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A Word From Our Elders
Over the past several months, Brother Adam has been preaching through the little letter of 1 John. It is a short book, but it is certainly not a shallow one. John has a way of saying things plainly, and at times painfully, but always for the good of God’s people.
For as long as I can remember, I have been told to turn to 1 John when struggling with doubts about salvation. I understand that advice better now than I probably did years ago. The older I get, the more I realize that eternal matters are the most important matters any of us will ever face. There are many things in life that demand our attention, but nothing is more important than knowing where we stand before God. That is one of the main reasons John wrote this letter. Near the end, he says,
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13).
John does not say “hope so” or “maybe so.” He says that believers may know.
But John does not give us assurance by telling us to look first at ourselves, our feelings, or our performance. He points us to Jesus Christ. He is the solid ground. I can’t count the number of times I’ve sung the little song, the wise man builds his house upon the rock. That Rock is Christ.
John begins the letter by reminding us that Christianity is not built on myth, opinion, or religious imagination. He speaks of what the apostles heard, saw, looked upon, and touched with their hands. The Son of God truly came in the flesh. Jesus was not merely a teacher, a symbol, or an example. He is the living Word of Life who was with the Father and came down to tabernacle among us.
This truth is so important! Our salvation depends on the real Christ: truly 100% God and truly 100% man. He condescended and came into history. He lived a perfect life in obedience to the law of God. He died for sinners. He rose again. And our fellowship with God is found only in Him.
John also makes clear that grace is never an excuse for sin. He writes, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.” Then he immediately adds, “But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). That is amazing grace. Christians never make peace with sin, but neither do we despair when we fall. We have an Advocate. Christ is our righteousness. He is the propitiation, the wrathbearing sacrifice, for our sins.
True grace does not make a person careless. It teaches us to confess sin, hate sin, and return again to Christ. The same Savior who forgives us is also in the process of changing us, praise the Lord!
John also presses us hard on love. Is it not easy to talk about loving God? The measuring stick is in how we love real people in real life. John says, “He who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20). Love does not earn our salvation, but it does show that God’s grace is at work in us and it’s a telling mark of God in us. Where the love of God has taken root, it will bear fruit in love toward others every time. John also warns us about false teaching and empty profession. Not everyone who uses spiritual language belongs to Christ. So, John gives us plain questions to consider. Do we confess the true Christ? Do we walk in the light? Do we love the brethren? Do we continue in the truth handed down by the apostles? Those questions are not meant to crush us. They are meant to expose false assurance and strengthen true assurance. John keeps bringing us back to Christ: “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12). As we come to the end of this sermon series, may the Lord use 1 John to deepen our confidence in Christ, sharpen our hatred of sin, increase our love for one another, and strengthen our assurance that eternal life is found in the Son alone. Pray for one another – may our relationship with Jesus grow deeper everyday this June in the year of our Lord 2026. Come quickly Lord Jesus!
May God bless and keep you,
Bro. Tony
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What We Teach
From the time of the Apostles to today, Christians have laid out doctrine (beliefs) in brief, definitive statements. As those who know God, we believe it necessary to set forth in a concise fashion the cornerstone truths that our church teaches as guided by Scripture. Our Doctrinal Statement summarizes essential Christian beliefs, shows unity in Christ, and affirms our belief in the Christian truths which have been held by the church throughout the ages and particularly since the Protestant reformation, including believer’s baptism, and congregational polity (government).
The Freeness of Salvation
We teach that the blessings of salvation are freely offered to all by the gospel, that it is the immediate duty of all to accept the gospel with a glad, obedient faith and Godly sorrow, and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth other than his own inherent depravity (sinfulness) by which he refuses to listen and suppresses the truth in unrighteousness thereby rejecting the gospel which makes him wholly responsible for his just condemnation.
Grace in Regeneration
We teach that in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born again. This results in the mind being spiritually and savingly enlightened to understand the Word of God which is accomplished in a manner above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit and the divine truth of the Word of God. This is done in a way that brings about voluntary obedience and faith which is evidenced by fruits worthy of repentance as demonstrated in righteous attitudes and conduct.
Faith and Repentance
We teach that faith and repentance are required by Scripture and inseparably linked graces that are granted to us as a gift by the regenerating Spirit of God that deeply convince us of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ. We then turn to God with true repentance, confession of sin, and pleas for mercy while whole heartedly receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest and King, and relying on him alone as the only and all sufficient Savior.
Adam Fitzgerald
Primary Preaching and Teaching Elder
THE CHURCH
We are a church that believes in Jesus & loves God and His people
Adam joined the elders at Oak Grove Baptist Church in August of 2022. Prior to that, he served as the Associate Pastor at Sardis Baptist Church in Swansea, SC. Before entering full-time ministry, he taught social studies and coached football in both the Bismarck and Sheridan public school districts.
Adam grew up just outside of El Dorado, AR, graduated from Ouachita Baptist University with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, and eventually went on to complete both a Master of Arts in Theological Studies and a Master of Arts in Religion/Biblical Studies from Liberty University Online.
He and his wife Kelly have three children (AJ, Eddie, and Halle), and they all enjoy spending time doing anything outdoors, whether it be hunting, fishing, gardening, hiking, or working with the dogs or horses. They are always up for an adventure and see the greatest adventure of all as having their lives spent in service to the savior.