& Sunday, May 23, 2004 Tue POST 11 Church & Community PASTOR’S CORNER Pastor Mark DeSilva Fellowship Evangelical Free Church The Great Debate: aaith vs. Works veryone loves a debate and surely our cul- ture is in no short supply of them. Whether it’s over who was the greatest baseball play- er, or national health care, debates are a common el- ement of our society. Yet of all these diverse and in- teresting topics of debate, none has been more cru- cial to the Christian Church than the question of works and faith. Is an individual saved by their works or their faith? In fact, this was one of the key doctrines which divided the church and precipitated the reformation movement. But what exactly does the Bible teach concerning this foundational doc- trine? First, the Bible affirms that no work of man is ca- pable of removing sin and securing salvation apart from the finished work of Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:12-13; Rom. 3:19-20; Heb. 9:22). As Isaiah tells us, our “righteous deeds” are as “a filthy garment” before God’s holy eyes (Isa. 64:6). Jesus came into the world to die for our sin and complete the ultimate requirement for our salvation. If we attempt to add any work to salvation, we in essence, deny the effica- cious nature of Christ’s death and cheapen it (Gal. 3:1-2). When Christ uttered the profound words, “It is finished,” from the cross, He was indicating that @ man’s requirements for salvation were completed yi mn i Him. Secondly, the Bible specifies that man is “saved by grace” and not by human merit (Eph. 2:89). Incredi- bly, man’s salvation is a “free gift” that cannot be earned, but must simply be received by faith (Jn. 1:12). Third, our Lord beautifully illustrates salvation by faith through a number of stories and parables. The criminal on the cross, for instance, was saved by sim- ply crying out. Despite his sin and spiritual helpless- ness, Christ promised him eternal life on the basis of his faith (Lk. 23:39-43). Paul’s argument to the Ju- daizers of the Galatian church was that Abraham was saved solely by his faith (Gal. 3:5-9). The Prodi- gal son also vividly illustrates how a rebellious and disobedient individual can experience salvation through humble repentance and faith (Lk. 15:11-32). @. the Old Testament teaching of the Sab- ath rest prefigured the fact that man would some- day be able to cease from his own works, and rest by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ (Heb. 4:9- 11). But what about works? What role do they play in the Christian life? Our works according to the Bible should be viewed as a necessary by-product of our new life in Christ, and not as its prerequisite. To put it simply, faith justifies man before God while works justifies the genuineness of his faith (Jas. 2:18-26). True, saving faith will authenticate itself through a life of obedience. So then, God requires both faith and works. Faith alone saves man, while our works authenticate our salvation and new life in Christ. APPLIANCE PARTS & SUPPLY Pastor’s Corner is a weekly feature that rotates among leaders of Back Mountain churches. To reserve your spot in the schedule, call The Post at 675-5211. CHURCH NOTES Apostolic Faith Tabernacle illage Road, Orange Sunday School & Worship, 10 a.m. Sunday Evening Worship, 7 p.m. Wed. Evening Bible Study, 7:30 p.m. The Word Alive Theatre Ministry has begun practicing for the next play entitled “Lazarus & the Rich Man”. The drama is scheduled for June 25 and 26 at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call Pastor Frank Chor- ba at 333-5172. Chapel at the Cross 1189 Lower Demunds Road Sundays, Singspiration, 10 a.m.; refresh- ments, 10:45 a.m.; Worship, 11a.m. Wednesdays, Celebrate Recovery, twelve-step program, 7 p.m. Thursdays, Mid-week prayer /study, 6:30 p.m. Dallas Baptist Church Rt. 415, Dallas Sunday schedule: All-ages Bible study, 9:15 a.m.; morning worship, 10:30 a.m.; adult choir, 5 p.m.; children’s choir, 6 p.m.; evening worship, 6 p.m. June 21-26: Vacation Bible School Dallas United Methodist Church 4 Parsonage St., Dallas Sunday School 9 a.m. Church Service 10:30 a.m. Handicapped accessible Emmanuel Assembly of God 243 Church Road, Harveys Lake Sunday School, all ages, 9:45 a.m.; Worship Services, 10:45 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Mondays, teen gathering, 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, boys groups (Rangers), girls groups, adult Bible study, 7 p.m. Fellowship Evangelical Free Church 45 Hildebrandt Rd. Dallas, Sunday Schedule: 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Wor- ship and Sunday School during both hours Wednesday: 6:30 p.m., Jr. High Youth Group Thursday: 6:30 p.m., Sr. High Youth Group Grace Community Church Memorial Highway, Dallas Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship 11 a.m. Evening Service 6 p.m. Youth Group 6 p.m. GEMS 6 p.m. Tuesday: Ladies Bible Study 10 a.m. Wednesday: Prayer Meeting 7 p.m. Thursday: Ladies Bible Study 6:30 p.m. June 12: Summer Kick Off Dinner Lehman-Idetown United Methodist Lehman UMC, 1011 Mt. View Dr., Lehman Center Idetown UMC, Idetown Rd. off Rt. 118 and 415 Summer Schedule (begins May 30) - Worship at the Idetown UMC, 10:30 a.m. Sunday School resumes Sept. 5 Information, 675-5192 May 25: Lehman United Methodist Women meet at 7 p.m. He Brown Baggers at Shavertown UMC Each month several retired friends gather for lunch at Shavertown United Methodist Church, 163 N. Pioneer Ave. Shavertown. The group is called “Brown Baggers” be- cause they bring a bag lunch. Drinks and dessert are provided. Anyone in the communi- ty is welcome to join them the second Tuesday of every month for food for the body and for the soul. The church is handicapped accessible. For more information, call the church office at 675-3616. The next luncheon will be held on June 8 at noon in the church lounge. From left, front row: Charles Kishbaugh, Dorothy Griffith, Wendell Jones, Helen Kish- baugh, MarieTrousle. Back row: Jack Owens, George Patterson, Dorothy Tippett, Mary Lou Swingle, Hazel Honeywell, Marie Duermit, Jack Rogers, Nancy Oliver, Wendy McGough, Pastor Jan Clark, Iris Labarr, Donald Duermitt, Pastor Doug Clark, George Sherwood. New Life Community Church Brace Road, Orange Sunday Schedule : All ages Sunday School classes, 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship Service, 10:30 a.m. May 26: Wednesday Family Fellowship, 6 p.m., meal 6:50 p.m., classes: Youth — 6 yrs. to high school Adults — “The Summit” . Retreat, June 11-12: “Hearing the Still Small Voice of God in a Noisy World.” Call 639-5433 for details. Prince of Peace Episcopal 420 Main St., Dallas Sunday, May 23: Holy Eucharist, 8 and 10 a.m.; Christian education and youth choir, 9 a.m.; Church School, 9:45/10 a.m.; Adult Choir, 11:30 a.m.; Alanon, 7 p.m. May 26: Healing Service, Holy Eucharist, 12:10 p.m. May 27: Pot Luck Dinner, 6 p.m. River Of Life Fellowship 194 N. Memorial Hwy., Shavertown Sunday Service 10:30 a.m. Soaking Prayer Thursdays, 7 p.m. Food Bank every third Saturday of the month. ’ St. Paul's Lutheran RR 4 Box 627A (off 118), Dallas Saturday evening service at 5:30 weekly. Sun- day service, 8:30 and 11 a.m. Tuesdays, A.A. meetings at 7:30 p.m. at the church. May 23: Adult Forum, with Stan Hamilton, 9:45 a.m. High school graduates should provide the church office with graduation details. The in- formation will be used in the June newsletter. St. Therese’s Catholic Pioneer Ave. and Davis St., Shavertown Sunday: Children’s Liturgy of the Word, 9 a.m.; Baptism, 12:15 p..m.; Confirmation practice, 1 p.m May 24: Celebration of Confirmation, May 30: 7th grade Confirmation enrollment ceremony, 9 and 11 a.m. Masses. June 2: Altar & Rosary Society meeting, 6 p.m., Old Country Buffet, Wilkes-Barre. Car- pooling available. Trinity Presbyterian 105 Irem Rd., Dallas Saturday evening worship: 5:30 p.m. Sunday school: 9:30 a.m. Sunday worship: 11 a.m. Trucksville U. Methodist 40 Knob Hill Rd., Trucksville Sunday Services are at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday School classes for all ages at the Edu- cational Facility on Sundays, 9:45-10:45 a.m. Prayer Meetings, Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. Chancel choir rehearses at 7 p.m. Wednes- days. No formal music training required. Summer worship schedule at Shavertown UMC Beginning Memorial Day weekend and con- tinuing through Labor Day weekend, the Sun- day schedule will have only one service, bggin- ning at 10 a.m. The Saturday schedule will continue to start at 5:30 p.m. For more infor- mation, call the church office at 675-3616. Call 1-800-273-7130 For Local Pros REFRIGERATION PARTS 1 Refrigerators * Freezers * Air Conditioners Daily | All Makes + Cold Controls * Fan Motors 8:30-5:00 | Relays * Defrost Timers * Door Gaskets Sat, | Bring in model # and old part. 719 Neon PRIME CUT LAWN CARE SERVICES 570-696-1222 | GLASS [GLass 936 Market Street, Kingston We Do It All! Auto » Commercial * Residential 596 Carey Ave., Wilkes-Barre 149 N. 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