Tu’apulelulu Siulai 7, 2022

ASSURED OF GRACE

KELESI ‘OKU TALA’OFA MAI

ROMANS 8:15

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

LOMA 8:15

He tala‘ehai na‘a mou ma‘u ha Laumālie anga pōpula, ke mou foki ai ki he manavahē: ka na‘a mou ma‘u ‘a e Laumālie anga-faka-tama-ohi; pea ‘i he‘etau ‘iate ia ‘oku tau kalanga, ‘Apā Tamai.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

We are born in sin. To doubt the goodwill of God is an inborn suspicion of God with all us. Devil, our adversary, goeth about seeking to devour us by roaring: "God is angry at you and is going to destroy you forever." In all these difficulties we have only one support, the Gospel of Christ.

Especially in times of trials a Christian feels the power of sin, the infirmity of his flesh, the goading darts of the devil, the agues of death, the scowl and judgment of God. All these things cry out against us. The Law scolds us, sin screams at us, death thunders at us, the devil roars at us. In the midst of the clamor the Spirit of Christ cries in our hearts: "Abba, Father." And this little cry of the Spirit transcends the hullabaloo of the Law, sin, death, and the devil, and finds a hearing with God. The Spirit cries in us because of our weakness. Because of our infirmity the Holy Ghost is sent forth into our hearts to pray for us according to the will of God and to assure us of the grace of God.

MARTIN LUTHER

‘Oku fanau’i kitautolu ‘i he angahala. Ko ‘etau ongo’i tala’a fekau’aki mo e failelei ‘a e ‘Otua, ko e me’a pe ia na’a tau tupu mo ia. Ko e tevolo, ‘a hotau fili, ‘oku ne ‘alu fano, ko e kumi ha taha ke ne matu’aki folo: pea ko ‘ene loi eni, “ ‘Oku tuputamaki ‘a e ‘Otua ‘iate koe, pea te ne faka’auha ta’engata koe.” Pea ‘i he’etau fehangahangai mo e ngaahi faingata’a ni, ‘oku taha pe hotau unga’anga, ko e Kosipeli ‘a Kalaisi.

Ko e taimi ‘oku ‘ahi’ahi’i lahi ai kitautolu, ko e taimi ia ‘oku tau ongo’i lahi ai ‘a e malohi ‘a e angahala; ‘a e vaivai ‘a e kakano, ‘a e lave ngofua mai ‘a e ngaahi ngahau ‘a e tevolo, ‘a e momofi mai ‘a e mate, pea mo e kakaha ‘a e tautea ‘a e ‘Otua. Ko e ngaahi me’a kotoa ko eni, ‘oku nau to’e mai kiate kitautolu. ‘Oku fakamala’ia’i kitautolu ‘e he Lao, ‘oku fakamanamana’i kitautolu ‘e he angahala, ‘oku fakapatuu mai ‘a mate, pea ngungulu mai ‘a e tevolo. Pea ‘i he uhouhonga ‘o e ngaahi me’a ni, ‘oku to’e ‘a e Laumalie ‘o Kalaisi ‘i hotau loto: “Apa Tamai.” Ko e tangi ko eni ‘a e Laumalie, ‘oku fakalaka mo fakangoto kotoa ‘a e ngaahi feinga ‘a e Lao, angahala, mate mo e tevolo, he ‘oku ongo ki Loto Tatau ‘a e tautapa ni. ‘Oku to’e ‘a e Laumalie ‘i loto, koe’uhi ko ‘etau vaivai. Koe’uhi, ko hotau faingata’aiaa, ‘oku ‘omi ‘a e Laumalie Ma’oni’oni ki hotau loto, ke ne hufia kitautolu ‘o fakatatau ki he finangalo ‘o e ‘Otua, pea ke ‘omi ha tala’ofa fekau’aki mo e kelesi ‘a e ‘Otua.

Pulelulu Siulai 6, 2022 

PARDON GRANTED

KUO FAKATAU’ATAINA KOE

EPHESIANS 1:7

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

‘EFESO 1:7

‘a ia, ‘i he‘etau ‘iate ia, ‘oku tau ma‘u ni ‘a e huhu‘i, ko e me‘a ‘i hono ta‘ata‘a, ko e fakamolemole ‘o ‘etau ngaahi angahala, ‘o fakatatau ki he mohu me‘a ‘o ‘ene kelesi.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

There is a wide difference between a payment made by a debtor in his own person, and a payment made by a surety. As to the reality of payment there is no difference in the eye of the law, but in relation to grace there is a striking difference. When a debtor pays out of his own purse his debts, it cannot be said that the creditor has forgiven him the debt or shown him favour, but if the debt has been paid by another and that other has been found out by the creditor, then grace may be said to have been shown. Satisfaction and remission are inconsistent with each other, when referred to the same thing, but not so when they are referred to different things. 

Satisfaction has God for its object, remission man for its object. Satisfaction is made by Christ to God for man, and yet man is freely pardoned. Justice and mercy kiss each other. Justice is exercised against sin as imputed to Christ, and mercy, free and sovereign mercy, is shown to sinners. The pardon granted to us is entirely of grace, while full satisfaction is demanded of the surety.

FRANCIS TURRETIN

‘Oku ‘i ai ‘a e faikehekehe lahi ‘aupito ‘o e totongi ‘o ha mo’ua ‘aki ‘ete koloa pe ‘a’ata mo hono totongi ‘aki ha pa’anga malu’i. Ko e tu’u ‘a e ongo founga totongi ko ‘eni, ‘oku na tatau pe kinaua ‘i he lao, ka ‘oku na kehekehe ‘i he fehangahnagi mo e kelesi. Kapau ‘oku totongi ‘a e mo’ua mei he koloa pe ‘a’ata, ‘e ‘ikai pehee ia na’e fakamolemole’i ‘e he tokotaha na’e totongi ki ai ‘a e mo’ua pe na’e ‘i ai ha’a ne tokanga makehe ki ai. Ka ‘okapau na’e fai ‘a e totongi ‘e ha tokotaha kehe pea ‘ilo ki ai ‘a e tokotaha ‘oku fai ki ai ‘a e mo’ua, pea ‘e taku leva na’e fai meesi ‘a e tokotaha ko eni. Ko e totongi mo’ua mo e fakamolemole’i ‘oku ‘ikai te na felave’i ‘okapau ‘oku na lave ki he me’a pe ‘e taha. Ka ‘oku ‘ikai ke pehe ni ‘a hona natula, kapau ko ha ongo me’a kehekehe ‘oku fai ki ai ‘a e tokanga. 

Ko e fakafiemalie ‘oku fakataumu’a ia ki he ‘Otua, pea ko e fakamolemole (fakatau’ataina) ‘oku taumu’a ia ki he tangata. Ko e fakafiemalie, ko e ngaue ia ‘a Kalaisi ki he ‘Otua ma’ae tangata, pea ‘oku faka’ataa ai ‘a e tangata. Ko e fakamaau totonu mo e meesi ‘oku na fekita. Ko e fakamaau totonu, kuo hilifaki ia ki he angahala pea fai ‘ia Kalaisi, pea ko e meesi aoniu ‘a e ‘Otua ‘oku fakalekesi’aki ‘a e kau angahala. Ko e fakatau’ataina kuo tuku mai ma’a kitautolu, ko e kelesi ‘ata’ataa pe ia; pea ‘oku puke tu’u ‘a e totongi, ko e malu’i.

Tusite Siulai 5, 2022

STANDING IN GRACE

TU’U ‘I HE KELESI

HEBREWS 7:25

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

HEPELU 7:25

Ko ia ai foki ‘oku ne mafai ke fakamo‘ui opeope ‘a kinautolu ‘oku ha‘u ki he ‘Otua ‘iate ia, ko ‘ene mo‘ui ma‘u ai pē ke hufekina kinautolu

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

We ought to feel sure that we stand in the grace of God, not in view of our own worthiness, but through the good services of Christ. As certain as we are that Christ pleases God, so sure ought we to be that we also please God, because Christ is in us. And although we daily offend God by our sins, yet as often as we sin, God's mercy bends over us. Therefore sin cannot get us to doubt the grace of God. Our certainty is of Christ, that mighty Hero who overcame the Law, sin, death, and all evils. So long as He sits at the right hand of God to intercede for us, we have nothing to fear from the anger of God.

This inner assurance of the grace of God is accompanied by outward indications such as gladly to hear, preach, praise, and to confess Christ, to do one's duty in the station in which God has placed us, to aid the needy, and to comfort the sorrowing. These are the affidavits of the Holy Spirit testifying to our favorable standing with God.

MARTIN LUTHER

‘Oku mahu’inga ke tau ongo’i pau’ia ‘oku tau tu’u ‘i he kelesi ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘o ‘ikai koe’uhi ‘oku tau taau, ka koe’uhi pe ko e ngaue lavame’a ‘a Kalaisi. Hange pe ko ‘etau pau’ia ‘oku fakahoifua ‘a Kalaisi ki he ‘Otua, ‘oku tau pau’ia foki ‘etau hoko ko e fakahoifua ki he ‘Otua koe’uhi he ‘oku nofo’ia kiatutolu ‘e Kalaisi. Pea neongo ‘oku tau fakatupu houhau faka’aho ki he ‘Otua, koe’uhi ko ‘etau angahala, ‘oku ne kei kofu pe kitautolu ‘aki ‘Ene meesi. Pea ‘i he’ene pehee, ‘oku ‘ikai ha ivi ‘o e angahala ke ne ue’i kitautolu mei he’etau pau’ia ‘i he kelesi ‘a e ‘Otua. Ko ‘etau pau’iaa ‘oku tu’u ‘ia Kalaisi, ko e to’a na’a ne ikuna’i ‘a e Lao, angahala, mate mo e kovi kehekehe. Lolotonga ‘ene ‘afio ‘i he to’omata’u ‘o e ‘Otua ‘o hufia kitautolu, ‘oku ‘ikai te tau manavahe ki he houhau ‘a e ‘Otua. 

Ko e pau’ia ‘oku ma’u ‘i he mo’ui fakaloto ‘i he kelesi ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘oku o fakataha mo e fua ‘oku ha ‘i tu’a, hange ko e mo’ui vekeveke ke fandango, malanga’i, fakafeta’ia mo talaki ‘a Kalaisi pea mo fakahoko ‘a hoto tufakanga ‘i he ngaue ‘a e ‘Eiki, hange ko e tokangaekina ‘o e kau masiva mo tukuhausia, mo e fakafiemalie ki he kau mamahi. Ko e ngaahi fakamo’oni eni ‘a e Laumalie Ma’oni’oni ki he’etau tu’u ‘ia Kalaisi. 

Monite Siulai 4, 2022

A PLEDGE OF GOD'S FAVOR

KO E PALOMESI ‘O E HOIFUA ‘A E ‘OTUA 

ROMANS 5:1-2

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

LOMA 5:1-2

KO ia, tau tuku ke fakatonuhia‘i kitautolu ‘i he tui, ka tau ma‘u melino ai mo e ‘Otua ‘i hotau ‘Eiki ko Sīsū Kalaisi; ‘a ia foki kuo fou mei ai hotau tataki ‘i he tui ki he kelesi ko eni ‘oku tau matu‘u ai: pea ke tau vīkiviki ‘i he ‘amanaki kau ‘i he lāngilangi ‘o e ‘Otua.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

Our reconciliation with God depends only on Christ; for He only is the beloved Son, and we are all by nature the children of wrath. But this favor is communicated to us by the Gospel; for the Gospel is the ministry of reconciliation, by the means of which we are in a manner brought into the kingdom of God. 

Rightly then does Paul set before our eyes in Christ a sure pledge of God's favor, that he might more easily draw us away from confidence in works. And as he teaches us by the every word "access," that salvation begins with Christ, he excludes those preparations by which foolish men imagine that they can anticipate God's mercy; as though he said, "Christ comes not to you, nor helps you, on account of your merits." He afterwards immediately subjoins that it is through the continuance of the same favor that our salvation becomes certain and sure; by which he intimates that perseverance is not founded on our power a diligence, but on Christ.

JOHN CALVIN

Ko hotau fakalelei mo e ‘Otua, ‘oku makatu’unga ‘ata’ataa pe ‘ia Kalaisi; he ko Ia pe ‘a e ‘Alo pele, pea ko kitautolu, ‘i hotau natula tangata, ko e fanau ‘o e houhau. Ko e tapuaki ko eni ‘oku tau ma’u mei he kosipeli; he ko e kosipeli, ko e ngaue ia ‘o e fakalelei, ‘io, ‘a hono fakahu kitautolu ‘e he ‘Otua ki hono Pule’anga.

‘I he tu’unga ko eni, ‘oku tuku mai ‘e Paula ‘a e fakakaukau ‘o e tukupa ‘o e hoifua ‘a e ‘Otua, ke tau mamata ki ai, koe’uhi ke ‘oua te tau falala ki he’etau ngaue. ‘Oku ne ako’i foki kitautolu, ko ‘etau ‘ataa ki ai, ko e fakamo’ui, ‘oku kamata pe ia ‘ia Kalaisi, pea ‘ikai toe tanaki ki ai ha ngaue ‘a e tangata. ‘Oku ne talamai, ko e hoifua ko eni ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘oku pau pea ‘oku tu’u ma’u, pea ko e kitaki ki he ngata’anga, ‘oku ‘ikai tefito ‘i he’etau feinga malohi, ka ‘ia Kalaisi tokotaha pe.

 Sapate Siulai 3, 2022

THE GRACE OF CHRIST

KO E KELESI ‘A KALAISI

JOHN 12:15

“Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”

SIONE 12:15

“...‘oua ‘e manavahē: 15 ko eni ho Tu‘i ‘oku me‘a mai kiate koe, ‘oku heka ki ha ki‘i ‘asi.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

The Gospel encourages and demands faith, for it prefigures Christ coming with grace, whom none may receive or accept save he who believes Him to be the Man, and has the mind, as this Gospel portrays in Christ. Nothing but the mercy, tenderness, and kindness of Christ are here shown, and he who so receives and believes on Him is saved.

He sits not upon a proud steed, an animal of war, nor does He come in great pomp and power, but sitting upon an ass, an animal of peace fit only for burdens and labor and a help to man. He indicates by this that He comes not to frighten man, nor to drive or crush him, but to help him and to carry his burden for him. And although it was the custom of the country to ride on asses and to use horses for war, as the Scriptures often tell us, yet here the object is to show that the entrance of this King shall be meek and lowly.

MARTIN LUTHER

‘Oku faka’ai’ai ‘e he Kosipeli mo tu’utu’uni ha TUI, he ‘oku ne sio mo e ‘amanaki kia Kalaisi ‘oku ne hoko mai mo e KELESI, ‘a ee ‘oku ‘ikai ma’u pe tali ‘e ha taha, ‘okapau ‘oku ‘ikai te ne TUI kiate IA, ko e PANi ia ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘o fakatatau ki he ‘imisi ‘oku tau ma’u mei he Kosipeli, fekau’aki mo Kalaisi. Ko e MEESI pe ‘oku fotu mediate Iaa, ko e angavaivai, mo e anga’ofa ‘a Kalaisi ‘oku ha mai, pea ‘oku ia pe ‘oku ne tali IAA, te ne ma’u hono fakamo’ui.

‘Oku ‘ikai te ne heka ki ha hoosi, ko e monumanu ‘o e tau, pe te ne hoko mai mo ha naunau mo e langilangi mo e mafai; ka ‘oku ne heka ki ha ‘asi, ko e monumanu ‘o e melino pea fe’unga pe mo e fua kavenga mo e ngaue ke tokoni ki he tangata. ‘Oku ne fakahaa’i heni, na’e ‘ikai ko ‘ene hoko mai ke fakamavahee’i ‘a e tangata, pe ke tuli ia pe ke laiki; ka ke tokoni mo fua ‘ene kavenga. Pea neongo ko e anga ‘o e kuonga ‘o ono’aho, ke hekasi ‘a e ‘asi pea ngaue’aki ‘a e hoosi ki he tau, hange pe ko ia ‘oku ha ‘i he Folofola, ka ‘i he fakamatala ko eni, ko e taumu’a ke fakahaa’i ko e hu ki Selusalema ‘a e Tu’i ko eni, ko e Tui angavaivai mo fakatokilalo.

Tokonaki Siulai 2, 2022 

MORE GRACE

KELESI KE FAKALAHI MAI

2 CORINTHIANS 9:8

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

2 KOLINITO 9:8

Pea ‘oku mafai noa pē ‘e he ‘Otua ke ‘atu ke mou fonu mahuohua ‘i he fa‘ahinga foaki kotoa pē; koe‘uhi ke fe‘unga ho‘omou koloa kehekehe ‘i he taimi kotoa pē mo e me‘a kotoa pē, pea toe ha‘amou me‘a ke fai‘aki ‘a e ngāue lelei kehekehe.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe    

 

Between this hour and the consummation of all things, every promise of God and every provision of the covenant of grace will be brought into requisition. The urgent need of the believing soul is confirmation, continuance, final perseverance, preservation to the end. This is the great necessity of the most advanced believers, for Paul was writing to saints at Corinth, who were men of a high order, of whom he could say, "I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ." Such men are the very persons who most assuredly feel that they have daily need of new grace if they are to hold on, and hold out, and come off conquerors at the last.

If you were not saints you would have no grace, and you would feel no need of more grace; but because you are men of God, therefore you feel the daily demands of the spiritual life.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Mei he ‘aho ni ki he ngata’anga ‘o taimi, ko e ngaahi palomesi kotoa ‘a e ‘Otua mo ‘ene tokonaki kotoa fekau’aki mo ‘Ene kovinanite ‘o e kelesi, kuopau ke hoko. Pea ko e fiema’u vivili ‘a e laumalie, ke ne pau’ia, mo tauhi ma’u, vilitaki mo kikitaki ki he ngata’anga. Ko e tu’unga eni ‘o e mo’ui ‘a e kalisitiane matu’otu’a. ‘I he tohi ‘a Paula ki he kakai Kolinito, na’a ne pehee ai, “ ‘Oku ou fakafeta‘i ma‘u ai pē ki hoku ‘Otua ‘iate kimoutolu, ko e me‘a ‘i he kelesi ‘a e ‘Otua kuo foaki atu ‘ia Kalaisi Sīsū" (1 Kolinito 1:4), ko e fa’ahinga eni na’a nau pau’ia ‘i he’enau fiema’u faka’aho ‘a e kelesi fo’ou faka’aho, kapau ko ha kakai kinautolu ke nau puke ma’u mo kitaki ke nau ikuna ‘i he ngata’anga ‘o e fononga. 

Kapau na’e ‘ikai ko ha kau lotu mo’oni (ma’oni’oni) kimoutolu, na’e ‘ikai te mou ma’u ha kelesi, pea ‘e ‘ikai te mou hohoi ke fakalahi mai ho’omou kelesi; ka koe’uhi, ko e kakai kimoutolu ‘a e ‘Otua, pea ‘oku mou kaunga ongo’i ‘a e mafatukituki ‘o e mo’ui fakalaumalie ‘oku fakafonu ‘i he kelesi.

Falaite Siulai 1, 2022 

CONTINUAL GRACE

KO E KELESI ‘OKU TAFE TOULIKI

EXODUS 13:22 NKJV

He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.

‘EKISOTO 13:22 

Na‘e ‘ikai te ne ‘ave ‘a e pou ‘ao, ‘aho, pe ko e pou afi, po‘uli, mei he ‘ao ‘o e kakai.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe    

The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night" (Psalm 121:6) refers not to a single day, but to all ages. The statement of Moses, then, that "He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night" is a blessing which God extends to us, as well as to them, except only the visible symbol, which was temporary on account of the infirmity of the people.

As to his saying that God always appeared to them, that they might march by night as well as by day, he does not mean that they went on continually without any rest, since he had just before mentioned that their first station was in Succoth, from whence they encamped in Etham, but merely informs us that the flow of God's grace was continual: the token of His favor and protection shone forth no less amidst the darkness of the night than at midday itself.

JOHN CALVIN

“‘E ‘ikai taa‘i koe ‘e he la‘ā, ‘aho, Pe ko e māhina ‘i he pō” (Saame 121:6), na’e ‘ikai ‘uhinga ia ki ha fo’i ‘aho pe taha, ka ‘i he kuonga kotoa pe. Ko ia ai, ko e lea ‘a Mosese ‘o pehee, “Na‘e ‘ikai te ne ‘ave ‘a e pou ‘ao, ‘aho, pe ko e pou afi, po‘uli”, ko ha tapuaki ia ‘oku fakaa’u mai ‘e he ‘Otua kiate kitautolu, tukukehe pe ‘a e fakataataa fakamatelie, ko ha me’a fakataimi pe ia koe’uhi ko e tu’unga na’e ‘i ai ‘a e kakai ‘i he taimi ko ia. 

Pea ko e lea na’e pehee, na’e ha ma’u pe ‘a e ‘Otuaa kiate kinautolu, ‘o lava ke nau fononga po’uli mo ‘ahoo, na’e ‘ikai ‘uhinga na’a nau laka atu ‘o ‘ikai toe maloloo, he na’a ne fakamatala ki honau nofo’anga ‘i Sukote; ‘ikai ko ia pe, ka na’a nau kemi ‘i ‘Etani. Na’e ‘uhinga ‘a e fakalea ko eni, ke mahino kiate kitautolu ‘a e tafe touliki ‘a e kelesi ‘a e ‘Otua; ko e fuapau ‘o ‘Ene hoifua mo ‘Ene malu’i, ‘a ia na’e ulo po’uli pea maama ‘i he ho’ata malie foki.