Falaite Fepueli 16, 2018

Ko ha ongo ngaue makehe ‘a e ‘Otuá neongo ‘oku

‘ikai ke na māvahevahe

( inseparable yet distict acts of the grace of God)

Fehu‘i #32

Ko e hā e ‘uhinga ‘o e fakatonuhia‘i mo e fakamā‘oni‘oni‘i?

Ko e fakatonuhia‘í, ko ‘etau mā‘oni‘oni ‘oku ma‘u ‘i he tu‘utu‘uni ‘a e ‘Otuá, fou ‘i he pekia mo e toetu‘u ‘a Kalaisi ma‘a kitautolú. Ko e fakama‘oni‘oni‘í, ‘oku ‘uhinga ia ki he‘etau ma‘oni‘oni ‘oku  ngaue fakautuutu mo tupulaki, fou ‘i he ngaue ‘a e Laumālié ‘iate kitautolú.

What do justification and sanctification mean?

Justification means our declared righteousness before God, made possible by Christ's death and resurrection for us. Sanctification means our gradual, growing righteousness, made possible by the Spirit's work in us.

SIUTASI 3

…ko ‘eku tohi ki he kakai fili ‘a ia ‘oku nau nofo movetevete…ko e fili ‘o fakatatau ki he mu‘aki ‘afio‘i ‘e he ‘Otua ko e Tamai, ‘i homou fakatāpui ‘e he laumālie ke iku ki he talangofua, mo e luluku ‘aki ‘a e ta‘ata‘a ‘o Sīsū Kalaisi. ‘Ofa ke fakalahi kiate kimoutolu ‘a e kelesi mo e fiemālie.

1 PETER 1:1-2

To those who are elect exiles... according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Commentary - ABRAHAM BOOTH

Though justification and sanctification are both blessings of grace, and though they are inseparable, yet they are distinct acts of God; and there is, in various respects, a wide difference between them. The distinction may be thus expressed - justification respects the person in a legal sense, is a single act of grace, and terminates in a relative change; that is, a freedom from punishment, and a right to life; sanctification regards him in a physical sense, is a continual work of grace, and terminates in a real change, as to the quality both of habits and actions. 

Tu‘apulelulu Fepueli 15, 2018

Ko e taula ‘o hotau fakamo‘ui

( the anchor of our salvation)

Fehu‘i #31

Ko e hā ‘etau tui fekau‘aki mo e tui ‘oku mo‘oní ?

‘Oku tau tui ki he ngaahi akonaki kotoa ‘oku hā ‘i he koosipelí. ‘Oku fakahaa‘i ‘e he tui ‘a e kau ‘apositoló ‘a e ngaahi mo‘oni ‘o ‘etau tuí ‘o anga pehe ni: ‘Oku mau tui ki he ‘Otua ko e Tamai Mafimafi, Fakatupu ‘o langi mo mamani, pea mo Sisu Kalaisi ko e ‘Alo-tofu-pe-taha ko hotau ‘Eiki, na‘e tu‘itu‘ia ia ‘i he Laumālie Ma‘oni‘oni, fanau‘i ‘e he taupo‘ou ko Mele, na‘e feia ia ‘e Ponitusi Pailato, kalusefai, pekia pea telio. Na‘e hifo ki hetesi. Pea ‘i he ‘aho hono tolú na‘e toetu‘u mei he pekia. Na‘e ha‘ele hake ki langi ‘o ‘afio ‘i he to‘omata‘u ‘o e ‘Otua ko e Tamai Mafimafí. Te ne toe foki mai ke fakamaau‘i ‘a e mo‘uí mo e maté. ‘Oku mau tui ki he Laumālie Ma‘oni‘oní pea mo e siasi tapú, feohi ‘a e kau lotú, fakamolemole‘i ‘o e angahalá, toetu‘u ‘o e sinó pea mo e mo‘ui ta‘engatá.

What do we believe by true faith?

Everything taught to us in the gospel. The Apostles' Creed expresses what we believe in these words: We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

SIUTASI 3

Na‘e hā kiate au, kuo pau ke u tohi leva kiate kimoutolu ke enginaki ke mou fefa‘uhi he taukapo‘i ‘a e tokāteline na‘e ‘omi tu‘o taha ki he kakai lotu.

JUDE 3

I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

Commentary - D. A. CARSON (cont…)

So when you gather for public worship on the Lord's Day and recite the creed, remember that behind the mere words on the page are two thousand years of Christian history. The creed serves to link Christians across cultures and languages and space and time as together we say we believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

Prayer

Maker of Heaven and Earth, make the startling claims of our faith come alive to us. Let us not divorce theological truth from the history of your salvation, which occurred in time and space. Let us not waiver in unbelief, but rest our lives upon the truth that you raise the dead. Amen.

Pulelulu Fepueli 14, 2018

Ko e koosipelí, ‘i hono toe fakalea ‘e tahá…

( the gospel, in other words…)

Fehu‘i #31

Ko e hā ‘etau tui fekau‘aki mo e tui ‘oku mo‘oní ?

‘Oku tau tui ki he ngaahi akonaki kotoa ‘oku hā ‘i he koosipelí. ‘Oku fakahaa‘i ‘e he tui ‘a e kau ‘apositoló ‘a e ngaahi mo‘oni ‘o ‘etau tuí ‘o anga pehe ni: ‘Oku mau tui ki he ‘Otua ko e Tamai Mafimafi, Fakatupu ‘o langi mo mamani, pea mo Sisu Kalaisi ko e ‘Alo-tofu-pe-taha ko hotau ‘Eiki, na‘e tu‘itu‘ia ia ‘i he Laumālie Ma‘oni‘oni, fanau‘i ‘e he taupo‘ou ko Mele, na‘e feia ia ‘e Ponitusi Pailato, kalusefai, pekia pea telio. Na‘e hifo ki hetesi. Pea ‘i he ‘aho hono tolú na‘e toetu‘u mei he pekia. Na‘e ha‘ele hake ki langi ‘o ‘afio ‘i he to‘omata‘u ‘o e ‘Otua ko e Tamai Mafimafí. Te ne toe foki mai ke fakamaau‘i ‘a e mo‘uí mo e maté. ‘Oku mau tui ki he Laumālie Ma‘oni‘oní pea mo e siasi tapú, feohi ‘a e kau lotú, fakamolemole‘i ‘o e angahalá, toetu‘u ‘o e sinó pea mo e mo‘ui ta‘engatá.

What do we believe by true faith?

Everything taught to us in the gospel. The Apostles' Creed expresses what we believe in these words: We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

SIUTASI 3

Na‘e hā kiate au, kuo pau ke u tohi leva kiate kimoutolu ke enginaki ke mou fefa‘uhi he taukapo‘i ‘a e tokāteline na‘e ‘omi tu‘o taha ki he kakai lotu.

JUDE 3

I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

Commentary - D. A. CARSON (cont…)

…continuing the discussion on the Apostles Creed…

In some ways it is a kind of second-century attempt to recapitulate what we read, for example, in the opening verses of 1 Corinthians 15, which itself is a very simple creed. What is the gospel? Paul asks. Well, first, Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and then various things are added and added and added until we have a summary of the great good news and its content - that God in the fullness of time sent forth his Son to die on the cross, rise from the dead, and bring to himself a vast number of the people that Paul calls the new humanity.

Tusite Fepueli 13, 2018

Ko ha samalī ‘o e koosipelí́

( a summary of the gospel)

Fehu‘i #31

Ko e hā ‘etau tui fekau‘aki mo e tui ‘oku mo‘oní ?

‘Oku tau tui ki he ngaahi akonaki kotoa ‘oku hā ‘i he koosipelí. ‘Oku fakahaa‘i ‘e he tui ‘a e kau ‘apositoló ‘a e ngaahi mo‘oni ‘o ‘etau tuí ‘o anga pehe ni: ‘Oku mau tui ki he ‘Otua ko e Tamai Mafimafi, Fakatupu ‘o langi mo mamani, pea mo Sisu Kalaisi ko e ‘Alo-tofu-pe-taha ko hotau ‘Eiki, na‘e tu‘itu‘ia ia ‘i he Laumālie Ma‘oni‘oni, fanau‘i ‘e he taupo‘ou ko Mele, na‘e feia ia ‘e Ponitusi Pailato, kalusefai, pekia pea telio. Na‘e hifo ki hetesi. Pea ‘i he ‘aho hono tolú na‘e toetu‘u mei he pekia. Na‘e ha‘ele hake ki langi ‘o ‘afio ‘i he to‘omata‘u ‘o e ‘Otua ko e Tamai Mafimafí. Te ne toe foki mai ke fakamaau‘i ‘a e mo‘uí mo e maté. ‘Oku mau tui ki he Laumālie Ma‘oni‘oní pea mo e siasi tapú, feohi ‘a e kau lotú, fakamolemole‘i ‘o e angahalá, toetu‘u ‘o e sinó pea mo e mo‘ui ta‘engatá.

What do we believe by true faith?

Everything taught to us in the gospel. The Apostles' Creed expresses what we believe in these words: We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

SIUTASI 3

Na‘e hā kiate au, kuo pau ke u tohi leva kiate kimoutolu ke enginaki ke mou fefa‘uhi he taukapo‘i ‘a e tokāteline na‘e ‘omi tu‘o taha ki he kakai lotu.

JUDE 3

I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

Commentary - D. A. CARSON (cont…)

It's important to remember that creeds are shaped, at least in part, by the era in which they are formulated, not because the Bible changes, but because the questions that we ask of the Bible change a wee bit from time to time. Other creedal statements, for example, that were made at the time of the Reformation in the sixteenth century ask and answer slightly different questions. But the Apostles Creed is regularly said by Christians all around the world because it was written so early that it was used before a lot of the later important doctrinal divisions set in. And within this framework, it very ably summarizes the gospel in just a few sentences. 

Monite Fepueli 12, 2018

Ko ha fakama‘opo‘opo ‘oku ne fakatahataha‘i ‘etau tui tahá

( a uniting summary of our faith)

Fehu‘i #31

Ko e hā ‘etau tui fekau‘aki mo e tui ‘oku mo‘oní ?

‘Oku tau tui ki he ngaahi akonaki kotoa ‘oku hā ‘i he koosipelí. ‘Oku fakahaa‘i ‘e he tui ‘a e kau ‘apositoló ‘a e ngaahi mo‘oni ‘o ‘etau tuí ‘o anga pehe ni: ‘Oku mau tui ki he ‘Otua ko e Tamai Mafimafi, Fakatupu ‘o langi mo mamani, pea mo Sisu Kalaisi ko e ‘Alo-tofu-pe-taha ko hotau ‘Eiki, na‘e tu‘itu‘ia ia ‘i he Laumālie Ma‘oni‘oni, fanau‘i ‘e he taupo‘ou ko Mele, na‘e feia ia ‘e Ponitusi Pailato, kalusefai, pekia pea telio. Na‘e hifo ki hetesi. Pea ‘i he ‘aho hono tolú na‘e toetu‘u mei he pekia. Na‘e ha‘ele hake ki langi ‘o ‘afio ‘i he to‘omata‘u ‘o e ‘Otua ko e Tamai Mafimafí. Te ne toe foki mai ke fakamaau‘i ‘a e mo‘uí mo e maté. ‘Oku mau tui ki he Laumālie Ma‘oni‘oní pea mo e siasi tapú, feohi ‘a e kau lotú, fakamolemole‘i ‘o e angahalá, toetu‘u ‘o e sinó pea mo e mo‘ui ta‘engatá.

What do we believe by true faith?

Everything taught to us in the gospel. The Apostles' Creed expresses what we believe in these words: We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

SIUTASI 3

Na‘e hā kiate au, kuo pau ke u tohi leva kiate kimoutolu ke enginaki ke mou fefa‘uhi he taukapo‘i ‘a e tokāteline na‘e ‘omi tu‘o taha ki he kakai lotu

JUDE 3

I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

Commentary - D. A. CARSON (cont…)

(…the Apostles’ creed)

If you read it through carefully and slowly, you'll see there's explicit mention of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, of creation, the virgin birth, the coming of Christ, his rising from the dead, who Christians are, what it means to have the Holy Spirit working within us, and so forth, all in very brief compass in words that millions and millions of Christians have either memorized or recite every Sunday or sometimes use as part of their private devotions.

Sapate Fepueli 11, 2018

‘Oku mau tui ki he ‘Otua ko e Tamai Mafimafí

( We believe in God the Father Almighty)

Fehu‘i #31

Ko e hā ‘etau tui fekau‘aki mo e tui ‘oku mo‘oní ?

‘Oku tau tui ki he ngaahi akonaki kotoa ‘oku hā ‘i he koosipelí. ‘Oku fakahaa‘i ‘e he tui ‘a e kau ‘apositoló ‘a e ngaahi mo‘oni ‘o ‘etau tuí ‘o anga pehe ni: ‘Oku mau tui ki he ‘Otua ko e Tamai Mafimafi, Fakatupu ‘o langi mo mamani, pea mo Sisu Kalaisi ko e ‘Alo-tofu-pe-taha ko hotau ‘Eiki, na‘e tu‘itu‘ia ia ‘i he Laumālie Ma‘oni‘oni, fanau‘i ‘e he taupo‘ou ko Mele, na‘e feia ia ‘e Ponitusi Pailato, kalusefai, pekia pea telio. Na‘e hifo ki hetesi. Pea ‘i he ‘aho hono tolú na‘e toetu‘u mei he pekia. Na‘e ha‘ele hake ki langi ‘o ‘afio ‘i he to‘omata‘u ‘o e ‘Otua ko e Tamai Mafimafí. Te ne toe foki mai ke fakamaau‘i ‘a e mo‘uí mo e maté. ‘Oku mau tui ki he Laumālie Ma‘oni‘oní pea mo e siasi tapú, feohi ‘a e kau lotú, fakamolemole‘i ‘o e angahalá, toetu‘u ‘o e sinó pea mo e mo‘ui ta‘engatá.

What do we believe by true faith?

Everything taught to us in the gospel. The Apostles' Creed expresses what we believe in these words: We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

SIUTASI 3

Na‘e hā kiate au, kuo pau ke u tohi leva kiate kimoutolu ke enginaki ke mou fefa‘uhi he taukapo‘i ‘a e tokāteline na‘e ‘omi tu‘o taha ki he kakai lotu

JUDE 3

I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

Commentary - D. A. CARSON

"We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth." So begins what is universally called the Apostles' Creed. Strictly speaking, it was not formulated by the apostles. It emerged in the second century. But it is called the Apostles' Creed because the summary of what is given in the creed reflects the doctrine of the apostles, the doctrine of the New Testament in summary form. It's an early Christian confession. But it is so early, and has been used so widely across Christian denominations all around the world, that it is one of the rare things that unites all Christians in common belief.

Tokonaki Fepueli 10, 2018

Ko eni ‘a e Tuí . . .

( Faith is . . . )

Fehu‘i #31

Ko e hā ‘etau tui fekau‘aki mo e tui ‘oku mo‘oní ?

‘Oku tau tui ki he ngaahi akonaki kotoa ‘oku hā ‘i he koosipelí. ‘Oku fakahaa‘i ‘e he tui ‘a e kau ‘apositoló ‘a e ngaahi mo‘oni ‘o ‘etau tuí ‘o anga pehe ni: ‘Oku mau tui ki he ‘Otua ko e Tamai Mafimafi, Fakatupu ‘o langi mo mamani, pea mo Sisu Kalaisi ko e ‘Alo-tofu-pe-taha ko hotau ‘Eiki, na‘e tu‘itu‘ia ia ‘i he Laumālie Ma‘oni‘oni, fanau‘i ‘e he taupo‘ou ko Mele, na‘e feia ia ‘e Ponitusi Pailato, kalusefai, pekia pea telio. Na‘e hifo ki hetesi. Pea ‘i he ‘aho hono tolú na‘e toetu‘u mei he pekia. Na‘e ha‘ele hake ki langi ‘o ‘afio ‘i he to‘omata‘u ‘o e ‘Otua ko e Tamai Mafimafí. Te ne toe foki mai ke fakamaau‘i ‘a e mo‘uí mo e maté. ‘Oku mau tui ki he Laumālie Ma‘oni‘oní pea mo e siasi tapú, feohi ‘a e kau lotú, fakamolemole‘i ‘o e angahalá, toetu‘u ‘o e sinó pea mo e mo‘ui ta‘engatá.

What do we believe by true faith?

Everything taught to us in the gospel. The Apostles' Creed expresses what we believe in these words: We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

SIUTASI 3

Na‘e hā kiate au, kuo pau ke u tohi leva kiate kimoutolu ke enginaki ke mou fefa‘uhi he taukapo‘i ‘a e tokāteline na‘e ‘omi tu‘o taha ki he kakai lotu

JUDE 3

I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

Commentary - JOHN WESLEY

But what is faith? Not an opinion, no more than it is a form of words not any number of opinions put together, be they ever so true. A string of opinions is no more Christian faith, than a string of beads is Christian holiness. It is not an assent to any opinion, or any number of opinions. A man may assent to three, or three-and-twenty creeds: he may assent to all the Old and New Testament (at least, as far as he understands them) and yet have no Christian faith at all.

…Christian faith... is a divine evidence or conviction wrought in the heart, that God is reconciled to me through his Son; inseparably joined with a confidence in him, as a gracious reconciled Father, as for all things, so especially for all those good things which are invisible and eternal. To believe (in the Christian sense) is, then, to walk in the light of eternity; and to have a clear sight of, and confidence in, the Most High, reconciled to me through the Son of his love.