Seeking Proof Finding Grace

Ron Campbell
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

Every week we take a close look at God's great love for us. Along the way we will answer some of the most difficult questions like: Were we created or are we a cosmic accident? If there is a God, how can I know who He is? Does God really love me? If so, why does He allow so many bad things to happen? Come join us on the greatest journey of all!

  1. 1d ago

    Was It Really Anonymous Part I Paul’s Letters: Podcast 127

    Send us Fan Mail This week we take a look at some of Paul’s letters to see some great clues that his letters were many things, but anonymous was not one of them.   Romans 1, “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. 5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; 7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:” NKJV, 1982   Romans 15, “22 For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. 23 But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, 24 whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. 25 But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.”   NKJV, 1982   Romans 16: 1-24 - Paul addresses over 30 additional believers and/or households at the end of Romans who he has been working with or who can attest to his activities to various degrees.  Many of these appear to be people who they may have known. Including: ·       Phoebe who seems to be coming to them from Paul ·       Timothy his trusted companion ·       Priscilla and Aquila who we know from Acts ·       Rufus (chosen in the Lord), who could be the son of Simon who carried Jesus’ cross ·       And the Tertius who identifies himself as the person who transcribed the letter for Paul    1st Corinthians 1, “Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:” NKJV, 1982   1st Corinthians 1, “14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.” NKJV, 1982   1st Cor 2, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.” NKJV, 1982   1st Cor 4, “17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.” NKJV, 1982   1st Cor 16, “7 For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. 9 For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries….17 I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what was lacking on your part they supplied. 18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men.” NKJV, 1982   1st Cor  16, “21 The salutation with my own hand—Paul’s.” NKJV, 1982

  2. Sep 27

    How “Exact Words” Can Mislead You: Podcast 126

    Send us Fan Mail As we get ready to look at whether the New Testament documents are really anonymous, we need to look at how some statements can be true, but very misleading if not taken in their proper context.  Are they really anonymous?  No, they aren’t in the way we think.    “We don’t have the originals!  We have only error-ridden copies, and the vast majority of these are centuries removed from the originals and different from them, evidently, in thousands of ways.” Bart Ehrman, Misquoting Jesus, 2007, Pg 7   “Not only do we not have the originals, we don’t have the first copies of the originals.  We don’t even have copies of the copies of the originals, or copies of the copies of the copies of the originals.  What we have are copies made later – much later…And these copies all differ from one another, in many thousands of places.”  Bart Ehrman, Misquoting Jesus, 2007, Pg 10   “Most of these differences are completely immaterial and insignificant.”  Bart Ehrman, Misquoting Jesus, 2007, Pg 10   “I keyed in on the most important issue.  ‘How many doctrines of the church are in jeopardy because of the variants?’  ‘I don’t know of any doctrine that is in jeopardy,’ he responded confidently.  ‘None?’  ‘None’ he repeated.” Lee Strobel, The Case for Christ, 1998, p. 65   “The position I argue for in Misquoting Jesus does not actually stand at odds with Prof. Metzger’s position that the essential Christian beliefs are not affected by textual variants in the manuscript tradition of the New Testament.  What he means by that (I think) is that even if one or two passages that are used to argue for a belief have a different textual reading, there are still other passages that could be used to argue for the same belief.  For the most part, I think that’s true.”  Bart Ehrman, Misquoting Jesus, 2007, Pg 252     “for example, that most of the textual variants in the manuscript tradition of the New Testament are of no real importance: they don’t change the meaning of the text or have any bearing on its interpretation.  The majority of changes have to do simply with spelling mistakes.”  Bart Ehrman, Misquoting Jesus, 2007, Pg 260    “During his lifetime, Jesus himself didn't call himself God and didn't consider himself God... none of his disciples had any inkling at all that he was God….I think it's completely implausible that Matthew, Mark and Luke would not mention that Jesus called himself God if that's what he was declaring about himself. That would be a rather important point to make. This is not an unusual view amongst scholars; it's simply the view that the Gospel of John is providing a theological understanding of Jesus that is not what was historically accurate.”   NPR. (2014, 4 4). If Jesus Never Called Himself God How Did He Become One? Retrieved 4 4, 2015, from NPR.ORG: http://www.npr.org/2014/04/07/300246095/if-jesus-never-called-himself-god-how-did-he-become-one   Gospel of Mark calls Jesus God in every chapter  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwQF-SS-O_g

  3. Sep 20

    Paul’s Letters Tell Us How the Gospel Was Taught: Podcast 125

    Send us Fan Mail This week we look at how the Gospel message and the truth about Jesus’ life and ministry was protected by the early Church.  Spoiler alert, the early Church wasn’t shy in telling us how carefully they protected the most important thing in the world to them and it isn’t what the form critics led us to believe!  Were there really hundreds of competing versions of Jesus during this time before anything was submitted to writing?  No.  When different, incorrect theologies popped up, they were corrected immediately.  This week we look at Paul’s Letters.    Entire letter of Roman’s: 1. Jewish Christian relations  Romans 2:25-29 NKJV  Romans 3:1-4 NKJV     2. Saved by faith alone  Romans 4:9-16 NKJV Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. [10] How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. [11] And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, [12] and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. [13] For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. [14] For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, [15] because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. [16] Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.  NKJV, 1982   3. Place of the law   4. Living the Christian life  Romans 6:1-6 NKJV   5. Sonship of God  Romans 8:12-17 NKJV Therefore, brethren, we are debtors-not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. [13] For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. [14] For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. [15] For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." [16] The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, [17] and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.  NKJV, 1982   6. Israel’s reconciliation   Romans 11:1-2,11-12 NKJV   7. Law of Liberty  Romans 14:1-9 NKJV   8. People Dividing the Church  Romans 16:17-20 NKJV   1st Corinthians 1. Solid Gospel Message just like in Romans 10  1 Corinthians 15:3-5 NKJV For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, [4] and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, [5] and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. [6] After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. [7] After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. [8] Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.  NKJV, 1982   2. Resurrection of the dead 1 Corinthians 15:12-17 NKJV Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? [13] But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. [14] And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. [15] Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up-if in fact the dead do not rise. [16] For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. [17] And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!  NKJV, 1982   3. The place of baptism   1 Corinthians 1:15-17 NKJV   4. Sexual Immorality   1 Corinthians 5:1,4-6 NKJV Romans chapter 1    5. Marriage and Divorce   6. Idolatry   7. The place and conduct at the Lord’s Supper   1 Corinthians 11:23-34 NKJV   8. Spiritual Gifts   9. Our resurrection    2nd Corinthians 1. Our resurrection    2. judgement of believers   2 Corinthians 5:9-11 NKJV Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. [10] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. [11] Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.  NKJV, 1982   3. Christian giving   4. God’s grace during trials   2 Corinthians 12:8-10 NKJV Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. [9] And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. [10] Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  NKJV, 1982   5. Signs of a true apostle   2 Corinthians 12:12 NKJV   Galatians: 1. Grace alone and false gospels  Galatians 1:6-12 NKJV  Galatians 2:14-16 NKJV  Galatians 3:1-9 NKJV O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? [2] This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? [3] Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?  NKJV, 1982   2. Paganism creeping back in  Galatians 4:8-11 NKJV   Ephesians  1. Creation of all things and God’s great plan of salvation:  Ephesians 1:3-10 NKJV Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, [4] just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, [5] having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, [6] to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. [7] In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace [8] which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, [9] having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, [10] that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth-in Him.  NKJV, 1982     2. Grace alone:  Ephesians 2:4-10 NKJV   3. Marriage and Relationships    Philippians 1. Jesus’ humanity  Philippians 2:5-11 NKJV Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, [6] who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, [7] but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. [9] Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, [11] and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  NKJV, 1982   1st Thessalonians:   1. The rapture of the church  1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NKJV   And again in 2nd Thes 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5 NKJV

  4. Sep 13

    Acts Tells Us How the Gospel Was Taught: Podcast 124

    Send us Fan Mail This week we look at how the Gospel message and the truth about Jesus’ life and ministry was protected by the early Church.  Spoiler alert, the early Church wasn’t shy in telling us how carefully they protected the most important thing in the world to them and it isn’t what the form critics led us to believe!  Were there really hundreds of competing versions of Jesus during this time before anything was submitted to writing?  No.  When different, incorrect theologies popped up, they were corrected immediately.  This week we look at Acts.     How the Baptism of the Holy Spirit Worked   Acts 8:14-20,25 NKJV   Could the Gospel go to the Gentiles?   Acts 11:1-3 NKJV Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. [2] And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, [3] saying, "You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!"     How do you handle false prophets?   Acts 13:6-12 NKJV     Polytheism verses Christianity   Acts 14:11-18 NKJV Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!" [12] And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. [13] Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes. [14] But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out [15] and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, [16] who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. [17] Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness." [18] And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.   Do Gentiles Need Circumcision?   Acts 15:1-2 NKJV   Proper Baptism   Acts 19:1-10 NKJV …[8] And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. [9] But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. [10] And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

  5. Sep 6

    Who Were the Church Fathers?: Podcast 123

    Send us Fan Mail Who were the disciples of the disciples?  How did they carry on the Gospel message, how do they help us to confirm what the original copies of the Gospels said and why we should show them some serious respect for protecting the message.     “Indeed, so extensive are these citations that if all other sources for our knowledge of the text of the New Testament was destroyed, they would be sufficient alone for the reconstruction of practically the entire New Testament.” Metzger, Bruce; Ehrman, Bart, Text of the New Testament, 2005

  6. Aug 30

    Show Them Some Respect: Podcast 122

    Send us Fan Mail We need to show the early church some respect for several different reasons.  First, the absolute disrespect shown to the early church by our modern “snobbery” is wrong on so many accounts.  Second is the persecution they suffered.  It is amazing to me that we judge them so harshly 2,000 years later when we can’t begin to imagine what they suffered for their beliefs.   C.S. Lewis coined the term “chronological snobbery” to describe the tendency to dismiss older ideas, philosophies, or religious beliefs as outdated or irrelevant solely due to their age. He defined it as “the uncritical acceptance of the intellectual climate of our own age and the assumption that whatever has gone out of date is on that count discredited”. C.S. Lewis, Surprised by Joy    “This is because it appears that Christians, especially early in the movement, came for the most part from the lower, uneducated classes.  There were always exceptions, of course, like the apostle Paul and the other authors whose works made it into the New Testament and who were obviously skilled writers; but for the most part, Christians came from the ranks of the illiterate.  This is certainly true of the very earliest Christians, who would have been the apostles of Jesus.  In the Gospel accounts, we find that most of Jesus disciples are simple peasants from Galilee – uneducated fisherman, for example.  Two of them, Peter and John, are explicitly said to be “illiterate” in the book of Acts (4:13).  Bart Ehrman, Misquoting Jesus, 2007    “In fact, most of the pagan opposition to Christians during the church’s first two centuries happened on the grassroots level rather than as a result of organized, official Roman persecution.  Contrary to what many people appear to think, there was nothing “illegal” about Christianity, per se, in those early years.”  Bart Ehrman, Misquoting Jesus, 2007   “Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace.  Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the source of the first evil, but even in Rome…Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty: then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind.” Tacitus, The Annuals, 15.44    “I have asked them if they are Christians, and if they admit it, I repeat the question a second and third time, with a warning of the punishment awaiting them.  If they persist, I order them to be led away for execution; for, whatever the nature of their admission, I am convinced that their stubbornness and unshakeable obstinacy ought not to go unpunished…They also declare that the sum total of their guilt or error amounted to no more than this: they had met regularly before dawn on a fixed day to chant verses alternatively amongst themselves in honor of Christ as if to a God, and also to bind themselves by oath, not for any criminal purpose, but to abstain from theft, robbery, and adultery…This made me decide it was all the more necessary to extract the truth by torture from two slave-women, whom they called deaconesses.  I found nothing but a degenerate sort of cult carried to extravagant lengths.”   Pliny the Younger, The Letters, 10.96

  7. Aug 23

    Who Were the Minor Eyewitnesses? Podcast 121

    Send us Fan Mail The last group of guarantors of Jesus’ Gospel message and the story of His life are given to us in the Gospels themselves, although many times we don’t recognize these smaller characters.  Who are these characters and how can we tell the role they played to preserving the story for us?   Luke 24, “13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.  17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?  18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”  NKJV, 1982   “Why should one of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus be named (Cleopas) and the other not?  While most beneficiaries of Jesus’ healings and resuscitation miracles are anonymous, Jarious (whose daughter was raised) is named in Mark and Luke, Bartimaeus in Mark, Lazarus in John.  Since people who encounter Jesus on one occasion are usually not named, why should the Pharisee who entertains Jesus to dinner in Luke 7 be named (Simon, 7:40)?  Why should Simon of Cyrene be named?”  Richard Bauckham, Jesus and the Eyewitnesses, 2006  page 40   “If the names are of persons well known in the Christian communities, then it also becomes likely that many of these people were themselves the eyewitnesses who first told and doubtless continued to tell the stories in which they appear and to which their names are attached.  A good example is Cleopas (Luke 24:18): the story does not require that he be named and his companion remains anonymous.  There seems no plausible reason for naming him other than to indicate that he was the source of this tradition.  He is very probably the same person as Clopas, whose wife Mary appears among the women at the cross in John 19:25.  Copas is a very rare Semitic form of the Greek name Cleopas, so rare that we can be certain this is the Clopas who, according to Hegesippus, was the brother of Jesus father Joseph and the father of Simon, who succeeded his cousin James as the leader of the Jerusalem church (apud Eusebius, Hist. Eccl. 3.11; 4.22.4).”  Richard Bauckham, Jesus and the Eyewitnesses, 2006  page 47    Mark 10, “46 Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” 50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 51 So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.”   Mark 15, “15 So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified. 16 Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. 17 And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, 18 and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. 20 And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him. 21 Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross. 22 And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull.” Romans 16, “13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.” “Why should he have been influenced by a novelistic tendency to name unnamed characters in the case of Malchus but not in the cases of the Samaritan woman, the paralyzed man, or the man born blind, all of whom are much more prominent characters than Malchus?”  Richard Bauckham, Jesus and the Eyewitnesses, 2006  page 43   John 18, “8 Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” 9 that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”  10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”

  8. Aug 16

    Acts Tells Us How the Gospel Was Taught: Podcast 120

    Send us Fan Mail This week we look at how the Gospel message and the truth about Jesus’ life and ministry was protected by the early Church.  Spoiler alert, the early Church wasn’t shy in telling us how carefully they protected the most important thing in the world to them and it isn’t what the form critics led us to believe!    Acts 2, “14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:”  NKJV, 1982 Pointing to the Old Testament as well…   Acts 3, “13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. 16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.” NKJV, 1982   Acts 4, “32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.” NKJV, 1982   Acts 8, “4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.”  NKJV, 1982    Acts 8, “14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” NKJV, 1982    Acts 9, “26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. 29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists,  dbut they attempted to kill him. 30 When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.” NKJV, 1982    Acts 11, “Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, 3 saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!...20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. 22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” NKJV, 1982    Acts 13, “Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers… 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.” NKJV, 1982    Acts 16, “4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.” NKJV, 1982    6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.” NKJV, 1982    “The first Christians were not all illiterate peasant laborers and craftsmen, as the form critics supposed, but evidently included people who studied the Scriptures with current exegetical skills and could write works with literary quality of the letter James.  Leaders who were themselves not literate could employ the services of other believers who were.”  Richard Bauckham, Jesus and the Eyewitnesses, 2006  page 289    2nd Timothy 4, “9 Be diligent to come to me quickly; 10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. 12 And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.” NKJV, 1982

See All (128)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Every week we take a close look at God's great love for us. Along the way we will answer some of the most difficult questions like: Were we created or are we a cosmic accident? If there is a God, how can I know who He is? Does God really love me? If so, why does He allow so many bad things to happen? Come join us on the greatest journey of all!

Information

  • Creator
    Ron Campbell
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    128
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Seeking Proof Finding Grace
  • Show Website
    Seeking Proof Finding Grace