In this episode of Focused on Christ, host Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith dive into the challenging yet deeply encouraging truths of Romans 3. Often referred to as an "assault on the ego," this chapter provides a sobering look at the depth of human depravity while preparing us for the extraordinary gift of God's grace.

• The Mirror of Depravity: Why understanding that "no one is good" is essential for truly seeing the beauty of Jesus.

  
  

• The Jewish Dilemma: Paul addresses the insufficiency of religious activity and circumcision, arguing that true circumcision is an inward reality of faith.

  
  

• The Indictment of Humanity: A breakdown of verses 10–18 and what it means to be "under sin," highlighting that no one truly seeks God on their own.

  
  

• "But Now": Exploring the "logical contrastive" in verse 21 that changes everything—how an "alien righteousness" from outside ourselves is credited to us through faith in Jesus Christ.

  
  

• The End of Boasting: Why the law of faith excludes all human pride and leaves us solely with the grace of God.

  
  

"The difficult part of [Romans 3] is that it just really puts a mirror in front of us and says, take heart, you're worse than you think you are." — Pastor Nathan Smith

"The more that [Paul] grew in appreciation for God's grace, the more that he grew to realize and despise remaining sin." — Mike Crump

• Read Along: Romans 3:1–31

• Visit Our Website: Find more episodes and resources at FocusedOnChrist.com

• Next Week: Tune in for our first "Mailbag Show" where we answer your questions on the Trinity, prayer, and even self-defense!