Understanding Christianity

In Romans 9, Paul presents some of the strongest arguments for God's absolute sovereignty in predestining individuals to salvation. In Chapter 10, he focuses on human responsibilty in Israel's refusal to accept their Messiah. These two simultaneous truths are not in conflict in the Bible. God's absolute sovereignty is compatibile with human responsibility. Chapter 10 also gives us some great encouragement in the area of evangelism. We also address the issue of what about those who have never heard the gospel. Enjoy! Check out Sean's book "Your Identity in the Trinity" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RWTJK9K?pf_rd_p=ab873d20-a0ca-439b-ac45-cd78f07a84d8&pf_rd_r=CJSSNC5TAWGYFP35HM3X

Dr. Sean Cole continues teaching through the book of Romans. If Israel is God’s chosen people, to whom these glorious temporary blessings have been given (Romans 9:4-5), then why are so few ethnic Jews actually saved? Why are the accursed and cut off? Why are the Gentiles coming to faith in Christ in large numbers, but ethnic Jews are refusing to believe in Jesus? You may not like the answer Paul gives, but we have to deal with it. Two basic answers: 1) Just because you are ethnically Jewish does not automatically guarantee that you will be saved—that was the presumption of the Jews. They thought they were automatically going to heaven based upon their lineage or ethnicity. 2) God chooses some people to be saved while passing over others who will not be saved—this is how God has always done things. Pastor Sean navigates these difficult waters and interacts with other views. Check out Sean's book "Your Identity in the Trinity" at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Identity-Trinity-Discovering-Gospel-

Dr. Cole was interviewed by Sean Finnegan on the Restitutio podcast in order to defend compatibilsm and Reformed theology. Previous podcast guests in this series were Dr. Dale Tuggy defending Open Theism, and Dr. Leighton Flowers defending Corporate Election/Provisionism. Dr. Sean Cole introduced the Calvinist understanding of God’s foreknowledge and the limitations on our freedom as a result of our fallen nature. This time I ask Cole about unconditional election and how that compares to a lottery. After all, if God has no conditions by which he decides whom he elects to salvation, then isn’t randomness all we have left? Also, I ask Cole to respond to a number of texts including John 3.16, 1 Timothy 2.4, 2 Peter 3.9, and Luke 7.30. Check out Sean's book "Your Identity in the Trinity" at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Identity-Trinity-Discovering-Gospel-ebook/dp/B07RWTJK9K/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

As we begin 2020, the book of James gives us a healthy dose of God's absolute sovereignty over all things. In James 4:13-17 we see that life is really short; God is absolutely sovereign; and we must submit our wills to His will. www.seancole.net

Dr. Cole was interviewed by Sean Finnegan on the Restitutio podcast in order to defend compatibilsm and Reformed theology. Previous podcast guests in this series were Dr. Dale Tuggy defending Open Theism, and Dr. Leighton Flowers defending Corporate Election/Provisionism. This is part 5 of our Foreknowledge and Free Will series. Part 6 will come out next week. Here is the link to the podcast: https://restitutio.org/2020/01/02/307-foreknowledge-and-free-will-5-sean-cole-introducing-calvinism/ Check out Sean's book "Your Identity in the Trinity" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Identity-Trinity-Discovering-Gospel-ebook/dp/B07RWTJK9K/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1578089088&sr=8-1 You can get more information about Sean Cole at his website: www.seancole.net

The Bible provides three definitions or aspect of peace: (1) Objective peace WITH God that results from our justiifcation, (2) the subjective peace OF God that results from prayer. and (3) peace with others that resutls from being a peacemaker. The first peace is the most important for it secures our standing before God as permanently accepted. The second kind of peace comes to us as an inner feeling of confidence and the third is crucial for having healthy relationships. www.seancole.net

Paul concludes Romans 8 with a glorious description of God's power to save His people eternally. Nothing can separate us from God's love for us in Christ. Dr. Sean Cole explores this truth by showing how the doctrine of the cross, resurrection, ascension, and intercession of Christ play a vital role in both our justification and final glorification. Check out his book "Your Identity in the Trinity" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RWTJK9K?pf_rd_p=ab873d20-a0ca-439b-ac45-cd78f07a84d8&pf_rd_r=AQEW9GHKCZ00KENME6ZS

The theme of Psalm 16 is fullness of joy. How do you experience true, biblical joy this Christmas as opposed to temporary happiness or fleeting pleasures? This Psalm asks us five questions about the condition of our hearts. www.seancole.net

Dr. Sean Cole debated/dialogued with unitarian Dr. Dale Tuggy concerning the doctrine of the Trinity. After reflecting on the debate, Dr. Cole provides a further teaching on all the issues he wished he WOULD have shared during the debate. He goes into more depth in key teachings on the Trinity and gives further clarifications in how he would have answered Dr. Tuggy. It may be helpful to listen to the actual debate which is in the previous episode to get a better context. Check out Sean's book "Your Identity in the Trinity" at amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Identity-Trinity-Discovering-Gospel-ebook/dp/B07RWTJK9K/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1576260585&sr=8-1

Paul gives five glorious truths about our salvation that all hold together like a golden chain. They all link together and cannot be broken. God set His electing love on a particular people in eternity past. Those same people He predesinted. Those same people He called. Those same people He justified. Those same people He will glorify on the final day. Listen as Pastor Sean explains the wonder of how God has determined to save His people from first to last. Check out Sean's book "Your Identity in the Trinity" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RWTJK9K?pf_rd_p=ab873d20-a0ca-439b-ac45-cd78f07a84d8&pf_rd_r=EKPE21F2A8AB2GKWRAKZ

The second candle of Advent is the Love candle or Bethlehem candle. In this sermon, Pastor Sean provides a Trinitarian understanding of God's love that comes to us from Father, Son, and Spirit. He then provides four ways we should respond to this amazing love. You can check out Sean's book "Your Identity in the Trinity" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RWTJK9K?pf_rd_p=ab873d20-a0ca-439b-ac45-cd78f07a84d8&pf_rd_r=EKPE21F2A8AB2GKWRAKZ

In this teaching, Pastor Sean gives three main truths from Romans 8: (1) The Holy Spirit ensures our adoption into God's family, (2) The Holy Spirit helps us when we are weak in prayer, and (3) God sovereignly works out all things for our good. www.seancole.net

Dr. Sean Cole debated/dialogued with Dr. Dale Tuggy concerning the question: Does the Bible teach that God is a Trinity? Marlon Wilson of The Gospel Truth YouTube Channel hosted the debate. You can watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgJO8v2nIVQ Dr. Cole argued the affirmative position that God is a Trinity while Dr. Tuggy argued the negative. Tuggy considers himself an evangelical unitarian who does not believe in inerrancy. The debate consists of 10 minute opening statements, followed by a 1 hour self-moderated discussion, closing arguments, and then questions from the audience. There will be a follow up podcast where Dr. Cole gives a full presentation of all the issues he wanted to share, but did not have time.

The first candle of Advent is the HOPE candle which anticipates the coming of Christ as prophesied in the Old Testament. How can we have hope in our present sufferings in this fallen world of pain? Romans 8:17-25 answers this question and describes true, biblical HOPE. Check out Sean's book "Your Identity in the Trinity" at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Identity-Trinity-Discovering-Gospel-ebook/dp/B07RWTJK9K/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Sean+Cole&qid=1575306885&sr=8-1

The priests needed to wash up at the bronze basin every time they entered the tabernacle after offering sacrifices on the bronze altar. What does this tell us about our relationship with Jesus? In our justification, the penalty of sin was forever cancelled. In our regeneration, the power of sin was forever cancelled. In our baptism, we portrayed outwardly what God had done inwardly. In our sanctification, we still have to deal with the pollution of indwelling sin. How do we practically "wash up" and pursue holiness? Pastor Sean gives things we should regularly do in order to grow in our sanctification. www.seancole.net

In our regeneration, the Holy Spirit has effectually set us free from sin and the law. He now indwells the believer and grants us the grace to kill sin. Paul contrasts the unregenerate person who is totally inable to come to Christ versus the regenerate person who has been set free by the Spirit. Dr. Cole spends the majority of time on Romans 8:13 discussing what it means to decisively put sin to death (mortification). Check out Sean's book "Your Identity in the Trinity" at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Identity-Trinity-Discovering-Gospel-ebook/dp/B07RWTJK9K/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1574443832&sr=8-1

The altar of incense represents the prayers of God's people as a fragrant aroma to our living God. Jesus is seated in heaven now at the right hand of the Father interceding/praying for us. This is an amazing truth. This should give us the confidence to pray without ceasing, Check out Sean's book "Your Identity in the Trinity" at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Identity-Trinity-Discovering-Gospel-ebook/dp/B07RWTJK9K/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1574443832&sr=8-1

Romans 7 is considered one of the most difficult and controversial chapters in Romans. Why do we still sin? Why do we still do the things we know we shouldn’t do? Why do we struggle with doing the things we should do and fail to do them? IF we have died to sin, been set free from sin, and our old man has been crucified, then should not we conclude that we will never sin again? That we can reach a plane of sinless perfection? Is Paul talking about himself and his current struggle with sin as a regenerate Christian? Or. . . is Paul describing what his life was like BEFORE his salvation. In other words, is this section describing what we normally experience as Christians who struggle with sin, or is this describing what our life was like before we got saved and were still “in Adam?” The early church fathers, Arminians like Jacob Arminius and John Wesley, for the most part, believe Paul is talking about the life BEFORE one is a Christian—the unregenerate, lost person. On the other hand, Augustine, Thomas

Do you often struggle with your assurance of salvation? Do you wonder if God has stopped loving you because of your sin? The bronze altar in Exodus 27 shows how Israel needed a continual burnt offering for their perpetual sins. The Old Testament animal sacrifices could NEVER completely forgive all sins. The once for all death of Christ completely forgives all sins. This truth should bring us great assurance of our salvation. www.seancole.net

Paul's description of slavery in Romans 6 is very confusing. Here’s the main point: As a Christian, you are free FROM sin, but that does not give you freedom TO sin. We are free from the binding enslavement of the Law of Moses that crushes us under its weight and makes us guilty, but we are not free to do whatever we want because now we have a new master—the living God. There is no such thing as absolute freedom to do whatever you want—for both the non-Christian and the Christian. The question is not whether you will have a master—the question is WHO is your master and which one will you serve. Will you serve sin or will you serve the Lord? Check out Sean's book "Your Identity in the Trinity" at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Identity-Trinity-Discovering-Gospel-ebook/dp/B07RWTJK9K/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1573179497&sr=8-1