Understanding Christianity

You have died to sin, now live for Christ! In this passage, Paul give us five truths related to our union with Christ. Justification by faith alone is not separated from sanctification or the pursuit of holiness.

Pastor Sean preaches from Luke 15. We are hard-wired from birth to want to try to be our own “savior.” We think that we can find approval with God or we can have a successful life or we can become very spiritual by the things that we do. We want to control our lives and be in charge our destinies. This self-salvation or control of our future can come in two ways live: Number One: Moral improvement by being religious Number Two: Self-expression by being non-religious. There is a third way to live. There is a third way to orient your life and that is the way of Jesus and the gospel. How can you be free from the bondage of either moral improvement (religious) or self-discovery (non-religious) where you live for pleasure and yourself? The answer comes in who Jesus is and what He has done on the cross and His resurrection and how you can have hope because of the empty tomb.

Pastor Sean discusses the persecuted church in Smyrna who endured great tribulation and the compromised church in Pergamum who put up with false teaching and sexual immorality. Both churches teach us to be a faithful witness to Christ as we endure to the end by His grace alone.

in Galatians 2:11-16, Paul makes a bold confrontation in the face of Peter's fearful compromise. Peer pressure can sometimes lead you to compromise on the truth of the gospel. You may have gospel convictions, but not gospel conduct.

Pastor Sean begins a new series on the seven churches in the book of Revelation. This first session provides an overview of the vision of Christ revealed to John and then he gives an exposition of the letter to Ephesus.

We must never compromise the truth of the unchanging gospel. Paul brings the uncircumcised Gentile Titus to Jerusalem as a test case to show that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. These false brothers were adding circumcision on top of the gospel and confusing the Galatians churches. There is always a danger for Christians to try to add something to the gospel--baptism, speaking in tongues, politics, schooling choices, particular programs, versions of the Bible, altar calls, etc. We must always defend the gospel. If not, the gospel becomes assumed and then it becomes confused and then it is abandoned altogether. wwww.seancole.net

Drew Mery from "According to Christ" joins Sean Cole to discuss some recent YouTube videos from Dr. Leighton Flowers concerning the question: "What is the eternal destiny of those who have never heard the gospel?" What is gospel exclusivism? What is special revelation exclusivism? What is general revelation inclusivism? What is pluralism? This is a friendly critique that asks some critical questions seeking clarification to this important issue. www.seancole.net

True salvation is embracing Jesus Christ as He is freely offered to us in the gospel. In Galatians 1:16, Paul says that Christ was revealed "IN" him. 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 teaches three core truths about conversion: (1) Lost people are spiritually blinded to the glory of Christ,( 2) The Gospel of Christ must be clearly preached, and( 3) The Holy Spirit must do an internal work of supernatural grace to reveal Christ "IN" us. www.seancole.net

What is the eternal destiny of those who have never heard the gospel or exercised conscious faith in Christ alone? There have been three major answers to this question: 1) Exclusivism: No one is saved without persona conscious faith in Christ alone which come through the special revelation of the gospel. 2) Inclusivism-Everyone who obeys the general revelation they have based on their conscience are saved through Jesus, whether they actually repent and believe in Him. They may be saved without even knowing about Jesus. A person's faith in general revelation is enough to save them. 3) Pluralism-everyone who obeys their particular religion is saved, for each religion supplies and independent road to the ultimate reality. If you are a sincere Buddhist, then you will go to heaven for being as good as you can with your religion. Dr. Sean Cole addresses recent statements by Traditional Southern Baptists in light of the passing of Billy Graham. These appear to affirm an evangelical inclusivism which states

In Galatians 1:11-24 Paul gives his testimony in three stages: (1) His life BEFORE conversion (2) his life AT his conversion and (3) his life after conversion. This provides a helpful template or model in helping us share our testimony. Is your life a powerful witness to God's transforming grace?

Dr. Sean Cole led an expository preaching conference called "Feed the Flock" for pastors in Colorado and Nebraska. In this fourth session, he discusses "The MAIN EVENT" which focuses on the Spirit-empowered delivery of the actual sermon.

Dr. Sean Cole led an expository preaching conference called "Feed the Flock" for pastors in Colorado and Nebraska. In this first session, he discusses "The Message" which focuses on a theology and definition of expository preaching.

Dr. Sean Cole led an expository preaching conference called "Feed the Flock" for pastors in Colorado and Nebraska. In this third session, he discusses "The METHOD" by providing a ten-step process or method for expository preaching.

Dr. Sean Cole led an expository preaching conference called "Feed the Flock" for pastors in Colorado and Nebraska. In this second session, he discusses "The MAN" which focuses on the calling, character, and commission of the preacher.

Pastor Sean starts a new series in the book of Galatians. In Paul's introduction we see the gospel in a nutshell. The gospel is God's plan to glorify Himself by sending Jesus to die for our sins and rise again to deliver us from this present evil age. You desperately need rescuing from your bondage to sin. www.seancole.net

Pastor Sean gives three common objections to unconditional election. He then urges those who hold to the doctrines of grace to be humble and gracious. Calvinism should cultivate contrition. Election should elicit exultation. Predestination should produce praise. This doctrine should NOT result in pride, arrogance, or gracelessness. www.seancole.net

We see in Peter's restoration that no true believer who has failed Jesus is beyond the reach of His amazing grace. From this passage, we see three distinct features of what it means to truly love Jesus. This concludes the sermon series on the Gospel of John. www.seancole.net

Jephthah was a self-centered brutal man who did not put the nation of Israel first. In essence, he represents the lowest point of the judges up to this point. His identity as the son of a prostitute mirrors the spiritual prostitution of Israel who whored after foreign gods. Here is the fundamental question: Where are the SPIRITUAL LEADERS IN ISRAEL? ¢ Where are the priests and why aren't they discipling and teaching the people? ¢ Where are the fathers and why aren't they discipling and teaching their children? Here's the bottom line: When men abdicate their roles as spiritual leaders both in the home and in the church, the people spiral into idolatry, sin, and disunity.

In Abimelech's conspiracy and downfall, we see that when God's people forget the Lord and are willing to accept unqualified leadership, God may bring painful discipline. Judges 9 shows Israel that destruction can come from WITHIN as well from without. Sin and destruction can come from WITHIN the church through idolatry, false teaching, and unqualified leadership as well from WITHOUT by persecution and pressure from the culture. www.seancole.net