Those are good questions.
God is the only one who has the authority to give...which is why a person has to be a minister
called of God , not self-appointed or even church-appointed or internet-ordained. That's why it's written in
Romans 10:14-15 KJV:
"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? [15] And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"
You can receive the Holy Ghost all by yourself without a preacher... but you can't get baptized without one.
"Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but
ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to
every man?" -
1 Corinthians 3:5 KJV
Water baptism (believe it or not) is a part of belief (He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved"
Mark 16:16) and is a part of repentance because it's part of separating us from our sins. (Baptism is for the remission of sins.
Mark 1:4,
Luke 3:3,
Acts 2:38 )
That's why Jesus could say to Peter and the rest he was sending to baptize " Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." -
John 20:23 KJV
The power of remission of sins is in the hands of the baptizer... THAT is why God has a
minister for
every man. It's important to be sure whoever you choose to follow is not a blind leader of the blind.
Love in Jesus,
Kelby