Understanding Christianity

Dr. Sean Cole finishes up the book of Philippians.

A cross-centered love portrays a compelling testimony to a watching world. Jesus prepares the disciples for His departure by focusing on two key truths: 1) The glory of the cross and 2) the new commandment to love one another just as HE has loved us.

Traditional Southern Baptists deny imputed guilt from Adam as well as Total Inability. They will argue for total depravity in that we are born sinful, but no so sinful that we cannot ADMIT our need for a Savior when presented with the gospel. Is admitting our need for salvation the same as genuine saving faith? Dr. Cole interacts with the Traditionalist view by addressing three key areas: 1) The Nature of Fallen Man, (2) The Need for Sovereign Regeneration, and (3) The Necessity of Genuine Saving Faith. He compares the London Baptist Confession with the Traditional Statement as he unpacks the Scriptures to reveal the key differences between Traditionalists and Calvinists Southern Baptists. www.seancole.net

When you diligently pursue Christ through prayer, thinking deeply about gospel truths, and consistent obedience, He fills your heart with unspeakable joy and peace.

We see in Judas that you cannot hide hypocrisy from the sovereign Christ.

Paul contrasts his former life as a legalistic Pharisee with his new new life in Christ. Paul counts everything as loss compared to the riches of KNOWING Christ.

Dr. Sean Cole''s Sunday morning sermon from John 13:1-17: Those who have been cleansed by the saving cross of Christ are empowered to serve others with humility.

We are called to work out our salvation with fear and trembling while God powerfully works in us to accomplsih this. What does it look like to work out our salvation? You’re striving for unity with others. You’re not complaining or griping or causing dissension. You’re walking in integrity.You’re letting your light shine before others through your good works. You’re holding fast to the Word of God without compromise. You’re suffering well with joy.

Dr. Sean Cole interacts with a post from SBC Today by Ronnie Rogers which argues that Calvinists are not forthright in our gospel presentations because we cannot in good conscious give a person who may be reprobate the hope of the gospel. This argument assumes that we know the identity of the elect and the reprobate when sharing the gospel. Dr. Cole also interacts with some comments from Rick Patrick that clearly show the vast difference between SBC Traditionalism and Calvinism. Patrick's gracious yet unambiguous comments deny unconditiional election, total inablity, particular redemption, and irresistible grace. Here is the link to the article: http://sbctoday.wpengine.com/calvinists-say-hope-for-the-hopeless/#comment-62189www.seancole.net

Dr. Sean Cole examines the doctrine of compatibilism which states that God's absolute sovereignty is concurrent with human responsibility. He interacts with an essay by Dr. Jerry Walls, professor of philosophy at Houston Baptist University and a favorite of many Traditionalist Southern Baptists. In this essay, Dr. Walls makes the claim that those who hold to compatibilism are unorthodox. He argues that universalism and libertarian free-will are within the bounds of orthodoxy, but compatibilsim is not. Dr. Cole argues that tte Westminister Confession of Faith and the Second London Baptist Confession of faith's statements on God's decrees are in fact biblical. He gives a thorough analysis of various Scriptures that do in fact affirm compatibilism.www.seancole.net