Tu’apulelulu Siulai 28, 2022

THE SOURCE OF GRACE

KO E FAUNITENI ‘O E KELESI

NUMBERS 6:24-26

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

NOMIPA 6:24-26

ke tāpuaki‘i mai koe ‘e Sihova, mo ne tauhi‘i! Ke fakaulo mai ‘e Sihova hono fofonga kiate koe, mo ne ‘alo ‘ofa! Ke hāngaifofonga mai ‘a Sihova kiate koe, mo ne ‘atu ‘a e melino!

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

The Lord bless thee. Blessing is an act of His genuine liberality, because the abundance of all good things is derived to us from His favor as their only source. It is next added, that He should "keep" the people, by which clause lie intimates that He is the sole Defender of the church, and protects it under His guardianship. But since the main advantage of God's grace consists in our sense of it, the words "and make his face shine on you" are added; for nothing is more desirable for the consummation of our happiness than that.

We should behold the serene countenance of God, as it is said in Psalm 4:6, "There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us." Thus then I interpret this clause that the people may perceive and taste the sweetness of God's goodness, which may cheer them like the brightness of the sun when it illumines the world in serene weather.

JOHN CALVIN

Ke tāpuaki‘i mai koe ‘e Sihova. Ko e tapuaki, ko e fo’i ngaue pe ia ‘a e ‘Otua mei he’ene mohu me’aa, he ko ‘etau fonu ‘i he ngaahi koloa kehekehe, ko ‘etau ma’u mei he katupa ‘o ‘Ene ‘ofa, ko e tafenga monu pe ia ‘e taha ‘oku hu’u mei ai. ‘Oku hoko atu ‘a e tapuaki ki he tu’unga hokoo, “te ne tauhi” hono kakai, pea ko e tapuaki ia ‘o ‘Ene hoko ko e Taukapo ‘o e siasi, ‘io, ‘i hono malumalu, te ne malu’i kitautolu. Ka koe’uhi, ko e fakakoloa ‘o ‘etau ‘inasi ‘i he Kelesi ‘a e ‘Otua, ko ‘etau a’usia ‘a e me’a ko ia, ko e kupu’i lea, Ke fakaulo mai ‘e Sihova hono fofonga kiate koe, ‘oku tanaki mai; he ‘oku ‘ikai mo ha toe me’a ‘e vovo ange ke fakakakato ‘etau fiefia ka ko e mo’oni ko eni. 

‘Oku taau ke tau siofia ‘a e fofonga nonga ‘o e ‘Otua, hange ko e lau ‘a e Saame 4:6, “‘Oku lau ‘e he tokolahi, Ko hai te ne faka‘ilo mai he lelei? Hiki hake mai koe, ‘e Sihova, ‘A e maama ‘o ho fofonga! Ko ia ia, ‘oku ou fakatonulea ‘a e kupu ko eni, ‘o pehee, ‘oku malava ke ‘inasi ‘e he tangata ‘i he melie ‘o e ngaahi lelei ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘o nau ma’u ai ‘a e fiefia hangee ko e ulo lahi ‘a e la’aa ‘ he’ene hulungia ‘a mamani ‘i he taimi ‘o e tofukii ai ‘a e ‘eaa.

Pulelulu Siulai 27, 2022

THE MOST EXCELLENT GIFT

KO E ME’A’OFA LELEI TAHAA

ISAIAH 30:18

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

‘AISEA 30:18

Pea ko ia, ‘e tatali ‘e Sihova, kae toki fai ha ‘ofa kiate kimoutolu, pea ko ia te ne nofo ‘i ‘olunga, kae toki ‘alo‘ofa atu: he ko e ‘Otua fai ki he lao ‘a Sihova; monū‘ia ā ka ko kinautolu ‘oku tatali kiate ia.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

Spiritual wisdom and grace is the highest and most excellent gift that ever God bestows on any creature: in this the highest excellency and perfection of a rational creature consists. 'Tis also immensely the most important of all divine gifts: 'tis that wherein man's happiness consists, and on which his everlasting welfare depends. How rational is it to suppose that God, however He has left meaner goods and lower gifts to second causes, and in some sort in their power, yet should reserve this most excellent, divine, and important of all divine communications in His own hands, to be bestowed immediately by Himself as a thing too great for second causes to be concerned in!

'Tis rational to suppose that this blessing should be immediately from God; for there is no gift or benefit that is in itself so nearly related to the divine nature; there is nothing the creature receives that is so much of God, of His nature, so much a participation of the deity: 'tis a kind of emanation of God's beauty, and is related to God as the light is to the sun.

JONATHAN EDWARDS

Ko e poto fakalaumalie mo e kelesi, ko e me’a’ofa fungani taha ia ‘a e ‘Otua kuo ne tuku mai ki he’ene me’a fakatupu: pea ‘i he tu’unga ko eni, ‘oku ma’uma’uluta heni ‘a e lelei taha mo e haohaoa ‘a e tangata. Pea ‘ikai ngata ai, ka ko e me’a’ofa mahu’inga taha eni kuo foaki mei Langi. ‘Oku tafe mei heni ‘a e fiefia mo e lelei lau’itaniti ‘a e tangata. He ‘Otua poto, ‘ene tuku pe ‘a e ngaahi me’a’ofa kehee ke ma’u ngofua ‘i he ngaahi founga fakanatula pe. Ka ko e me’a’ofa fungani mo e makehe atu, ‘oku ne toki ‘omi hangatonu pe ‘e Ia mei hono to’ukupu pea ‘oku ne ‘omi ke fakakoloa ‘aki hono kakai ‘e Ia pe!

Ko e tapuaki mo’oni ‘etau vakai ki he founga ngaue ‘a e ‘Otua, ke ne toki ‘omi pe ‘e ia ‘a e kelesi ko eni mei hono fofonga; ‘oku ‘ikai mo ha toe me’a’ofa ‘e hoa mo e fakakoloa mo e ngaahi tapuaki ‘o e natula ‘o e ‘Otua; ‘oku ‘ikai ha me’a ‘e ma’u ‘e he me’a fakatupu ‘e kainga ofi mo e ‘Otua, mo hono natula, ‘a ‘ene fie lave mai kiate kitautolu - ko e malama mai ‘a e huelo ‘o e masani ‘o e ‘Otua, ka ko e kalofiama mei he ‘Otua tonu, hange ko e maama ‘o e La’aa. 

Tusite Siulai 26, 2022

APPLIED GRACE

KELESI KUO TE LAVA AI

1 PETER 2:24

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

1 PITA 2:24

‘a ia na‘a ne fua ‘a e ngaahi angahala ‘atautolu, ‘e ia, ‘i hono sino, ‘i he ‘akau; koe‘uhi ‘i he‘etau mate ki he‘etau ngaahi angahala, ke tau mo‘ui ki he mā‘oni‘oni: ‘a ia ko hono kafo ne mei ai homou faito‘o.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

Let us learn to reply in a different manner to the argument of Satan. You say, Satan, that God is perfectly righteous and the Avenger of all iniquity. I confess it; but I add another property of His righteousness which you have left aside: since He is righteous, He is satisfied with having been paid once. You say next that I have infinite iniquities which deserve eternal death. I confess it; but I add what you have maliciously omitted: the iniquities which are in me have been very amply avenged and punished in Jesus Christ who has borne the judgment of God in my place (Rom 3:25; 1 Pet 2:24).

That is why I come to a conclusion quite different from yours. Since God is righteous (Rom 3:26) and does not demand payment twice, since Jesus Christ, God and man (2 Cor. 5:19), has satisfied by infinite obedience (Rom 5:19; Phil 2:8) the infinite majesty of God (Rom 8:33), it follows that my iniquities can no longer bring me to ruin (Col. 2:14); they are already blotted out and washed out of my account by the blood of Jesus Christ who was made a curse for me (Gal 3:13), and who righteous, died for the unrighteous (1 Pet 2:24).

THEODORE BEZA

Ta u vakai angee ki ha founga kehe ke taki ‘aki ‘a e tukuaki ‘a Setane. ‘E Setane, ‘oku ke pehee, ko e ‘Otua ‘oku haohaoa mo ma’oni’oni pea ko e Helo ‘oku ne taukapo’i ‘a e kau angahala. ‘Io, ‘oku ou fakamo’oni ki ai, ka ‘oku ou fakakau atu ‘a e konga ‘o ‘ene ma’oni’oni na’e ‘ikai te ke lau ki ai: koe’uhi ko ‘ene ma’oni’oni, ‘oku ne tali ke totongi mo’ua ta tu’o taha ange pe ki ai. ‘Oku ke talamai, ‘oku lahi ta’efakangatangata ‘eku angahala pea ‘oku tuha ke u mate ta’engata ai. ‘Oku ou fakamo’oni ki ai; ka te u toe fakamanatu atu ‘a e me’a na’a ke hanga ‘o fakangalo’i: ko e ngaahi anghia ‘oku ‘iate au, kuo totongi sauni kotoa pea hilifaki kotoa hono tautea kia Kalaisi, ‘a ia na’a ne fua ‘a e kona ‘o e houhau ‘a e ‘Otua ko hoku fetongi (Loma 3:25; 1 Pita 2:24).

Ko e ‘uhinga ia ‘oku kehe ai ‘eku aofangatuku meia koe. Koe’uhi ko e ma’oni’oni ‘a e ‘Otua (Lom 3:26) pea ‘ikai te ne toe ‘eke tu’o ua ‘a e totongi, koe’uhi ko Sisu Kalaisi, ko e ‘Otua mo tangata (2 Kol. 5:19), kuo ne fakakakato ‘a e talangofua ta’engata (Lom 5:19; Phil 2:8) ko e langilangi ta’engata ‘a e ‘Otua (Lom 8:33), pea ‘i he’ene pehee, ko e kotoa ‘o ‘eku ngaahi angahala, ‘e ‘ikai te nau faka’auha au (Kolose 2:14); kuo ‘osi tamate’i kotoa pea fakama’a ‘i he ta’ata’a ‘o Sisu Kalaisi, he na’a ne hoko ko e mala’ia koe’uhi ko au (Kal 3:13), he neongo ko e ma’oni’oni, ka na’a ne pekia ma’ae ta’e ma’oni’oni (1 Pita 2:24).

Monite Siulai 25, 2022

ACKNOWLEDGING GOD'S GRACE

KO E FAKAMO’ONI KI HE KELESI ‘A E ‘OTUA

DEUTERONOMY 8:17-18 NKJV

then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

TEUTALONOME 8:17-18 

Ka ke lau ‘e koe ‘i ho loto, Ko hoku ngū pē, mo e ivi ‘o hoku nima ni kuo ne ngaohi ma‘aku ‘a e koloa ni. Ka te ke manatu pē kia Sihova ko ho ‘Otua, he ko ia ia ‘oku ne foaki kiate koe ‘a e mafai ke ngaohi koloa; koe‘uhiā ke ne fakaai ‘ene kovinānite, ‘a ia na‘a ne fuakava ai ki ho‘o ngaahi kui, ‘o hangē ko ia he ‘aho ni.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe    

This is the principal ground of pride: to assume and assign to ourselves what belongs to God. For nothing so greatly confines us within the boundaries of humility and modesty as the acknowledgment of God's grace; for it is madness and temerity to raise our crests against Him on whom we depend, and to whom we owe ourselves and all we possess.

Rightly, then, does Moses reprove the pride of the human heart which arises from forgetfulness of God, if they think that they have gained by their own exertions (marte suo) what God has given them of His own pleasure, in order to lay them under obligation to Himself. "To say in the heart" is a Hebraism for thinking in one's self, or reflecting in one's self. [God] does not, therefore, only require the outward expression of the lips, whereby men profess that they are grateful to God's bounty (for in this there is often nothing more than hypocrisy and vanity); He would have them seriously persuaded that whatever they possess is derived from His sheer beneficence.

JOHN CALVIN

Ko e aka eni ‘o e mo’ui ‘afungi: ko ‘etau lau mo hilifaki kiate kitautoluto ‘a e me’a ‘oku ‘a e ‘Otuaa tokotaha pe ia. Ko e me’a ‘oku ne fesi’i hifo kitautolu ki lalo, ka ko ‘etau fakamo’oni ki he kelesi (ngaahi me’a’ofa) ‘a e ‘Otua; he ko ha toki me’a fakatu’a mo fulikivanu ko ha hako hoto tope ‘i ha me’a ‘oku te fai ‘o te polepole ai, ke te tukuhifo ai ki lalo ‘a e langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua; ‘a Ia ‘oku tau fakafalala ki ai pea ‘oku ‘a’ana ‘a e me’a kotoa ‘oku tau ma’u.

Na’e tonu pe ‘a e fakatokanga ‘a Mosese, mo ‘ene lea valoki ki he ‘afungi ‘i he loto ‘o e kakai ‘o ngalo ai ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘i he’enau pehe na’a nau lava ha me’a ‘i ha’a nau ngaue - ‘a e me’a na’e foaki ‘e he ‘Otua koe’uhi ko ‘Ene ‘alo’ofa, koe’uhi ka nau tauhi ange kiate Ia. Ko e kupu’i lea, ko e “lau ‘e koe ‘i ho loto”, ko e to’onga lea faka-Hepelu pe ia, na’e ‘uhinga ko e “fakakaukau faka loto” pe ko e “sio faka e kita pe” ki ha me’a. Ka ko e ‘Otua, ‘oku ‘ikai tokanga pe ia ki he me’a ‘oku tau fakaha ‘i hotau ngutu, ‘a e tala ‘e he tangata ‘a e me’a ‘oku ne hounga’ia ai ‘i he tapuaki ‘a e ‘Otua (he ‘oku kei lava pe ‘a e malualoi ia heni); Na’e finangalo ‘a e ‘Otua ke matu’aki ‘ilo ‘e hono kakai, ko e me’a kotoa ‘oku nau ma’u, ko e ha’u kotoa mei he to’ukupu ‘o e ‘Otua.

Sapate Siulai 24, 2022

THE LIGHT OF GRACE

KO E MAAMA ‘O E KELESI

JOHN 1:4

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

SIONE 1:4

‘Ilonga ha me‘a kuo hoko mai na‘e nofo ‘i he toko taha ko ia ko e mo‘ui; pea ko e mo‘ui ko ia ‘a e maama ‘a e tangata.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe    

When now Christ, the light of grace, comes and also teaches that we are to be pious and serve God, He does not extinguish this natural light, but opposes the way and manner of becoming pious and serving God as taught by reason. He says: to become pious is not to do works; no works are good without faith. Then begins the fight. Reason rises up against grace and cries out against its light, accuses it of forbidding good works, protests against not having its own way and standard of becoming pious, being thus set aside; but [it] continually rages about being pious and serving God, and so makes the light of grace foolishness, nay error and heresy, and persists in persecuting and banishing it.

See, this is the virtue of the light of nature, that it raves against the true light, is constantly boasting of piety, piety, and is always crying "Good works!" "Good works!" But it cannot and will not stand to be taught what piety is and what good works are; it insists that which it thinks and proposes must be right and good.

MARTIN LUTHER

Pea ‘i he tu’u ko eni, ko Kalaisi, ‘a e maama ‘o e kelesi, kuo ne ha’u ke ako’i ‘a e lotu mo’oni kiate kitautolu mo e anga ‘o ‘etau tauhi ki he ‘Otua. ‘Oku ‘ikai te ne fakata’e’aonga’i ‘a e maama fakanatula ko eni, ka ‘oku ne fakafepaki’i ‘a e lotu mo e tauhi ki he ‘Otua ‘oku fai ‘i he fakakaukau ‘a e tangata. ‘Oku ne talamai, ko e lotu mo’oni, ‘oku ‘ikai ke ngaue’i; ‘oku ‘ikai ha ngaue ‘e ‘aonga ka ta’e kau ai ‘a e tui. Pea ko e kamata eni ‘o e fepaki. ‘Oku hopo hake ‘a e fakakaukau fakaetangata ke fakafepaki’i ‘a kelesi pea ne taa’i ‘a e maama, ‘o taku ‘oku ne fakaikai’i ‘a e ngaue lelei, mo ‘ikai te ne tali ia mo ‘ene lotu mo’oni he ‘oku ngali fakasikaka’i ia; pea ‘ikai ko ia pe, ka ‘oku ne fai tau ki he mo’ui lotu mo’oni mo e tauhi ki he ‘Otua, ‘o ne tala ‘oku ngali vale ‘a e kelesi pea mo fehalaaki pea fai ai pe ‘a hono fakatanga’i ‘a e mo’oni ko eni. 

Fakatokanga’i ange, ko e me’a eni ‘oku polepole ai ‘a e maama ‘o natula; ‘oku ne tau’i ‘a e maama mo’oni mo ‘afungi’aki ‘ene lotu mo’oni mo ‘ene ngaahi ngaue lelei. Ka ‘e ‘ikai ke tu’u ‘a e fakakaukau ko eni. Kuopau ke tau ako ke mahino’i lelei ‘a e lotu mo’oni mo e ngaue lelei; ko e ngaahi me’a ‘oku fatu ‘e he ‘atamai mo fokotu’u, kuopau ke uho ‘i he mo’oni mo e lelei ‘a e ‘Otua. 

Toknaki Siulai 23, 2022

A WORK OF GRACE

KO E NGAUE ‘O E KELESI

GENESIS 1:4

And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 

SENESI 1:4

Pea ‘afio ‘e he ‘Otua ki he maama, kuo lelei: pea na‘e vahe‘i ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e maama mei he po‘uli.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

God saw the light - He gazed upon it with pleasure, saw that it "was good." If the Lord has given you light, dear reader, He looks on that light with peculiar interest; for not only is it dear to Him as His own handiwork, but because it is like Himself, for "he is light." Pleasant it is to the believer to know that God's eye is thus tenderly observant of that work of grace which He has begun. He never loses sight of the treasure which He has placed in our earthen vessels. 

Sometimes we cannot see the light, but God always sees the light, and that is much better than our seeing it. Better for the judge to see my innocence than for me to think I see it. It is very comfortable for me to know that I am one of God's people-but whether I know it or not, if the Lord knows it, I am still safe. You may be sighing and groaning because of inbred sin, and mourning over your darkness, yet the Lord sees "light" in your heart, for He has put it there, and all the cloudiness and gloom of your soul cannot conceal your light from His gracious eye.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Pea ‘afio ‘e he ‘Otua ki he maama - na’a ne mamata ki ai ‘i he’ene hoifua, pea ne pehee, “ ‘oku lelei.” Kapau kuo foaki atu ‘e he ‘Otua kiate koe ha maama, ‘oku ne hoifua ki ai; he ‘oku ‘ikai ngata pe he ko ‘ene maa’imoa, ka ‘oku hange pe ia foki ko Iaa, he “ko Ia ‘a e Maama.” Hono ‘ikai vovo ko e ‘ilo ‘e he tokotaha tui, ko e tokangaekina ia ‘e he ‘Otuaa, ko e ngaue pe ia ‘o ‘Ene kelesi kuo ne kamata ‘iate ia. ‘Oku ‘ikai ngalo, ko e koloa kuo ‘omi ‘o fa’o ‘i ha hina kelekele. 

‘Oku ‘i ai ‘a e taimi ‘oku ‘ikai te tau mamata ki he maama, ka ‘oku ‘afio ma’u pe ‘a e ‘Otua ki he maama, pea ‘oku mahulu hake ia ‘i ha’atau mamata ki he maama. Lelei ange ki he Fakamaau ke mamata ki he angatonu, ‘i ha’aku fakamahalo ki ai. ‘Oku fakanonga kiate au ‘eku ‘ilo ‘oku ou kau ki he kakai ‘a e ‘Otua - ka, neongo pe ‘oku ou ‘ilo ki ai pe ‘ikai, ‘oku pau ange ‘a e ‘ilo kita ‘e he ‘Otua, pea ‘oku ou malu ai. Mahalo pe ‘oku ke faingata’a’ia ‘i he fakapo’uli mo e vevela ‘o e angahala ‘oku tau fekuki mo ia, ka ‘oku ‘afio ‘a e ‘Otua ki he “maama” ‘oku ‘i ho loto, he ko Ia na’a ne tuku ki ai, pea ‘e ‘ikai lava ‘e he kaupo’uli ‘oku ne fa’a loki ho laumalie ke ne fakapuliki mei he fofonga ‘ofa ‘o e ‘Otua. 

Falaite Siulai 22, 2022

DIVINE INFLUENCE

KO E TATAKI FAKA-LANGI

PSALM 32:8

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

SAAME 32:8

Te u akonaki‘i koe mo hulu ki he hala te ke foua: Te u fale‘i koe ‘aki ‘eku hila.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

While I admit that those who hold that man has no ability in himself to do righteousness, hold what is most necessary to be known for salvation, I think it ought not to be overlooked that we owe it to the special grace of God whenever, on the one hand, we choose what is for our advantage, and whenever our will inclines in that direction; and on the other, whenever with heart and soul we shun what would otherwise do us harm. And the interference of divine Providence goes to the extent not only of making events turn out as was foreseen to be expedient, but of giving the wills of men the same direction.

If we look at the administration of human affairs with the eye of sense, we will have no doubt that, so far, they are placed at man's disposal; but if we lend an ear to the many passages of Scripture which proclaim that even in these matters the minds of men are ruled by God, they will compel us to place human choice in subordination to His special influence.

JOHN CALVIN

Ko kinautolu ‘oku nau tui ‘o pehee, ko e tangata ‘oku ‘ikai hano mafai ‘iate ia pe ke ne lava ‘a e mo’ui ma’oni’oni, ‘oku nau tui ki he me’a mo’oni ke nau ma’u ai honau fakamo’ui. Ka ‘oku mahu’inga ke tau fakatokanga’i, ko e kelesi makehe ia ‘a e ‘Otua ‘oku ngaue mai ke tau fili ‘a e me’a ‘e kau lelei kiate kitautolu, pea hu’u ki ai foki mo hotau loto. ‘Oku toe tokoni pe foki mo eni ‘i he taimi ‘oku situ’a ai hotau loto mo ‘etau fakakaukau mei he me’a ‘e iku ki he’etau tu’utamaki. Pea ko e kau mai ‘a e Palovitenisi faka-’Otua, ‘oku ne tokoni ‘i he ngaahi me’a ‘oku ‘ikai te tau mamata ki ai, ka ‘oku ne takina kitautolu ki ai ‘o fakatatau ki he me’a kuo ne tukuloa ‘iate kitautolu. 

Kapau te tau aofangatuku pe ‘a e ngaahi me’a ‘oku hoko ki he tangata ‘o fakatatau ki he mata ‘o e matelie, te tau pehee ko e fai kotoa pe ia ‘i he fa’iteliha ‘a e tangata; ka ‘okapau te tau tokanga ki he ngaahi potu Folofola ‘oku nau tala, na’a mo e fakakaukau ‘a e tangata, ‘oku fai tu’utu’uni ai ‘a e ‘Otua, te tau tali kotoa pea tau tuku kotoa ‘a e fili mo e loto ‘o e tangata ke lalo’aoa ki he tataki faka-langi ‘a e ‘Otua.