Why does Jesus say numerous times he is going to the Father if he is the Father? 1:17). While there may be some Christians in Oneness churches, the movement as a whole is non-Christian. If God is only one person, why did Jesus say in John 14:23, "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." It should be noted that the phrase in the name of, is an idiom for power and authority. As formulated by Doctor Bernard, it logically entails that there are two Gods. Amen. Understanding how Jesus identifies himself in the Gospels Read More Jesus is the Model for Us The trinitarian believes that there is only one God. Is Jesus His own Father? The apostolic age, in addition to all of these signs and wonders, entails that there are apostles. Jesus can be called God because he represents God. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand. (Heb 5:8), If Jesus himself is the Father, wouldnt it be pointless to say I have kept my Fathers commandments and abide in his love. (John 15:10), Does God raise himself up as a servant? I am afraid that this emanates from a misunderstanding of trinitarian theology. Furthermore, each has a will, speaks, loves, and with whom we can have fellowship. 56 And he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God., 6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth., 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. This doesn't sound like a problem, until you realize the danger of questions. The Father in Heaven is one nature, and the Son on earth is another nature. It is based upon a misunderstanding of Matthew 28:19 and Acts 2:38. But they never, even once, indicate that everybody must do this. But his name was not Immanuel. In distinction to God, Jesus is referred to as a man who is the one mediator between God and men in 1 Tim 2:5-6. The Trinity, the Definition of Chalcedon, and Oneness Theology (John 14:12, John 14:28, John 16:17, John 16:28), How can God be tempted in every way we are and also sympathize with our weaknesses? Instead the . (John 20:17). 34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 40 Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about: 41 Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you., Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Furthermore, this negates the sufficiency of the atoning sacrifice of Christ because it negates the divine quality of that sacrifice. These references include Romans 1:7, Romans 15:6, 1 Corinthians 1:3, 1 Corinthians 8:6, 2 Corinthians 1:2-3, 2 Corinthians 11:31, Galatians 1:1-3, Ephesians 1:2-3, Ephesians 1:17, Ephesians 5:20, Ephesians 6:23, Philippians 1:2, Philippians 2:11, Colossians 1:3, 1 Peter 1:2-3. Jesus will be in us and we will be in Jesus, but that does not literally make us Jesus. It is not a contradictory notion. Many members of the UPCI do not even realize what the larger organization believes. Just as a man can be a father, a son, and an employee, so also God is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. What is wrong with the oneness view of God? However when the Oneness Pentecostal see messianic statements in the Psalms that seem to regard the Son as existing presently, they are viewed as prophetic. (1 Peter 2:23), Did God highly exalt Christ and give him the name that is above every name because he was obedient to himself? How can God be both the mediator and the God he mediates for? But the Oneness Pentecostal church teaches that we are still in the apostolic age. lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. To sum up: The mystical doctrine of oneness is metaphysically disturbing, and it can foster authoritarian behavior. (ESV) ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version),copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Justification by faith. This implies that God is not eternally self-sufficient in all areas. But, there are numerous problems with their position. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.. Is he but one-third, 33% of God? The Trinity is the teaching that there is one God who exists in three distinct, concurrent, persons. He is totally God. PDF Oneness Pentecostals and the Trinity - isca-apologetics.org The solution is found in the next section. If this were a formula, we would see consistency. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. Jesus is spoken of as the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15) and the exact representation of His [Gods] nature. Is He a copy of Himself? Any time God says something, it is Jesus speaking. 18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me., These verses provide the strongest distinctions between God and Jesus not only in reference to them being separate persons but also provide distinction with respect to ontology (the Father is identified as God who is greater than all). I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. His wrath abides upon us, he must give us just condemnation for our sins. Many of my followers are aware that I have come from a Oneness Pentecostal background, and I often make harsh comparisons, in saying that they are similar to the Mormon church or the Jehovahs Witnesses. The Trinity is one of the foundational doctrines of Christianity. American Christianity teaches people that if they are sprinkled with some water, then they are saved. monotheism, belief in the existence of one god, or in the oneness of God. You must be indwelled by God himself and have a born again experience. How can you say, Show us the Father? All of the wrath of God that we deserve went out upon him. 21st-century reformation has a website directed specifically to those who are of a oneness background of oneness persuasion. If Jesus is the fullness of deity, it follows that he is not 33% of God. Oneness theology has deep roots in Christian history and its weaknesses have a habit of showing up in surprising places. This would mean that there was no relationship between the Father and the Son from eternity, for there was a time when the Son was not. The main sticking point among oneness believers is maintaining the deity of Christ. Understanding how Jesus identifies himself in the Gospels, Understanding how Jesus is the model for us, The essential humanity of the one mediator Jesus Christ, Understanding The Law of Agency - A Key Biblical Concept Pertaining to Christ, Understanding the distinction between one God, the Father, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, Analysis of Philippians Chapter 2: Form of God is exaltation, not preexistence, Refuting erroneous conflations of Scripture used to infer Jesus is ontologically God, www.21stcr.org/subjects/oneness-pentecostalism/oneness-pentecostalism-articles/, www.21stcr.org/subjects/oneness-pentecostalism/oneness-pentecostalism-videos/, www.21stcr.org/subjects/oneness-pentecostalism/oneness-pentecostalism-audio/, www.21stcr.org/subjects/oneness-pentecostalism/oneness-pentecostalism-books/, There is one God (God is our Savior and desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth), There is one mediator between God and men, The mediator is Christ (the Messiah) Jesus, The mediator gave himself up as a ransom for all, The testimony of the Messiah was given at the proper time. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Don't Make Me One with Everything - Scientific American Blog Network 17 And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. This known as patripassionism and it is the pervasive view among many Oneness Pentecostals. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. The Problem. The first premise of the trinity is that there is only one God. What is wrong with the oneness view of God? In Christ, the fullness of deity dwells bodily. Who is the Son? Oneness people have never refuted these facts found in the table below especially where the distinction of persons is clearly seen in Scripture when the persons speak to and about each other. This will raise the question of why Peter and the apostles baptized in the name of Jesus. For clarification, the Trinity is one God in three distinct simultaneous, coeternal persons. Philosophical and Theological Essays on the Trinity Many past oneness believers have come to the realization the doctrine is inconsistent with the balanced testimony of scripture. This charge I have received from my Father.. But, if God is one person from all eternity as Oneness teaches, then was it possible for him to experience fellowship or love if he was by himself from forever ago? This is terrifying because while God is good, we are not. 17 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. This means that Jesus would say, I am thirsty (John 19:28)and I will be with you always, even to the end of the age (Matt. Since the Spirit teaches us that Jesus is in bodily form now (Col. 2:9), then how does the Oneness Pentecostal person maintain that God is in the form of the Holy Spirit? Scriptures:
Problems with oneness theology by Matt Slick | Mar 13, 2023 | Oneness Pentecostal, World Religions Over the years, I've spoken to many people within the oneness Pentecostal movement. There are not three gods. The idea of God is coherent. John 6:3739, All that the Father gives Me [HUMAN NATURE] will come to Me [HUMAN NATURE], and the one who comes to Me [HUMAN NATURE] I [HUMAN NATURE] will certainly not cast out. Jesus came into existence 2000 years ago when He was born. That is a problem for oneness. What I am explaining here is a form of monotheism. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, He is the Son of God. 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? That is why John 14:9 says that Once youve seen me, youve seen the Father. Jesus is the expression of God. Were all three of these distinct persons who do something Jesus? But in the Bible, a name is definitional. The problem with this is that they do not realize what the apostolic age entails. References are provided as to the necessity of the Messiah of prophecy being an agent of God, and we will look at why the humanity of Christ is essential to the Gospel. Bernard, Essentials in Oneness Theology, p. 21. He is self-aware and aware of others. The principal and agent remain two distinct persons. If it were a formula, it would be consistent throughout. Believing strongly in one undivided God, Oneness authors teach that the whole essential Godhead is present in Jesus (an idea supported by Colossians 2:9 and other passages). The trinitarian will recite the Shema, Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one. The trinitarian believes that. The one God and Father is the God and Father of Jesus. They teach people that they saved when in fact, they are not. God is not a man, but the Messiah of prophecy is necessarily a human servant of God his anointed as Jesus is the Son of Man of the messianic prophecies. Thus, it is obviously not literally when Jesus said, Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.. It is the Father who said to the Son, In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth. But just so the reader will understand his theological meaning, the author of Hebrews adds the word, LORD (taken to indicate YHWH) into the sentence so as to underline the point. Oneness advocates routinely ignore the logic of how the Trinity is deduced from Scripture. . When Jesus said, Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit, (Luke 23:46), what in the world was he talking about, if in fact, he is the Father? God who is immortal cannot die by definition. If you have any issues, please call the office at 385-246-1048 or email us at [emailprotected], by Luke Wayne | Jan 6, 2023 | Islam, World Religions. Agent (Hebrew. (John 10:17), Jesus said that Father is greater than all. Then the result is Jesus taking the scroll from the right hand of Jesus. Personhood is having the quality or characteristic of self-awareness, awareness of others, rationality, the ability to love, speak, recognize others and ones self, etc. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus. 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. Oneness Pentecostal theology affirms that there exists only one God in all the universe. The apostolic age is the time between the death of the Jesus and the death of the last apostle. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. Similarly, the Father is totally God and the Spirit is totally God. This means that when Jesus commands his disciples to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the name in this formula is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is not a novel objection to the oneness view of God. Oneness teachers would agree that salvation requires putting one's full faith in the Jesus of Oneness doctrine. 44. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you. How can Jesus, if He is the same person as the Spirit, say that He is going to send the Spirit to earth when He returns to Heaven? While most parishioners are unaware of this, the leading Oneness Pentecostal organization, the United Pentecostal Church International, denies patripassionism. It is tongues. If you would like to read a critique of some of these corollary views, I invite you to browse my series Oneness Pentecostal Heresy. Matthew 28:19 also affirms their views that Jesus commanded His disciples to baptize in the "name" (singular) of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They each had a will, and Jesus submitted his will to the Father, whose will was different than His. They think that since the Bible clearly teaches that there is only one God, this would be a challenge to the doctrine of the trinity. Often when engaging in dialogue with a Oneness Pentecostal, they will refer to God in every context in the Old Testament as Jesus. It negates Nestorianism, which states that in the body of Christ are two distinct persons. The Father even died on the cross and rose from the dead. But, if God is one person from all eternity as Oneness teaches, then was it possible for him to experience fellowship or love if he was by himself - from forever ago? It was Jesus. 1:3; 1 Thess. We are left to say that nobodys wrath was poured out, because the Father was the one who was dying. 16 So Jesus answered them, My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. All of the wrath of God that we deserve went out upon him. Mark 16:9, Luke 22:69, Acts 2:33, Acts 5:31, Acts 7:55-56, Romans 8:34, Ephesians 1:17-19, Colossians 3:1, Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 8:1, Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews 12:2, and 1 Peter 3:22. Oneness theology is false. Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. 7For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle(I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ., 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.. 5 They think that we are still in the apostolic age. Jesus, our high priest mediates a better covenant with his own blood. Was Jesus praying to Himself? This site is made by those who have also come from a oneness background. What Does Jesus Died For Our Sins Mean? If He is still fully human (and in Heaven, how can He be the same person as the Spirit, who is on the earth ( )? Why does Paul say blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ rather than blessed be our God and Father Jesus Christ? Did He ascend to His OWN right hand? Passages are quoted in the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise indicated. OnenessRefutation.com | The problems with Oneness doctrine (Modalism) 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. They were in different locations at the same time (Matt. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. God is a personal being. Modalistic Monarchianism - Wikipedia That is what this article seeks to explore. The threefold answer given by Peter to those who sought to know how to respond to the good news repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit is interpreted within the multi-tiered "full gospel" theology inherited from the Wesleyan tradition. CARM |P.O. It is something like an executioner acting in the name of the king. The main problem is the Oneness Pentecostal doctrine implicitly denies this absolutely fundamental truth. 24 they lifted their voices together to God and said, Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? So the idea from oneness theology that God is a single eternal person means that from forever ago, he had no one with whom to fellowship and no one to love or be loved by. Oneness presents the problem of eternal love and fellowship inherent in a god consisting of one person that is rectified after creation, denying Gods aseity. That is to say that they are telling future events. In my discussions with oneness experts and laity, when discussing the two natures of Christ, they repeatedly support the idea that within the body of Christ are two distinct persons: God and man. The book of Acts chronicles exactly what those chosen by Christ proclaimed about who Jesus is. 'Jesus Only' Isn't Enough | Christianity Today And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests? 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. Contrary to the impression one might get from Atterton's essay . 307K views 1 year ago Oneness Pentecostalism rejects the orthodox view of the Trinity and teaches a heretical doctrine that Jesus is the ONLY member of the Godhead. To be in the Father does not literally mean to be the Father. Oneness promotes Nestorianism, which attributes to Jesus the quality of two persons in one body. The focus here is on the main area in which Oneness theology and the doctrine of the Trinity are in disagreement, namely, whether the one God exists as one Person or as three Persons. Therefore, the Son created the universe and existed alongside the Father. How does this issue reflect on the personhood of God, who is supposed to be self-sustaining and completely self-dependent from eternity past? If it was the fleshly side of Jesus speaking to the divine side of Jesus in heaven, then does this not deny the true incarnation of God in Christ and invalidate the atonement? It would mean then that God was eternally capable, in and of Himself, to experience the fellowship and the love among the persons of the Trinity. (Phil 2:8-9), Does it make any sense to say that God exalted himself? Rather, in the dawn of its history, it received no small criticism from Tertullian. Oneness Delusion - Let God Be True! If God is only one person, why does Jesus say, "we"? Thus sophisticated Oneness Pentecostals have honed their theology so as it assuage these critiques. Examining the Oneness Objections to the Doctrine of the Trinity Muslims routinely claim that the Bible has been corrupted. This paper briefly address three aspects of christological monotheism from a Oneness perspective. Given here are 25 arguments that demonstrate Jesus is not God. That is why they often champion themselves Apostolic Pentecostal, or something similar. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 1. The main problem is the Oneness Pentecostal doctrine implicitly denies this absolutely fundamental truth. 38 For I[DIVINE NATURE] have come down from heaven, not to do My [HUMAN NATURE] own will, but the will of Him who sent Me [DIVINE NATURE]. 39 This is the will of Him who sent Me [HUMAN NATURE], that of all that He has given Me [HUMAN NATURE] I [HUMAN NATURE] lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. You will see the inconsistency and problems that arise from their position. On October 1, 1915, 525 delegates met in St. Louis, ready for a confrontation. Pay attention to my reasoning, because this is important. These "forms" are not three distinct persons, but one person who occupied consecutive modes. 3 Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours. Does this make any sense if Jesus is Lord to begin with? But Christ stepped in and paid our fine when he was murdered. When I ask them for an analysis of John 6:37-39, I get some very interesting responses. On pages 98-99 of The Oneness of God by Doctor David Bernard, he writes, [God the Son] is not a correct term because the Son of God refers to the humanity of Jesus Christ.