Falaite Sepitema 30, 2022

THE ETERNAL GODHEAD

KO E TOLU-TAHA’I-’OTUA LAU’ITANITI

ROMANS 9:33

just as it is written: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, And the one who believes in Him will not be put to shame.”

LOMA 9:33

‘O hangē ko ia kuo tohi, Ko eni ‘oku ou ‘ai ‘i Saione ha maka tūkia‘anga, mo ha makatu‘u fakatupu fifisi: pea ko ia ‘oku tui kiate ia ‘e ‘ikai fakamaa‘i.

‘O hange ko ia kuo tohi, Vakai, ‘oku ou ‘ai ‘i Saione ‘a e maka tūkia’anga mo e maka faka’ita: bea ko ia ‘e tui kiate Ia ‘e ‘ikai te ne ma (Paaki ‘a Uesi)

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko Kalasi pe   

Though the apostles spoke of Him after His appearance in the flesh as Mediator, every passage which I adduce will be sufficient to prove His eternal Godhead. And the first thing deserving of special observation is that predictions concerning the eternal God are applied to Christ. Isaiah prophesies that "the Lord of Hosts" shall be "for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of offence" (Isaiah 8:14). Paul asserts that this prophecy was fulfilled in Christ (Romans 9:33) and, therefore, declares that Christ is that Lord of Hosts.

In like manner, he says in another passage, "We shall all stand before the Judgment-seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." Since in Isaiah God predicts this of Himself (Isaiah 45:23), and Christ exhibits the reality fulfilled in himself, it follows that He is the very God, whose glory cannot be given to another.

JOHN CALVIN

 Tu’apulelulu Sepitema 29, 2022 

THE PERFECTION OF CHRIST'S ATONEMENT

NA‘E HAOHAOA ‘A E HUHU‘I NA’E FAI ‘E KALAISI

ROMANS 1:4

who was declared the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

LOMA 1:4

‘o ia na‘e mātu‘aki fakae‘a ko e ‘Alo ‘o e ‘Otua ‘i hono laumālie tāpuhā, he‘ene toetu‘u mei he pekia,

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko Kalasi pe   

The perfection of the Atonement is confirmed by the approbation of God as Judge. If God declares that He is perfectly satisfied, let no one dare to say that the satisfaction is imperfect. The question is whether the Supreme Judge, who demands the satisfaction, approves of and receives it as altogether sufficient. That the Atonement has been approved and accepted by God is established, not only by the appointment of Christ to the mediatorial office, of whom the Father often declares that He is his beloved Son, in whom He is well pleased; but especially His resurrection from the dead, which is irresistible evidence both of His divinity and of the perfection of the Atonement (Romans 1:4).

Unless Christ had satisfied to the uttermost, can we believe that God the Judge, whose inexorable justice demands full payment, would have freed Him and have exalted Him to that supreme glory which was the reward of His sufferings? (Philippians 2:9).

There is no room left for doubt respecting the perfection of the satisfaction, the full payment of the price of redemption.

 

FRANCIS TURRETIN 

Pulelulu Sepitema 28, 2022

SON AND MAN

KO E ‘ALO PEA MO E TANGATA

2 CORINTHIANS 13:4

For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we too are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.

2 KOLINITO 13:4

Seuke, ‘oku mo‘oni na‘e kalusefai ia ko ‘ene vaivai, ka ‘oku ne mo‘ui ko ‘ene mālohi mei he ‘Otua; pea ‘oku mo‘oni ‘oku mau vaivai fakataha mo ia, ka te mau mo‘ui fakataha mo ia ‘i he fai kiate kimoutolu, ko ‘emau mālohi mei he ‘Otua.

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko Kalasi pe   

We acknowledge, indeed, that Christ in human nature is called a Son, not like believers by gratuitous adoption merely, but the true, natural, and therefore only Son, this being the mark which distinguishes Him from all others. The Scripture gives Him both names, calling Him at one time the Son of God, at another the Son of Man.

As to the latter, there can be no question that He is called a Son in accordance with the phraseology of the Hebrew language, because He is of the offspring of Adam. On the other hand, I maintain that He is called a Son on account of His Godhead and eternal essence, because it is no less congruous to refer to His divine nature, His being called the Son of God, than to refer to His human nature, His being called the Son of Man.

JOHN CALVIN

Tusite Sepitema 27, 2022 

WEAK LAW, POWERFUL GOD

LAO VAIVAI, ‘OTUA MAFIMAFI

ROMANS 8:3

For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh

LOMA 8:3

He ko e me‘a na‘e ‘ikai lava ‘e he Lao, ko ‘ene vaivai koe‘uhi ko e kakano, ne lava ‘e he ‘Otua; he‘ene fekau mai hono ‘Alo ‘o‘ona ‘i he tatau ‘o e kakano angahala‘ia, pea mo‘o feilaulau he angahala, ‘o ne hifo ai ‘a angahala mei he‘ene pule ‘i he kakano:

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko Kalasi pe   

It behooved Christ to be made in the likeness of sinful flesh, that He might supply what the Law could not do, in that it was weak, and fulfill the claims of the Law in us (Romans 8:3-4). This weakness of the Law is not to be understood subjectively, as if it were in the Law, but objectively, in the sinner in relation to the Law, on account of his inability to perform any one of the duties which it commands. This Law is said to be weak, not in relation to the infliction of punishment, but as to the observation of its precepts.

Christ, therefore, by supplying what the Law could not do in us, must fulfill all the Law demanded of us and work out what the apostle calls "righteousness" or the rights of the Law, without doubt a right to life obtained by doing what the Law commands. This required not only a passive but also an active obedience.

FRANCIS TURRETIN

Monite Sepitema 26, 2022 

INCOMPARABLE LOVE

‘OFA TA‘E FAKATATAUA

PSALM 40:7

Then I said, “Behold, I have come; It is written of me in the scroll of the book.”

SAAME 40:7

Pea u toki pehē, “Ko au eni Kuo u ha‘u ‘I he takainga tohi kuo tohi mo‘o ku”

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko Kalasi pe   

The Gospel history relates that He came forth to meet the soldiers; and in the presence of Pilate, instead of defending Himself, stood to receive judgment. This, indeed, He did not without a struggle, for He had assumed our infirmities also, and in this way it behooved Him to prove that He was yielding obedience to His Father. It was no ordinary example of incomparable love toward us to struggle with dire terrors, and amid fearful tortures to cast away all care of Himself that He might provide for us. We must bear in mind that Christ could not duly propitiate God without renouncing His own feelings and subjecting Himself entirely to His Father's will.

To this effect the apostle appositely quotes a passage from the Psalms: "Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God" (Hebrews 10:5; Psalm 40:7-8). Thus, as trembling consciences find no rest without sacrifice and ablution by which sins are expiated, we are properly directed thither, the source of our life being placed in the death of Christ.

JOHN CALVIN

Sapate Sepitema 25, 2022

VOLUNTARY SUBJECTION

NA‘E LOTO PE KE FAKAVAIVAI‘I IA

JOHN 10:17-18

For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it back. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it back. This commandment I received from My Father.”

SIONE 10:17-18

Ko hono ‘uhinga ia ‘o e ‘ofa‘i au ‘e he Tamai, koe‘uhi ‘oku ou ‘atu ‘eku mo‘ui kau toe to‘o ia. Tala‘ehai ko e fa‘ao ia ‘e ha taha meiate au, ka ko ‘eku ‘atu ia ‘e au. ‘Oku ou fa‘iteliha ki hano ‘atu; pea ‘oku ou fa‘iteliha ki hano toe to‘o. Ko ia ia ‘a e tu‘utu‘uni ne u ma‘u mei he‘eku Tamai.

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko Kalasi pe    

In the Confession of Faith, called the Apostles' Creed, the transition is admirably made from the birth of Christ to His death and resurrection, in which the completion of a perfect salvation consists. Still there is no exclusion of the other part of obedience which He performed in life. Thus Paul comprehends, from the beginning even to the end, His having assumed the form of a servant, humbled himself, and become obedient to death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:7).

And indeed, the first step in obedience was His voluntary subjection; for the sacrifice would have been unavailing to justification if not offered spontaneously. Hence our Lord, after testifying, "I lay down my life for the sheep," distinctly adds, "No man taketh it from me" (John 10:15, 18). In the same sense Isaiah says, "Like a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth" (Isaiah 53:7).

JOHN CALVIN

Tokonaki Sepitema 24, 2022 

A CONSTANT TENOR OF OBEDIENCE

UHO ‘O E MO‘UI ‘a KALAISI KO E TALANGOFUA

PHILIPPIANS 2:8

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross.

FILIPAI 2:8

pea ‘i he ‘iloange na‘e hā ‘iate ia ‘a e tō‘onga ‘a e tangata, na‘a ne fakamo‘ulaloa‘i ia, he‘ene hoko ko e fai talangofua ‘o a‘u ki he‘ene mate, ka ko e mate ‘i he kolosi.

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko Kalasi pe    

The obedience of Christ is said to have been even to death, in which not only its intensity as to degree is expressed, an intensity the greatest which can be rendered by anyone; but also its extension and duration, from the beginning of His life to its end. This appears from His obedience being referred to the whole of His humiliation, which appeared not in His death only, but in His whole life.

In other portions of Scripture, the obedience of Christ is described by the writing of the Law in His heart (Psalm 40), and His active observance of it (Hebrews 10:5). Again, it is spoken of as a race which Christ had to run (Hebrews 12:1-2), and as a work which He had to perform (John 17:4). These were not to be consummated by one act, but to be a constant tenor of obedience through His whole life.

FRANCIS TURRETIN

Falaite Sepitema 23, 2022 

OBEDIENCE REMOVED ENMITY

TO’O ‘E HE TALANGOFUA ‘A E HOUHAU

ROMANS 5:9

Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him

ROMANS 5:9

Pea kapau ko ia, pea ka kuo tau ma‘u ‘eni ‘a e fakatonuhia ‘i hono ta‘ata‘a, pea huanoa hotau fakamo‘ui ka fai ‘iate ia mei he houhau.

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko Kalasi pe   

When it is asked then how Christ, by abolishing sin, removed the enmity between God and us, and purchased a righteousness which made Him favorable and kind to us, it may be answered generally that He accomplished this by the whole course of His obedience. This is proved by the testimony of Paul: "As by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous" (Romans 5:19).

And indeed He elsewhere extends the ground of pardon, which exempts from the curse of the Law, to the whole life of Christ: "When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law" (Galatians 4:4-5). Thus even at His baptism He declared that a part of righteousness was fulfilled His yielding obedience to the command of the Father. In short, from the moment when He assumed the form of a servant, He began, in order to redeem us, to pay the price of deliverance.

JOHN CALVIN

Tu’apulelulu Sepitema 22, 2022 

CHRIST THE MEDIATOR

KO E KALAISI KO E FAKALALOA

1 TIMOTHY 2:5

For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and mankind, the Man Christ Jesus,

1 TIMOTE 2:5

He ‘oku taha pē ‘a e ‘Otua, taha foki ‘a e Fakalaloa ‘i he vaha‘a ‘o e ‘Otua mo e tangata, ko Kalaisi Sīsū ko e tangata.

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko Kalasi pe   

This Son of God Himself took on human nature in such manner that His divine nature was not lost or changed into human nature, but each nature is in Him so truly, properly, and naturally that nothing has been diminished of His divine nature, so that He should not be truly, properly, and naturally God. Moreover, His human nature has not passed over into divine nature so that He should not be truly, properly, and naturally man, save only as far as inclination to sin is concerned.

None of His divine attributes has suffered because of the assumption of human feebleness, and, insofar as He is man, He is thus man that He has whatever belongs to true and literal human nature, so that nothing has been taken from it on account of the union with the divine nature, save the disposition to sin. Hence it is that both natures so reflect their own character in all their words and deeds that the religious mind sees without trouble what is to be credited to either nature, however rightly the whole is said to belong to the one Christ.

ULRICH ZWINGLI

Pulelulu Sepitema 21, 2022 

THE PREEMINENCE OF CHRIST

KO KALAISI ‘A E TU‘UKIMU‘A ‘O E ME‘A KOTOA PE

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 Kalasi pe    

We may see by what has been said, how Christ has in all things the preeminence. For He is the great Redeemer, and therefore the work of redemption being the sum of God's works of providence shows the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ as being above all, and through all, and in all. That God intended the world for His Son's use in the affair of redemption is one reason why He created the world by Him (Ephesians 3:9-12).

What has been said shows how all the purposes of God are purposed in Christ; and how He is before all, and above all. All things consist in Him, are governed by Him, and are for Him (Colossians 1:15-18). God makes him His firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth, and sets His throne above their thrones. God has always upheld His kingdom, when others have come to an end; that appears at last above all, however greatly opposed for so many ages. All other kingdoms fall, but His kingdom is the last, and never gives place to any other.

JONATHAN EDWARDS

Tusite Sepitema 20, 2022 

CHRIST DRAWS NEAR

‘OKU ‘UNU‘UNU MAI ‘A E KALAISI 

JAMES 4:8

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

SEMISI 4:8

‘Unu‘unu atu ki he ‘Otua, pea ‘e ‘unu‘unu mai ia kiate kimoutolu. Fakama‘a homou nima, ‘a kau angahala; pea fakatāpui ‘a homou loto, ‘a kau siosio ua.

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko Kalasi pe   

Scripture throughout calls Him Lord, the Father having appointed Him over us for the express purpose of exercising His government through Him. For though many lordships are celebrated in the world, yet Paul says, "To us there is but one says, God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him" (1 Corinthians 8:6).

Whence it is justly inferred that He is the same God who, by the mouth of Isaiah, declared, "The Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King: he will save us" (Isaiah 33:22). For though He everywhere describes all the power which power He possesses as the benefit and gift of the Father, the meaning simply is that He reigns by divine authority, because His reason for assuming the office of Mediator was that descending from the bosom and incomprehensible glory of the Father, He might draw near to us.

JOHN CALVIN

Monite Sepitema 19, 2022 

THE GIFT OF GOD

KO E ME‘A‘OFA PE ‘A E ‘OTUA

1 CORINTHIANS 4:7

For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

1 CORINTHIANS 4:7

Pea ko ho‘o makehe atu na, ko e ngāue ‘a hai? he ‘oku ‘i ai ha‘o me‘a na‘e ‘ikai foaki? Pea kapau leva ko ho‘o ma‘u foaki, ko e hā ‘oku ke pōlepole ai, ‘o hangē ko e toko taha kuo ne ma‘u ‘iate ia pē?

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko Kalasi pe   

Those that are redeemed by Jesus Christ do, in all these respects, very directly and entirely depend on God for their all. First, the redeemed have all their good of God; God is the great Author of it: He is the First Cause of it, and not only so, but He is the only proper cause.

'Tis of God that we have our Redeemer: it is God that has provided a Saviour for us. Jesus Christ is not only of God in His person, as He is the only begotten Son of God, but He is from God, as we are concerned in Him and in His office of Mediator. He is the gift of God to us: God chose and anointed Him, appointed Him His work, and sent Him into the world.

And as it is God that gives, so 'tis God that accepts the Saviour. As it is God that provides and gives the Redeemer to buy salvation for us, so it is of God that salvation is bought: He gives the Purchaser, and He affords the thing purchased.

JONATHAN EDWARDS

Sapate Sepitema 18, 2022 

ALL POWER TO THE SON

KO E MAFAI KOTOA MA’AE ‘ALO

EPHESIANS 1:22

And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church

‘EFESO 1:22

pea na‘a ne tuku ke ‘i he lalo va‘e ‘o‘ona ‘a e me‘a kotoa pē; pea ne foaki ia ke ‘ulu ki he Siasi ‘i he me‘a kotoa pē; 

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko Kalasi pe   

For the Father has given all power to the Son, that by His hand He may govern, cherish, sustain us, keep us under His guardianship, and give assistance to us. And indeed, His sitting at the right hand of the Father has the same meaning as if He was called the Viceregent of the Father, entrusted with the whole power of government. For God is pleased, mediately (so to speak) in His person to rule and defend the church. Thus also His being seated at the right hand of the Father is explained by Paul to mean that "he is the head over all things to the Church, which is his body" (Ephesians 1:20, 22). Nor is this different in purport from what He elsewhere teaches, that God has "given him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11).

JOHN CALVIN

Tokonaki Sepitema 17, 2022 

A PERFECT PAYMENT

KO E TOTONGI HAOHAOA

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2 KOLINITO 5:17

Ko ia foki, kapau ‘oku ‘ia Kalaisi ha taha, ko e mātu‘aki fakatupu fo‘ou ia: kuo mole ‘a e ngaahi me‘a ‘o ono‘aho, uē kuo nau hoko ‘o fo‘ou.

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko Kalasi pe    

If our redemption and salvation are attributed to the death and blood of Christ, this is not done to the exclusion of the obedience of His life; for such a restriction is nowhere mentioned in Scripture. On the contrary, the work of man's salvation is, in many places, attributed to the obedience and righteousness of Christ.

When the death or blood of Christ is mentioned alone, and our redemption ascribed to it, this is done by a synecdoche, a figure which puts a part for the whole. The reason is that His death was the lowest degree of His humiliation and the completion of His obedience, that which supposes all the other parts, and without which they would have been of no avail. No righteousness merits anything unless it is persevered in to the last breath; a payment is never perfectly made, until the last farthing is paid and the bond cancelled.

FRANCIS TURRETIN