Tu‘apulelulu Ma‘asi 15, 2018

Ko e Laumālié  ko e ‘Otua ‘o e ngaahi ‘Otua

( the Holy Spirit is God through and through)

Fehu‘i #36

Ko e hā ‘etau tui fekau‘aki mo e Laumālie Ma‘oni‘oni ́ ?

Ko e ‘Otua Ia, kaungā tu‘unga lau‘itāniti fakataha mo e Tamai pea mo e ‘Aló, pea ‘oku foaki kakato Ia ‘e he ‘Otuá  kiate kinautolu kotoa pe ‘oku tuí.

What do we believe about the Holy Spirit?

That he is God, coeternal with the Father and the Son, and that God grants him irrevocably to all who believe.

SIONE 14:16-17

‌ Pea te u tala ki he Tamai, pea te ne foaki kiate kimoutolu ha Taukapo ‘e toko taha, koe‘uhi ke ne ‘iate kimoutolu ‘o ta‘engata; ‘io, ko e Laumālie ‘o e Mo‘oni; ‘a ia ‘oku ‘ikai ke fa‘a ma‘u ‘e māmani, koe‘uhi ‘oku ‘ikai te ne sio kiate ia, pe fai ke ‘ilo ia: ka ‘oku mou fai ke ‘ilo ia ‘e kimoutolu; he ‘oku ne nofo ma‘u mo kimoutolu, pea ‘oku ne ‘i homou loto.

JOHN 14:16-17

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Commentary - SAM STORMS (cont…)

How different this is from what we actually read in Scripture. There we see that the Spirit is not third in rank in the Godhead but is coequal and co-eternal with the Father and Son, sharing with them all the glory and honor due unto our triune God. The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal power or an ethereal, abstract energy. The Spirit is personal in every sense of the term. He has a mind and thinks (Isa.11:2; Rom. 8:27). He is capable of experiencing deep affections and feelings (Rom. 8:26; 15:30). The Spirit has a will and makes choices regarding what is best for God's people and what will most glorify the Son (Acts 16:7; 1 Cor. 2:11).

‘Oku tau ma‘u mei he Folofolá  ha fakamatala mahino fekau‘aki mo e Laumalie Ma‘oni‘oní. Ko e Laumālié ‘oku ‘ikai ke fika tolu hono mahu‘ingá ‘i he tolu-taha‘i-‘Otuá, ka ‘oku tu‘unga tatau mo e Tamaí  pea mo e ‘Aló  pea ‘oku nau lau‘itāniti. Ko e Laumālié  ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha fu‘u ivi pē ‘oku tētē noa ‘i he ‘univeesí. Ko e Laumālié  ko e tokotaha (person). ‘Oku ‘i ai hono ‘atamai pea ‘oku ne vavanga mo sivi ha ‘uuni me‘a (‘Ais 11:2; Lom 8:27). ‘Oku malava ke ne ongo‘i ha ngaahi ongo ‘oku loloto mo mo‘oni (Lom 8:26; 15:30). ‘Oku ‘i ai hono loto pea ‘oku malava ke ne sivi mo fili ‘a e ngaahi me‘a ‘oku kau ki he lelei ‘a e kakai ‘a e ‘Otuá mo e me‘a ‘e fakahoifua ki he ‘Aló (Ng 16:7; 1 Kol 2:11).

Pulelulu Ma‘asi 14, 2018

Ki‘i fihi ange ‘a e Laumālié  ‘i he‘etau vakaí

( not so easy to relate to)

Fehu‘i #36

Ko e hā ‘etau tui fekau‘aki mo e Laumālie Ma‘oni‘oni ́ ?

Ko e ‘Otua Ia, kaungā tu‘unga lau‘itāniti fakataha mo e Tamai pea mo e ‘Aló, pea ‘oku foaki kakato Ia ‘e he ‘Otuá  kiate kinautolu kotoa pe ‘oku tuí.

What do we believe about the Holy Spirit?

That he is God, coeternal with the Father and the Son, and that God grants him irrevocably to all who believe.

SIONE 14:16-17

‌ Pea te u tala ki he Tamai, pea te ne foaki kiate kimoutolu ha Taukapo ‘e toko taha, koe‘uhi ke ne ‘iate kimoutolu ‘o ta‘engata; ‘io, ko e Laumālie ‘o e Mo‘oni; ‘a ia ‘oku ‘ikai ke fa‘a ma‘u ‘e māmani, koe‘uhi ‘oku ‘ikai te ne sio kiate ia, pe fai ke ‘ilo ia: ka ‘oku mou fai ke ‘ilo ia ‘e kimoutolu; he ‘oku ne nofo ma‘u mo kimoutolu, pea ‘oku ne ‘i homou loto.

JOHN 14:16-17

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Commentary - SAM STORMS

Rarely does a Christian struggle to think of God as Father. And to envision God as Son is not a problem for many. These personal names come easily to us because our lives and relationships are inescapably intertwined with fathers and sons here on earth. But God as Holy Spirit is often a different matter. Gordon Fee tells of one of his students who remarked, "God the Father makes perfectly good sense to me, and God the Son I can quite understand; but the Holy Spirit is a gray, oblong blur."

Tusite Ma‘asi 13, 2018

Ke mou ma‘u Laumālie Ma‘oni‘oni āá

( Receive ye, the Holy Spirit)

Fehu‘i #36

Ko e hā ‘etau tui fekau‘aki mo e Laumālie Ma‘oni‘oni ́ ?

Ko e ‘Otua Ia, kaungā tu‘unga lau‘itāniti fakataha mo e Tamai pea mo e ‘Aló, pea ‘oku foaki kakato Ia ‘e he ‘Otuá  kiate kinautolu kotoa pe ‘oku tuí.

What do we believe about the Holy Spirit?

That he is God, coeternal with the Father and the Son, and that God grants him irrevocably to all who believe.

SIONE 14:16-17

‌ Pea te u tala ki he Tamai, pea te ne foaki kiate kimoutolu ha Taukapo ‘e toko taha, koe‘uhi ke ne ‘iate kimoutolu ‘o ta‘engata; ‘io, ko e Laumālie ‘o e Mo‘oni; ‘a ia ‘oku ‘ikai ke fa‘a ma‘u ‘e māmani, koe‘uhi ‘oku ‘ikai te ne sio kiate ia, pe fai ke ‘ilo ia: ka ‘oku mou fai ke ‘ilo ia ‘e kimoutolu; he ‘oku ne nofo ma‘u mo kimoutolu, pea ‘oku ne ‘i homou loto.

JOHN 14:16-17

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Commentary - AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO

Wherefore, when our Lord breathed on His disciples, and said, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost," He certainly wished it to be understood that the Holy Ghost was not only the Spirit of the Father, but of the only begotten Son Himself. For the same Spirit is, indeed, the Spirit of the Father and of the Son, making with them the trinity of Father Son, and Spirit, not a creature, but the Creator.

Monite Ma‘asi 12, 2018

Na‘a mo e tui ‘oku mau ma‘ú, ko e foaki mo ia

( the faith we have was given as well)

Fehu‘i #35

Koe‘uhí  kuo huhu‘i kitautolu ‘i he kelesí ‘ata‘atā pe ‘o fou ‘i he tuí  ‘ata‘atā pe, ‘oku ma‘u ‘a e tui ko ení  mei fe?

Ko e ngaahi me‘a‘ofa kotoa pe ‘oku tau ma‘u meia Kalaisi ‘oku tau ma‘u ‘o fou mai ‘i he Laumālie Ma‘oni‘oní, ‘o kau ai ‘a e tuí.

Since we are redeemed by grace alone, through faith alone, where does this faith come from?

All the gifts we receive from Christ we receive through the Holy Spirit, including faith itself.

TAITUSI 3:4-6

‌Ka ‘i he faifai pea fakahā mai ‘a e angalelei ‘a hotau ‘Otua Fakamo‘ui, mo ‘ene ‘ofa ki he tangata, 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: ‘a ia na‘a ne lilingi mai ‘o lahi kiate kitautolu ‘ia Sīsū Kalaisi ko hotau Fakamo‘ui;

TITUS 3:4-6

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 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, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Commentary - MIKA EDMONDSON (cont…)

Public worship is the center of God's redemptive action until Christ's return when the world will behold him. Until that time, we behold him by faith, week by week, as we gather together in his name to worship him and hear his Word. And by the Holy Spirit, we are progressively being transformed in a way that will last for eternity.

Lotu

Laumālie Ma‘oni‘oni, na‘a ke kumi mai kiate kimautolu neongo na‘e ‘ikai te mau lava ke kumi atu kiate koe he na‘a mau mate ‘i he‘emau ngaahi maumaulaó mo e angahalá. Ko Koe na‘a ke foaki mai ‘a ‘emau tuí ; na‘e ‘ikai malava ke mau tui ka ne ta‘e‘oua ho‘o kelesi fakafo‘oú, ‘a ē na‘a ke liliu ai ‘a e loto maká  ki he loto kakano. Tokoni mai ke mau tukuange ha‘a mau toe polepole he ko ho‘o meesi na‘e ‘ikai te mau tuha mo iaá, na‘a ne fai ‘a e ngaué.  ‘Emeni.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, you sought us when we could not seek you because we were dead in our trespasses and sins. You are the giver of our faith; none of us would believe apart from your regenerating grace, by which you make hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. Let us put aside all boasting in light of your undeserved mercy. Amen.

Sapate Ma‘asi 11, 2018

‘Oku kamata ‘a e mo‘ui ta‘engatá ‘i he ‘omi mo‘ui ‘a e Laumālie Ma‘oni‘oní

( eternal life begins when the Holy Spirit brings life to us)

Fehu‘i #35

Koe‘uhí  kuo huhu‘i kitautolu ‘i he kelesí ‘ata‘atā pe ‘o fou ‘i he tuí  ‘ata‘atā pe, ‘oku ma‘u ‘a e tui ko ení  mei fe?

Ko e ngaahi me‘a‘ofa kotoa pe ‘oku tau ma‘u meia Kalaisi ‘oku tau ma‘u ‘o fou mai ‘i he Laumālie Ma‘oni‘oní, ‘o kau ai ‘a e tuí.

Since we are redeemed by grace alone, through faith alone, where does this faith come from?

All the gifts we receive from Christ we receive through the Holy Spirit, including faith itself.

TAITUSI 3:4-6

‌Ka ‘i he faifai pea fakahā mai ‘a e angalelei ‘a hotau ‘Otua Fakamo‘ui, mo ‘ene ‘ofa ki he tangata, 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: ‘a ia na‘a ne lilingi mai ‘o lahi kiate kitautolu ‘ia Sīsū Kalaisi ko hotau Fakamo‘ui;

TITUS 3:4-6

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 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, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Commentary - MIKA EDMONDSON (cont…)

Finally, knowing that our faith is a gift of God changes how we view public worship, particularly the preaching of the gospel. Through gospel proclamation, the risen Christ presents himself in saving power and transforms people for eternity. Eternal life does not begin when Christ returns; eternal life begins today as the Holy Spirit brings that life to us through the gospel, the power of God unto salvation. As we sit in our pews hearing the gospel, we are not just listening to a religious lecture. The greatest power in all the world is at work bringing new life to sinners. Heaven is coming to earth, a glorious "not yet" is breaking into the "here and now."

Tokonaki Ma‘asi 10, 2018

Ko e kelesi ‘ata‘atā pe ne fou mai ai hotau fakamo‘uí

( salvation is truly all of grace)

Fehu‘i #35

Koe‘uhí  kuo huhu‘i kitautolu ‘i he kelesí ‘ata‘atā pe ‘o fou ‘i he tuí  ‘ata‘atā pe, ‘oku ma‘u ‘a e tui ko ení  mei fe?

Ko e ngaahi me‘a‘ofa kotoa pe ‘oku tau ma‘u meia Kalaisi ‘oku tau ma‘u ‘o fou mai ‘i he Laumālie Ma‘oni‘oní, ‘o kau ai ‘a e tuí.

Since we are redeemed by grace alone, through faith alone, where does this faith come from?

All the gifts we receive from Christ we receive through the Holy

Spirit, including faith itself.

TAITUSI 3:4-6

‌Ka ‘i he faifai pea fakahā mai ‘a e angalelei ‘a hotau ‘Otua Fakamo‘ui, mo ‘ene ‘ofa ki he tangata, 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: ‘a ia na‘a ne lilingi mai ‘o lahi kiate kitautolu ‘ia Sīsū Kalaisi ko hotau Fakamo‘ui;

TITUS 3:4-6

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 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, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Commentary - MIKA EDMONDSON (cont…)

…the Holy Spirit creates faith in our hearts so that we embrace the risen and reigning Christ . . . This amazing truth has huge implications for how we view our salvation, the Christian life, and worship.

First, it confirms that our salvation is truly all of grace. None of us can boast that we're saved because we made the most of the salvation offered to us. We certainly aren't saved because we had enough moral and spiritual sense in and of ourselves to believe the gospel or because we were catechized so well (although that is important). No, we are saved only because, in his divine compassion, the risen Christ gave us the spiritual sight to believe the gospel. By his Holy Spirit, Jesus tilled the rocky soil of our hearts so that as the seed of the gospel was sown, it would bring forth the fruit of faith and repentance. If we believe the gospel, we should praise God for giving us the grace to believe it, for he is the only One who made the difference for us. Therefore, the Christian life must be marked by gratitude and humility. In and of ourselves, we are no better than our non-Christian neighbors. The only difference is that something (or, rather, someone) absolutely

wonderful has come into our lives and changed everything.

Falaite Ma‘asi 9, 2018

Ko e foaki kotoa mei he ‘Otua ‘oku ‘a‘ana ‘a e mo‘uí

( God intervenes and gives new life)

Fehu‘i #35

Koe‘uhí  kuo huhu‘i kitautolu ‘i he kelesí ‘ata‘atā pe ‘o fou ‘i he tuí  ‘ata‘atā pe, ‘oku ma‘u ‘a e tui ko ení  mei fe?

Ko e ngaahi me‘a‘ofa kotoa pe ‘oku tau ma‘u meia Kalaisi ‘oku tau ma‘u ‘o fou mai ‘i he Laumālie Ma‘oni‘oní, ‘o kau ai ‘a e tuí.

Since we are redeemed by grace alone, through faith alone, where does this faith come from?

All the gifts we receive from Christ we receive through the Holy

Spirit, including faith itself.

TAITUSI 3:4-6

‌Ka ‘i he faifai pea fakahā mai ‘a e angalelei ‘a hotau ‘Otua Fakamo‘ui, mo ‘ene ‘ofa ki he tangata, 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: ‘a ia na‘a ne lilingi mai ‘o lahi kiate kitautolu ‘ia Sīsū Kalaisi ko hotau Fakamo‘ui;

TITUS 3:4-6

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 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, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Commentary - MIKA EDMONDSON

This question deals with how believers come to faith and so receive the salvation purchased by Christ. It's a question best asked in retrospect, as we look back over our lives and ask, "How did I, a fallen sinner, come to love Jesus and believe his gospel where so man have not?"

In order to understand the magnitude of this, you have to understand that “the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing”(1 Cor. 1:18). Although we can intellectually comprehend the facts of the gospel, apart from the gracious intervention of God, we would reject it as folly. But the catechism reminds us that God does intervene. The Holy Spirit gives new life to sinners who were otherwise "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1). As the gospel is preached, the Holy Spirit creates faith in our hearts so that we embrace the risen and reigning Christ as he presents himself through the gospel. Even faith (our obedient response to the gospel) is a gracious gift of God. This amazing truth has huge implications for how we view our salvation, the Christian life, and worship.