The Door

Today’s Passage – John 10 & 11

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:9 & 10)

Almost twenty-one years ago I walked through a door that radically changed the course of the rest of my life. I should back up a little and tell you that for some time prior to this I had been thinking about God and eternity. I know now that God was drawing me in. At any rate, for about a month I had been secretly listening to Christian radio in between deliveries as I drove my truck for my Dad’s candy business. I was certainly conscious and convicted about my sin, but I just wasn’t sure what to do about it. One of the preachers invited me to go through the Door, and I received the Lord Jesus as my Saviour. I had tried many other doors in life prior to going through this One, but none of them took me to the abundant life that this Door lead me to.

My life has never been the same since. Christ not only saved me and gave me eternal life with Him in Heaven when I die; but also provided a means for me to have an abundant life here on the earth; a life that is productive and fruitful. However, in order to maintain that abundant life, I need to keep going through the door, daily. Eternal life is a one time decision, but having an abundant life here on earth is decided every day. We must daily yield to the indwelling Holy Spirit of God, submitting ourselves to God’s Word and will for our lives. I have been saved for a long time now, but unfortunately I have not always practiced what I just preached to you. I have strayed away at times from God’s perfect plan, and during those times that abundant life eluded me. But I have tasted enough of the abundant life to have developed a strong desire for it, and when I do stray I quickly try to get back on track. No doubt there are many of you also that know what the abundant life feels like, yet you have somehow let it slip away from you. The solution is really simple, go back through the Door.

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Good morning. If you choose wisely, you will choose life. Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10). Deuteronomy 30:20 tells us that the Lord is our life and the length of our days. By choosing life there…

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Phil Erickson

Pastor Phil Erickson has been the pastor of Jersey Shore Baptist Church since January of 2002. Having grown up in Ocean County, Pastor Phil has always had a burden for the south Jersey area. After graduating from Bible College in Longview, Texas, he and his family moved to Galloway Township with the vision of digging in and serving the Lord and the people of Atlantic County. Pastor Phil and Cindy Erickson have been married since 1985. They have four children and ten grandchildren. Their oldest son, Phil Jr. and his wife Katelyn are serving the Lord in Egg Harbor Twp., NJ. Their oldest daughter, Melissa, is married to Wesley Clayton who is in the Air Force and is currently stationed in New Mexico. Samantha, their third child, is married to Justin Mears and they are both serving the Lord at the church in Galloway. Hannah, the youngest, is married to Lucas McCollum, and they are also serving here in Galloway. In preparation for ministry, the Lord led him through a variety of educational experiences that have equipped him to serve the Lord and His people. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgian Court University, a Bachelor of Biblical Studies in Pastoral Theology from Texas Independent Baptist Seminary (formerly Texas Baptist College), a Master of Religious Education in Bible from West Coast Baptist College, and a Master of Biblical Studies from The Crown College. More recently, he completed a Graduate Certificate in Biblical Counseling and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Veritas Baptist College. He is thankful for these opportunities to study God’s Word more deeply, and counts it a privilege to use whatever knowledge the Lord has given him for the building up of His church. In addition to pastoring, the Lord has given Phil the wonderful privilege of teaching as an adjunct professor at Vision Baptist College in Berlin, NJ and Veritas Baptist College.