘i hono tu’unga ‘Otua mo hono tu’unga tangata.

‘I he founga tatau ‘oku ui ia ko e Maama ‘o mamani, ko e Tauhi Sipi Lelei, ko e Matapa pe ia ‘e taha, mo e Vaine mo’onia.  ‘I he ngaahi tu’unga makehe ko eni ‘o e ‘Alo ‘o e ‘Otua, na’e fakahoko kotoa hono ngaahi mafai ‘o fou mai ‘i hono tu’unga kakano, pea neongo ‘ene ma’u ‘a e tu’unga tatau mo e Tamai te’eki ke tanupou ‘a mamani, ka na’e makehe pe ‘a ‘ene hokomai ‘i hono tu’unga kakano; kā na’e ‘ikai ko ha tangata pe ia ‘o fakatatau mo e toenga ‘o e fa’ahinga ‘o e tangata.