Tu’apulelulu ‘Akosi 11, 2022 

CHRIST THE DIVINE

KO KALAISI KO E ‘OTUA

JOHN 17:24

Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

SIONE 17:24

‘Alā Tamai, ko e me‘a kuo ke foaki mai, ko hoku loto ki ai, ko e potu ‘oku ou ‘i ai au, ke nau ‘i ai ‘a kinautolu foki mo au; ke nau siofia ‘a e lāngilangi ‘o‘oku, ‘a ia kuo ke foaki mai: he na‘a ke ‘ofa kiate au ‘i he te‘eki ke tanu pou ‘a māmani. 

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko e Kalasi pe   

We must hold that as often as Christ, in the character of Mediator, addresses the Father, He, under the term God, includes His own divinity also. Thus, when He says to the apostles, "It is expedient for you that I go away," "My Father is greater than I," He does not attribute to Himself a secondary divinity merely, as if in regard to eternal essence He were inferior to the Father; but having obtained celestial glory, He gathers together the faithful to share it with Him.

He places the Father in the higher degree, inasmuch as the full perfection of brightness conspicuous in heaven differs from that measure of glory which He Himself displayed when clothed in flesh. For the same reason Paul says that Christ will restore "the kingdom to God, even the Father," "that God may be all in all" (1 Corinthians 15:24, 28). Nothing can be more absurd than to deny the perpetuity of Christ's divinity.

JOHN CALVIN

Kuopau ke tau tui, ko Kalaisi, ‘i hono tu’unga ko e Fakalaloa, ‘i he’ene tautapa ki he Tamai, ‘oku ne fakahoko kitautolu ‘i hono tu’unga ko e ‘Otua, ‘o fakatatau ki hono natula faka-’Otua. Ko ia ai, ‘i he’ene folofola ki he kau akoo, “Oku lelei ange kiate au ke u ‘alu” pea “oku lahi ‘a e Tamai ‘iate au”, ‘oku ‘ikai te ne fakamavahe’i Ia mei he ‘Otua, ke pehee ‘oku si’i hifo ia ‘i he Tamai;  ka, ‘i he’ene ma’u ‘a e langilangi ‘o e ‘Otua, ‘oku fakatahataha’i ‘a e kau lotu mo’oni kiate Ia.

‘Oku ne hiki ‘a e Tamai ki he tu’unga ma’olunga tahaa, ‘o hange ko e haohao laulotaha ‘a e masani ‘o e maama ‘o loto Langi ‘o makehe mei he naunau na’e fakakofu’aki ‘a e ‘Alo, ‘i he’ene ‘ai kakano.Ko e ‘uhinga ia na’e pehee ai ‘e Paula, ‘e fakafoki ‘e Kalaisi “ ‘a e pule‘anga ki he ‘Otua, ‘io, ki he Tamai” (1 Kolinito 15:24) “koe‘uhiā ke tāfataha ‘a e ‘Otua ‘i he me‘a kotoa pē” (v.28). ‘E kei tu’uloa ai pe ‘a e tu’unga ‘Otua ‘o Kalaisi ‘o lauikuonga.

Pulelulu ‘Akosi 10, 2022 

NOTHING BUT CHRIST

‘IKAI HA TOE TAHA, KO KALAISI PE

1 CORINTHIANS 2:2

For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

1 KOLINITO 2:2

He na‘e ‘ikai te u tu‘utu‘uni mo ha me‘a ke u ‘ilo ki ai ‘i homou lotolotonga, ko Sīsū Kalaisi pē, pea na‘a mo ia ko hono kalusefai pē.

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko e Kalasi pe   

From his first sermon to his last, Paul preached Christ, and nothing but Christ. He lifted up the cross and extolled the Son of God who bled thereon. Follow his example in all your personal efforts to spread the glad tidings of salvation, and let "Christ and him crucified" be your ever-recurring theme.

The Christian should be like those lovely spring flowers which, when the sun is shining, open their golden cups, as if saying, "Fill us with Thy beams!" but when the sun is hidden behind a cloud, they close their cups and droop their heads. So should the Christian feel the sweet influence of Jesus; Jesus must be his Sun, and he must be the flower which yields itself to the Sun of Righteousness.

Oh! To speak of Christ alone, this is the subject which is both "seed for the sower, and bread for the eater." This is the live coal for the lip of the speaker, and the master key to the heart of the hearer.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Mei he’ene fuofua malanga ki he’ene malanga faka’osi, na’e malanga’i ‘e Paula ‘a Kalaisi, ‘io, ‘a Kalaisi tokotaha pe. Na’a ne hiki hake ‘a e kolosi ‘o ne fakalangilangi’i ‘a e ‘Alo ‘o e ‘Otua na’e lilingi hono ta’ata’aa ai. Muimui ‘i he sipinga na’a ne taa, ‘i ho’o taukave ke fakamafola ‘a e ongoongo lelei ‘o e fakamo’ui, pea ke kei hoko ‘a “Kalaisi mo hono kalusefai” ko ho’o kaveinga fisifisimu’a.

Ko e Kalisitiane, ‘oku hange ko e matala’i’aku ‘i hono taimi matala, ‘i he ulo mai ‘a e la’aa, ‘oku mafola atu hono matalaa hangee ha ipu ‘oku ne pehee atu, “fakafonu kimautolu ‘aki ho huelo.” Ka ‘i he taimi ‘oku puli ai ‘a e la’aa, ‘oku nau tapuni kotoa ‘o mapelu ai pe honau ‘ulu. Ke pehee ‘a e mo’ui ‘a e Kalisitiane ‘i he lave mai ‘a e manongi ‘o Sisuu; ko Sisu ‘a hono La’aa, pea ke ne hangee ko e matala’i’akau ‘oku hanga ki he La’aa ‘o e Ma’oni’oni.

‘Oi! Ke tau lea’aki pe ‘a Kalaisi tokotaha pe! Ko e kaveinga eni, ke hoko ko e “tenga ki he tangata tutuu’i pea mo e ma ki he tokotaha fiekaia.” Ko e malala’i afi ki he tangata malanga, pea mo e ki pule ki he loto ‘o e kau fanongoo.

Tusite ‘Akosi 9, 2022

LORD OF ALL

KO E ‘EIKI MO’ONI ‘O E ME’A KOTOA PE

ACTS 10:36

As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),

NGAUE 10:36

Tā ko e akonaki ia na‘a ne tuku atu ki ha‘a ‘Isileli, he‘ene fakahā ‘ia Sīsū Kalaisi ‘a e ongoongolelei ‘o e melino;

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko e Kalasi pe   

That the government of the world in all its parts is for the good of such as are to be the eternal subjects of God's goodness is implied in what the Scripture teaches us of Christ being set at God's right hand, made King of angels and men; set at the head of the universe, having all power given Him in heaven and earth, to that end that He may promote their happiness; being made Head over all things to the church, and having the government of the whole creation for their good.

Christ mentions it [in] Mark 2:28 as the reason why the Son of Man is made Lord of the Sabbath, because "the Sabbath was made for man." And if so, we may in like manner argue, that all things were made for man, because the Son of Man is made Lord of all things. That God uses the whole creation, in his government of it, for the good of his people, is most elegantly represented in Deuteronomy 33:26. "There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven."

JONATHAN EDWARDS

Ko hono pule’i ‘o mamani mo hono ngaahi me’a pea mo ‘ene lelei, na’e toka tu’utu’uni pe ia ‘e he ‘Otua, ko ‘Ene ngaue ‘o fakatatau ki he’ene ‘alo’ofa ‘o fakatatau ki he lau ‘a e Folofola, pea pehe foki ki hono fakanofo ‘o Kalaisi ki he to’omata’u ‘o e ‘Otua ke tu’i mo pule ki he kau ‘angelo mo e tangata. ‘Io, te ne aoniu ‘i he ‘univeesi, te ne falute ‘a e mafai kotoa ‘i langi mo mamani, pea ‘e tafe mei ai ‘a e fiefia ‘a mamani; te ne ‘ulu foki ki he siasi pea te ne pule ki he me’a fakatupu kotoa pe pea ‘e tefitio ‘iate Ia ‘a ‘enau lelei.

‘Oku ha ‘i he folofola ‘a Sisu ‘i hono hiki ‘e Ma’ake ‘a e ‘uhinga ‘oku ‘eiki ai ‘a Fanautama ‘a Tangata ‘i he Sapate; he “Na‘e fokotu‘u ‘a e Sāpate ma‘a e tangata, ‘o ‘ikai ko e tangata ma‘a e Sāpate” (2:27).  Pea kapau leva ko ia, te tau pehee leva, na’e ngaohi ‘a e me’a kotoa ma’ae tangata, koe’uhi, he ‘oku ‘Eiki ‘a e Fanautama ‘a Tangata ki he me’a kotoa. Ko hono ngaue’aki ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e fakatupu ‘i hono pule’anga, ke fakakoloa’aki ‘a e Fa’ahinga ‘o e tangata, ‘oku ha mahino ia ‘i he lau ‘a Teutalonome 33:26; “‘Oku ‘ikai ha taha ‘oku tatau mo e ‘Otua ‘o Sesuluni, ‘Oku ne hekasi he langi ‘i ho tokoni, Mo e ‘atā, kuo pehē hono lāngilangi.”

Monite ‘Akosi 8, 2022 

CLOTHED IN CHRIST'S PROMISES

FAKAKOFU ‘I HE NGAAHI PALOMESI ‘A KALAISI

2 CORINTHIANS 7:1

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

2 KOLINITO 7:1

KO IA, ‘e kaiga ‘ofeina, ‘i he ‘etau ma‘u ‘a e gaahi tala’ofa ni, ke tau fakama’a ‘akitautolu mei he ‘uli kotoa be ‘o e kakano mo e laumalie, ‘o fakahaohaoa ‘a e ma’oni’oni ‘i he manavahe ki he ‘Otua. (Paaki ‘a Uesi)

2 KOLINITO 6:19

Ko ia, si‘oku ‘ofa‘anga, he‘etau ma‘u ha ngaahi palōmesi pehē fau, tau fakama‘a kitautolu mei he ‘uli kotoa pē ‘o e kakano mo e loto, ‘o tau fakakakato ‘etau mā‘oni‘oni ‘i he ‘apasia ki he ‘Otua.

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko e Kalasi pe   

Although Christ offers us in the Gospel a present fullness of spiritual blessings, fruition remains in the keeping of hope until we are divested of corruptible flesh, and transformed into the glory of Him who has gone before us. Meanwhile, in leaning on the promises we obey the command of the Holy Spirit.

We have it on the testimony of Paul that "godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come" (1 Timothy 4:8); for which reason he glories in being "an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 1:1). And he elsewhere reminds us that we have the same promises which were given to the saints in ancient time (2 Corinthians 7:1). In fine, he makes the sum of our felicity consist in being sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Indeed we have no enjoyment of Christ unless by embracing Him as clothed with His own promises.

JOHN CALVIN

Neongo ‘oku talamai ‘e he Kosipeli, kuo foaki mai ‘e Kalaisi kiate kitautolu ‘a e kotoa ‘o e ngaahi tapuaki faka-laumalie, ka ko hono fakakakato ‘e toki fakahoko ‘i he’etau nofo mo e ‘amanaki ki he ‘aho ‘e toki fakaka’anga ai ‘a e kakano angahala’ia ‘oku tau ‘i ai, pea liliu kitautolu ki he langilangi ‘o Ia kuo mu’omu’a ‘iate kitautolu. Ka ‘i he taimi lolotonga, ‘oku tau falala kakato ki he’ene ngaahi palomesi, ‘i he’etau talangofua ki he ngaahi angi ‘a e Laumalie Ma’oni’oni.

‘Oku talamai ‘e Paula, “ko e lotu mo‘oni ‘oku ‘aonga ki he me‘a kotoa pē; he ‘oku ne ma‘u tala‘ofa ki he mo‘ui ko eni, pea mo ia ka hoko mai” (1 Timote 4:8); pea ko e ‘uhinga ia ‘oku ne polepole ai ‘i he’ene hoko ko e “‘aposetolo ‘a Kalaisi Sīsū ‘i he tu‘utu‘uni ‘a e ‘Otua, koe‘uhi ā ko e palōmesi ‘o e mo‘ui ‘oku ‘ia Kalaisi Sīsū" (2 Timote 1:1). Pea ‘ikai ko ia pe, ka ‘oku ne toe fakamanatu mai ‘i he potu ‘e taha, ‘oku tau tu’unga tatau pe ‘i hono ma’u ‘o ‘Ene ngaahi palomesi ‘o hange pe ko e kau ma’oni’oni ‘o ono’aho. ‘I hono aofangatuku, ‘oku ne talami, ko e kakato’anga ‘o ‘etau fiefia ‘oku ma’u ia ‘i hono sila’i kitautolu ‘e he Laumalie Ma’oni’oni ‘o e palomesi. ‘Io, ‘oku ‘ikai lava ke lalo ‘etau fiefia ‘ia Kalaisi, ‘okapau ‘oku ‘ikai ke tau pukenima’i Ia ‘i hono fakakofu’aki ‘a ‘Ene ngaahi palomesi.

Sapate ‘Akosi 7, 2022

TREASURES OF DIVINE GRACE

KO E KOLOA ‘O E KELESI FAKA-LANGI

PHILIPPIANS 2:9

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

FILIPAI 2:9

Ko hono ō pē ia foki na‘e mātu‘aki hākeaki‘i ai ia ‘e he ‘Otua, mo ne foaki kiate ia ha hingoa ‘oku mā‘olunga ‘i he hingoa kotoa pē:

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

When our minds rise to a confident anticipation of righteousness, salvation, and glory, let us learn to turn them to Christ. We still lie under the power of death, but He, raised from the dead by heavenly power, has the dominion of life. We labor under the bondage of sin and, surrounded by endless vexations, are engaged in a hard warfare (1 Timothy 1:18). But He, sitting at the right hand of the Father, exercises the highest government in heaven and earth, and triumphs gloriously over the enemies whom He has subdued and vanquished. We lie here mean and despised; but to Him has been "given a name" (Philippians 2:9) which angels and men regard with reverence, and devils and wicked men with dread. We are pressed down here by the scantiness of all our comforts, but He has been appointed by the Father to be the sole Dispenser of all blessings.

For these reasons, we shall find our advantage in directing our views to Christ, that in Him, as in a mirror, we may see the glorious treasures of divine grace.

JOHN CALVIN

Ko e taimi ‘oku ake ai ‘i he’etau fakakaukau ‘a e ‘amanaki ki he ma’oni’oni, fakamo’ui mo e langilangi, tuku mu’a ke tataki ‘etau tokanga kia Kalaisi. ‘Oku tau kei nofo ‘i he malumalu ‘o e ivi ‘o mate, ka ko Ia, na’e fokotu’u mei he mate ‘e he mafai mei Langi, ‘oku ne aoniu ‘a e mo’ui. ‘Oku tau ngaue ‘i he ngaahi ha’iha’isia ‘a e angahala pea ‘akiloa kitautolu ‘e hotau ngaahi vaivaia’anga mo tau kau ki he milimilisino fakalaumalie malohi (1 Timote 1:18). Ka ko Ia, ‘oku ne ‘afio ‘i he To’omata’u ‘o e Tamai, ‘oku ne pule ki hevani mo mamani, he kuo ne ikuna’i kafakafa hono ngaahi fili. ‘Oku tau kei ‘i mamani, ko e koto vaivai mo e fehi’anekina; ka ko Ia, ‘e “foaki kiate Ia ha Huafa” (Filipai 2:9) ‘e punou ki ai ‘a e kau ‘angelo mo e tangata pea ‘e teteki ki ai ‘a e fanga tevolo mo e kau fai kovi. ‘Oku fetekeekina kitautolu ‘i heni ko e tulia ‘o e ngaahi me’a fakataimi, ka kuo fakanofo Ia ‘e he Tamai ko e Tokotaha ke ne tufa mai ‘a e ngaahi tapuaki kotoa pe. 

Ko e ‘uhinga ia, ‘oku kau lelei ai kiate kitautolu ke hu’u ‘etau tokanga kia Kalaisi, he ko Ia tokotaha pe, ‘o hange ko ha’atau mamata ki ha sio’ataa, te tau lava ai ke sio ki he naunau ‘o e ngaahi koloa ‘o e kelesi faka-Langi.

Tokonaki ‘Akosi 6, 2022 

A FOUNTAIN AND STREAM

KO E FAUNITENI MO E VAITAFE

JOHN 4:10

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

SIONE 4:10

Pea tali ‘e Sīsū ‘o ne me‘a ki ai, Ka ne ke ‘ilo ‘a e me‘a‘ofa ‘a e ‘Otua, pea ka ne ke ‘ilo pe ko hai ia ‘oku ne pehē atu, ‘Omi haku inu; pehē ko koe ne ke fai ‘a e kole kiate ia, pea kuo ne ‘atu ha vai mo‘ui.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

Faith occupies the position of a channel or conduit pipe. Grace is the fountain and the stream; faith is the aqueduct along which the flood of mercy flows down to refresh the thirsty sons of men. It is a great pity when the aqueduct is broken. It is a sad sight to see around Rome the many noble aqueducts which no longer convey water into the city, because the arches are broken and the marvelous structures are in ruins. The aqueduct must be kept entire to convey the current; and, even so, faith must be true and sound, leading right up to God and coming right down to ourselves, that it may become a serviceable channel of mercy to our souls.

Still, I again remind you that faith is only the channel or aqueduct, and not the fountainhead, and we must not look so much to it as to exalt it above the divine Source of all blessing, which lies in the grace of God.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Ko e Tui, ko e senolo pe ia, pe ko ha paipa fakatafe. Ko e KELESI, ko e fauniteni ia mo e vai. KO e tui, ko e fakatafenga vai ia ‘oku tafe hifo ai ‘a e meesi, ke fakaai ‘a e fieinua ‘a e fa’ahinga ‘o e tangata. Pea ko ha toki me’a fakamamahi, ka faifaiange kuo maumau ‘a e ngaahi tafengavai. ‘Oku pehee ‘a Loma ‘i he ngaahi ‘aho ni, na’e talanoa’i ‘a hono ngaahi tafenga vai ‘i ono’aho, ka ‘oku ‘ikai te nau toe fakatafe ha vai ki loto kolo he ‘aho ni, he kuo maumau ‘a e ngaahi langa talaa ko eni. Ko e tafenga vai, kuopau ke tauhi lelei mo tokanga’i ke lava hono fatongia. ‘I he founga tatau, ko ‘etau tui, kuopau ke tau tauhi mo tokanga’i ke mo’oni mo tonunga, ke lava ‘ene ngaue ko e tataki kitautolu ki he taloni ‘o e ‘Otua pea ke toe hifo foki kiate kitautolu; ko e me’angaue ke fakafou ai ‘a e ‘a e meesi ki hotau laumalier.

KO ia ai, ‘oku ou toe fakamanatu atu, ko e Tui, ko e tafenga vai pe ia, ‘o ‘ikai ko e fauniteni ia. ‘E ‘ikai te tau sio ki he tui ‘o hiki hake ia ke ma’olunga ange ‘i he ma’unga’anga ‘o e ngaahi tapuaki kotoa pe, ‘a ia  ko e KELESI pe ‘a e ‘Otua.

Falaite ‘Akosi 5, 2022

NOTHING BUT DIVINE GRACE

‘IKAI HA TOE ME’A, KO E KELESI PE ‘A E ‘OTUA

1 CORINTHIANS 12:4

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;

1 KOLINITO 12:4

Pea ko eni, ‘oku tufa kehekehe ‘a e ngaahi kelesi, ka ‘oku taha ai pē ‘a e Laumālie

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

What remains now for free will if all the good works which proceed from us are acknowledged to have been the gifts of the Spirit of God? Let godly readers weigh carefully the apostle's words. He does not say that we are assisted by God. He does not say that the will is prepared, and is then left to run by its own strength. He does not say that the power of choosing aright is bestowed upon us, and that we are afterwards left to make our own choice. Such is the idle talk in which those persons who do their utmost to undervalue the grace of God are accustomed to indulge.

But the apostle affirms that everything good in us is His creation, by which he means that the whole man is formed by His hand to be good. It is not the mere power of choosing aright, some indescribable kind of preparation, or even assistance, but the right will itself which is His workmanship; otherwise Paul's argument would have no force. Man is nothing but by divine grace.

JOHN CALVIN

Ko e ha leva ‘etau lau ki he tau’ataina ‘a e fili ‘a e tangataa, kapau ko e ngaahi ngaue lelei ‘oku tau fai, ko e ngaahi me’a’ofa pe ia ‘a e Laumalie ‘o e ‘Otua? Tau tuku ki he kau lotu mo’oni ‘oku nau lau ‘a e tohi ni ke tau sivi fakalelei ‘a e lea ‘oku fai ‘e he ‘aposetolo.  ‘Oku ‘ikai te ne pehee, ‘oku tokonia kitautolu ‘e he ‘Otua. ‘Oku ‘ikai te ne pehee, ‘oku teuteu’i ‘a e loto ‘o e tangata pea tuku atu ke ne fili ‘i hono ivi pe ‘o’ona. ‘Oku ‘ikai te ne pehee, ko e ivi ki he fili ‘oku tonu, kuo ‘omi ia kiate kitautolu, pea tau toki fili leva. Ko e ngaahi lea eni ‘oku anga ki ai kakai ‘oku nau tukuhifo ‘a e mahu’inga ‘o e kelesi ‘a e ‘Otua ka nau ‘asi hake.

Ka ‘oku fakamo’oni mai ‘a e ‘aposetolo, ko e me’a lelei kotoa pe ‘oku ‘iate kitautolu, ko ‘Ene fakatupu ia. ‘Io, ko e tangata, kuo ngaohi ia ‘e he to’ukupu ‘o e ‘Otua ke ne hoko ‘o lelei. ‘Oku ‘ikai ko e mafai ke te fili ‘o tonu, pe ko ha fa’ahinga teuteu makehe mo ha poupou; ka ko e loto kuo ‘osi tonu ‘o fakatatau ki he’ene fakatupu fo’ou kitautolu: ‘Io, ko hono aofangatuku, ko e tangata, ‘oku ‘ikai hano tu’unga, talunga mo e kelesi ‘a e ‘Otua.