Tokonaki Me 14, 2022

FAITH BEHOLDS RIGHTEOUSNESS

KO E TUI´ ‘OKU TAU MA’U AI ‘A E MA’ONI’ONI

GALATIANS 5:5-6

For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

KALETIA 5:5-6

He ko kimautolu, ko e me‘a ‘i he Laumālie, pea koe‘uhi ko ‘emau tui, ‘oku mau talitali ‘aki ‘a e ‘amanaki ki he fakatonuhia. He ‘i he tu‘u ‘ia Kalaisi Sīsū, ‘oku ‘ikai mamafa ha‘ate kamu pe ta‘ekamu, ka ko ha tui pē ‘oku ngāue fou ‘i he ofa.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe   

The brightest day that ever dawned upon us was the day in which we first “looked unto Him, and were lightened" (Psalm 34:5). It was all dark till faith beheld the Sun of Righteousness. The dawn of faith was to us the morning of life; by faith only we began to live. We have since then walked by faith. Whenever we have been tempted to step aside from the path of faith, we have been like the foolish Galatians, and we have smarted for our folly. I trust we have not "suffered so many things in vain" (Galatians 3:4).

We began in the Spirit, and if we have sought to be made perfect in the flesh, we have soon discovered ourselves to be sailing upon the wrong tack, and nearing sunken rocks. "The just shall live by faith" is a truth which has worked itself out in our experience, for often and often have we felt that, in any other course, death stares us in the face; and therefore "we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith" (Galatians 5:5).

CHARLES SPURGEON

Ko e ‘aho maama taha ‘o ‘etau mo’ui, ‘a e ‘aho na’a tau fuofua “hanga kiate Ia, pea maama leva…”(Saame 34:5). Na’e po’uli fau, talunga mo e hanga hake ‘a tui ‘o ma’u ‘a e Maama ‘o e Ma’oni’oni. Ko e hopo hake ‘a e la’aa ‘o e tui, ko e pongipongi ia ‘o e mo’ui; na’e toki hoko mai ‘a TUI ‘o fofoa ‘a e mo’ui ‘iate kitautolu. Pea talu mei ai ‘etau ‘a’eva ‘i he tui. Pea ‘i he taimi kotoa pe ‘oku ‘ahi’ahi’i ai kitautolu ke tau afe mei he ‘alunga ‘o e tui, ‘oku tau hange leva ko e kau Kaletia vale (‘i he lau ‘a Paula) - ka kuo tau ako mei ai. ‘Oku tau faka’amu ke ‘oua na’a ta’e’aonga ‘a e fakapuepue ‘oku tau fai (Kaletia 3:4).

Na’a tau kamata ‘i he Laumalie, pea kapau ‘oku tau feinga ke fakakakato mei he kakano, te tau toki ofo hake, kuo hala ‘a e siate folau, he kuo tau fakaofi atu ki ha hakau. “Ko e ma’oni’oni ‘e mo’ui pe ‘i he’ene tui” ko ha mo’oni ia kuo tau ‘inasi ai ‘i he a’usia. He ‘oku tau ‘ilo leva ‘oku, ‘o tatau ai pe ha me’a, ‘oku tau fehangahangai pe mo mate;  “He ko kimautolu, ko e me‘a ‘i he Laumālie, pea koe‘uhi ko ‘emau tui, ‘oku mau talitali ‘aki ‘a e ‘amanaki ki he fakatonuhia” (Kaletia 5:5).

Falaite Me 13, 2022 

NOT BY WORKS

‘OKU ‘IKAI FOU ‘I HE NGAUE

HEBREWS 6:19-20

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

HEPELU 6:19-20

‘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; ‘a ia kuo hū ki ai ‘a Sīsū ma‘atautolu, ko hotau Takilele, he‘ene hoko ko e Taula‘eiki Lahi ‘i he ‘alunga ‘o Melekiseteki, ‘o laui ‘ītāniti.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe    

The true way of becoming a Christian is to be justified by faith in Jesus Christ, and not by the works of the Law. We know that we must also teach good works, but they must be taught in their proper turn, when the discussion is concerning works and not the article of justification. Here the question arises: By what means are we justified? We answer with Paul, “By faith only in Christ are we pronounced righteous, and not by works."

Not that we reject good works. Far from it. But we will not allow ourselves to be removed from the anchorage of our salvation. The Law is a good thing. But when the discussion is about justification, then is no time to drag in the Law. When we discuss justification we ought to speak of Christ and the benefits He has brought us. Christ is no sheriff. He is the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29)

MARTIN LUTHER

Ko e founga totonu taha ‘o ‘ete hoko ko ha Kalisitaine, ko hono fakatonuhia’i ‘i he tui kia Sisu Kalaisi, ‘o ‘ikai ko e ngaue ‘a e Lao. ‘Oku tau ‘ilo, kuopau ke tau tokanga mo ako’i ‘a e ngaue lelei, ka kuopau ke ako’i pe ia ‘oku hono ‘alunga totonu, ‘o fakatatau ki he taimi ke fai ai ‘a e ngaue lelei ka ‘oku ‘ikai ko e taimi ‘oku tau lau ai ki he fakatonuhia. Ko e fehu’i leva ‘oku ‘ohake: Ko e ha ‘a e founga ‘oku fai ai ‘a hotau fakatonuhia? ‘Oku tau tali fakataha mo Paula, “ko kitaua foki na‘a ta tui kia Kalaisi Sīsū, koe‘uhi ke ta ma‘u fakatonuhia mei he tui kia Kalaisi, ‘o ‘ikai mei he ngaahi ngāue faka-Lao (Kaletia 2:16).

‘Oku ‘ikai ke tau fakata’e’aonga’i ‘a e ngaue lelei. ‘Oku ‘ikai. Ka ‘e ‘ikai te tau mavahe mei he taula ‘o hotau fakamo’ui. Ko e Lao ko e me’a lelei. Ka ‘i he taimi ‘oku tau lau ai ki he fakatonuhia, ‘oku ‘ikai leva ke tau ‘omi ki ai ‘a e Lao. ‘I he taimi ‘oku tau fakamatala ai ki he fakatonuhia, ‘oku tau nofo pe ‘ia Kalaisi mo e ngaahi koloa ‘oku tau ma’u ‘iate Ia. ‘Oku ‘ikai ko ha sela ‘a Kalaisi, ka ko e Lami Ia ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘oku ne ‘ave ‘a e hia ‘a mamani (Sione 1:29).

Tu’apulelulu Me 12, 2022

FAITH EXALTS GOD

‘OKU FAKAHIKIHIKI’I ‘E HE TUI ‘A E ‘OTUA

JAMES 4:9-10

Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

SEMISI 4:9-10

Mou fakamamahi, mo to‘e, mo tangi: ke liliu ho‘omou kata ko e to‘e, mo ho‘omou fiefia ko e fakamāmāhu‘i. Fakavaivai‘i kimoutolu ‘i he ‘ao ‘o e ‘Eiki, pea te ne hākeaki‘i kimoutolu.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe    

Faith is a sensibleness of what is real in the work of redemption; and as we do really wholly depend on God, so the soul that believes doth entirely depend on God for all salvation, in its own sense and act. Faith abases men and exalts God, it gives all the glory of redemption to God alone. It is necessary in order to saving faith that man should be emptied of himself, that he should be sensible that he is "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” Humility is a great ingredient of true faith: he that truly receives redemption, receives it as a little child, Mark 10:15: “Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of heaven as a little child, he shall not enter therein."

 It is the delight of a believing soul to abase itself and exalt God alone that is the language of it, Psalm 115:1: "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to thy name give glory." Let us be exhorted to exalt God alone, and ascribe to Him all the glory of redemption.

JONATHAN EDWARDS

Ko e Tui, ‘a e lelei’anga ‘o e mo’oni ‘o e ngaue ‘o hotau huhu’i; pea ‘i he’etau falala kakato ki he ‘Otua, ‘oku pehee pe, ko e laumalie ‘oku tui, ‘oku ne falala kakato ki he ‘Otua ma’a hono fakamo’ui, ‘i he ‘ilo mo e ngaue. ‘Oku tuku hifo ‘e he tui ‘a e tangata ki lalo, kae fakahikihiki’i ‘a e ‘Otua. ‘Oku fakalangilangi’i ‘a e ‘Otua tokotaha pe ‘i he huhu’i ‘o e tangata. Kuopau ke fakamaha ‘a e tangata pea ke ne fakamo’oni, “koe ia ‘a e mala‘ia taha, mo e tu‘utāmaki taha, pea masiva mo kui mo telefua” (Fakaha 3:17). Ko e anga fakatokilalo, ko e faka’ilonga ia ‘o e tui ‘oku mo’oni, he ko ia ‘oku ne ma’u ‘a e huhu’i, ‘oku ne ma’u ia hangee ko ha ki’i tamasi’i (Ma’ake 10:15): “Ko au ē, ‘oku ou tala atu, Ko ia ‘e ‘ikai te ne tali ‘a e Pule‘anga ‘o e ‘Otua ‘o hangē ko ha tamasi‘i, ‘e ‘ikai ‘aupito hū ia ki ai.”

Ko e mamana ‘a e laumalie ‘oku tui, ke ne hifo ‘e ia ki lalo, kae hiki hake ‘a e ‘Otua tokotaha pe, pea ko ‘ene lea pe ia, Saame 115:1: ‘OUA na‘a ‘amautolu, ‘Eiki, ‘oua na‘a ‘amautolu, Kae tuku ‘a e kolōlia ki ho huafa ‘o‘ou. Koe‘uhi pē ko ho‘o ‘ofa, Koe‘uhi ko e mo‘oni ‘a e ‘Afiona.

Pulelulu Me 11, 2022

HEIRS OF THE PROMISE

‘EA KI HE PALOMESI

GALATIANS 3:28-29

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

KALETIA 3:28-29

‘Oku ‘ikai ai ha Siu pe ha Kalisi, ‘oku ‘ikai ai ha pōpula pe ha tau‘atāina, ‘oku ‘ikai ai ke tangata mo fefine: he ko kimoutolu kātokatoa ko e toko taha tofu pē ‘ia Kalaisi Sīsū. Pea kapau ko e konga ‘o Kalaisi ‘a kimoutolu, pea tā ko e hako ‘o ‘Epalahame ‘a kimoutolu, ko e ngaahi ‘ea ‘o fakatatau ki he Tala‘ofa.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe    

We, brethren, are children of the promise, born not after the flesh, nor according to the energy of nature, but by the power of God. We trace our new birth not to blood, nor to the will of the flesh, nor to the will of man, but to God alone. We owe our conversion neither to the reasoning of the logician nor to the eloquence of the orator, neither to our natural betterness nor to our personal efforts; we are, as Isaac was, the children of God's power according to the promise.

Now, to us the covenant belongs, for it has been decided - and the apostle has declared the decision in the name of God - that “to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, and to thy seed, which is Christ. ... And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise”(Galatians 3:16, 29). We are altogether saved by faith.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Ko kitautolu, si’oku kaunga fononga, ko e fanau kitautolu ‘o e palomesi, na’e ‘ikai fanau’i ‘o fakatatau ki he kakano, pe ivi ‘o natula, ka ‘i he ivi ‘o e ‘Otua. ‘Oku tau fakatotolo hotau fanau’ifo’ou, ‘o ‘ikai ko e toto, pe ko e loto ‘o e kakano, pe ko ha fili ‘a e tangata, ko e ‘Otua tokotaha pe. Na’e ‘ikai tefito ‘i he ‘atamai ‘o e kau poto, pe faiva lea ‘a ha punake, pe ko ha’atau lelei fakafo’ituitui; he ‘oku tau hange pe ko ‘Aisake, ko e fanau ‘a e ‘Otua ‘o fakatatau ki he Palomesi.

‘Oku ‘atautolu ‘a e kovinanite, he na’e toka tala, pea fakaha ‘e he kau ‘aposetolo ‘i he huafa ‘o e ‘Otua - Pea ko eni, na‘e fai ‘a e ngaahi tala‘ofa ma‘a ‘Epalahame mo hono hako. ‘Oku ‘ikai te ne pehē, Pea mo ho ngaahi hako, ‘o hangē ko ha‘ane lau ki ha tokolahi; ka hangē ko ‘ene lau ki ha toko taha pē, ‘o pehē, Pea mo ho hako: ‘a ia ko Kalaisi…Pea kapau ko e konga ‘o Kalaisi ‘a kimoutolu, pea tā ko e hako ‘o ‘Epalahame ‘a kimoutolu, ko e ngaahi ‘ea ‘o fakatatau ki he Tala‘ofa (Kaletia 3:16, 29). ‘Oku fai kotoa hotau fakamo’ui ‘i he TUI.

Tusite Me 10, 2022

LOOK TO CHRIST

SIO KIA KALAISI

PSALM 37:3-4

Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

SAAME 37:3-4

Falala koe kia Sihova, ‘o fai lelei, Nofo ‘i he fonua, ‘o kai ta‘eteki. Tu‘u foki ‘i he ‘Eiki ho‘o manako, Pea te ne ‘atu ‘a e ngaahi kole ‘a ho loto.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe    

After we have taught faith in Christ, we teach good works. “Since you have found Christ by faith," we say, "begin now to work and do well. Love God and your neighbor. Call upon God, give thanks unto Him, praise Him, confess Him. These are good works. Let them flow from a cheerful heart, because you have remission of sin in Christ."

When crosses and afflictions come our way, we bear them patiently. “For Christ's yoke is easy, and His burden is light." When sin has been pardoned, and the conscience has been eased of its dreadful load, a Christian can endure all things in Christ. To give a short definition of a Christian: a Christian is not somebody chalks sin, because of his faith in Christ. This doctrine brings comfort to consciences in serious trouble. When a person is a Christian he is above law and sin. When the Law accuses him, and sin wants to drive the wits out of him, a Christian looks to Christ. A Christian is free. He has no master except Christ. A Christian is greater than the whole world.

MARTIN LUTHER

‘I he hili ‘etau ako’i ‘a e tui kia Kalaisi, ‘oku tau ako’i leva ‘a e ngaue lelei. Hili ho’o ta’imalie ‘i ho’o ma’u ‘a Kalaisi ‘i he tui, kamata leva ke ke tokanga ki he ngaue lelei. ‘Ofa ki he ‘Otua pea mo ho kaunga’api. Ui ki he ‘Otua, fakamalo’ia ‘a Hono Huafa, pea ke talaki hono langilangi. Ko e ngaahi ngaue lelei ia. Tuku ke nau tafe mei he loto fonu fiefia, he kuo fakamolemole’i ho’o angahala ‘ia Kalaisi.

‘I he taimi ‘oku mamafa ai ‘a e ngaahi kolosi mo faingata’a ‘a e ngaahi ha’aha’a ‘o e mo’ui, fua pe mo e kataki. He ko e ‘ioke ‘a Kalaisi ‘oku molu pea ma’ama’a ‘Ene kavenga. ‘I he taimi ‘oku fakamolemole’i ai ‘a e angahala, pea to’o ‘a e kavenga ‘o e mo’ui, ‘oku malava ‘e he Kalisitiane ke ne kataki’i ‘a e me’a kotoa ‘ia Kalaisi. Ko e tokateline eni ‘oku ne fakafiemalie ‘a e ngaahi loto hoha’a.Ko e Kalisitiane, ko e tokotaha ‘oku ‘ikai ke popula ki he angahala, koe’uhi ko ‘ene tui kia Kalaisi. ‘Oku ‘ikai te ne popula ki he lao pe ki he angahala. ‘I he taimi ‘oku fakahalaia’i ai ia ‘e he lao, pea fakatupu puputu’a ‘a e angahala, ‘oku sio fakamama’u ‘a e Kalisitiane kia Kalaisi. Ko e Kalaisitiane, ko e tokotaha kuo ‘osi fakatau’ataina. ‘Oku taha pe ‘a hono Pule, ko Kalaisi. ‘Oku ‘ikai kei ‘o e mamani ia ko eni.

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.