Monite Me 9, 2022

ALL THAT IS NECESSARY

‘OKU KAKATO ‘A E ME’A KOTOA PE ‘IA KALAISI

ROMANS 8:1-2

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

ROMANS 8:1

KO ia, ‘i he tu‘u ko eni, ‘oku ‘ikai ha momo‘i fakahalaia ‘o e kakai ‘oku ‘ia Kalaisi Sīsū. He ko e lao ‘a e Laumālie ko e Mo‘ui‘anga, kuo ne fakatau‘atāina koe mei he lao ‘a angahala mo mate, ‘i ho‘o tu‘u ‘ia Kalaisi Sīsū.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe    

There [are] two points which should be noted well. On the one side, where there is no Word of God but only the word of man, whoever he be, there is no faith there, but only a dream or an opinion which cannot fail to deceive us. On the other side, faith embraces and appropriates Jesus Christ and all that is in Him, since He has been given to us on the condition of believing in Him (John 17:20-21; Romans 8:9).

There follows one of two things: either all that is necessary for our salvation is not in Jesus Christ, or if all is indeed there, he who has Jesus Christ by faith has everything. Now, to say that all which is necessary for our salvation is not in Jesus Christ is a very horrible blasphemy, for this would only make Him a Saviour in part (Matthew 1:21). There remains therefore the Other part: in having Jesus Christ, by faith, we have in Him all that is required for our salvation (Romans 5:1.)

THEODORE BEZA

‘Oku ‘i ai ha ongo me’a mahu’inga ‘e ua ke tau tokanga ki ai: ‘Uluaki, ko e potu ‘oku ‘ikai ke ‘i ai ‘a e Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua, ka ko e lau pe ‘a e tangata (‘o tatau ai pe, pe ko hai?) ‘oku ‘ikai ha tui ai, ka ko ha misi pe mo e fakamatala fakaetangata, ‘oku iku pe ki he taki fakahee. Ka ‘i he fa’ahi ‘e tahaa, ‘oku hanga ‘e he tui ‘o puke mai ‘a Kalaisi mo e koloa kotoa ‘oku ‘iate Ia, he kuo foaki mai Ia ma’a kinautolu ‘oku tui kiate Ia (Sione 17:20-21; Loma 8:9).

‘Oku tafe mei heni ‘a e ongo me’a ni: Ka ‘ikai pe ke ma’u kotoa ‘a e fakamo’ui ‘ia Sisu Kalaisi, pe, ‘oku fa’oaki kotoa ‘iate IA, pea ko ia kotoa pe ‘oku ne ma’u Iaa, ‘oku ne ma’u ‘a e me’a kotoa. Pea kapau ‘oku tau pehee ‘oku ‘ikai ma’u ‘ia Sisu ‘a e me’a kotoa fekau’aki mo e fakamo’ui, pea ta ko ha lea fakatupu houhau eni, he ‘e pehee ‘oku fakakonga pe ‘a e tu’unga Fakamo’ui ‘o Sisuu (Matiu 1:21). Ka ‘i he tapa ‘e tahaa; ko hono ma’u ‘o Sisu, ‘i he tui, ‘oku tau ma’u ‘iate Ia ‘a e kanokato ‘o e me’a kotoa pe fekau’aki mo hotau fakamo’ui (Loma 5:1).

Sapate Me 8, 2022 

FAITH FROM LOVE

TUI FAI MEI HE ‘OFA

JOHN 1:11-13

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

SIONE 1:11-13

Na‘a ne ha‘u ki hono ‘api tonu, ka ka ‘ikai tali ia ‘e hono kakai ‘o‘ona. Ka ka ‘ilonga kinautolu na‘e ma‘u ia, na‘a ne fakamafai‘i kinautolu ke hoko ko e fānau ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘io, ‘a kinautolu ‘oku tui pīkitai ki hono huafa: ‘A kinautolu na‘e ‘ikai fakatupu ‘e ha toto, pe ‘e he loto ‘o kakano, ‘uma‘ā ‘e ha loto ‘o ha tangata, ka ‘e he ‘Otua.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe    

Almost all that you and I know has come to us by faith. A scientific discovery has been made, and we are sure of it. On what grounds do we believe it? On the authority of certain well-known men of learning, whose reputations are established. We believe their witness.

You must do the like with regard to Jesus: because He teaches you certain truths you are to be His disciple, and believe His words; because He has performed certain acts you are to be His client, and trust yourself with Him. He is infinitely superior to you, and presents Himself to your confidence as your Master and Lord. If you will receive Him and His words, you shall be saved.

Another and a higher form of faith is that faith which grows out of love. Why does a boy trust his father? Because he loves him. Blessed and happy are they who have a sweet faith in Jesus, intertwined with deep affection for Him, for this is a restful confidence.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Ko e lahi taha ‘o e ngaahi me’a ‘oku tau ‘ilo, ko e fou mai mei he TUI. Tau pehee, kuo pavake mai ha fo’i ‘ilo faka-saienisi fo’ou pea tau tui kotoa ki ai. ‘Oku makatu’unga eni ‘i he ha? ‘I he mafai mo e ongoongo ‘o e kau mataotao ‘i he mala’e ko ia. ‘Oku tau tali leva ‘enau ngaahi fakamo’oni.

Kuopau ke ke fai ‘a e me’a tatau fekau’aki mo Sisu: ‘Oku ne ako’i koe ‘aki ‘a e ngaahi mo’oni, pea ko ‘ene tisaipale koe, pea ‘oku ke tui ki he’ene ngaahi lea. Koe’uhi, kuo ne fai ‘a e ngaahi ngaue fakaofo, pea ‘oku ke tui tala kiate Ia. ‘Oku ma’olunga fau ‘iate koe, pea ‘oku ne hoko mai ko e Pule mo e ‘Eiki. Kapau te ke tali Ia mo ‘Ene folofola, te ke mo’ui.

Ko e TUI ‘e taha ‘oku toe fungani hake, ko e TUI ‘oku tupu mei he ‘ofa. Ko e ha e ‘uhinga ‘e falala ai ha ki’i tamasi’i ki he’ene tamai? He ‘oku ne ‘ofa’i ia. ‘Oku monu’ia mo fiefia ‘a kinautolu ‘oku tu’u ‘enau falala ‘ia Sisu, pea ‘oku piki kiate Ia honau loto, he ‘oku malolo ‘iate Ia ‘a e pau’ia honau loto.

Tokonaki Me 7, 2022

FAITH IN CHRIST

TUI KIA KALAISI

ACTS 4:11-12

This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

NGAUE 4:11-12

Ko e toko taha ko ia, ko e maka na‘e ta‘etoka‘i ‘e kimoutolu tufunga ‘a ē kuo hoko ko e maka lahi ‘o e tuliki. ‘Io, pea ‘oku ‘ikai ke tu‘u ‘i ha taha kehe ‘a e fakamo‘ui; he tala‘ehai ‘oku ‘i ai mo ha hingoa kehe ‘i he lalo langi kuo fokotu‘u ‘i he lotolotonga ‘o e kakai, ‘a ia kuo tu‘utu‘uni ke tau mo‘ui ai.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe   

It is true, indeed, that faith has respect to God only; but to this we should add that it acknowledges Jesus Christ whom He has sent. God would remain far off, concealed from us, were we not irradiated by the brightness of Christ. All that the Father had, He deposited with His only begotten Son, in order that He might manifest Himself in Him, and thus by the communication of blessings, express the true image of His glory. Since, as has been said, we must be led by the Spirit, and thus stimulated to seek Christ, so must we also remember that the invisible Father is to be sought nowhere but in this image.

For which reason Augustine treating of the object of faith, elegantly says, “The thing to be known is, whither we are to go, and by what way," and immediately after infers that "the surest way to avoid all errors is to know him who is both God and man. It is to God we tend, and it is by man we go, and both of these are found only in Christ."

JOHN CALVIN

‘Oku mo’oni, ko e TUI, ‘oku fai pe ia ki he ‘Otua; ka te tau tanaki atu pe mo e mo’oni ko eni ki ai; ‘oku fakahaa’i foki ai mo Sisu Kalaisi na’e fekau’i mai ‘e he ‘Otua. Na’a tau mei nofo va mama’o pe mo e ‘Otua, ka ne ta’e’oua, ‘a hono hulungia kitautolu ‘e he maama ‘o Kalaisi. Ko e me’a kotoa ‘a e Tamai, na’a ne lilingi ki Hono ‘Alo tofu-pe-tahaa, kae lava ke fakaha mai ‘a e ‘Otua, fou ‘i he ‘Alo; pea ke fakafou mai ai ‘a e tapuaki mo e ‘ata totonu ‘o Hono langilangi. Ka na’e pau ke tomu’a tataki kitautolu ‘e he Laumalie, ke tau lava ke kumi kia Kalaisi, pea ko e founga pe eni ‘e lava ai ke tau kumi ki he Ta’ehamai, ‘o fou ‘ia Kalaisi pe.

Ko e ‘uhinga ia na’e pehee ai ‘e ‘Akositaine, “ko e me’a ke tau ‘ilo’i, pe ko ‘etau a’u tonu pea mo e hala ke tau fou ai, ko e founga lelei taha ke tau hao ai mei he fehalaaki, ko ‘etau ‘ilo’i IA, ko e ‘Otua mo tangata. ‘Oku tau tauhi ki he ‘Otua, pea tau fou ki he tangata, pea ‘oku ma’u loua ‘ia Kalaisi.”

Falaite Me 6, 2022

THE POWER OF FAITH IN CHRIST

KO E MAFAI ‘O E TUI KIA KALAISI

ROMANS 6:22

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

LOMA 6:22

Ka ‘i he tu‘u ko eni, ‘i he fakatau‘atāina kimoutolu meia Angahala, kae fakapōpula kimoutolu ki he ‘Otua, ‘oku ‘i ai hamou fua, ko e fua ‘oku taki he haohaoa, pea ko e iku‘anga ko e mo‘ui ta‘engata.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe    

Now, the effects which Jesus Christ produces in us, when we have taken hold of Him by faith, are two. In the first place, there is the testimony which the Holy Spirit gives to our spirit that we are children of God, and enables us to cry with assurance, "Abba, Father". (Rom 8:16; Gal 4:6). In the second place, we must understand that when we apply to ourselves Jesus Christ by faith, this is not by some silly and vain fancy and imagining, but really and in fact, though spiritually (Rom 6:14; 1 John 1:6; 2:5; 3:7).

In the same way as the soul produces its effects when it is naturally united to the body, so, when, by faith, Jesus Christ dwells in us in a spiritual manner, His power produces there and reveals there His graces. These are described in Scripture by the words ‘regeneration' and 'sanctification', and they make us new creatures with regard to the qualities that we can have (John 3:3; Eph 4:21-24).

THEODORE BEZA

Ko e ola ‘o e ngaue ‘a Sisu Kalaisi ‘iate kitautolu, ‘i he taimi ‘oku tau ma’u ai Ia ‘i he TUI, ‘oku ua. ‘Uluaki, ko e fakamo’oni ‘oku fai ‘e he Laumalie Ma’oni’oni ki hotau laumalie, ko e fanau kitautolu ‘a e ‘Otua, pea lava ai ke tau kalanga mo e loto pau’ia, “Apaa Tamai” (Loma 8:16; Kaletia 4:6). Ko hono ua, ‘i he taimi ‘oku tau ma’u ai ‘a Sisu Kalaisi ki he’etau mo’ui ‘i he TUI, ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha me’a si’isi’i pe launoa, ka ko e fo’i mo’oni fakalaumalie ‘oku pau pea mo’oni (Loma 6:14; 1 Sione 1:6; 2:5; 3:7).

‘I he founga tatau, ‘i he taimi ‘oku fakatupu mai ai ‘e he laumalie ‘a e ngaahi fua ‘o tuha mo ‘ene taha mo e sino, ‘oku pehee pe mo e TUI, ‘i he nofo’ia kitautolu ‘e Sisu Kalaisi, ‘i Hono mafai, ‘oku Ne fakatupu mo ne fakae’a mai ‘a ‘Ene ngaahi kelesi. Ko e ngaahi ngaue eni ‘oku ui ‘e he Folofola, ko e “fanau’i fo’ou” mo e “fakama’oni’oni,” pea ‘oku fai ai hotau fakatupu fo’ou ‘o fakatatau ki he mo’ui fo’ou ‘oku tau ma’u (Sione 3:3; ‘Efeso 4:21-24).

Tu’apulelulu Me 5, 2022 

FAITH THAT FACES ENEMIES

KO E TUI ‘OKU FEHANGAHANGAI MO E FILI

PSALM 27:3

Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.

SAAME 27:3

Neongo ‘e nofo‘i mai ha kongakau, Ko hoku loto ‘e ‘ikai manavahē: Neongo ‘e tu‘u kiate au ‘a e tau, Na‘a mo ia te u falala pē.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe    

My friends, take care of your faith perpetually, because of  your enemies; for if you do no want faith when you are with friends, you will require it when you have to deal with your foes. That good old warrior, Paul, once led the Ephesians into the armoury, and after he had shown them the shoes they were to wear, the girdle, the breast plate, the helmet, and the sword, he solemnly said, "Above all take the shield of faith."

Even if you forget the helmet, be quite sure of the shield, for if your helmet should be off you may ward off a blow with the shield, and save it from your head. You had better put on "shoes of peace and the breast-plate of righteousness,” but if you omit one of them, take care that you have the shield of faith, where with you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." Faith makes a man very mighty when he deals with enemies.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Si’oku ngaahi kaungame’a, tokanga ki ho’o tui ma’u pe, koe’uhi he ‘oku siofi koe ‘e ho ngaahi fili; he kapau ‘oku ‘ikai te ke tokanga ki ai ‘i ho’o nofo mo ho ngaahi kaungame’a, tala atu, te ke piki ki ho’o tui ‘o ka ke fehangahangai mo ho ngaahi fili. Ko e to’a ko ia ko Paula, na’a ne taki ‘a e kau ‘Efeso ki he loki ‘o e naunau tau. Pea hili ‘ene faka’ali’ali ange kiate kinautolu ‘a e su ke nau tui, mo e ha’i, mo e kofu tau, mo e tataa tau, mo e heleta, na’a ne tapou ange, ke nau “ to’o ‘a e pa ‘o e tui.”

Neongo ka ngalo ‘a e tataa, ‘ai pe pe pau ‘a e pa, he ka to ‘a e tataa, te ke lava pe ke pale’i ha ta ‘aki ‘a e paa, ke kei hao pe ha lavea ki ho ‘ulu. ‘Ai ‘a e su ‘o e fakamelino mo e kofu tau ‘o e ma’oni’oni, pea neongo ka hala ha taha ‘i he ongo me’a ko eni, tokanga ke ke ma’u pe ‘a e pa ‘o e tui; te ke kei lava pe ke pale’i ‘a e ngaahi ngahau vela ‘a e tevolo. ‘Oku ngaohi ‘e he TUI ha tangata ke kaukaua ‘i he’ene fehangahangai mo hono ngaahi fili.

 

Pulelulu Me 4, 2022

AN INSTRUMENT OF FAITH

KO E ME’ANGAUE ‘O E TUI

JOHN 3:17-18

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

SIONE 3:17-18

He tala‘ehai na‘e fekau ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e ‘Alo ki māmani ke fakamaau? ‘a māmani; ka koe‘uhi ke mo‘ui ‘a māmani ‘iate ia. Ko ia ‘oku tui pīkitai kiate ia ‘oku ‘ikai ke fakamaau? ia; ka ko ia ‘oku ‘ikai ke tui, kuo ‘osi fakamaau? ia; koe‘uhi kuo ‘ikai te ne tui ki he huafa ‘o e ‘Alo tofu-pē-taha-na‘e-fakatupu ‘e he ‘Otua.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe    

It is necessary therefore that with all this, the good Father, who chose us for His glory, should come to multiply His mercy toward His enemies. In declaring to us that He has given His own only Son so that whosoever takes hold of Him by faith should not perish (John 3:16), He creates also in us this instrument of faith which He requires from us.

Now, the faith of which we speak does not consist only in believing that God is God, and that the contents of His Word are true; for the devils indeed have this faith, and it only makes them tremble (James 2:19). But we call faith a certain knowledge which, by His grace and goodness alone, the Holy Spirit engraves more and more in the hearts of the elect of God (1 Corinthians 2:6-8). By this knowledge, each of them, being assured in his heart of his election, appropriates to himself and applies to himself the promise of his salvation in Jesus Christ.

THEODORE BEZA

Pea ‘i hono fakahoko kotoa ‘o e ngaahi me’a ni, ko e Tamai lelei, ‘a ‘Ene ‘Afio na’a ne fili kitautolu ma’a hono langilangi, na’a ne lilingi mai ‘Ene meesi ke ‘inasi ai ‘a hono ngaahi fili. ‘I he’ene fakaha mai kuo ne foaki mai Hono ‘Alo tofu-pe-tahaa, ki ha taha te ne ma’u Ia ‘i he tui, ‘e ‘ikai te ne ‘auha (Sione 3:16), ‘oku ne fakatupu ‘iate kitautolu ha me’angaue ‘o e tui, ‘a ia ‘oku ne fiema’u meiate  kitautolu.

Ko e TUI ‘oku tau talanoa ki ai, ‘oku ‘ikai ko e ‘uhinga pe ki he tui ‘oku ‘Otua ‘a e ‘Otuaa, pea ‘oku mo’oni ‘a e Folofola; he na’a mo e fanga tevolo ‘oku nau ma’u ‘a e tui ko eni pea ‘oku nau tete (Semisi 2:19). Ka ‘oku tau ui ‘a e tui ko eni, ko ha fa’ahinga ‘ilo, ‘oku fou ‘i he ‘Ene kelesi mo e angalelei, ‘oku hanga ‘e he Laumalie Ma’oni’oni ‘o tongi ke tupu fakautuutu ‘i he loto ‘o e kakai fili ‘a e ‘Otua (1 Kolinito 2:6-8). Pea ‘oku fou ‘i he ‘ilo ko eni, ko ‘ene kakai, ‘i he’enau pau’ia ‘i honau loto ‘a honau tu’unga fili, ‘oku nau fakahoko ‘i he’enau mo’ui ‘a e palomesi ‘o e fakamo’ui ‘oku ma’u ‘ia Sisu Kalaisi.

Tusite Me 3, 2022

PRESERVING OUR LIBERTY

TAUKAPO’I ‘ETAU TAU’ATAINA

GALATIANS 5:1

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

 KALETIA 5:1

KO E tau‘atāina koā na‘e fakatau‘atāina kitaua ki ai ‘e Kalaisi? Pe‘i mou tu‘u ma‘u ai, pea ‘oua te mou toe mo‘ua ‘i he ‘ioke fakapōpula.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe   

On the question of justification we must remain adamant, or else we shall lose the truth of the Gospel. It is a matter of life and death. It involves the death of the Son of God, who died for the sins of the world. If we surrender faith in Christ as the only thing that can justify us, the death and resurrection of Jesus are without meaning; that Christ is the Savior of the world would be a myth. God would be a liar, because He would not have fulfilled His promises.

Our stubbornness is right, because we want to preserve the liberty which we have in Christ. Only by preserving our liberty shall we be able to retain the truth of the Gospel inviolate. Some will object that the Law is divine and holy. Let it be divine and holy. The Law has no right to tell me that I must be justified by it.

MARTIN LUTHER

Fekau’aki mo e kaveinga ‘o e fakatonuhia, kuopau ke tau piki ma’u ki ai, ka ‘ikai ‘e mole meiate kitautolu ‘a e mo’oni ‘o e Kosipeli. ‘Oku makatu’unga mei heni ‘etau mo’ui mo e mate. ‘Oku felave’i eni mo e pekia ‘a e ‘Alo ‘o e ‘Otua ma’ae angahala ‘a mamani. Kapau te tau li’aki ‘a Kalaisi, ko e founga pe ia ‘e taha ‘oku ne fai hotau fakatonuhia, pea ‘e hoko pe ‘a e pekia mo e toetu’u ‘a Sisu, ko e me’a noa. Pea ‘e hoko pe ‘a e lau ko Kalaisi ‘a e Fakamo’ui, ko ha talanoa tupu’a pe. ‘E hoko ‘a e ‘Otua ko e loi (tapu mo Ia), he ‘e taku ‘oku ‘ikai te ne fakaai ‘ene ngaahi palomesi.

Ko ‘etau piki mate he mo’oni ko eni, koe’uhi ko ‘etau feinga ke taukapo’i ‘a e tau’ataina ‘oku tau ma’u ‘ia Kalaisi. ‘Oku toki hoko ‘i he taimi ‘oku tau taukapo’i (fakatolonga) ai ‘etau tau’ataina, ‘a ‘etau ma’u ‘a e mo’ui ‘o e Kosipeli mo’oni. ‘E talamai ‘e he ni’ihi, ‘oku lelei ange ‘a e Lao he ‘oku faka-langi. Pea sai pe ia, ke hoko ‘a e Lao ko ha me’a faka-langi mo fakatupu ma’oni’oni. Ka ‘oku ‘ikai ha totonu ‘a e Lao ke ne fai hoku fakatonuhia’i.