Monite ‘Epeleli 18, 2022 

JUSTIFIED BY FAITH

FAKATONUHIA ‘I HE TUI

ROMANS 4:23-24

But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,

LOMA 4:23-24

Ka tala‘ehai na‘e tu‘u ‘i he Tohi ‘o pehē, “Na‘e lau ma‘ana,” koe‘uhi ko ia pē. Ka koe‘uhi ko kitaua foki: ‘io, ‘e lau ma‘ataua, ‘a kitaua ‘oku ta tui kiate ia na‘a ne fokotu‘u ‘a hotau ‘Eiki ko Sīsū mei he pekia–

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe    

Paul taught justification by faith in Christ Jesus, without the deeds of the Law. He reported this to the disciples at Antioch. Among the disciples were some that had been brought up in the ancient customs of the Jews. These rose against Paul in quick indignation, accusing him of propagating a gospel of lawlessness. Great dissension followed. Paul and Barnabas stood up for the truth. They testified: "Wherever we preached to the Gentiles, the Holy Ghost came upon those who received the Word. This happened everywhere. We preached not circumcision, we did not require observance of the Law. We preached faith in Jesus Christ. At our preaching of faith, God gave to the hearers the Holy Ghost."

From this fact Paul and Barnabas inferred that the Holy Ghost approved the faith of the Gentiles without the Law and circumcision. If the faith of the Gentiles had not pleased the Holy Ghost, He would not have manifested His presence in the uncircumcised hearers of the Word.

MARTIN LUTHER

Na’e ako’i ‘e Paula ‘a e fakatonuhia ‘i he tui, ‘o ‘ikai kau ki ai ‘a e ngaue ‘a e Lao. Na’a ne fakahoko eni ki he kau ako ‘i ‘Aniteoke. Na’e tokolahi ‘a e kau ako na’e ‘ohake kinautolu ‘i he anga faka-Siu. Na’a nau fakafepaki’i ‘a Paula, ‘o taku, ‘oku tu’uaki ‘e Paula ha kosipeli mo’ui fa’iteliha. Na’e hoko heni ma moveuveu. Na’e taukave’i ‘e Paula mo Panepasa ‘a e mo’oni. Na’a na fakamo’oni: “ ‘I he taimi kotoa pe ‘oku ma malanga ai ki he Senitaile, ‘oku hifo ‘a e Laumalie kiate kinautolu ‘oku nau tali ‘a e Folofola. Na’e hoko eni ‘i he potu kotoa pe. Na’e ‘ikai te ma malanga’i ‘a e kamu, pe ko e tauhi ‘o e Lao. Na’a ma malanga’i ‘a e tui kia Sisu kalaisi. ‘I he’ema malanga’i ‘a e tui, na’e foaki ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e Laumalie Ma’oni’oni.

Mei he mo’oni ko eni, na’e fakamahino ‘e Paula mo Panepasa, na’e tali ‘e he Laumalie Ma’oni’oni ‘a e tui ‘a e kau Senitaile ‘o ta’e kau ai ‘a e Lao mo e Kamu. Kapau na’e ‘ikai hoifua ‘a e Laumalie Ma’oni’oni, na’e ‘ikai te ne fakae’a mai Ia ki he kau ta’e kamu na’a nau ongo na ‘a e Folofola.

Sapate ‘Epeleli 17, 2022 

BY FAITH WE APPREHEND

‘OKU FOU ‘I HE TUI, ‘ETAU MA’U ‘A E MAHINO

1 CORINTHIANS 2:9-10

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

1 KOLINITO 2:9-10

Ka na‘e mo‘oni pē ‘a e lau ‘a e Tohi, Ko e ngaahi me‘a kuo ‘ikai mātā ‘e ha mata, pe fanongoa ‘e ha telinga, pe ake ki he loto ‘o ha tangata; ‘io, ‘a e ngaahi fu‘u me‘a kuo teuteu ‘e he ‘Otua ma‘a e kakai ‘oku ‘ofa kiate ia– ka ko e ngaahi me‘a ko ia, kuo faka‘ilo ‘e he ‘Otua kiate kimautolu ‘i hono Laumālie: he ko e Laumālie ‘oku ne hakule ‘a e me‘a kotoa pē, ‘io, ‘a e ngaahi loloto ‘o e ‘Otua.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe    

It is in vain for any to reason as philosophers on the workmanship of the world, except those who, having been first humbled by the preaching of the Gospel, have learned to submit the whole of their intellectual wisdom (as Paul expresses it) to the foolishness of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:21). Nothing shall we find, I say, above or below, which can raise us up to God, until Christ shall have instructed us in His own school.

Yet this cannot be done, unless we, having emerged out of the lowest depths, are borne up above all heavens, in the chariot of His cross, that there by faith we may apprehend those things which the eye has never seen, the ear never heard, and which far surpass our hearts and minds. For the earth, with its supply of fruits for our daily nourishment, is not there set before us; but Christ offers Himself to us unto life eternal.

JOHN CALVIN

‘Oku ta’e’aonga ha feinga ‘a e kau poto faka-filosefa ‘o mamani ke nau fakamatala’i ‘a e ngaahi me’a fakalaumalie, kae’oua kuo tomu’a fakavaivai’i kinautolu ‘e he Kosipeli, ke nau tulolo ki he ngali vale ‘o e kolosi (1 Kolinito 1:21). ‘E ‘ikai te tau ma’u ha me’a ‘i langi pe ko mamani, kae’oua ke ako’i kitautolu ‘e Kalaisi ‘i hono ako’anga.

‘Oku toki malava pe eni ke hoko, ‘okapau te tau toki hifo ki he takele, pea toki ‘ohake kitautolu ki he ngaahi lahi, ‘i he saliote ‘o e kolosi, pea ‘oku fou ‘i he TUI, ‘a ‘etau toki mahino’i ‘a e ngaahi me’a kuo te’eki mamata ki ai ‘a e mata, pe fanongo ki ai hotau telinga, pea ope atu ‘i hotau loto mo e ‘atamai. Ko e naunau ‘o e mamani ko eni, kuo folahi ‘i hotau ‘ao; pea kuo foaki kakato ‘e Kalaisi Ia ma’a kitautolu ki he mo’ui ta’engata.

Tokonaki ‘Epeleli 16, 2022

HEAR THE GOSPEL

FANONGO KI HE KOOSIPELI

JOHN 5:24

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

SIONE 5:24

Ko au ē, ko au ē, ‘oku ou tala atu, Ko ia ‘oku ne fanongo ki he‘eku lea, pea tui kiate ia na‘a ne fekau mai au, ‘oku ne ma‘u ‘a e mo‘ui ta‘engata, pea ‘oku ‘ikai te ne a‘u ki he fakamaau; ka kuo ne hiki mei he mate ki he mo‘ui.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe    

It is written, “Faith cometh by hearing"; therefore hear often. If I earnestly and attentively hear the Gospel, one of these days I shall find myself believing that which I hear, through the blessed operation of the Spirit of God upon my mind. I would add next, consider the testimony of others. The Samaritans believed because of what the woman told them concerning Jesus. I believe that there is such a country as Japan; I never saw it, and yet I believe that there is such a place because others have been there. I believe that I shall die; I have never died, but a great many have done so whom I once knew, and therefore I have a conviction that I shall die also. The testimony of many convinces me of that fact.

Listen, then, to those who tell you how they were saved, how they were pardoned, how they were changed in character. If you will look into the matter, you will find that somebody just like yourself has been saved.

CHARLES SPURGEON

‘Oku tohi, “ ‘Oku tupu ‘a e tui mei he fanongo,” ko ia ai, toutou fanongo. Kapau te u fanongo ma’u pe mo fanongo tokanga ki he Kosipeli, ‘e ‘i ai pe ‘a e ‘aho ‘e taha te u tui ai ki he me’a ‘oku ou fanongo ki ai, fou ‘i he ngaue tapuaki ‘a e Laumalie ‘o e ‘Otua ‘i hoku loto. Te u tanak atu ki ai ‘a e fakamatala mo’ui ‘a e kaunga fononga. Na’e tui ‘a e kau Samelia, koe’uhi ko e fakamatala na’e fai ‘e he fefine, kau kia Sisu. ‘Oku ou tui ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e fonua ko Siapani. ‘Oku te’eki te u mamata ai, ka ‘oku ou tui ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e fonua pehee, koe’uhi ko e fakamatala ‘a e kakai kuo nau a’u ki ai. ‘Oku ou tui ‘e ‘i ai ‘a e ‘aho te u mate ai; Kuo te’eki ai te u mate, ka ‘oku tokolahi ‘a kinautolu ‘oku ou ‘ilo kuo nau ‘osi mate, pea ‘oku ou fakapapau’i kuopau ke u fou atu mo au ‘i he ‘alunga ko ia.

Ko ia ai, fakaongo ki he fakamatala ‘a e tokolahi fekau’aki mo honau fakamo’ui; ‘a hono fakamolemole’i kinautolu mo e liliu mo’ui kuo hoko kiate kinautolu. Kapau te ke fekumi ki he mo’oni ko eni, te ke ‘ilo ai ha tokotaha, tatau pe mo koe kuo ma’u hono fakamo’ui.

Falaite ‘Epeleli 15, 2022 

CONFIRMATION OF FAITH

KO E FAKAMO’ONI ‘O E TUI

2 PETER 1:12

Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.

2 PITA 1:12

Ko ia, kuo pau te u fakamanatu ai pē ‘a e ngaahi me‘a ko ia kiate kimoutolu, neongo ‘oku mou lāu‘ilo ki ai, pea kuo mou tu‘u ‘i he tokāteline ‘oku ‘iate kimoutolu.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe    

Christ is God by nature. At the same time, Paul confirms our creed "that Christ is very God." We need such frequent confirmation of our faith, for Satan will not fail to attack it. He hates our faith. He knows that it is the victory which overcometh him and the world.

That Christ is very God is apparent in that Paul ascribes to Him divine powers equally with the Father, as for instance, the power to dispense grace and peace. This Jesus could not do unless He were God. To bestow peace and grace lies in the province of God, who alone can create these blessings. The angels cannot. The apostles could only distribute these blessings by the preaching of the Gospel. In attributing to Christ the divine power of creating and giving grace, peace, everlasting life, righteousness, and forgiveness of sins, the conclusion is inevitable that Christ is truly God. Hence, the gifts which we receive from the Father and from the Son are one and the same.

MARTIN LUTHER

Ko Kalaisi, ko e ‘Otua ‘i hono natula. ‘Oku fakamo’oni mai ‘a Paula ‘i he’etau tui, “ko e ‘Otua mo’oni ‘a Kalaisi.” ‘Oku matu’aki mahu’inga ke tau toutou fakamo’oni’i ‘etau tui, he ko Setane ‘oku ‘ikai tuku ‘ene feinga. ‘Oku ne fehi’a ‘i he’etau tui. ‘Oku ne ‘ilo’i, ko e ikuna ia ‘oku ne tuku hifo ‘aki ia mo hono pule’anga.

Ko e tu’unga ‘Otua ‘o Kalaisi, ‘oku mahino, he ‘oku ‘ai kiate Ia ‘e Paula ‘a e mafai ‘oku ‘a e Tamai tokotaha pe; hange ko e mafai ke tuku mai ‘a e kelesi mo e melino. ‘Oku ‘ikai lava ‘e Kalaisi ke fakahoko eni, kapau na’e ‘ikai ko e ‘Otua ia. Ko e foaki ‘o e melino mo e kelesi, ko e koloa pe ia ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘a Ia na’a ne fakatupu ‘a e ngaahi tapuaki. ‘Oku ‘ikai lava eni ia ‘e he kau ‘angelo. ‘Oku toki malava pe ‘e he kau ‘aposetolo ke tufa ‘a e ngaahi tapuaki ko eni ‘o fou ‘i hono malanga’i ‘a e kosipeli. Pea ‘i hono vahe’i kia Kalaisi ‘a e mafai ke fakatupu mo foaki ‘a e kelesi, melino, mo’ui ta’engata, ma’oni’oni, pea mo e fakamolemole ‘o e angahala, ko e aofangatuku, ko Kalaisi ‘a e ‘Otua mo’oni. Ko ia ai, ko e me’a’ofa ‘oku tau ma’u mei he Tamai mo e ‘Alo, ‘oku taha pe ia, he ko e fou mai pe mei he ‘Otua.

Tu’apulelulu ‘Epeleli 14, 2022

THE DOCTRINE OF FAITH

KO E TOKATELINE ‘O E TUI

1 TIMOTHY 4:6

If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.

1 TIMOTHY 4:6

Kapau te ke enginaki ‘a e ngaahi me‘a ni ki he kāinga, te ke hoko ko e faifekau lelei ‘a Kalaisi Sīsū, ‘i ho‘o fakamaheni ai pē koe ‘i he ngaahi tala fakalotu, pea mo e ngaahi fakamatala ‘o e tokāteline lelei na‘a ke ako fakatotolo ki ai.

Kabau te ke fakamanatu‘i ‘a e ngaahi me’a ni ki he kainga, te ke hoko ko e faifekau lelei ‘a Jisu Kalaisi, ‘o tāu mo ho’o fafaga‘i ‘i he gaahi lea ‘o e tui mo e akonaki lelei, ‘a ia kuo ke lava‘i hono ilo‘i. (Paaki ‘a Uesi)

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe   

The true knowledge of Christ consists in receiving Him as He is offered by the Father, namely, as invested with His Gospel. For, as He is appointed as the end of our faith, so we cannot directly tend toward Him except under the guidance of the Gospel. Therein are certainly unfolded to us treasures of grace. Did these continue shut, Christ would profit us little. Hence Paul makes faith the inseparable attendant of doctrine in these words: "Ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus” (Ephesians 4:20-21).

Still I do not confine faith to the Gospel in such a sense as not to admit that enough was delivered to Moses and the prophets to form a foundation of faith; but as the Gospel exhibits a fuller manifestation of Christ, Paul justly terms it the doctrine of faith (1 Timothy 4:6).

JOHN CALVIN

Ko e ‘ilo mo’oni ‘o Kalaisi, ‘oku fou ‘i hono ma’u Ia ‘o fakatatau ki hono tuku mai ‘e he Tamai, ‘a ee ‘oku fakaha ‘i he Kosipeli. Ko Ia ‘a e taumu’a ‘o ‘etau tui, pea ‘oku ‘ikai ha hu kiate Ia, ‘o ‘ata’ataa mei he Kosipeli. ‘Oku ‘iate Ia ‘a e ngaahi koloa ‘o e kelesi. Pea ka ne ta’e ‘omi ma’a kitautolu ‘a e ngaahi kelesi ni, ‘e ‘ikai ha ‘aonga ‘o Kalaisi kiate kitautolu. Koe’uhinga ia ‘oku fokotu’u mai ai ‘e Paula, ‘a e tui, ko e setuata ia ‘o toketeline: “Ka tala‘ehai na‘e pehē ho‘omou ako Kalaisi: he ‘oku te pehē ko ia ia na‘a mou fanongo ki ai, pea ‘i ho‘omou ‘iate ia na‘a mou ako ‘i he ‘alunga ‘o e mo‘oni ‘oku hā ‘ia Sīsū” (‘Efeso 4:20-21).

Ka ‘e ‘ikai te tau fakangata pe ‘a e Tui ki he Kosipeli, ‘o ta’e kau ai ‘a e maama na’e tuku kia Mosese mo e kau Palofita, ko ha makatu’unga ‘ o e tui; ka ko  Kalaisi ‘a e fakaha’anga kakato ‘o Kalaisi, koe’uhinga ia na’e pehee ai ‘e Paula, ko e tokateline ‘o e tui (1 Timote 4:6).

Pulelulu ‘Epeleli 13, 2022

FAITH DRIVES OUT FEAR

KO E TUI, ‘OKU NE TEKE’I ‘A E ILIFIA

1 PETER 1:8-9

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 PITA 1:8-9

‘A ia neongo kuo te‘eki te mou mamata ki ai, ka ‘oku mou ‘ofa ki ai; ‘a ia ai ‘i he taimi ni neongo ‘oku ‘ikai te mou mātā ia, ka ‘i ho‘omou tui ki ai, ‘oku mou hākailangitau ‘i he fiefia ‘oku ‘ikai malea‘aki, pea ‘oku fai hēvani; ho‘omou ma‘u ‘a e me‘a ‘oku hu‘u ki ai ho‘omou tui, ko e fakamo‘ui ‘o homou laumālie.

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe    

God gives all heavenly gifts to faith, for this reason, among others, that faith worketh in us the life and spirit which are to be eternally manifested in the upper and better world. Faith furnishes us with armor for this life, and education for the life to come. It enables a man both to live and to die without fear; it prepares both for action and for suffering; and hence the Lord selects it as a most convenient medium for conveying grace to us, and thereby securing us for glory.

Certainly faith does for us what nothing else can do: it gives us joy and peace, and causes us to enter into rest. Why do men attempt to gain salvation by other means? An old preacher says, "A silly servant who is bidden to open a door, sets his shoulder to it and pushes with all his might; but the door stirs not. Another comes with a key, and easily unlocks the door, and enters right readily. Those who would be saved by works are pushing at heaven's gate without result; but faith is the key which opens the gate at once.”

CHARLES SPURGEON

‘Oku foaki ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e ngaahi me’a’ofa faka-langi ma’ae tui, pea ko e ‘uhinga ia ‘oku ngaue ai ‘a e tui ‘iate kitautolu ke ne fakatupu ‘a e mo’ui mo e fa’ahinga laumalie ‘o e mo’ui lau’itaniti ‘o langi. ‘Oku fakateunga kitautolu ‘e he tui ki he mo’ui ko eni, pea ako’i kitautolu ki he mo’ui ‘amui. ‘Oku fakaivia ‘a e tangata ke ne ikuna’i ‘a e mo’ui ko eni, pea ke ne fehangahangai mo mate ‘o ‘ikai ha ilifia. ‘Oku ne teu’i ki he ngaue mo e mamahi. Pea ‘oku fili ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e tui ko ha fauna ke vaka mai ai ‘ene kelesi kiate kitautolu pea sila’i ai pe kitautolu ki kololia.

‘Oku fai ‘e tui ‘a e ngaue ‘oku ‘ikai toe lava ia ‘e ha me’a. ‘Oku fou mei ai ‘a e fiefia mo e nonga pea ‘oku tau ma’u ai ha malolo. Ko e ha e ‘uhinga ‘oku toe kumi ai ‘e he tangata ha founga ke mo’ui ai? Na’e ‘i ai ha tangata’eiki malanga na’a ne pehe; “ ko ha sevaniti ta’etokanga, na’e fekau’i ke ‘alu ‘o fakaava ‘a e matapa ki ha fale pea ‘alu pe ia ‘o falala ki he matapa ‘o teke ‘aki hono mamafa; na’e ‘ikai felave ‘ene feinga. Na’e ‘alu atu ha tokotaha kehe mo e ki, pea ne fakaava ‘a e matapa, ‘ikai hela feinga’i, ‘o ne hu ki loto. Ko kinautolu ‘oku nau feinga ke ma’u honau fakamo’ui ‘o fou ‘i he’enau ngaue, ‘oku nau teke ‘a e matapa ‘o hevani ka ‘oku ‘ikai ha felave. Ko e TUI, ‘a e ki ‘oku ne fakaava ‘a e matapa.”

Tusite ‘Epeleli 12, 2022 

FAITH IS SINCERE

KO TUI ‘OKU FAI MO’ONI

JAMES 2:14

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?

SEMISI 2:14

Si‘oku kāinga, ko e hā tū hano ‘aonga ‘a e pehē ‘e ha taha, ‘oku ne tui; ‘osi, ‘oku ‘ikai hā ai ha ngāue? ‘e mafakamo‘ui ia ‘e he‘ene tui ko ia?

 

Sola Fide - Faith Alone - Ko e Tui´ pe    

In Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love. Faith must of course be sincere. It must be a faith that performs good works through love. If faith lacks love, it is not true faith. Thus the apostle bars the way of hypocrites to the kingdom of Christ on all sides. He declares on the one hand, "In Christ Jesus circumcision availeth nothing," i.e., works avail nothing, but faith alone, and that without any merit whatever, avails before God.

On the other hand, the apostle declares that without fruits faith serves no purpose. To think, if faith justifies without works, let us work nothing, is to despise the grace of God. Idle faith is not justifying faith. In this terse manner Paul presents the whole life of a Christian. Inwardly it consists in faith toward God, outwardly in love toward our fellow men.

MARTIN LUTHER

‘Ia Sisu Kalaisi, ‘oku ‘ikai ke ‘aonga ‘a e kamu pe ko e ta’ekamu, ka ko e tui ‘oku ngaue mei he ‘ofa. Ko e tui ko eni, kuopau foki, ko e tui ‘oku fai mo’oni. Ko e fa’ahinga tui ‘oku ne fakahoko ‘a e ngaahi ngaue lelei mei ‘ofa. Ka ‘ikai ha ‘ofa ‘i he tui ko eni, ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha tui mo’oni ia. Ko ia, ‘oku ta’ofi ‘e he ‘aposetolo ‘a e kau malualoi mei he pule’anga ‘o Kalaisi. ‘Oku ne talamai, “ ‘oku ta’e’aonga ‘a e kamu,” - ‘oku ‘ikai ‘aonga ‘a e ngaue, ko e tui pe, he ‘oku ‘ikai te te fotu ‘aki ha ngaue ki he ‘Otua.

Pea ‘i he taimi tatau, ‘oku talamai ‘e he ‘Aposetolo, ka ‘ikai ha fua ‘o e tui, ‘oku ta’e’aonga mo ia. Koe’uhi, he ka fai hotau fakatonuhia ‘o ‘ikai toe ‘i ai ha ngaue ko e ola ‘o e tui, pea te tau tuku hifo ‘a e kelesi ‘a e ‘Otua. Ko e tui ‘oku nofo noaa, ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha tui fakamo’ui ia. ‘Oku fakatokanga ko eni, ‘oku lea fefeka ‘a e ‘aposetolo fekaua’aki mo e mo’ui pilikimi ‘a e kalisitiane. ‘I he mo’ui faka-loto, ‘oku tau ma’u ‘a e tui ‘oku hanga ki he ‘Otua, pea ‘i he mo’ui ha kitu’a, ‘oku tau fakahaa’i ‘aki ‘a e ‘ofa ki hotau kaunga tangata.