Acts242: Devoted to the Apostles' Teaching

In this episode, Alex Nash and Mark Sell continue their series examining Catholic doctrines through the lens of Scripture, turning their attention to Baptismal Regeneration — the teaching that water baptism is not merely a symbol, but the actual moment at which a person is saved.

They begin with recent news from the Catholic world, including the fallout from the Vatican's excommunication of the Society of St. Pius X bishops following their unauthorized consecrations, and a Catholic archbishop's blessing of a mosque, examined against Vatican II's Lumen Gentium alongside earlier papal decrees like Unam Sanctam and Cantate Domino.

A major portion of the episode is devoted to careful examination of key biblical passages: John 3:16, Romans 3–4, Acts, 1 Peter, and Galatians. Alex and Mark explain why they believe these texts point to justification by faith alone, apart from works, and why adding baptism as a requirement for salvation constitutes a different gospel altogether.

They also wrestle honestly with statements from the Church Fathers and Martin Luther that seem, on their face, to support baptismal regeneration, before closing with a reading from the Westminster Confession of Faith on the sacraments.

As always, the conversation is grounded in Scripture, respectful yet direct, and aimed at helping listeners clearly understand what the Bible teaches on this important subject.

Tune in for a thoughtful, biblically-centered look at one of the most consequential doctrines dividing Catholic and Protestant teaching on salvation.

Next episode: Can a Christian fellowship with a Catholic?

In this episode, Alex Nash and Mark Sell continue their series examining Catholic doctrines through the lens of Scripture, turning their attention to Transubstantiation — the teaching that the bread and wine of the Eucharist are miraculously transformed into the literal body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ.

They begin with recent news from the Catholic world, including the Society of St. Pius X’s upcoming consecration of bishops and a Swiss diocese’s ruling on parishioners sharing consecrated hosts with their dogs. From there, they define the doctrine using Catholic sources and the Council of Trent, address claimed Eucharistic miracles, and compare transubstantiation with related views like consubstantiation, the “real presence,” and the symbolic understanding held by many evangelicals.

A major portion of the episode is devoted to careful, verse-by-verse examination of the key biblical passages: John 6, Luke 22, and 1 Corinthians 10–11. Alex and Mark explain why they believe these texts point to a spiritual, symbolic, and memorial observance rather than a literal change in substance — while emphasizing the deep reverence believers should have for the Lord’s Supper as a proclamation of Christ’s death.

They also discuss the historical development of the doctrine, insights from the Church Fathers, and the broader implications of transubstantiation, including Eucharistic adoration, processions, and the practical consequences of believing the elements remain the physical presence of Christ.

As always, the conversation is grounded in Scripture, respectful yet direct, and aimed at helping listeners clearly understand what the Bible teaches on this important subject.

Tune in for a thoughtful, biblically-centered exploration of one of Catholicism’s most distinctive doctrines.

Next episode: Baptismal Regeneration.

In this episode of the Acts242 Podcast, Alex Nash is joined again by Mark to examine the Catholic Mass from a Protestant viewpoint. What exactly is the Mass? How did it develop historically, and what does it teach about salvation, sacrifice, and grace?

Drawing from Scripture and church history, they explore the theological foundations of the Mass—including its connection to transubstantiation (discussed more fully in the next episode), purgatory, indulgences, and the idea of the Mass as a propitiatory sacrifice. They contrast these teachings with the biblical doctrine of the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross and the believer’s lasting peace with God through faith alone.

Topics include:

• The historical shift from New Testament simplicity to ritual and works-based systems
• The meaning of “the breaking of bread” in Acts 2:42 versus the developed doctrine of the Mass
• Why the Mass cannot be the same sacrifice as Calvary
• The assurance of salvation versus the uncertainty of sacramental grace
• God’s love, the finished work of Christ, and the peace that comes from looking to Him alone

This episode is a thoughtful, Scripture-centered discussion calling listeners back to the simplicity and power of the gospel: salvation by grace through faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ.

Key verses: Hebrews 10, Romans 8:1, Romans 5:1, John 5:24, and more.

Whether you’re Protestant, Catholic, or simply curious about Christian worship and doctrine, this conversation offers clarity on one of the most significant differences between Protestant and Catholic theology.

Subscribe for more biblical teaching rooted in Acts 2:42 — the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer.

This episode covers praying to the saints and especially to Mary and whether or no it is an acceptable practice.

The apparitions of Mary are a phenomenon that is going on today. There are some people who, every day, believe that they see a vision of the action person of Mary the mother of the Lord Jesus and interact with her. They ask her questions, she speaks with them, she reveals secrets and prophecies. What are we to make of something so apparently supernatural and so thoroughly Catholic? Mark Sell and I take a moment to discuss this important subject on this episode of Acts242.

The Catholic church requires belief in four "dogmas" about Mary the mother of the Lord Jesus in order to be saved. They are as follows:

1. Mary is the Mother of God

2. Mary was perptually a virgin

3. Mary had an Immaculate Conception

4. Mary was bodily assumed up into heaven at the end of her life.

This podcast shows what a Catholic believes about these dogmas and how they would be defended from scripture. We then go on to see what the rest of the Word of God says about this subject and seek to show how these dogmas lead to worship of Mary which is in essense idolatry.

If you want to contact either Mark or myself please send an email to [email protected].

Is the pope the Vicar of Christ...or a wicked imposter leading men, women, and children down the broad road to hell? Do you have to believe in and submit to the pope to be saved...or if you believe in and submit to the pope does that exclude you from Christ? Those questions and more on this episode of Acts242.

If you want to get in touch reach out to [email protected]

This episode begins a series looking into the differences between Catholics and Protestants. The most fundamental of these differences which leads to all others is the difference called Sola Scriptura. Do you believe that the scriptures are alone sufficient and that you can understand them yourself? Or do you believe that you need tradition and church teachings and high church authority to interpret it all for you? This episode goes into what a Catholic believes on this point...then holds an examination from the Word of God.

To contact the host Alex Nash send an email to [email protected].

This episode has a guest speaker - Mark Sell. If you would like to reach out to Mark directly, send Alex a request and he can share Mark's contact information with you on a case by case basis.

Should a Christian engage in politics? I once talked with an individual and was sharing teaching from the Word of God and he cut off communication not because of me but because others shrugged their shoulders with Roe V Wade was overturned and said essentially - of the world, who cares. That kind of attitude, while I trust I was never so baldly uncaring as that, is common with some saints that I know, but my study of Charlie Kirk challenged my own somewhat non-committal stance on this topic. Was he right? Was it "incumbent" on a Christian to do all that we could to save this "beautiful country?" As I studied this I learned more and more that while I though Charlie was off into a ditch on this issue...there were some things that I was missing as well. This episode seeks to present an overview of my findings and to show you the listener a picture of how a Christian should navigate this difficult question.

If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at [email protected]

Charlie Kirk was killed on September 10, 2025. Why did the Lord allow him to die? What lessons can we learn from his life? And How should we respond to his death? These questions are taken up in this episode of the podcast.