Ques. 99. Who is the one to take the place of Philip? (Acts 8.)
Who has authority to baptize others?
W. B.
Paul was an apostle, "not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead." (Gal. 1:11Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) (Galatians 1:1).)
Elders and deacons were appointed to these offices by apostolic authority.
All gifts come from Christ in glory.
Ques. 100. What is the difference between Matt. 28:99And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. (Matthew 28:9), "And they came and held Him by the feet," and John 20:1717Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:17), "Touch Me not"?
W. H. W.
Ans. Matthew presents the Messiah, risen from the dead, to His earthly people, the remnant of Israel, beginning anew with Israel, therefore you get no ascension. but He sends out the disciples to the nations, and it ends by His saying, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (or age).
In John 20:17-2317Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. 18Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. 19Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. (John 20:17‑23), we have the blessing of the present time, when the Lord is ascended to His Father and our Father, His God and our God. We know Him by faith up there. We do not know Him after the flesh, or as a man down here. (2 Cor. 5:1616Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. (2 Corinthians 5:16).) Not as the Messiah on earth, but as the glorified Christ at God's right hand.