Tokonaki Sune 11, 2022

ALL THAT IS GOOD

KO E NGAAHI ME’A KOTOA ‘OKU LELEI

EPHESIANS 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

‘EFESO 2:8-9

He ko e kelesi pē kuo mou mo‘ui mei ai, ko e me‘a ‘i ho‘omou tui; ‘io, na‘e ‘ikai meiate kimoutolu ia, ka ko e foaki mei he ‘Otua: 9na‘e ‘ikai tupu mei ha ngaahi ngāue, koe‘uhi ke ‘oua na‘a ai ha taha ‘e fa‘a pōlepole.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

We must look to Paul's design. He intends to shew that we have brought nothing to God by which He might be laid under obligations to us; and he shews that even the good works which we perform have come from God. Hence it follows that we are nothing except through the pure exercise of His Kindness.

Some, on the other hand, infer that the half of our justification arises from works. But what has this to do with Paul's intention, or with the subject which he handles? It is one thing to inquire in what righteousness consists, and another thing to follow up the doctrine that it is not from ourselves by this argument, that we have no right to claim good works as our own, but have been formed by the Spirit of God through the grace of Christ to all that is good. When Paul lays down the cause of justification, he dwells chiefly on this point, that our consciences will never enjoy peace till they rely on the propitiation of sins.

JOHN CALVIN

Kuopau ke tau muimui ki he fakahinohino ‘a Paula. ‘Oku ne fakaha mai, na’e ‘ikai te tau ha’u mo ha me’a ‘e taha ki he ‘Otuaa, ke ne mo’ua mai ai kiate kitautolu ‘i ha me’a; pea ‘oku ne fakaha mai, ‘oku a’u ki he ngaahi ngaue lelei ‘oku tau fai, ko e fou mai pe mo ia meiate Ia. Pea ko ia ai, ‘oku ‘ikai ha’atau me’a, ka ne ta’e’oua ‘a ‘Ene fakaha mai kiate kitautolu ‘a ‘Ene ngaahi anga’ofa.

Ka ‘oku ‘i ai pe ‘a e ni’ihi ‘oku nau tala tokua, ‘oku ‘i ai pe ‘a e konga ‘a hotau fakatonuhia’i, ‘oku ma’u mei he’etau ngaue. Ka ko e ha ‘a e fekau’aki ‘a e lau ni mo e fakamatala ‘a Paula? Te tau lava pe ke fehu’i ha me’a kau ki he ma’oni’oni ‘oku tau ma’u, ka ko e me’a kehe ‘a ‘etau lau ko e ngaue lelei, ko ‘etau me’a, he ko e ngaue lelei kotoa pe ia ‘a e Laumalie ‘o e ‘Otua kuo ne fai ‘iate kitautolu ‘o fou ‘i he kelesi ‘a Kalaisi. Pea ‘i hono ‘omi ‘e Paula ‘a e ngaahi fakamatala fekau’aki mo hotau fakatonuhia’i, ‘oku ne tuki mo nonofo pe ‘a e kaveinga ko eni, ke ‘oua pe na’a ma’u ‘e hotau koniseniti ha nonga kae ‘oua pe ke tau falala kakato ki he ngaue lavame’a ‘a hono totongi ‘o ‘etau angahala.  

Falaite Sune 10, 2022

HE DELIGHTS IN MERCY

‘OKU NE MANAKO KI HE FAI MEESI

MICAH 7:18

Who is a God like You, who pardons wrongdoing, And passes over a rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.

MAIKA 7:18

Ko hai ‘a e ‘Otua ‘oku hangē ko e ‘Afiona, ‘oku fakamolemole ‘a e kovi, mo lakai ‘a e talangata‘a ‘o e toenga ‘o hono tofi‘a? ‘Oku ‘ikai te ne puke ma‘u ai pē ‘ene ‘ita, he ko e taha manako ia ki he fai meesi.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

Only God can justify the ungodly, but He can do it to perfection. He casts our sins behind His back, He blots them out; He says that though they be sought for, they shall not be found. With no other reason for it but His own infinite goodness, He has prepared a glorious way by which He can make scarlet sins as white as snow, and remove our transgressions from us as far as the east is from the west. One of old called out in amazement, "Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy" (Micah 7:18).

If you profess to deal with the righteous Lord on law terms, everlasting wrath threatens you, for that is what you deserve. Blessed be His name, He has not dealt with us after our sins; He treats with us on terms of free grace and infinite compassion, and He says, "I will receive you graciously, and love you freely."

CHARLES SPURGEON

Ko e ‘Otua tokotaha pe ‘oku ne fakatonuhia’i ‘a e angahala, pea ‘oku ne fai kotoa pe ‘o kakato mo haohaoa. ‘Oku ne laku kotoa ‘etau angahala kimui; ‘Oku ne tamate’i kotoa. ‘Io, pea neongo ‘e kumi, ka ‘e ‘ikai toe ‘ilo ia. ‘Oku ‘ikai ha toe ‘uhinga, ka ko e lelei ta’engata pe ‘a’ana, kuo ne teuteu founga langilangi’ia ke fakama’a ai ‘a e kula’aho’aho ‘etau hia, ke hange ha sinou, pea ke to’o faka’aufuli ‘etau ngaahi angahala ke hange hono mama’o, ko e hahake mo e hihifo. Na’e kalanga ‘a e palofita, ‘i he’ene ofoofo; “Ko hai ‘a e ‘Otua ‘oku hangē ko e ‘Afiona, ‘oku fakamolemole ‘a e kovi, mo lakai ‘a e talangata‘a ‘o e toenga ‘o hono tofi‘a? ‘Oku ‘ikai te ne puke ma‘u ai pē ‘ene ‘ita, he ko e taha manako ia ki he fai meesi” (Maika 7:18). 

Kapau te ke vilitaki ke fehangahangai mo e ‘Otua ma’oni’oni ‘o fakatatau ki he Lao, ‘e fakamalumalu ma’u pe ‘a ‘Ene houhau kiate koe, he ko ho tuha pe ia. Ke langilangi’ia ma’u pe Hono Huafa, he na’e ‘ikai te ne ‘omi hotau tuhaa ‘o fakatatau ki he’etau angahala; ‘Oku ne ‘afio mai kiate kitautolu ‘o fakatatau ki he’ene kelesi ta’etotongi pea mo ‘Ene fai manava’ofa, he ‘oku folofola mai, “ ‘Oku ou tali koe ‘aki ‘eku kelesi, pea ‘oku lou ‘ofa’i koe ‘aki ha ‘ofa ‘oku ‘ikai ‘eke totongi.”

 Tu’apulelulu Sune 9, 2022

DEPENDENT ON GRACE

FAKAFALALA ‘I HE KELESI

ROMANS 3:24

being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus,

LOMA 3:24

ka nau ma‘u foaki pē ‘a e fakatonuhia ‘i he‘ene ‘ofa pē ‘a‘ana, ko e me‘a ‘i he totongi huhu‘i ‘a ia kuo ‘ia Kalaisi Sīsū.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

Man hath now a greater dependence on the grace of God than he had before the fall. He depends on the free goodness of God for much more than he did then: then he depended on God's goodness for conferring the reward of perfect obedience, for God was not obliged to promise and bestow that reward. Now we are dependent on the grace of God for much more.

We stand in need of grace, not only to bestow glory upon us, but to deliver us from hell and eternal wrath. Under the first covenant we depended on God's goodness to give us the reward of righteousness; and so we do now. And not only so, but we stand in need of God's free and sovereign grace to give us that righteousness; and yet not only so, but we stand in need of His grace to pardon our sin and release us from the guilt and infinite demerit of it.

JONATHAN EDWARDS

‘Oku lahi ange ‘a e fakafalala ‘a e tangata ki he kelesi ‘a e ‘Otua, he kuonga ni, ‘i he taimi kimu’a ‘i he hingaa. ‘Oku ne falala ki he lelei anga’ofa ‘a e ‘Otua ‘o laka ‘i he taimi kimu’aa: ‘i ono’aho, na’a ne fakaongoongo ki he lelei ‘a e ‘Otua ke ne ‘omi ‘a e pale ko e talangofua haohaoa, he na’e ‘ikai ko ha me’a’ofa na’e pau ke ne foaki. ‘I he ‘aho ni, ‘oku toe mahulu hake ‘etau fakafalala ki he kelesi ‘a e ‘Otua. 

 

‘Oku tau fu’u fiema’u ‘aupito ‘a e kelesi ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘o ‘ikai ko e langilangi pe te tau ma’u mei ai, ka ke fakahaofi kitautolu mei heli mo e tautea ta’engata. ‘I he ‘Uluaki Kovinanite, na’a tau nofo’aki tali ki he anga’ofa ‘a e ‘Otua ke ne foaki mai ‘a e pale ‘o e ma’oni’oni, pea ‘ok kei pehee pe mo e kuonga ni. ‘Ikai ko ia pe, ka ‘oku tau fu’u fiema’u ‘aupito ‘a e kelesi ta’etotongi mo aoniu ‘a e ‘Otua ke ne foaki mai ‘a e ma’oni’oni; ‘io, ‘oku tau fiema’u ‘a ‘Ene kelesi ke fakamolemole’i ‘etau angahala pea ke faka’ataa kitautolu mei he ongo’i halaia mo e mo’ua ta’engata ki ai.

Pulelulu Sune 8, 2022

GRACE AND VICTORY

KELESI MO E IKUNA

COLOSSIANS 2:14-15

having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

KOLOSE 2:14-15

‘Io, hili ‘ene tāmate‘i ‘a e tohi ne fakamo‘ua kitautolu ‘aki hono ngaahi tu‘utu‘uni, ‘a e tohi ko ia na‘e tu‘u ko hotau fili: ‘io, kuo ne ‘ave ‘a e tohi mo ‘ene pūnufu‘u mai, he na‘a ne tukifa‘o ia ki hono Kolosi; mo ne hu‘ihu‘i meiate ia ‘a e kau pule mo e kau ma‘u tu‘unga, ‘o ne mātu‘aki faka‘ali‘ali kinautolu, he‘ene sipikaki kinautolu ‘i He‘ene ‘Afio.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

Hence it appears that this redemption is not a mere manumission, such as that in which a master, without any price, sets free his slaves; nor is it simply an act of power by which captives are rescued from the hand of an enemy; nor a bare exchange, such as that of prisoners of war. It is a real satisfaction, such as a surety makes by paying in full for the debtor. Our deliverance, indeed, is procured without any price paid on our part, and purely through the free grace and mercy of God (Romans 3:24; Ephesians 2:8).

The divine power too is displayed gloriously in emancipating us from the tyrannical dominion of Satan, over whom Christ obtains a victory and triumph (Colossians 2:15). There is also an exchange in respect of Christ, who was substituted in our place and suffered the punishment due to us. Yet in relation to the justice of God there is a real and perfect satisfaction made.

FRANCIS TURRETIN

‘Oku ha mahino mai, ko hotau huhu’i, ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha tukuange pe ‘o ha popula, ‘o hange ko ha pule popula, ‘oku ne tukuange noa pe ha’a ne popula ta’e ‘i ai hano totongi pe mahu’inga; pe, ko ha ma’u mafai ‘oku ne fakahaofi ha kau popula mei he nima ‘o e fili; pe, ko ha fakafetongi mo’ui ‘o hangee ko ia ‘oku fai ‘i he taimi ‘o e tau. Ka ko e fakafiemalie’i mo’oni, ‘o hange ko ha totongi kakato ‘o ha malu’i ‘o ha mo’ua ki ha taha. Ko hotau fakahaofi, na’e fakahoko ia ‘oku ‘ikai ‘aki ha totongi mo’ua na’a tau fai ‘e kitautolu, ka ko e kelesi ta’etotongi pe mo e meesi ‘a e ‘Otua (Loma 3:24; ‘Efeso 2:8). 

Ko e ivi ‘o e ‘Otua, ‘oku fakae’a mai ‘i ha founga langilangi ‘i hotau fakatau’ataina mei he pule’anga fakamalohi ‘o setane; pea kuo ikuna’i ‘a Kalaisi (Kolose 2:15). ‘Oku ‘i ai foki mo e fakafetongi na’e hoko, he na’e fetongi kitautolu ‘e Kalaisi, ‘o tautea’i Ia koe’uhi ko kitautolu. Ka ‘i he’ene fekau’aki mo e fakamaau totonu ‘a e ‘Otua, kuo hoko ha fakafiemalie lahi mo haohaoa mo’oni. 

Tusite Sune 7, 2022

INFINITE GRACE

KELESI ‘OKU ‘IKAI HANO NGATAʻANGA

ISAIAH 11:1-2

Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

‘AISEA 11:2

PEA ‘e fisiki mai ha lito mei he sino‘i ‘akau ‘o Sese, pea ‘e fua ha huli mei hono aka. Pea ‘oku nofo hifo ki ai ‘a e Laumālie ‘o Sihova, ‘a e laumālie ‘o e poto mo e ‘ilome‘a, ‘a e laumālie ‘o e fale‘i mo e mafai, ‘a e laumālie ‘o e ‘ilo‘i ‘o Sihova mo e ‘apasia ki ai.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

You know also what Isaiah said of our Lord, that He received infinite grace and the gifts of the Spirit rested upon His head. The Spirit of the Lord, said he would rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and of piety, and He would be filled with the fear of the Lord.

But wherefore did the prophet say that all these gifts would rest upon our Lord when He could have had no need of them, seeing that He Himself was the Source of all grace? It was not otherwise than for us, to cause us to understand that all graces and heavenly blessings must be given to us by Him who is our Head, who distributes them to us who are His members, that is, children of the holy church of which He is the Head. And as a proof of this truth hear what He said in the Song of Songs to His well-beloved: "Open to Me, My spouse, My sister." He called her “spouse” because of the greatness of His love, and His "sister" as an evidence of the purity and chasteness of that love.

MARTIN LUTHER

‘Oku tau maʻu ‘a e fakamatala ‘a ‘Aisea kau ki hotau ‘Eiki, ‘io, ‘a ‘Ene maʻu ‘a e ngaahi kelesi taʻe fakangatangata mo e ngaahi meʻaʻofa ‘a e Laumālie´ naʻe hilifaki kiate Ia. Naʻe nofoʻia Ia ‘e he Laumālie ‘o Sihova, ko e laumalie ‘o e poto mo e ‘ilo meʻa, ko e laumālie ‘o e faleʻi mo e mālohi, ko e laumālie ‘o e ‘ilo loloto mo e angatonu, pea naʻe fonu ‘i he ‘apasia ki he ‘Otua´.

Ka ko e hā ‘oku fakamatala fakaikiiki ai ‘e he palōfita´ ‘a e ngaahi meʻaʻofa mo e kelesi ‘e hifo ki hotau ‘Eiki´, kapau naʻe ‘ikai te ne fiemaʻu ha tufa makehe kiate Ia. He ‘oku ‘ikai ko ā te ne taʻe maʻu kotoa ‘a e ngaahi kelesi´, he ko Ia tonu ‘a e fauniteni ‘o e ngaahi kelesi? Pea kapau ‘oku ‘ikai ke ‘uhinga kiate Ia, pea tā naʻe ‘uhinga koeʻuhi´ ko kitautolu, he ko Ia hotau ‘Ulu´, pea ‘oku Ne tufa kelesi kiate kitautolu, mo hono ngaahi kupu, ‘io, ko e fanau ‘o hono siasi haohaoa, pea ko Ia ‘a hono ‘Ulu´. Pea ko eni ‘a e fakamoʻoni, ‘oku hā ‘i he taʻanga ‘a e Hiva ‘o e Hiva´;  “To‘o kiate au, si‘oku tuofefine; Si‘oku ‘ofa‘anga, si‘eku lupe, si‘eku ta‘emele”. ‘Oku ne ui kitautolu ko e “hoa ʻofaʻanga” koeʻuhi´ ko e ope atu ‘o ‘Ene ‘ofa´, pea mo e “tuofefine” ko e fakamoʻoni ‘o e haohaoa mo e maʻa ‘o ‘Ene ‘ofa´.

Monite Sune 6, 2022 

CLEANSED BY GRACE

FAKAMAʻA ‘E HE KELESI´

1 JOHN 1:8-9

If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 SIONE 1:8-9

Kapau ‘oku tau pehē ‘oku ‘ikai ha‘atau angahala, tā ‘oku tau kākaa‘i ‘a kitautolu, pea ‘oku ‘ikai ‘iate kitautolu ‘a e mo‘oni. Kapau ‘oku tau vete ‘etau ngaahi angahala, ko ‘ene anga fakamo‘oni tala‘ofa, mo ‘ene anga faitotonu, ‘oku na kau ke ne fakamolemole ‘etau ngaahi angahala, pea ke ne fakama‘a ‘a kitautolu mei he faihala fuli pē.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

When we say that grace was obtained for us by the merit of Christ, our meaning is that we were cleansed by His blood, that His death was an expiation for sin: "His blood cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7); “This is my blood, which is shed for the remission of sins" (Luke 22:20). If the effect of His shed blood is that our sins are not imputed to us, it follows that by that price the justice of God was satisfied.

To the same effect are the Baptist's words, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). For he contrasts Christ with all the sacrifices of the Law, showing that in Him alone was fulfilled what these figures typified. But we know the common expression in Moses - Iniquity shall be expiated, sin shall be wiped away and forgiven. In short, we are admirably taught by the ancient figures what power and efficacy there is in Christ's death.

JOHN CALVIN

Ko ‘etau pehē naʻa tau maʻu ‘a e kelesi´ ‘i he ngaue ‘a Kalaisi´, ko ‘etau ‘uhinga´, naʻe fakamaʻa kitautolu ‘e Hono taʻataʻa´, ‘io, ko ‘Ene pekia´, ko e totongi ia ‘o ‘etau angahala´: “ko e ta‘ata‘a ‘o Sīsū ko hono ‘Alo ‘oku ne fakama‘a kitautolu mei he angahala kotoa pē" (1 Sione 1:7). “...hoku toto, ‘a ia ‘oku lilingi koe‘uhi ko kimoutolu” (Luke 22:20).  Kapau ko e ola ‘o e lilingi hono taʻataʻa´, ko e totongi hotau moʻua ki he angahala´, pea ‘oku mahino leva kuo fakafiemālie ‘a e houhau ‘a e ‘Otua.

Ko e kaveinga tatau pe eni naʻe lea ‘aki ‘e he tangata Papitaiso´, “Vakai, ko ena ‘a e Lami ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘a ia ‘oku ne ‘ave ‘a e angahala ‘a māmani” (Sione 1:29). ‘Oku tuʻu tokotaha ‘a Kalaisi, ko e fungani mo e mahulu hake ‘i he ngaahi feilaulau kotoa naʻe tuʻutuʻuni ‘e he Lao´, he ‘oku fanāfotu ‘a ‘Ene fakakakato kotoa ‘a e ngaahi taipe kotoa ko ia´. Naʻe tomuʻa tala pe ‘ia Mosese, ko e faihala´ ‘e fakamolemole´i, ‘e holoʻi ‘a e angahala´ mo fakamolemoleʻi. ‘I hono fakakātoa´, naʻe tala ‘e he kau tuʻukimuʻa ‘o e tui´, ‘a e mafai mo e lavameʻa ‘a e pekia ‘a Kalaisi´.

Sapate Sune 5, 2022 

GIFTS OF GRACE

KO E NGAAHI MEʻAʻOFA ‘O E KELESI

PSALM 31:19

Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You, Which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men!

SAAME 31:19

Hono ‘ikai lahi ho‘o koto lelei na, ‘A ia kuo ke fa‘o ma‘a e kau ‘apasia ki he ‘Afiona, Pea ‘oku ke fai ma‘anautolu ‘oku unga ki he ‘Afiona ‘I he ‘ao ‘o e hako‘i tangata!

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

You remember well, I am sure, the beautiful story of the patriach Joseph, that when he was viceroy of Egypt his brothers who were in Mesopotamia came several times to him to be helped by him in their extreme necessity, when they were reduced by the famine in their country. You know that they returned each time to their father laden with corn. But when they brought little Benjamin they did not return as at other times laden merely with corn and such things given solely by measure, but with rich gifts and with chariots of all that could be desired.

From this let us see what the eternal Father does in our day; for although the ancient Law bestowed many great benefits upon its people, it was always by measure. But on the other hand, in the new law, when He entered into His glory, He opened His generous hand most liberally to scatter gifts and graces on His faithful, as He said by the prophet Joel, that He would pour His Spirit upon all flesh, that is, upon all men and not merely upon the apostles.

MARTIN LUTHER

‘Oku ou tui ‘oku ke manatu lelei ki he talanoa malie ‘o e peteliake ko Siosifa, ‘i he taimi na’e pule ai ‘i ‘Isipite, pea ha’u kiate ia hono fanga tokoua ko e kumi tokoni ‘i he fiema’u vivili koe’uhi ko e honge na’e to ki he fonua. ‘I he taimi na’a nau foki ai ki he ‘enau tamai, na’e pito ma’u pe ‘enau ngaahi tangai ‘i he koane. Ka ‘i he taimi na’a nau ‘omi ai ‘a Penisimani, na’e ‘ikai te nau foki pe mo e koane ‘o hange ko e taimi ‘i mu’a, ka na’e toe ‘ange mo e koloa mo e saliote ‘o hulu atu.

Mei he talanoa ko eni, tau vakai leva ki he’etau Tamai faka-Langi he ngaahi ‘aho ni; neongo na’e ‘i ai ‘a e ngaahi tapuaki na’e ma’u ‘e he kakai ‘o ono’aho mei he Lao, ka na’e fakafe’unga pe. Ka ‘i he Fuakava Fo’ou, kuo Ne hu atu ki hono langilangi, pea kuo ne folahi mai hono to’ukupu ‘ofa ‘o tufa me’a’ofa mo e ngaahi kelesi ki he’ene kakai faitonunga, ‘o hange ko ia na’a ne lea ‘aki ‘i he’ene palofita ko Sioeli, te ne lilingi hono Laumalie ki he kakano kotoa, ‘o ‘ikai ko e kau ‘aposetolo pe, ka ki he fa’ahinga ‘o e tangata.