Sapate ‘Akosi 14, 2022

THE GRANDEST FACT

KO E MO’ONI FAKATALUTALU

ROMANS 8:33

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

LOMA 8:33

Ko hai te ne talatalaaki ‘i ‘a e kakai kuo fili ‘e he ‘Otua? ‘a e ‘Otua koā, ‘a ia ‘oku ne fakatonuhia‘i kitautolu?

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko e Kalasi pe   

The grandest fact under heaven is this: that Christ by His precious blood does actually put away sin, and that God, for Christ's sake, dealing with men on terms of divine mercy, forgives the guilty and justifies them, not according to anything that He sees in them, or foresees will be in them, but according to the riches of His mercy which lie in His own heart. This we have preached, do preach, and will preach as long as we live. "It is God that justifieth" - that justifieth the ungodly; He is not ashamed of doing it, nor are we of preaching it.

The justification which comes from God Himself must be beyond question. If the Judge acquits me, who can condemn me? If the highest court in the universe has pronounced me just, who shall lay anything to my charge? Justification from God is a sufficient answer to an awakened conscience. The Holy Spirit by its means breathes peace over our entire nature, and we are no longer afraid. With this justification we can answer all the roarings and railings of Satan and ungodly men.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Ko e fo’i mo’oni fakatalutalu ‘i he lalo langi´ ‘a eni: ko e ta’ata’a ‘o Kalaisi kuo ne to’o ‘etau ngaahi angahala, pea ko e ‘Otua ‘ia Kalaisi, ‘oku ne tapa mai ki he tangata ‘o fou ‘i he’ene meesi faka-‘Otua, ‘o ne fakamolemole’i ‘a e halaia ‘o fakatonuhia’i kinautolu, ‘o ‘ikai tefito ‘i ha me’a ‘oku ne mamata ai ‘i he tangata, pe te ne afio’i ha me’a te nau fai ‘i he kaha’u, ka ‘oku makatu’unga pe ia ‘i he mohu ‘o ‘ene meesi ‘a ee ‘oku toka ‘i hono mau tefua.  Ko e fekau eni kuo tau malanga’i, pea ‘oku tau lolotonga malanga’i, pea te tau malanga’i ki he ngata’anga ‘o ‘etau mo’ui.  “Ko e ‘Otua ‘oku ne fai ‘a e fakatonuhia” – ko ia ‘oku ne fakatonuhia ‘a e angahala; ‘oku ‘ikai ke ma’ema’ekina ‘a e ‘Otua ‘i he’ene fakahoko ‘a e ngaue ko ‘eni, pea ‘e ‘ikai foki ketau ma’ema’ekina ‘i hono malanga’i ‘a e tapuaki ko ‘eni. 

Ko e fakatonuhia ‘oku fou hangatonu mei he ‘Otua ‘oku ta’efehu’ia.  Kapau kuo tukuange au ‘e he Fakamaau, ko hai te ne toe fakahalaia’i au?  Kapau kuo tu’utu’uni ‘e he Fakamaau’anga Lahi taha ‘o e ‘Univeesi, ko au kuo u haohaoa, ko hai ia te ne toe ‘eke’i ‘a hoku mo’ua?  Ko e fakatonuhia ‘a e ‘Otua ko e tali fe’unga pe ia ketau fai ki hotau konisenisi.  Ko e Laumālie Mā’oni’oni ‘oku ne hō mai ‘a e manava ‘o ‘ene melino ki hotau uho’i tangata, pea ‘oku ‘ikai leva te tau toe manavahe.  Ko hotau fakatonuhia, ‘oku ne fakafepaki’i kotoa ‘a e ngaahi ngungulu mo e fakafetau ‘a Setane mo e kakai angahala. 

Tokonaki ‘Akosi 13, 2022 

A STAMP OF DIVINITY

KO E FAKA’ILONGA MEI LOTO LANGI 

ROMANS 1:20

that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

LOMA 1:20

‘ā, ko ‘eku pehē pē, ke ai ha‘atau fetokoni‘aki ‘i he‘eku ‘iate kimoutolu, ‘a au ‘aki ‘a e lotu ‘amoutolu, pea ko kimoutolu ‘aki e lotu ‘a‘aku.

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko e Kalasi pe   

If Christ should now appear to anyone as He did on the mount at His transfiguration; or if He should appear to the world in His heavenly glory, as He will do at the Day of Judgment; without doubt, His glory and majesty would be such as would satisfy everyone that He was a divine person. And why may there not be that stamp of divinity, or divine glory, on the Word of God, on the scheme and doctrine of the Gospel, that may be in like matter distinguishing and as rationally convincing, provided it be but seen? Supposing that God never had spoken to the world, but we had noticed that He was about to reveal Himself from heaven and speak to us immediately Himself; after what manner should we expect that He would speak?

Would it not be rational to suppose that His speech would be exceeding different from men's speech, that there should be such an excellency and sublimity in His word that the word of the wisest of men should appear mean and base in comparison of it? Doubtless it would be thought rational to expect this, and unreasonable to think otherwise.

JONATHAN EDWARDS

Kapau ‘e fotu mai ‘a Kalaisi kiate kitautolu ‘o hange ko ‘ene fakaha Ia ‘i he mo’unga ‘o e fakakehe; pe ko ha’ane fakahā mai Ia ki mamani ‘i hono naunau fakalangi, ‘o hange ko ia te ne fai ‘i he ‘Aho ‘o e Fakamaau; ‘oku ‘ikai ha tala’a, ‘e fiemālie mo tali ‘e he tokotaha kotoa pe ‘a e hoko mai ‘a e ‘Otua ‘i hono naunau mo hono langilangi.  Pea ko e ha nai ‘oku ‘ikai ke pau ai ‘a e tu’unga faka-‘Otua, pe ko e langilangi, fekau’aki mo e Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua, pea mo e ngaahi tokatelie ‘o e Koosipeli?  Mahalo pe kapau na’a tau lava ke mamata ki hono ngaahi mo’oni, neongo ‘a e pau ‘a hono ngaahi makatu’unga.  Tau pehe na’e ‘ikai pe ke folofola ‘a e ‘Otua ki mamani, kā na’a tau fakatokanga’i ‘a ‘ene fakahā mai ia mei he ngaahi langi pea ne folofola mai kiate kitautolu; ko e hā ha founga te tau ‘amanaki ai ‘e lea mai ai ‘a e ‘Otua kiate kitautolu?

‘E ‘ikai koā te tau pehē ‘oku tuha ke makehe atu ‘a e ngaahi lea ‘e ngaue’aki ‘e he ‘Otua he’ene fetu’utaki mo e tangata, ke ope atu hono naunau mo hono ngaahi lelei ‘i he tufunga lea ‘a e kau taukei ‘o e fa’ahinga ‘o e tangata?  ‘Io, ‘oku tonu ‘aupito ‘etau vakai ko ‘eni he ‘oku makehe atu pe pea ope atu ‘a e founga ‘a e ‘Otua ‘i he ngaahi founga ‘a e tangata.

Falaite ‘Akosi 12, 2022

GAZE UPON HIM

SIO FAKAMAMA’U KIATE IA

HEBREWS 12:1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

HEPELU 12:1-2

‘AUA, pea ko e me‘a ‘i he kāpui ‘a kitautolu ‘e ha ‘ao kau fakamo‘oni ‘oku fu‘u pehē fau, ko ia ke tau hu‘ihu‘i ‘a e fakamamafa kotoa pē, mo e angahala ‘oku tau mo‘uangofua ki ai, pea tau kītaki atu ‘etau lele he fakapuepue kuo tala humaki mai kiate kitautolu; ‘o tau sio fakamama‘u atu ki he Takimu‘a ‘i he tui mo hono Fakaa‘u, ‘io, ‘a Sīsū; ‘a ia, ko e me‘a ke ne ma‘u ‘a e fiefia na‘e tala humaki kiate ia, ko ia na‘a ne kātaki ‘a e mate kalusefai, na‘e ‘ikai te ne toka‘i hono fakamaa‘i, pea kuo ne nofo hifo foki mei he to‘omata‘u ‘o e taloni ‘o e ‘Otua.

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko e Kalasi pe   

We are full of sin, but the Saviour bids us lift our eyes to Him, and as we gaze upon His streaming wounds, each drop of blood, as it falls, cries, "It is finished; I have made an end of sin; I have brought in everlasting righteousness." Oh! Sweet language of the precious blood of Jesus! If you have come to that blood once, you will come to it constantly. Your life will be "Looking unto Jesus." Your whole conduct will be epitomized in this: "To whom coming." Not to whom I have come, but to whom I am always coming.

If thou hast ever come to the blood of sprinkling, thou wilt feel thy need of coming to it every day. He who does not desire to wash in it every day has never washed in it at all. The believer ever feels it to be his joy and privilege that there is still a fountain opened.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Ko kitautolu ‘oku tau fonu angahala pe, ka ‘oku fakaafe’i kitautolu ‘e he Fakamo’ui ke tau hanga hake kiate Ia, ‘o tau sio fakamama’u ange ki he tafe ‘a hono ngaahi matakafoo. Ko e tulutaa kotoa ‘oku kalanga mai, “Kuo ‘osi; kuo u fakangata ‘a e angahala; kuo u ‘omi ‘a e ma’oni’oni ‘oku ta’engata.” ‘Oi, he toki lea vovo ‘o e ta’ata’a ‘o Sisuu! Kapau kuo ke ha’u tu’o taha ki he ta’ata’aa, te ke toutou ha’u pe ki ai. Ko ho’o mo’ui, te ke toutou “sio fakamama’u pe kia Sisu.” Ko ho’o to’onga mo’ui, ‘e ha sino mai eni; “Te ke toutou ha’u kiate Ia.” ‘E ‘ikai te ke pehee, “na’a ke ha’u” ka ‘oku ke toutou ha’u pe.

Ko koe kuo ke ha’u ‘o ‘inasi ‘i he ta’ata’a kuo afuhi, te ke ‘ilo pau ‘a e mahu’inga ke ke toutou ha’u faka’aho ki ai. Ko ia ‘oku ‘ikai ha’ane hohoi ke fufulu faka’aho ‘i hono ta’ata’aa, kuo te’eki pe ke palutu tu’otaha ia ‘i he ta’ata’aa ‘o Sisuu. Ko e kalisitiane, ‘oku ne ongo’i ma’u pe ‘a e malave ‘a e hounga’ia mo e fiefia ‘iate ia, ‘a e kei ‘ataa ‘a e fauniteni ko eni.

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.