ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 MONITE SEPITEMA 1, 2025

THEOLOGY FOR LIFE

KO E TEOLOSIA KI HE MO‘UI

ACTS 26:2

"I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am-except for these chains." 

NGAUE 26:29

Ka ka tali ‘e Paula, pe faingofua pe faingata‘a, tauange mo e ‘Otua ke ke hoko–‘o ‘ikai ko koe pē, ka ko kinautolu kotoa pē kuo fanongo kiate au he ‘aho ni–ke mou hoko ke tatau mo au–tuku kehe pē ‘a e ongo seini ni!

Ko e ngaahi tui ‘a Paula na’e tupu kaukaua ‘o fou ‘i he ngaahi fonise afi ‘o e hala fononga. ‘I he taimi na’e mole ai ‘a e ngaahi me’a na’e falala ki ai, na’a ne ako ‘a e tu’unga pule aoniu ‘o e ‘Otua.

Lolotonga ‘a e ta’u ‘e ua ‘a hono tuku popula ‘o Paula ‘i Loma, na’a ne hiki ai ‘a e ngaahi tohi ki ‘Efeso, Filipai, Kolose mo e tohi ki hono kaungame’a ko Filimone. Ko e vaha’a taimi ko eni na’e tofanga ai ‘a Paula ‘i he faingata’a, na’a ne tohi ai kau kia Sisu, “‘oku fema‘uma‘utaki ‘iate ia ‘a e me‘a kotoa pē:” (Kolose 1:17). Pea ‘i he’ene tohi ki he kau ‘Efesoo, na’a ne ekinaki kinautolu ke nau fakatokanga’i, ‘oku pule aoniu ‘a e ‘Otua, he kuo tuku ‘a e me’a kotoa ki he lalo va’e ‘o Sisu (‘Efeso 1:22). Na’e ‘ikai ko ha ngaahi mo’oni faka’atamai pe eni. Na’e falala kakato ‘a Paula ki he ngaahi mo’oni ko eni, ‘i he taimi faingata’a taha ‘o ‘ene mo’ui.

Ko e ngaahi a’usia ‘a Paula, na’e tokoni kiate ia ke ne mahino’i, ‘i ha founga toe loloto ange ‘a ‘ene fiema’u ‘a e koosipeli, ‘o ‘ikai ki he fakamo’ui pe, ka ki he tapa kotoa ‘o e mo’ui. ‘Oku tau fiema’u ‘a e koosipeli, ‘i he ‘aho kotoa pe. ‘Io, ‘a e ongoongolelei ‘o e pekia ‘a Sisu ko e fetongi tu’unga ‘o e kau angahala, pea na’e fokotu’u ia ko hotau fakatonuhia, pea Ne foaki hono Laumalie ke fakahaohaoa’i kitautolu mo fakafonu kitautolu. ‘Oku fakatupu ‘e he koosipeli ‘iate kitautolu ha ‘amanaki pau’ia ‘o ‘Ene toe ha’ele ‘angaua. ‘Oku ne ‘omi ha vakai faka-hevani ki mamani ‘oku tau ‘i ai.

Ko Sione Sitoti (John Stott) na’e ‘iloa ‘i he’ene lava ke fakamatala’i ‘a e ngaahi mo’oni faka-Tohitapu loloto ‘i ha founga mahino ngofua, ‘aki ‘a ‘ene fakamatala ki he teolosia ‘a Paula ‘o ‘ene nofo pilisone: "Ko e tu’unga fakakaukau ‘a Paula na’e fakatonutonu, Ko ‘ene a’usia, na’e toe mafao atu, ko ‘ene visone na’e toe masila ange, pea ko ‘ene fakamo’oni na’e toe fakaloloto ange.” Na’e ‘ikai hoko hono ngaahi seini ko ha fakalotosi’i pe ko ha me’a ke fakafisi ai. ‘Ikai, ka na’e hoko ‘a hono ngaahi mamahi, ke fakavaivai’i ia ke tu’u ‘ene falala ‘i he ‘Otua, liliu ‘ene fakakaukau pea ke fakamaama ‘ene vakai ki he kaha’u. Na’a ne lava ke tu’u ta’eufi ‘i he ‘ao ‘o ha kovana Loma, mo ha tu’i mo ha kuini ‘o lea malohi; Ko e me’a ‘oku ma’u ‘e ho nima, ‘e ‘ikai lava ke ke tauhi. Faka’amu ange ‘e au na’a ke hange ko au - ko ha tokotaha angahala ka kuo fakamo’ui ‘i he kelesi ‘a e ‘Otua pea u ‘ea ki he mo’ui ta’engata. ‘E ‘ikai te u fie vahevahe atu hoku popula, ka ‘oku ou faka’amu ange te ke ma’u ‘a ‘eku tui.

Na’e a’usia tonu ‘e Paula ‘a e mo’oni na’a ne tohi ki he siasi ‘i Loma ‘i he ngaahi ta’u kimu’a ange: “Kae‘uma‘ā ‘oku tau ‘ilo, ‘ilonga ‘a e kakai ‘oku ‘ofa ki he ‘Otua, ‘oku fengāue‘aki ‘a e me‘a kotoa pē ma‘anau lelei; he ko e kakai kinautolu kuo ului ‘o fakatatau ki he‘ene tu‘utu‘uni” (Loma 8:28). Ko e mo’oni ko eni, na’e ‘ikai ko ha tala pe ia kia Paula, ka ki he tokotaha kotoa pe kuo tui falala kia Sisu Kalaisi. ‘Oku ke fehangahangai nai mo ha ‘ahi’ahi fakalotosi’i? Tali ‘a e fakalotolahi ko eni. ‘Oku ke ‘osi ma’u ‘a e kakato ki ho’o fiema’u, pea ‘e ‘ikai toe to’o ia meiate koe. Ko e kotoa ‘o e ngaahi koloa mo e vovo ‘o e mamani ko eni, ‘oku ‘ikai kakunga ki tapuaki ‘oku ke ma’u ‘i he koosipeli - “ko e ‘iate kimoutolu ‘a Kalaisi, ko e faka‘amanaki ki he lāngilangi‘ia” (Kolose 1:27). Ko e ‘ilo faka-tokateline kalisitiane, ‘oku ‘ikai ke ‘ave pe ia ki he loki ako ‘o e kau mataotao, ka ki he loki pilisone, ki he taimi ‘o e faingata’aa. Tukuange ‘a e ngaahi mo’oni ‘o e koosipeli ke nau fakakaukaua ho loto mo takao ho’o vakai ki he mo’ui, lolotonga ho’o piki ki he ‘amanaki kuo fakatau ma’au ‘e Kalaisi.

Lau e Tohitapu ‘i he Ta’u: SAAME 135-136; 2 KOLINITO 11:1-15

Paul's beliefs were forged in the furnace of life. When his legs were virtually cut out from underneath him, he learned all the more that God is in control.

It was during Paul's two-year imprisonment in Rome that he wrote letters to the Ephesian, Philippian, and Colossian churches and to his friend Philemon. It was during this season of suffering that God encouraged him to write of Jesus, "In him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:17). When he wrote to the Ephesians, he urged them to see that God, who is sovereign over all, has put all things under Jesus' feet (Ephesians 1:22). These truths were not just theoretical. Paul relied upon them during the most difficult seasons of his life. 

Paul's experiences doubtless helped him to understand more deeply that he needed the gospel not just for salvation but for all of life. We, too, need the gospel daily - the good news that Jesus died in the place of sinners, that He was raised for our justification, and that He sent the Spirit to sanctify us and to fill us. The gospel creates within us a confident anticipation of the return of Jesus. It causes us to view the world from a heavenly perspective.

John Stott, who was unparalleled in his ability to synthesize and succinctly condense vast amounts of material, summarized the impact of Paul's imprisonment upon his theology in this way: "Paul's perspective was adjusted, his horizon extended, his vision clarified and his witness enriched." His chains did not become an occasion for disappointment or regret. Rather, his trials, which kept him in a state of weakness and dependency upon God, altered his perspective and shed light on the horizon. He was able to stand before a Roman governor, a king, and a queen, and say, What you have you cannot keep. What I have I cannot lose. I wish you could become like me-a sinner saved by grace, an heir to eternal life. I would not like for you to share my chains, but I would love for you to share my faith.

Paul experienced the very truth that he had written to the Romans years earlier: "We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). This was so not only for Paul but is also true for all who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. Are you facing a discouraging trial? Take courage! You have all you truly need, and you cannot lose it. All the riches and comfort that this world can offer do not compare to what you have in the gospel-"Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). Christian theology is not for an ivory tower but for the prison cell, for the trials. Let the truths of the gospel strengthen your soul and shape your perspective as you cling to the hope that Christ has purchased for you.