The BIG Picture (Q&A)

Question from Social Media: When Jesus declared, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Matthew 28:18). Did he, "exalt himself over everything that is called God so that he sets himself up in God’s temple proclaiming himself to be God" (2Thessalonians2:4)? Answer: When Jesus declared, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matt.28:18), He was not exalting Himself in rebellion. His authority was given by the Father. Scripture confirms this: “As thou hast given him power over all flesh” (John 17:2), and “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him” (Phil.2:9). Christ’s exaltation is the Father’s act, rooted in His obedience unto death (Phil.2:8). He is the rightful Lord, seated at the right hand of God (Heb.1:3), and in Him “dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Col.2:9). By contrast, 2Thess.2:4 describes “that man of sin…who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God.” His authority is self-claimed,...

Eph.4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Apostles Apostles along with prophets were foundational positions or offices (Eph 2:20). A qualification to be an apostle was to have seen Jesus in the flesh (Ac 1:22; which also included Paul, 1 Co 15:8-9; Ga 1:1; 2:6-9). Not only must a person with the apostolic office have seen the resurrected Lord Jesus personally, but he must have been personally commissioned by Jesus as an apostle (Acts 1:22; cf. Ga 1:1, 12). The office of the apostle disappeared when those personally commissioned by Jesus died. Jesus personally chose apostles with the office. These men had the authority to perform "signs and wonders" (2 Co 12:12). Some apostles had the apostolic gift but not the office. The idea of an apostle is a sent one. By application this would refer to missionaries...