Tokonaki ‘Akosi 20, 2022 

PREPARE THE WAY

TEUTEU ‘A E HALA

MARK 1:2-3

As it is written in the Prophets: “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.” 3“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ ”

MA’AKE 1:2-3

Hangē pē ko e me‘a kuo tohi ‘i he Palōfita ko ‘Aisea, Vakai ‘oku ou fekau atu hoku fakamelomelo ke mu‘omu‘a kiate koe, ‘A ia te ne ngaohi ho hala. Ko e le‘o ‘o ha toko taha ‘oku kalanga he toafa, Mou teuteu ‘a e hā‘ele‘anga ‘o Sihova; Fakatonutonu hono ngaahi hala:

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko e Kalasi pe   

What has been said may show us how great a person Jesus Christ is, and how great His errand into the world, seeing there was so much done to prepare the way for His coming. God had been preparing the way for Him through all ages of the world, from the very beginning. If we had notice of a certain stranger being about to come into a country, and should observe that a great preparation was made for him, great things were done, many alterations made in the state of the whole country, many hands employed, persons of great note engaged in making the preparation, and all the affairs and concerns of the country ordered so as to be subservient to the design of entertaining that person, it would be natural for us to think, Surely this is some extraordinary person, and it is some very great business that he is coming upon. How great a person then must He be, for whose coming the great God of heaven and earth, and Governor of all things, spent four thousand years in preparing the way!

JONATHAN EDWARDS

Ko e ngaahi me’a kuo ‘osi tala kiate kitautolu, kuo fakahā mai ai kiate kitautolu ‘a e kaafakafa ‘o e pesona ‘o Sisu Kalaisi, pea mo e ope atu ‘o hono fekau’i mai ia ki mamani, ‘i he mahino na’e lahi ‘aupito ‘a e ngaahi me’a ke tokateu ki he’ene hokomai.  Na’e fai ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a hono teuteu ‘o e hala ma’ana ‘i he ngaahi kuonga ‘o mamani talu mei he kamata’anga.  Kapau te tau vakai ki ha teu hokomai ha sola ki ha fonua, pea kapau te tau tokanga’i ‘a e teuteu lahi ‘oku fai ma’ana, na’e hulu atu ‘a e me’a na’e fai, mo e ngaahi liliu lahi ki he tu’ung a ‘o e fonua ko ia, hulu fau mo e kakai na’e fakangaue’i, mo ha fa’ahinga ma’u mafai ke nau fai ‘a e tokateu, pea mo e ngaahi ngaue kehekehe ‘i he fonua na’e tu’utu’uni ke fakahoko pea ke hoa mo hono talitali ‘o ha tokotaha makehe pea ‘e tonu pe ‘etau fakakaukau ki ha me’a pehē; mahalo ko ‘etau fakakaukau mo ‘etau fifili ‘e tuha pe pea mo e tu’unga ‘o e tokotaha ‘oku fai ki ai ‘a e teuteu ‘o ‘ene hokomai.  Ko ha tokotaha mahulu atu hono mahu’inga, he ko hai pea mo e ‘Otua lahi ‘o Hevani mo mamani, ‘a e Kovana mo e Pule ki he me’akotoa, na’e fe’unga mo e ta’u ‘e faafe ‘a e tokateu ki he’ene hoko mai. 

Falaite ‘Akosi 19, 2022 

CHRIST: BRIGHTNESS OF GLORY

KO KALISI: KO E ULO LAHI ‘A HONO LANGILANGI

JOHN 8:12

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

SIONE 8:12

Pea toe folofola ‘a Sīsū kiate kinautolu, ‘o pehē, Ko au pē ko e Maama ‘o Māmani: ko ia ‘oku ne muimui kiate au, ‘e ‘ikai ‘aupito te ne fononga ‘i he po‘uli, ka te ne ma‘u ‘a e maama ‘o e mo‘ui.

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko e Kalasi pe   

AIthough this only begotten Son, who is now to us the brightness of His Father's glory and the express image of His person, was formerly made known to the Jews, as we have elsewhere shown from Paul that He was the Deliverer under the old dispensation, it is nevertheless true, as Paul himself elsewhere declares, that "God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6); [this is] because, when He appeared in this His image, He in a manner made Himself visible, His previous appearance having been shadowy and obscure.

JOHN CALVIN

Neongo ko e ‘Alo Tofu pe taha, ‘a ia ‘oku Ne hoko ko e maama ulo lahi ‘o e langilangi ‘o ‘Ene Tamai pea ko e ‘imisi ‘o Hono pesona, pea na’e ‘ilo ia ‘i mu’a ‘e he kau Siu, ‘i hono fakahā ‘e Paula ko e Fakatau’ataina ‘i he Fuakava Motu’a, ‘oku mo’oni foki, ‘i hono toe pehē pe ‘e Paula, “He ko e ‘Otua ia na‘a ne folofola, ‘E ulo mai ha maama mei he po‘uli; pea ko ia ia kuo ne ulo ‘i homau loto, koe‘uhi ke ai ha ulo atu ‘o e ‘ilo ki he lāngilangi ‘o e ‘Otua, ‘i he fofonga ‘o Sīsū Kalaisi” (2 Kolinito 4:6).  Koe’uhi´ ‘i he taimi ‘o ‘ene hoko mai ‘i Hono ‘imisi, kuo ne fakahā mai Ia ‘i ha tu’unga ‘oku tau ala mahino’i, neongo ko ha ‘ata pe ia ‘o ha ngaahi fakataipe ‘i he kuonga mu’a.

Tu’apulelulu ‘Akosi 18, 2022 

THE GRAND TRUTH

KO E MO’ONI TU’U MO’UNGA

2 CORINTHIANS 5:21

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 KOLINITO 5:21

Na‘a ne ngaohi ko e koto angahala ‘a e Toko Taha ko ia na‘e ‘ikai te ne ongona ha angahala, koe‘uhi ā ko kitautolu; koe‘uhi ke tau hoko ai ‘iate ia ko e koto mā‘oni‘oni faka‘otua.

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko e Kalasi pe   

Endeavor to know more and more of Christ Jesus. Endeavor especially to know the doctrine of the sacrifice of Christ, for the point upon which saving faith mainly fixes itself is this: "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them." Know that Jesus was "made a curse for us, as it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." Drink deep of the doctrine of the substitution work of Christ, for therein lies the sweetest possible comfort to the guilty sons of men.

Faith begins with knowledge. The mind goes on to believe that these things are true. The soul believes that God is, and that He hears the cries of sincere hearts; that the Gospel is from God; that justification by faith is the grand truth which God hath revealed in these last days by His Spirit more clearly than before. Then the heart believes that Jesus is verily and in truth our God and Savior, the Redeemer of men, the Prophet, Priest, and King of His people.

CHARLES SPURGEON

Vivili ke ke ‘ilo’i ‘a Sisu Kalaisi.  Vivili ke ke ‘ilo ‘a e tokateline ‘o e feilaulau ‘a Kalaisi, he ko e fetaulaki’anga ‘o e tui ‘oku fakamo’ui ‘oku´ ne nofo ‘i he mo’oni ko ‘eni: “ko e ‘Otua na’e ‘ia Kalaisi, ‘o ne fakalelei ‘a mamani kiate Ia, pea na’e ‘ikai te ne hilifaki ‘enau maumau lao kiate kinautolu.”  Ke ke ‘ilo na’e ngaohi ‘a Sisu ke hoko ko e mala’ia koe’uhi ko kitautolu, he ‘oku tohi, mala’ia ā ka ko ia ‘oku tautau ‘i he ‘akau.  Inu mei he tokateline ‘o e ngaue ‘a Kalaisi ‘i he’ene hoko ko hotau fetongi, he ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e vovo mo e fiemālie ki he kakai halaia. 

Ko e tui ‘oku kamata ‘i he ‘ilo.  ‘Oku tui ‘a e ‘atamai ki he ngaahi me’a ‘oku mo’oni.  ‘Oku tui ‘a e laumālie ko e ‘Otua ‘oku´ Ne ongona ‘a e to’e ‘a e loto ‘oku vivili; pea ‘oku´ ne tui ko e koosipeli ‘oku mei he ‘Otua; pea ko e fakatonuhia ‘oku ma’u mei he tui, ko e mo’oni fakatalutalu ia ‘a e ‘Otua kuo Ne fakae’a ‘i he ngaahi ‘aho fakamui ‘o fou ‘i Hono Laumālie, ‘o hā mahino ange mei he ngaahi tala na’e fai ‘i ono’aho.  ‘Oku tui foki ‘a hotau loto ki he mo’oni, ko Sisu ko e ‘Otua mo e Fakamo’ui, ko e Huhu’i ‘o e tangata, ko e Palofita, ko e Taula’eiki, pea ko e Tu’i mo Hono kakai.

Pulelulu ‘Akosi 17, 2022

THE LAMB OF GOD

KO E LAMI ‘A E ‘OTUA

JOHN 1:29

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

SIONE 1:29

Ko e ‘aho na‘a na feholoi, na‘a ne sio kia Sīsū ‘oku ha‘u kiate ia, pea ne pehē; Vakai, ko ena ‘a e Lami ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘a ia ‘oku ne ‘ave ‘a e angahala ‘a māmani!

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko e Kalasi pe    

It is Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. He, He, and no one else either in heaven or on earth takes our sins upon Himself. You yourself could not pay for the very smallest of sins. He alone must take upon Himself not alone your sins, but the sins of the world, and not some sins, but all the sins of the world, be they great or small, many or few. This then is preaching and hearing the pure Gospel, and recognizing the finger of John, who points out to you Christ, the Lamb of God.

Now, if you are able to believe that this voice of John speaks the truth, and if you are able to follow his finger and recognize the Lamb of God carrying your sin, then you have gained the victory, then you are a Christian, a master of sin, death, hell, and all things. Then your conscience will rejoice and become heartily fond of this gentle Lamb of God.

MARTIN LUTHER

Ko  Sisu Kalaisi, ko e Lami ia ‘a e ‘Otua.  Ko Ia, pea ko Ia tokotaha pe ‘i Hevani mo mamani ‘oku ne fua ‘etau angahala ‘o ‘ai kiate Ia tokotaha pe.  ‘E ‘ikai te ke lava ke totongi ha’o momo’i angahala.  Ko Ia tokotaha pe te ne lava ke fua ho’o ngaahi angahala, ‘io ‘a e angahala foki ‘a mamani, ‘o ‘ikai ha angahala pe ‘e ni’ihi, ka ko e angahala kotoa ‘a mamani, pe ‘oku lahi pe si’i, tatau ai pe ka ‘oku ne fālute kotoa.  Ko ‘eni ‘a hono malanga’i ‘o e koosipeli haohaoa,  ‘i he‘etau vakai ki he tuhu ‘a Sione Papitaiso, ‘a ‘ene faka’ali’ali mai ‘a Kalaisi, ko Ia ‘a e Lami ‘a e ‘Otua.

Kapau leva ‘oku ke tui ki he le’o ‘o Sione ‘oku´ ne lea’aki ‘a e mo’oni pea kapau ‘oku lava ke ke muimui ki he tuhu ‘oku´ ne fai ke ke ‘ilo ‘a e Lami ‘a e ‘Otua ‘oku´ ne fua ho’o angahala, pea kuo ke ma’u ‘a e ikuna, pea kuo ke hoko leva ko e kalisitiane; kuo ke pule ki he angahala, mo mate, mo heli, mo e me’a kotoa pe.  ‘E toki fiefia ho konisenisi pea te ke hanga hake mo e loto ‘ofa ki he Lami angavaivai mo ikuna ‘a e ‘Otua. 

Tusite ‘Akosi 16, 2022 

THE TRIUMPH OF THE CROSS

KO E IKUNA ‘A E KOLOSE

HEBREWS 9:14

how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

HEPELU 9:14

Huanoa ‘a e ta‘ata‘a ‘o Kalaisi, ‘a ia na‘a ne ‘oatu ‘e ia ia ta‘ehano mele ki he ‘Otua, fai ‘e ha laumālie laui ‘ītāniti–huanoa ‘ene fakama‘a ‘e he ta‘ata‘a ko ia hotau konisēnisi mei he ngaahi ngāue mate, ke tau tauhi ‘a e ‘Otua ‘oku mo‘ui.

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko e Kalasi pe   

Faith apprehends acquittal in the condemnation of Christ, and blessing in His curse. Hence it is not without cause that Paul magnificently celebrates the triumph which Christ obtained upon the cross, as if the cross, the symbol of ignominy, had been converted into a triumphal chariot. For he says that He blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross: that "having spoiled principalities and powers he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it" (Colossians 2:14-15).

Nor is this to be wondered at; for, as another apostle declares, Christ, "through the eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot to God" (Hebrews 9:14), and hence that transformation of the cross which were otherwise against its nature. But that these things may take deep root and have their seat in our inmost hearts, we must never lose sight of sacrifice and ablution.

JOHN CALVIN

Ko e tui´ ‘oku ne puketu’u ke fakatau’ataina ‘oku ma’u mei hono fakahalaia’i ‘o Kalaisi, pea mo e tapuaki ‘o hono fakamala’ia’i.  Ko e ‘uhinga eni ‘oku fakahikihiki’i ai ‘e Paula ‘a e ikuna kaafakafa ‘a Kalaisi ‘i he Kolosi, ‘o hoko ‘a e faka’ilonga fakamā ‘o e kolosi, ko ha fuka fakalangilangi ‘o ‘ene ikuna.  He na’a´ ne pehē kuo ne tamate’i ‘a e tohi mo’ua na’e tukumai ma’a kitautolu, pea´ ne to’o ia ‘i hono tutuki Ia ki he kolosi: ‘‘Io, hili ‘ene tāmate‘i ‘a e tohi ne fakamo‘ua kitautolu ‘aki hono ngaahi tu‘utu‘uni, ‘a e tohi ko ia na‘e tu‘u ko hotau fili: ‘io, kuo ne ‘ave ‘a e tohi mo ‘ene pūnufu‘u mai, he na‘a ne tukifa‘o ia ki hono Kolosi; mo ne hu‘ihu‘i meiate ia ‘a e kau pule mo e kau ma‘u tu‘unga, ‘o ne mātu‘aki faka‘ali‘ali kinautolu, he‘ene sipikaki kinautolu ‘i He‘ene ‘Afio” (Kolose 2:14-15). 

‘Oku ‘ikai ketau ofo heni he ‘oku toe talamai ‘e he ‘apositolo ‘e taha ko Kalaisi, “... ‘a ia na‘a ne ‘oatu ‘e ia ia ta‘ehano mele ki he ‘Otua” (Hepelu 9:14), ‘io he ko e liliu na’e fai ‘i he kolosi na’e fehangahangi mo hono natula totonu.  Kā ko’uhi´ ke hoko ‘a e ngaahi mo’oni ko ‘eni ke faiaka mo uho’aki ‘etau mo’ui, ke ‘oua na’a toe ngalo pe to’o mei he’etau tokanga ‘a e feilaulau kaafakafa hotau fakatau’ataina.

Monite ‘Akosi 15, 2022 

A TITLE TO ETERNAL LIFE

KO E TOHI FUAKAVA KI HE MO’UI TA’ENGATA

ROMANS 5:10

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

LOMA 5:10

He kapau na‘e fakalelei ‘a e ‘Otua kiate kitautolu ‘i he pekia ‘a hono ‘Alo, lolotonga ‘ene fili ‘aki kitautolu, pea huanoa hotau fakamo‘ui ka fai ‘i he mo‘ui ‘a‘ana, ka kuo ne hōifua mai.

 

Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Ko e Kalasi pe    

There is in the obedience of Christ a twofold efficacy. The one is expiatory, that by which we are freed from those punishments to which we were liable on account of sin. The other is a meritorious efficacy, by which, through the remission of our sins, a title to eternal life and salvation has been acquired for us. For as sin has brought upon us two evils - the loss of life and exposure to death - so redemption must procure two Benefits - liberation from death and a title to life; or deliverance from hell and an introduction into heaven.

There are various passages of Scripture which clearly express these two benefits: "To make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in an everlasting righteousness" (Daniel 9:24). "Christ hath redeemed us from the law, being made a curse for us - that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles" (Galatians 3:13-14). "God sent forth his Son - to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of (Galatians 4:4).

FRANCIS TURRETIN

Ko e talangofua ‘a Kalaisi ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e ola mahu’inga ai ‘e ua.  Ko e ‘uluaki ko e faka’atā, ‘a e founga ‘oku faka’atā ai kitautolu mei he tautea na’e tuha ketau ma’u koe’uhi ko ‘etau angahala.  Ko e konga hono ua ko e foaki, ko e founga ‘eni ‘oku fakamolemole’i ai ‘etau angahala, pea foaki ai ‘a e totonu ki he mo’ui ta’engata pea sila’i ai ‘a e fakamo’ui ma’a kitautolu.  Ko e angahala na’a ne ‘omi ha nunu’a kovi ‘e ua – ko e mole ‘a e mo’ui pea mo hono fakaava ‘o e matapā ‘o e mate ki he fa’ahinga ‘o e tangata – ko ia ai, ko e totongi huhu’i na’e pau ke ne fakakakato ha monu’ia ‘e ua – ko e fakatau’ataina mei he mate mo hono fakaava ‘o e matapa ki he mo’ui; pē ko e fakatau’ataina mei he Heli pea mo hono fakaava ‘o e matapā ki Hevanai.

‘Oku lahi ‘a e ngaahi potu tohi kehekehe ‘i he Folofola ‘oku nau fakamatala’i ‘a e ongo tapuaki ko ‘eni:  “pea ke fakamolemole ‘a e kovi, pea ke fakahū mai ‘a e mā‘oni‘oni ta‘engata” (Taniela 9:24).  “Ne huhu‘i kitautolu ‘e Kalaisi mei he mala‘ia faka-Lao, he‘ene hoko ko e koto mala‘ia koe‘uhi ko kitautolu; (he kuo tohi, ‘Ilonga ‘a ia ‘oku tautau ‘i ha ‘akau ko e mala‘ia ia): koe‘uhi ke hoko ki he Senitaile ‘ia Sīsū Kalaisi ‘a e tāpuaki ‘a ‘Epalahame; ka tau ma‘u ‘i he‘etau tui ‘a e tala‘ofa, ko e Laumālie” (Kaletia 3:13-14).  “...na‘e fekau atu ‘e he ‘Otua hono ‘Alo ‘o‘ona, ‘a ia ne tupu mei ha fefine, mo tupu ko e mo‘ulaloa ki he Lao; koe‘uhi ā ke ne huhu‘i ‘a kinautolu ‘oku mo‘ulaloa ki he Lao, ka tau ma‘u ‘a e ohi”(Kaletia 4:4-5).

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.