Grace in Focus Podcast

Episode Title: How Are Iniquities Passed From Father to Son?
Date: October 29, 2025
Hosts: Sam Marr and Philippe Sterling (substituting for Bob Wilkin)
Length: ~13 minutes

Episode Overview

In this concise episode, hosts Sam Marr and Philippe Sterling respond to a listener question about the concept of a "hardened heart"—specifically, whether someone's heart can become so hard that salvation becomes impossible. Through biblical examples and pastoral wisdom, they examine scriptural contexts, address common misconceptions, and offer comfort for those wrestling with doubts about their own (or others’) openness to faith in Christ.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Listener Question: Fear of an Irredeemably Hardened Heart

• [00:58] Sam Marr introduces the question:
  Leland, a listener, voices concerns about legalism and fears his heart may be "hardened beyond the point" of being able to believe in Jesus for eternal life.
• Sam adds a pastoral angle:
  "If someone is asking the question, 'Is my heart too hard to believe?' then is their heart really hard?"

2. Biblical Foundations: Pharaoh’s Hardened Heart (Exodus 5)

• [01:55] Philippe Sterling explains the context:
  Using Pharaoh’s repeated refusals to release the Israelites, Philippe notes Scripture distinguishes between hardening by Pharaoh himself, by God, or in a general sense.
  • Quote:

    "In several of the places we are told of his heart simply was hardened without telling us who was the agent...In a couple places, specifically it says that Pharaoh hardened his heart. And in a couple places, it says Yahweh, the Lord, hardened his heart." (A, 02:38)

• Key insight:
  The hardening in Exodus concerns Pharaoh’s refusal to obey God’s command, not a general inability to believe for salvation.

3. Application to Today: Doubt, Seeking, and Divine Response

• [05:28] Sam Marr connects the text to real struggles:
  Sam references New Testament examples (like Cornelius and the Ethiopian eunuch) to show God honors those who seek Him, even from unbelief.
  • Quote:

    “Even if you're an unbeliever, if you're seeking God, you want to believe, you just are struggling with it, then God's not going to harden your heart and say, nope, I don't like you enough. You’re not good enough... If you're seeking, then God is going to draw you to him.” (C, 05:55)

4. Can Someone Be Beyond Salvation?

• [07:11] Sam poses a common concern:
  What about deeply resistant loved ones or long-term unbelievers?
• [07:43] Philippe Sterling responds with hope:
  He shares the example of Saul of Tarsus (the Apostle Paul), who fiercely opposed the Gospel but later believed.
  • Quote:

    “As long as someone is alive, there's always the opportunity to believe... Unbelief is, I don't think is ever final until a person dies.” (A, 09:55)

• Sam contrasts with examples of ongoing hardness:
  Some Pharisees/Sadducees saw miracles yet resisted, but even after initial rejection, many priests later believed when Peter preached post-resurrection.

5. Human Will and God’s Pursuit

• [10:42] Sam clarifies the role of free will:
  • Quote:

    “To me, it’s hard to say, you know, someone’s beyond salvation, because I think you’re limiting God... God hasn’t given up on anybody. There’s no one that’s—they’ve hardened their heart so much that God’s like, nope, this guy’s too tough a nut to crack.” (C, 10:42)

• Both hosts agree:
  God continues to draw people; hardening is about an individual’s ongoing unwillingness rather than an imposed spiritual deadlock.

6. Final Encouragement and Takeaways

• [11:51] Philippe Sterling circles back to the listener’s case:
  If someone is genuinely concerned about their spiritual state, they are not resisting God as Pharaoh did.
• [12:12] Sam Marr’s advice to those wrestling with doubts:
  • Quote:

    “I hope this helps anybody out there who's struggled with this, because this is a phrase I hear a lot... I would encourage you to read the scripture in context, understand what that phrase means, and just trust... God in his sovereignty... has the ability to reach anybody.” (C, 12:12)

• [12:51] Calls to trust God’s grace and the freedom of personal response.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “If someone is asking the question, ‘Is my heart too hard to believe?’ then is their heart really hard?”
  — Sam Marr, [00:58]

• “The hardening of the heart concerns obeying the command of God to let Israel go... The hardening of the heart does not concern that matter [believing in Christ for everlasting life].”
  — Philippe Sterling, [04:52]

• “If you're seeking God, he's going to draw you to him... I don't think his heart has been hardened.”
  — Sam Marr, [05:55, 07:11]

• “Unbelief is, I don't think, ever final until a person dies.”
  — Philippe Sterling, [09:55]

• “God hasn't given up on anybody. There's no one that's—they've hardened their heart so much that God's like, nope, this guy's too tough a nut to crack.”
  — Sam Marr, [10:42]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:58 — Listener question introduction and framing
• 01:55 — Scriptural analysis: Pharaoh and the hardening of hearts
• 05:28 — God’s faithfulness to seekers (Cornelius, Ethiopian eunuch)
• 07:11 — Considering family/friends who seem resistant
• 07:43 — The case of Saul (Paul): From persecutor to apostle
• 09:55 — Is unbelief ever final? The example of the priests
• 10:42 — God’s persistence and respect for human will
• 12:12 — Pastoral summary and encouragement

Conclusion

This episode offers comfort and clarity to listeners troubled by the idea of being "too far gone" for God’s grace. The hosts make a clear, biblically grounded case: while humans can resist God, no one—so long as they are seeking, questioning, and alive—is beyond the reach of belief in Christ. The hardening of the heart is not about being barred from salvation, but about persistent, willful resistance to God’s calling.

Listeners are reminded to trust in God’s persistent pursuit and their own agency in responding to the message of everlasting life in Christ.