Tu’apulelulu Siulai 21, 2022

THE ALPHA AND OMEGA

KO E ‘ALIFA MO E ‘OMEKA

JOHN 5:39

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 

SIONE 5:39

‘Oku mou hakule ‘a e Tohitapu; koe‘uhi ‘oku mou mahalo ‘oku tu‘u ai ho‘omou ma‘u ‘a e mo‘ui ta‘engata: pea ko ia ia ‘oku fakamo‘oni kiate au.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe    

Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega of the Bible. He is the constant theme of its sacred pages; from first to last they testify of Him. At the creation we at once discern Him as one of the sacred Trinity; we catch a glimpse of Him in the promise of the woman's seed; we see Him typified in the ark of Noah; we walk with Abraham as he sees Messiah's day; we dwell in the tents of Isaac and Jacob, feeding upon the gracious promise; we hear the venerable Israel talking of Shiloh; and in the numerous types of the Law, we find the Redeemer abundantly foreshadowed. Prophets and kings, priests and preachers, all look one way - they all stand as the cherubs did over the ark, desiring to look within, and to read the mystery of God's great propitiation.

Still more manifestly in the New Testament we find our Lord the one pervading subject. Here you stand upon a solid floor of gold; for the whole substance of the New Testament is Jesus crucified, and even its closing sentence is bejewelled with the Redeemer's name.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Ko Sisu Kalaisi ‘a e ‘Alifa mo e ‘Omeka ‘o e Tohitapu. Ko e kaveinga fisifisimu’a ia ‘o e ngaahi peesi tapu; mei he kamata ki he faka’osi, ‘oku nau fakamatala’i Ia. ‘I he fakatupu, ‘oku tau vakai ko e tokotaha Ia ‘i he Tolu-Taha’i-’Otua; ‘oku tau ma’u ha ‘ata ‘o Ia ‘i he palomesi ‘o e hako ‘o e fefine; ‘oku tau mamata ‘iate Ia ‘i he taipe ‘o e ‘a’ake; ‘oku tau fononga mo ‘Epalahame ‘i he’ene ‘amanaki ki he ‘aho ‘e hoko mai ai ‘a e Misaia; ‘oku tau nofo ‘i he teniti ‘o ‘Aisake mo Sekope, ‘o ‘inasi ‘i he’ene tala’ofa; ‘oku tau ongona ‘a e munomuna ‘a ‘Isileli kau ki Sailo; pea ‘i he ngaahi fakataipe ‘o e Lao, ‘oku tau mamata ai ki he fakamelomelo ‘o hotau Huhu’i. Ko e kau palofita, ngaahi tu’i, kau taula’eiki mo e kau malanga - na’a nau sio taha pe ki ai - na’a nau tutu’u kotoa pe ‘o hange ko e kau selupimi ‘o e ‘a’ake ‘o e kovinanigte, ‘enau ‘unaloto ke vakai ki loto, pea ke lau ‘a e misiteli ‘o e ngaue fakaofo mo lahi ‘a e ‘Otua ‘i hotau fakamo’ui. 

Pea ‘i he Fuakava Fo’ou, ‘oku tau ma’u ai ha kaveinga fisifisimu’a mo lahi fau. ‘Oku tau tu’u ‘i he makatu’unga ‘oku fakava’e koula mo pau ‘aupito; ‘io, ko e kakano kotoa ‘o e Fuakava Fo’ou, ko Sisu mo hono kalusefai pea na’a mo e tapuni ‘o e tohi, ‘oku fakateunga’aki ‘a e huafa ‘o e Huhu’i ‘o mamani.

Pulelulu Siulai 20, 2022

A SUPREME GIFT

KO E ME’A’OFA FAKATALUTALU

TITUS 2:11-12

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

TAITUSI 2:11-12

He kuo fakahā mai ‘a e kelesi ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘a e kelesi ‘oku ‘omi fakamo‘ui ki he kakai kotoa pē, ‘oku ne ngaohia kitautolu ke tau fakafisi ki he faka‘otuamate, mo e ngaahi holi fakaemāmani; ka tau mo‘ui anga fakama‘uma‘u mo angatonu mo anga fakalotu ‘i he maama ko eni:

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

When supreme goodness intended to bestow the supreme gift, it gave the most precious thing it could bring out of its treasure chest, namely itself, that the heart of man, ever eager for something greater, should not even have a way left to wonder how this angelic or human victim could be so great as to be sufficient for all, or how one could put unshaken trust in a creature. The Son of God has, therefore, been given to us as a confirmation of His mercy, as a pledge of pardon, as the price of righteousness, and as a rule of life, to make us sure of the grace of God and to teach us the law of living.

Who could worthily extol the greatness of this divine goodness and generosity? We had deserved to be disowned, and He honors us with being chosen. We had destroyed the way of life, and He has restored it. Thus, then, we have been redeemed and renewed by divine goodness so completely as to be acceptable through His mercy, and to be justified and blameless through His atoning sacrifice.

ULRICH ZWINGLI

‘I he taimi na’e foaki ai ‘e he Lelei Fakatalutalu ‘a e me’a’ofa fakatalutalu, na’a ne foaki ‘a e me’a’ofa fungani taha mei he’ene tuku’anga koloa, ‘a ia, ko Iaa pe; koe’uhi ke mahino ki he loto ‘o e tangata, ko ‘ene fiema’u vivili tahaa, kuo fakakakato ia mei he Ta’ehamai - neongo ‘ene mo’utafu’ua pe na’e anga fe fe ‘ene tofanga ‘i ha fu’u ‘ofa faufaua pehee? Ko e ‘Alo ‘o e ‘Otua na’e foaki ia ma’a kitautolu ko e malu’i ‘o ‘Ene meesi, ko e palomesi ‘o ‘Ene fakatau’ataina, ko e totongi ‘o e ma’oni’oni, pea ke fakapapau’i mai, ‘a e mahu’inga ‘o e kelesi ‘a e ‘Otua pea ke ako’i kitautolu ‘i he lao ‘o e mo’ui. 

Ko hai te ne lava ke fakahounga’i ‘a e lahi faufau ‘o e lelei faka-langi mo e ‘alo’ofa ‘a e ‘Otua? Na’e tonu ke li’aki kitautolu, ka, na’a ne puke mai kitautolu ko ‘ene pele ‘i he’ene fili kitautolu. Na’a tau maumau’i hotau faingamalie, ka na’a ne toe fakafo’ou kotoa. ‘Io, na’a ne totongi huhu’i kitautolu mo fakafo’ou faka’aufuli ‘i he’ene meesi faka-’Otua, pea ‘oku tau fakatupu hoifua koe’uhi pe ko ‘Ene ngaahi meesi, pea kuo fakatonuhia’i kitautolu pea ‘oku haohaoa ‘i he feilaulau ‘aufuato ‘a ‘Ene ‘Afio. 

Tusite Siulai 19, 2022

GRACE LEADS TO PRAYER

‘OKU TATAKI KITA ‘E HE KELESI KE LOTU

ROMANS 8:16

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God

LOMA 8:16

Ko e Laumālie, ‘oku ne kaungā fakamo‘oni ‘e ia mo hotau laumālie, ‘o pehē, ko e fānau ‘a e ‘Otua ‘a kitautolu.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

When the Spirit testifies to us that we are the children of God, He at the same time pours into our such confidence that we venture to call God our Father. And doubtless since the confidence of the heart alone opens our mouth, except the Spirit testifies to our heart respecting the paternal love of God, our tongues would be dumb, so that they could utter no prayers. For we must ever hold fast this principle, that we do not rightly pray to God unless we are surely persuaded in our hearts that He is our Father, when we so call Him with our lips.

To this there is a corresponding part, that our faith has no true evidence except we call upon God. It is not then without reason that Paul, bringing us to this test, shows that it then only appears how truly anyone believes when they who have embraced the promise of grace exercise themselves in prayers.

JOHN CALVIN

‘I he taimi ‘oku fakamo’oni mai ai ‘a e Laumalie, ko e fanau kitautolu ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘oku ne lilingi foki mo e loto to’a mo e pau’ia ke tau ui ‘a e ‘Otua ko ‘etau Tamai. Pea koe’uhi ko e to’a ‘a hotau loto ke ne fakaava hotau ngutu, ko e ngaue makehe pe ia ‘a e Laumalie ke fakaha ‘a e ‘ofa faka-Tamai ‘a e ‘Otua, he ka ne ‘ikai ia, ‘e kei vale pe hotau ngutu ‘o ‘ikai lava ke lotu. Kuopau ke tau puke ma’u ki he mo’oni ko eni, ‘oku ‘ikai te tau malava ke lotu ki he ‘Otua ‘o kapau ‘oku ‘ikai te tau pau’ia ‘i hotau loto, ko e ‘Otuaa ‘a ‘etau Tamai, ‘i he taimi ‘oku tau ui ai kiate Ia. 

‘Ikai ko ia pe ka ‘oku ‘i ai mo e tafa’aki ‘e taha; ko ‘etau tui, ‘oku ‘ikai ha’atau fakamo’oni pau ki ai, tukukehe ‘etau ui ki he ‘Otua. Ko e ‘uhinga ia na’e hanga ai ‘e Paula ‘o ‘omi ‘a e me’a sivi ko eni kiate kitautolu, ‘a ‘etau fakahaa’i ‘a e palomesi ‘o ‘ene kelesi ‘i he taimi ‘oku tau lotu ai ki he’etau Tamai. 

Monite Siulai 18, 2022 

ABOUNDING GRACE

KO E KELESI HULU ATU

1 PETER 1:2

elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

1 PETER 1:2

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.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

Grace doth "much more abound" because a time shall come when the world shall be all full of grace. There has never been a period in this world's history when it was wholly given up to sin. When Adam and Eve rebelled against God, there was still a display of grace in the world; for in the garden, at the close of the day, God said, "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel"; and since that first transgression, there has never been a moment when grace has entirely lost its footing in the earth.

God has always had His servants on earth; at times they have been hidden by fifties in the caves, but they have never been utterly cut off. Grace might be low; the stream might be very shallow, but it has never been wholly dry. There has always been a salt of grace in the world to counteract the power of sin.

CHARLES SPURGEON

“Pea hulu atu noa pē ‘a e kelesi”, koe’uhi ‘e a’u ki ha kuonga ‘e kapu ‘a mamani ‘i he kelesi. Kuo te’eki ke ‘i ai ha taimi ‘i he hisitolia ‘o mamani, kuo tukuange mo’oni ai ‘a e kakai ki he angahala. ‘I he taimi na’e angatu’u ai ‘a ‘Ivi mo ‘Atama ki he ‘Otua, na’e kei ‘i ai pe ‘a e kelesi ‘i mamani; he ko e ngoue tapu, na’e folofola mai ‘a Sihova, “te u ‘ai ke mo fetāufehi‘a‘aki, ‘a koe mo e fefine, pea ko ho hako mo hono hako; ‘e laiki ‘e ia ho ‘ulupea te ke laiki ‘e koe ‘a hono muiva‘e” - pea mei he fuofua angahala ko ia, na’e te’eki ai pe ke ‘i ai ha taimi kuo mole ‘aupito ‘a e kelesi mei mamani. 

Na’e ‘i ai ma’u pe ‘a e kau tamaio’eiki ‘a e ‘Otua ‘i mamani; pea neongo na’a nau fa’a manavahe ‘o toi ‘i he ngaahi ‘anaa, ka na’e ‘ikai pe ke tu’usi kinautolu. Na’e taele ‘a e kelesi; pea mamaha ‘a e tafenga vai, ka na’e ‘ikai pe ke maha ‘aupito. Na’e ‘i ai pe ‘a e kelesi ‘i mamani ke fakafepaki’i ‘a e ivi ‘o e angahala. 

Sapate Siulai 17, 2022 

PARTAKERS OF GOD BY GRACE

KAUNGA ‘INASI ‘I HE KELESI ‘A E ‘OTUA

PSALM 16:2

O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.

SAAME 16:2

Kuo ke lea kia Sihova, ‘e hoku laumālie, “Ko hoku ‘Eiki koe; ‘Oku ‘ikai ha‘aku lelei ‘o mama‘o mo koe.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe    

The redeemed have all their inherent good in God. Inherent good is twofold; 'tis either excellency or pleasure. These the redeemed not only derive from God, as caused by Him, they have spiritual excellency and joy by a kind of participation of God. They are made excellent by a communication of God's excellency: God puts His own beauty, i.e., His beautiful likeness, upon their souls: they are made partakers of the divine nature, or moral image of God (2 Peter 1:4). They are holy by being made partakers of God's holiness (Hebrews 12:10).

The saints are beautiful and blessed by a communication of God's holiness and joy, as the moon and planets are bright by the sun's light. The saint hath spiritual joy and pleasure by a kind of effusion of God on the soul. In these things the redeemed have communion with God; that is, they partake with Him and of Him.

JONATHAN EDWARDS

Ko e kakai kuo huhu’i, ‘oku nau ma’u kotoa ‘enau lelei tefito ‘i he ‘Otua. Ko e lelei tefito ko eni, ‘oku konga ‘e ua; ko e lelei taha mo e fiefia. Ko e ngaahi tapuaki ko eni ‘oku ‘ikai ngata pe ‘i hono ma’u mei he ‘Otua, he ko Ia na’e tupu mei ai, ka ko e ngaahi lelei fakalaumalie mo e fiefia koe’uhi ke ‘ene kau mai ki he tangata. ‘Oku ngaohi ‘a e kau lotu mo’oni ki ha tu’unga lelei koe’uhi ko e lelei ‘a e ‘Otua: ‘Oku tokaki ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a hono faka’ofo’ofa (‘a hono tatau) ‘i honau laumalie: ‘oku nau hoko ko ha kaunga ‘inasi ‘i he natula ‘o e ‘Otua, anga faka-’Otua (2 Pita 1:4). ‘Oku nau ma’oni’oni koe’uhi he kuo ngaohi kinautolu ke nau kaunga ‘inasi ‘i he ma’oni’oni ‘a e ‘Otua (Hepelu 12:10).

‘Oku faka’ofo’ofa mo fonu tapuaki ‘a e kau lotu mo’oni koe’uhi ko e lave mai ‘a e ma’oni’oni mo e fiefia ‘a e ‘Otua; hange ko e maama ‘a e mahina mo e ngaahi palanite koe’uhi ko e la’aa. Ko e kalisitiane ‘oku ne ma’u ha fiefia fakalaumalie mo e vovo koe’uhi ko e tafe’isino’ivai mei he fauniteni ‘a e ‘Otua ki he laumalie. Pea ‘i he tu’unga ko ia, ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e fekau’aki makehe ‘a e kalisitiane mo e ‘Otua - ‘io, ‘oku nau kaunga ‘inasi mo Ia ‘iate Ia.

Tokonaki Siulai 16, 2022 

GRACE MAKES US USEFUL

‘OKU NGAOHI KITAUTOLU ‘E HE KELESI KE TAU ‘AONGA

1 CORINTHIANS 7:7

For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

1 KOLINITO 7:7

‘Oku te ‘amusia ange pē ke tatau ‘a e kakai kotoa pē pea mo au: ka ‘oku takitaha ma‘ana ‘ene kelesi kuo ne ma‘u mei he ‘Eiki; ko e toko taha ‘a ē, ko e toko taha ko ē.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe   

God, by using us as instruments, confers upon us the highest honor which men can receive. It should make our hearts burn at the thought of it. It makes us feel thrice honored that God should use us to convert souls; and it is only the grace of God which teaches us, on the other hand, that it is grace and grace alone which makes us useful, which can keep us humble under the thought that we are bringing souls to the Savior. It is a work which he who has once entered, if God has blessed him, cannot renounce. He will be impatient; he will long to win more souls to Jesus; he will think that labor is but ease so that by any means he may save some and bring men to Jesus.

Glory and honor, praise and power, be unto God, that He thus honors His people. But when He exalts us most, we will still conclude, "Not unto us, not unto us, but unto thy name be all the glory forever and ever."

CHARLES SPURGEON

Ko hono ngaue’aki kitautolu ‘e he ‘Otua ko ‘ene me’angaue, kuo ne hilifaki kiate kitautolu ‘a e fakalangilangi ma’olunga taha kuo tuku ki he tangata. ‘Oku totonu ke vela ai hotau loto ‘i he’etau faka’uta ki ai. Ko e tapuaki makehe ‘a e fie me’angaue’aki kitautolu ‘e he ‘Otua ke fakatafoki ha ngaahi laumalie; pea ko e kelesi ‘ata’ataa pe ia ‘a e ‘Otua ‘oku ne ako’i kitautolu,  pea ko e kelesi pe ‘oku ne ngaohi kitautolu ke tau ‘aonga ki he ngaue ko ia, pea ke tau ma’u ‘a e loto angavaivai ‘i hono ma’u mai ‘o ha ngaahi laumalie ki he Fakamo’ui. Ko e ngaue mahu’inga kuo fakatapui ‘e he ‘Otua ke tau fai pea ‘e ‘ikai te tau fakafisi mei ai. ‘Oku ne vekeveke ke fai ‘a e ngaue ko eni, ke ma’u mai ha ngaahi laumalie, ‘o tatau ai pe, pe faingofua pe faingata’a - kehe pe ke mo’ui ha ni’ihi pea ke ‘omi kinautolu kia Sisu.

Ko e langilangi mo e gaia, fakahikihiki mo e mafai ke ‘a e ‘Otua pe ia, koe’uhi ko ‘ene tokangaekina hono kakai. Pea neongo ke ‘e lahi fe fe ha’ane ‘ofeina kitautolu, te tau kei tala pe, “‘OUA na‘a ‘amautolu, ‘Eiki, ‘oua na‘a ‘amautolu, Kae tuku ‘a e kolōlia ki ho huafa ‘o‘ou. Koe‘uhi pē ko ho‘o ‘ofa, Koe‘uhi ko e mo‘oni ‘a e ‘Afiona” (Saame 115:1).

Falaite Siulai 15, 2022 

SUPPORTED BY GOD'S HANDS

POUPOU ‘E HE TO’UKUPU ‘O E ‘OTUA

ROMANS 8:26 KJV

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

LOMA 8:26

Pehē foki, ko e Laumālie ‘oku ne tokoni‘i ‘eta vaivai: ‘o pehē, ‘oku ‘ikai te ta ‘ilo pe ko e hā te ta lotua ke hoa mo ‘eta faingata‘a: ka ko e Laumālie ‘oku ne hufekina ‘e ia ‘a kitaua, ‘aki ‘a e ngaahi to‘e ‘oku ‘ikai fa‘a fakamatala.

 

Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Ko e Kelesi´ pe    

The faithful may not make this objection, that they are so weak as not to be able to bear so many and so heavy burdens, [Paul] brings before them the aid of the Spirit, which is abundantly sufficient to overcome all difficulties. We are sustained by a celestial power. The Spirit takes on Himself a part of the burden, by which our weakness is oppressed; so that He not only helps and succors us but lifts us up, as though He went under the burden with us.

The word infirmities, being in the plural number, is expressive of extremity. For as experience shows, that except we are supported by God's hands, we are soon overwhelmed by innumerable evils. Paul reminds us that though we are in every respect weak, and various infirmities threaten our fall, there is yet sufficient protection in God's Spirit to preserve us from falling, and to keep us from being overwhelmed by any mass of evils.

JOHN CALVIN

‘Oku ‘ikai lava ‘e he kau lotu mo’oni ke nau fai ‘a e lea ko eni, ke tala ‘oku nau vaivai pea ‘ikai te nau lava ke matu’uaki ‘a e ngaahi kavenga ‘o e mo’ui. ‘Oku malanga’i ‘e Paula ‘a e tokoni ‘a e laumalie Ma’oni’oni, he ‘oku makatu’unga ‘iate Ia ‘a hono ikuna’i ‘o e ngaahi faingata’a ‘o e mo’ui. ‘Oku pukepuke kitautolu ‘e ha ivi faka-langi. ‘Oku to’o ‘e he Laumalie ‘a ‘etau kavenga, ‘a ee ‘oku tau fa’a mafasia ai; ‘oku ne poupou mo hiki hake kitautolu mei he mafasia ‘o e ha’amonga ko ia ‘aki ‘ene hu mo kitautolu ki he faingata’a ko ia, pea ne teke hake ki ‘olunga. 

Ko e fo’i lea vaivai, ‘oku tu’unga faka-palulali, ke fakahaa’i ‘a e lahi ‘o e ngaahi ‘ahi’ahi. Fakatatau ki he’etau a’usia, ‘okapau ‘oku ‘ikai poupou kitautolu ‘e he To’ukupu ‘o e ‘Otua, te tau to ki he ngaahi fakatanga ‘a e tevolo. ‘Oku fakamanatu mai ‘e Paula, ko kitautolu ‘i he tapa kotoa pe ‘o e mo’ui, ‘oku tau vaivai fu’u, pea ‘oku loki kitautolu ‘e he ngaahi vaivai kehekehe; Ka ‘oku hulu atu ‘a e malu’i ‘oku tau ma’u mei he Laumalie ‘o e ‘Otua, ke ne malu’i mo tauhi ‘etau mo’ui ke ‘oua na’a tau hinga, pea ke fakahaofi kitautolu mei he ngaahi feinga tau ‘a e fa’ahi ‘a e kovi.