Ep. 161 – Confess and Believe (Romans 10)In this episode, Mike and Pastor Nathan Smith dive into Romans 10, exploring what it truly means to confess with your mouth and believe in your heart — and why those aren't two separate steps but one unified act of saving faith. They unpack Paul's deep affection for his Jewish brothers, the relationship between God's sovereignty and human responsibility, and why a high view of election should fuel mission rather than kill it.Topics covered:Romans 10:1–14 walk-throughPaul's heart for the lost and what it says about sovereigntyWhat "confess with your mouth" really means in a context of persecution

Why confession, belief, and repentance are inseparable"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" — and the sovereignty debateWhy the church must go, preach, and sendFocused on Christ is a ministry of Heritage Baptist Church in Lynchburg, VA. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, or visit us at focusedonchrist.com.

Jacob I Loved, Esau I Hated: Understanding the Mystery of Romans 9In this episode of Focused on Christ, host Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith tackle one of the most debated and challenging chapters in all of Scripture: Romans 9. This passage often sparks fierce debate because it touches on the very character of God, His sovereignty, and the nature of human responsibility.The team explores the "fear and trembling" associated with these verses, providing a necessary theological foundation before diving into the text. They discuss:The Character of God: Why we must begin with the presupposition that God is perfectly good, just, and loving—even when His providence feels like a mystery.Paul’s Heart for Israel: Understanding the deep "unceasing anguish" Paul felt for his kinsmen who had been given every spiritual advantage yet rejected the Messiah.The "Hate" Idiom: Breaking down the linguistic context of "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated" to understand it as a Hebraic idiom of divine preference and purpose rather than vociferous hatred.The Potter and the Clay: How God’s sovereignty in "forming vessels" intersects with human agency and the reality that while salvation is an act of divine grace, rejection of God remains a human responsibility.Pharaoh’s Hardened Heart: A discussion on whether God "coerces" evil or simply withdraws His restraining grace, allowing a heart to harden itself in its own natural rebellion.Join us as we navigate the complexities of God’s election and mercy, ultimately landing in the beautiful doxology of trust in His perfect will.

From Groaning to Glory: Finding Hope in Romans 8

In this episode of Focused on Christ, host Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith dive deep into the second half of Romans 8—often called one of the most precious chapters in all of Scripture.

Picking up from their discussion on our identity of "no condemnation," the team explores the dual reality of Christian life: the internal struggle between the flesh and the Spirit, and the external weight of suffering in a fallen world. They discuss how our willingness to endure with Christ actually proves our identity in Him and why the future glory awaiting us makes today's trials pale in comparison.

In this episode, we cover:

The Purpose of Suffering: Understanding why Christians "suffer with Him" and how endurance serves as the ultimate test of fidelity.

The Groaning of Creation: Why the world feels "broken" and how technology is often an attempt to circumvent the effects of the Fall.

The Spirit’s Intercession: The comfort of knowing the Holy Spirit is actively praying for us even when we don't know the words.

The Golden Chain of Redemption: A look at the "inter-trinitarian shield" where the Father plans, the Son effects, and the Spirit finishes our salvation.

Unstoppable Love: Why nothing in all of creation—not even death—can separate the believer from the love of God in Christ Jesus.Join us as we explore why, in all these things, we are more than conquerors.