Today we see much of the same things with the ecumenical movement mingling the things of God and the things of the world among God’s people.  What I see is, spiritual discernment is gone and the spirit of compromise is at an all-time high.  Church services have turned into circus affairs.  Reminds me of when P.T. Barnum invited the famous Charles Spurgeon to come to America.  He told Spurgeon he could put up a special tent along side of the circus so Spurgeon could preach to the multitudes and that there would be no restrictions on what he preached.  If I remember the story correctly he offered him one thousand dollars per message!  I wonder how many of the evangelist of today would jump at that offer, especially since today many of the church services now resemble a circus.  Spurgeon sent a reply back to Mr. Barnum.  He said he could find his response in the Book of Acts of the Apostles: “And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?”  [Acts 13:10]

As a preacher there are places I won’t go to preach because I look at what their church stands for.  If I believe they are wrong in the doctrine taught in the Word of God I just won’t go there.  I have a church to preach in and I don’t need to go and to receive an offering for preaching there.  We’ve been given the warning: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,”  [2 Corinthians 6:17]  Also we are told:  “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”  [Ephesians 5:11]  When people add the things of the world into the church service it usually starts with the music, then comes some more minor changes in what they stand for.  Remember the ecumenical movement is trying to appease everybody’s religion without offending anyone.  Paul warns us:  “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.  For your obedience is come abroad unto all men.  I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.”  [Romans 16:17-19]  Beware of the ecumenical movement!!

Rev. Gregory A. Albright, Pastor

Eternal life is the type of life God gives to believers at salvation.  The type of life that shall never cease because it is eternal, it goes on forever.  Paul addresses those who were teaching you are saved by grace but kept by works.  I’ve asked some who teach this thought line, what sin did they quit doing to get into heaven?  They reply, they are saved by grace.  Well then what sin do you have to commit to lose the gift of eternal life?  It is clear that if I didn’t do anything to get eternal life, other than trust in the blood of Christ, there’s no sin I could commit to lose eternal life and inherit the eternal fire spoken about.  Sad to say many who claim they trust in Christ, but are holding on by good works, have never trusted in the promise of eternal life that Christ gives.  Many like to say they are holding on until the end or believe they have to help persevere to the end in order to have eternal life.  They never trusted in the grace of Christ for their salvation.  I’ve heard people call eternal security the “damnable doctrine of the Baptist!”  I read an article where the writer called it the “comfortable doctrine”.  If you believe that there is any other way to get to heaven other than believing and calling, then you probably should not use this verse: “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  [Romans 10:10]

Those go on to teach if you lose your love for Christ then you also lose your soul!  In fact they teach that many who’ve received the grace of God, have perished, because they didn’t continued to improve on the grace given to them.  Then they never received it by faith, they’re trusting in their works.  We already quoted the verse that said it was by grace and not by works.  Paul addressed this to the churches of Galatia: “O FOOLISH Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?  This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”  [Galatians 3:1-3]  They don’t even realize that by thinking they have work to do to keep salvation they have not really trusted in the blood of Christ.  How do you believe you will be justified?  “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”  [Titus 3:7]  I am so glad that I know in whom I have believed and that I have nothing to do to keep eternal life.  It is the gift of God.

Rev. Gregory A. Albright, Pastor

Rev. Gregory A. Albright, Pastor