Ep 152: The Trinity & The Human Soul | Focused on Christ

In this mailbag episode of Focused on Christ, host Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith dive deep into the "glorious mysteries" of Christian theology. From the internal relationships of the Trinity to the complex makeup of the human soul, we tackle listener questions with biblical depth and practical wisdom.

• The Trinity & Prayer: Does God the Father ever pray to the Son?. Nathan breaks down the relationship within the Godhead, explaining the context of Hebrews 1:8 and the normative way Christians are called to pray: to the Father, through the Son, in the power of the Spirit.

  
  

• Praying to the Holy Spirit: Is it "wrong" to address the Spirit directly?. We explore how understanding the different roles of the Godhead can enrich your prayer life beyond a singular address.

  
  

• The Anatomy of the Soul: Are humans made of two parts or three?. Nathan explains the dichotomous vs. trichotomous views, arguing for the biblical unity of our "immaterial" being (soul/spirit) and our "material" being (body).

  
  

• The Battle with Sin (Romans 7): How do we distinguish between our new identity in Christ and the "sin living in me"?. We discuss the reality of remaining sin in the believer’s life and the responsibility to not let it master us.

  
  

• Peacemaking & Self-Defense: How do we balance being non-violent kingdom-seekers with the duty to protect our families and churches?. Nathan shares a powerful story of "drowning out" protesters with worship and discusses the sanctity of life—even the life of an enemy.

"The way sanctification works is that you realize that you are a sinner. And the more holy you become, the more you realize of a sinner you are... but the amazing glory of the gospel eclipses it still." — Pastor Nathan Smith

• Read Along: To prepare for next week, read Romans 1 through 5.

• Learn More: Nathan recommends Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves and Father, Son, and Holy Spirit by Bruce Ware.

• Visit Us: Focused on Christ is a ministry of Heritage Baptist Church.

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