Church
God lets his people know that they are justified through faith
Sunday School Lesson ?
JUSTIFIED BY GRACE
THROUGH FAITH
(Galations 2:15-21;
Ephesians 2:1-10)
"For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of your
[ selves: it is the gift of God: not of
i works lest any man should boast."
| (Ephesians 2:8-9)
In last week's study God demon
strated a principle teaching to Peter ;
that Christ's Gospel was for all peo
ple, Jews and Gentiles alike. We
I noted in our commentary that tradi
[ tions die slowly. The laws, customs
t and traditions of Jewish religion
[ were inherantly being brought into
Christianty as Jews became con
verted to Christ's discipleship.
It was a real problem for some of
the early churches. It seems strange
to picture Paul publicly rebuking
Peter for doing this. The overriding
problems for Jewish people of the
first century A.D. was accepting
Christ and the Christian life, which
was counter to their religious prac
tices under the law.
In essence it amounted to faith ver
sus works? to strive for righ
teousness by obeying the precepts of
the law or to live the life of faith in
Christ ; each person would have to de
cide for himself.
FAITH VERSUS WORKS
(Galatians 2:15-21)
The Apostle Paul was a realist. He
was also a Jew, a Pharisee and prior
to his conversion, by his own admis
sion, a chief persecutor of Christians.
Before becoming a Christian he kept
the law in the strictness of a Phar
COA endorses university's
if- ELIZABETH CITY? Officials at
| College of The Albemarle have given
I their endorsement to a unique plan
I proposed this week by C.D. Spangler,
!Jr., president of the University of
North Carolina system, that ultima
j tely will lead to the expansion of Eliz
? abeth City State University's aca
? demic development.
t The development plan is scheduled
{ to be implemented next fall. One of
? Its more salient features, according
! to UNC officials, is the provision for
! as many as 250 full scholarships for.
j community college and high school
graduates with "higher academic
j credentials." The incentive schol
i arships will be available to students
2^om 16 northeastern North Carolina
i^feunties.
? COA president Dr. Parker Chesson
I commended Spangler for his "bold
{ and ambitious" academic devel
j opment plan. "In conjunction with
J COA and the four other commuity
? and technical colleges in our area,
! ECSU is an important part of our ed
! ucational resources in the north
J east," said Chesson.
? ? "ECSU has strived for many years
to improve its academic programs,
^jfiid President Spangler's initiative
Will afford helpful assistance to
Chancellor Jimmy Jenkins in his ef
forts to build a stronger regional uni
versity," the administrator said in
voicing his approval of the action.
Chesson says he believes a
stronger ECSU will be good for the
region. "It will enhance our eco
nomic development efforts, and will
complement the mission of COA and
the other community and technnical
colleges," he said.
COA dean of student development
John Simmons says he views the use
scholarship program at the univer
sity as a creative use of student fi
nancial aid funds. "One immediate
effect will be to give our (COA) grad
uates new opportunities," he said.
During the 1985-86 academic year,
Simmons pointed out that 39 of the 42
students who transferred to ECSU
from community colleges were COA
graduates. He also emphasized the
fact that their grade point averages
were 3.35 out of a passible 4.0 A total
of 70 COA college transfer graduates
enrolled at four-year institutions.
Transferring from COA to the uni
versity was made easier last year
through an articulation agreement
between the two institutions. Sim
mons said the document clearly de
lineates which COA courses are
JfFA day set at Farm Show
" RALEIGH, NC? A tractor and
'{ruck driving competition, a barbe
que luncheon and the opportunity to
"??lew hundreds of pieces of farm
- equipment and supplies will highlight
?Tfie annual Future Farmers of Amer
'Tca Day Feb. 5 at tHe Southern Farm
'Show.
"""The 11th annual show will be held
'Wednesday, Feb. 4 through Friday,
l-'eb. 6. Thursday of the show has
1 jjfown into an important part of the
tfhnual plans of FFA chapters across
^the state. More than 1,000 members
'representing more than 60 chapters
'Jre expected to attend.
"It gives the FFA members the
Chance to see the various exhibits
jSmd learn about the equipment ana
? materials on display," says Doug
iPowell of the Agriculture Education
{Division of the N.C. Dept of Public
{Instruction, which coordinated the
? day. "It gives them a chance to learn
i more about agriculture and where
1 they might fit in down the road. They
J also have thechance to meet FFA
imembers from across the state."
?.The Tractor and Truck Driving
^JCbmpetitions are held on the floor of
* the Gov. James B. Hunt, Jr. Horse
? Complex. Orientation is held from
? 10:30 to 11 a.m., with the competi
t tions beginning at 11 and running un
J til about 4 p.m. Each entrant runs his
| vehicle on an obstacle course and
> judged on skill and safety.
3 The tractor to be used will be a 30
2
40 horsepower Kubota (L-series),
and the truck will be a Dodge Ram D
50 Pick-up from A1 Smith Dodge in
Raleigh.
"This is something these kids lode
forward to each year," Powell said.
They're judged on their knowledge of
the operation of the vehicle, their
skill in handling it and the safety
skills they exhibit. Plus, in the truck
driving competition, a State Highway
Patrol officer rides with them as an
observer. That helps the students de
velop respect for law enforcement."
Approximately 50 students will
participate in each competition.
Each receives a memento award,
and the top three in each receives
plaques.
The luncheon will be held from
11:30 to 1:30. Cost is $4.50 per person.
Admission to the show is free to ev
eryone?students, farmers and agri
business people.
Some 300 exhibits will be included
in two buildings and in outside areas
at the Fairgrounds, offering farmers
the opportunity to shop and compare
equipment, supplies and services for
the coming year.
Show hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday and Thursday, and 9 to 4
Friday.
For more information, contact
Southern Shows at 800-532-0189
(N.C.); 800-334-0248 (U.S. or 704-378
6594 in Charlotte.
^Bookmobile schedule
; rue Perquimans County Bookmo
; bile Schedule for Feb. 6, 1987 is as fol
*. lows:
! Cherrix Day Care, 9:45; Wynne
{Fork Court, 10:15-10:45; Holiday Is
Dr. A.F. Downum
OPTOMETRIST
land Club House, 11:00-12:30; Snug
Harbor, 1:00-2:00; George's Store,
2:15-2:45; Kirby Drive, 3:00; Gladys
Warren, 3:15 and Gertrude Boyce
Drive, 3:30.
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH
For someone being fitted for contact lenses for the first time, the
moment of truth arrives when the TRIAL lenses are placed on your
eyes. These will closely approximate your final prescription, but
they are not your final contact lenses, so don't be unduly upset if
your vision isn't crystal clear at this point.
Fitting doesn't stop with the insertion of trial lenses. Even after
measurements have been made and the most suitable lenses tried,
other fitting factors come into play. A high minus lens, for instance
(for myopia), tends to ride high on the eye; a high plus lens on the
other hand (for hyperopia) tends to fall slight'y downward once
placed on the eye. To correct this phenomenon, a lens may need
to be smaller or larger, heavier or lighter, steeper or flatter, or
some combination of these factors.
From the information gathered from these trials, the optometrist
can then order the exact lenses you'll need.
Dr. A.F. DOWNUM
103 W. Ecton St. |
Edtnton, N.C.
Phon?: 482-8444
K
?
isee. So knowledgeable and reliable
was Paul that when he spoke people
should listen.
It is often difficult for people to ac
cept God's free grace in the pardon of
one's sin. We are prone to want to do
something for it? to earn it as it
were. Ingrained in our heritage and
culture is the notion that one cannot
get something for nothing. That is or
Tbe problem with Jewish Chris
tians of the first century was that
they wanted to mix the works prin
ciple of righteousness under the law
with the faith principle of salvation
which Christ instituted. I expect that
many people attempt to do the same
in our day. In response to others who
were practicing and teaching a work
plus faith gospel, Paul said, "I do not
frustate the grace of God: for if righ
transferrable, and lists equivalent
ECSU courses.
They believe the scholarship pro
gram announced this week will fur
ther enhance the university's recruit
ment efforts.
Both Chesson and Simmons agree
that the combination of two years'
education at COA, with the ECSU
scholarship, will make the possibility
of earning a four-year degree a real
ity for many more area residents.
The community college traditionally
enrolls approximately 1,500 curric
ulum students during its nine-month
academic year with the advantage of
low tuition costs ($198) and small
class sizes.
Chesson says he sees no unneces
sary duplication or overlapping of
missions between the two institu
tions. "A strong ECSU and a strong
COA will help the region," the admin
sitrator said.
Mary Kay
Ruth Sutton, Consultant
426-7374
teousness came by law, then Christ is
dead in vain."(Verse 21)
SAINTS KNOW LIFE IN CHRIST
Ephecian* S: 1-10 )
In this part of Paul's epistle to the
church at Ephesus, his emphasis is
once again salvation through God's
grace, not mens' works. However,
his attention is directed toward sin
ners in general and to all who were
once spiritually dead but who have
been quickened to life, Jews and Gen
tiles alike.
Paul speaks to them, and thus to us
also, about the mighty working of
God's power in raising Christ from
the dead. He then turns to another
working of devine power; that of tak
ing sinners and converting them into
saints. Paul states it this way in
verse 6, "And hath raised us up to
gether and made us sit together in
heavenly places in Christ Jesus."
Someone may say, "I'm confused'
with the talk about works and grace.
Doesn't God want and expect me to
feed the hungry and clothe the naked
and otherwise do good deeds?" In
deed, He does! He also wants us to
live good moral lives; to preach and
teach His Gospel, to witness for Him,
to obey His commands and to attend
church services, among other things.
Paul did not want people confused,
to think that by doing these good
works, alone, it would be sufficient
for salvation and a heavenly home.
Jesus said, "Seek ye first the King
dom of God..."
(Lesson based on the International
Sunday School Lessons)
T
Area church news
The First Baptist Church Sunday
School starts at 9:45 a.m. with Super
intendent R.B. Gibbs in charge.
Morning worship starts at 11 :00 a.m.
with Pastor J.H. London preaching
from the subject "Living a Godly
Life In An Ungodly World" Titus
2:12. The young adult choir will be
singing under the direction of Mr.
Donald McClain, Orgazinist.
You are invited to join us and bring
a friend.
..t .. . _^ONT NrtlSS THIS
Woodland r chance to save.
Dress
Shop
ABUNOLE
WOW/
? ? ?
Hertford
Entire Winter &
Fall Stock!
dinarily true for most everything has
a price tag. We normally have to pay
for, or work for, everything that we
get.
But salvation through Christ is dif
ferent. Through faith, believing that
Jesus is the Son of God, that He was
is the Christ and that He died on the
cross to pay the penalty for man's
sins, those, who will, may be saved.
The Apostle Paul said it this way,
"That if thou shalt confess with the
mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt be
lieve in thine heart that God hath
raised him from the dead, thou shalt
be saved.'' (Romans 10:9)
Dear
friends,
I
The Living Bank, a na
tional non-profit organiza-'
tion, provides a central
registry for people who
wish to be organ or body
donors at the time of their
deaths. More than 100,000",
persons are registered."
For information, phone:
713-528-2971. Address:
P.O. Box 6725, Houston ,
TX 77005
Respectfully,.
^ "\
(
g>uiin&dl
iFuneral
Home, 3nc.
509 Dobbs Street
Hertford, N.C.
426-7311
'IF I WERE THE DEVIL'
Pastor Daniel E. LeRoy
Bagley Swamp Wesley an Church
Hertford, N.C.
Have you ever noticed that the devil rarely tells you a big fat lie? Usually he takes something
that's true and pushes it just enough one way or the other to make it false but it still makes
enough sense that we believe it or accept it or think. Well, maybe that could be all right. '
If I were the devil, I'd keep right on with that strategy. I would tell you that if God really loved
you, He wouldn't let anything bad ever happen to you. No hunger, no pain, no death, no
tragedy. And if you wouldn't believe that, then I would tell you that to be a real Christian, you
have to suffer all the time. You should always experience physical discomfort, abject poverty,
emotional upheaval. In fact, you should become a hermit (or a missionary?).
If I were the devil, I would tell you that you should gratify all your desires now! God gave them
to you and it is bad for your health to wait. Discipline is dangerous and for weaker people If it
feels good, do it! If it takes time or effort, forget it! But you're too smart to fall for that, right? So
I would tell you to never expect another pleasant or pleasurable thing to happen to you since you
are a Christian now. After all. doesn't TV teach us that pleasure only comes through illicit
behavior?
Also, if I were the devil. I would tell you that God is busy, real busy. He can't be bothered with
your doctor's report, your math test or your empty cupboard ? and especially not your
temptations. But some of you know God betfer than that, so to you I would say that God is the
eternal biology student, always dissecting you into little pieces, looking for traces of sin. And
finding it with glee!
And if I were the devil, I would try to convince you that popularity ? power with people ? is
the sure cure for all your problems. You be liked by people at any cost, and you have it made
Now some of you just won't buy that, so to you I would say that to be a real Christian, you gotta
drive 'em crazy until they hate you! You can't have friends in this world, bud, cause you might
get contaminated or something '
Then there's the thino about forgiveness. If I were the devil, I would try to get you to believe
? and practice ?that if you're really a Christian you can do anything you want to do. God will
forgive you. But some of you are too pessimistic to believe that. So I would tell you that God
doesn't forgive anybody unless they deserve it!
And if I were the devil, I would tell you to measure everything by appearances. Big buildings, ?
big numbers, big money, big cars, big homes has to mean big blessings from God. Of course,
there are some of you who would never buy that So then I would tell you to measure everything
by its 'smallness' (that would fit your spirit better). Big buildings, big numbers, big money, big ?
cars, big homes can only mean one thing: BIG SINNERS!
To the visionary among us, if I were the devil, I would encourage you to attempt the impossi
ble now! It will honor God. if you can pull it off! And to the timid I would say that if you're
going to be a Christian and do something for the Lord, don't get into any big hurry about it After
all, God ? and the work ?will always be there tomorrow.
A couple of other things I would tell you are that shortcuts are all right, as long as you end up
where you're supposed to be. Sell out and get what you came for. If you were too smart to
believe that, then I would tell you that the more details you can possibly add, the more things .
you can possibly do, the more extra-curricular activities you can possibly be involved in, the
more stuff you can volunteer for (even at the expense of time with your family), the holier you
will be. . > .
The clincher is this. If I were the devil, I would tell you that your feelings' are the basis of your
relationship with God. If you feel good then God must be close by. But if you feel bad . . God
must have packed up and left! Now enough of you are spiritually mature that you know better.
So to you I would say that if hell is hot then heaven ? which is the opposite of hell, right? ?
must be an icebox. So the colder your heart is, the closer you must be to heaven!
Well, I'm not the devil. And I have some Good News! God loves us all ? personally, actively, ,
realistically, meaningfully. As Kierkegaard said, God loves each of us as if there were only one
of us to love ' And He has wonderful plans for us ? a special plan for each of us He has sent '
His Son, Jesus, to save us from our sins and to keep us in fellowship with Himself. And when '
the devil is actively working against us, God is there ? protecting us, comforting us, setting the
limits on Satan's activities, and bring glory to Himself through our victory! Greater is he that is
in you than he that is in the world' (1 John 4:4).
U.S. 17 By-Pass
Hertford, N. C.
A 10% Discount On All
Prescriptions
For all Our Customers Age 60
Or Older.
426-5527
109-111 N. Church St.
Hertford
426-5464
MEMBER FTD
HARRIS SHOPPING
CENTER
MY PHONE 426- 5721
NIGHTS 426-7592
108 S. WOODLAND ST.
Hertford
426-5620
215 Edenton Road St.
Hertford, NC
426-5246