. Nestorianism, the logical result of oneness theology regarding the person of Christ, leads to a scenario where the different natures of Christ speak alternately at different times even though theyre in the same sentence. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. It regards Jesus as God but fails to distinguish his personal existence from that of God the Father (or the Spirit). Love is other-centered (John 3:16; 15:13) and requires fellowship in its expression. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. (See The Christian Trinitarian God Examined In Depth). 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? Sometimes the agent standing for the principal is treated as if he were the principal himself, though this is not literally so. 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. Muslims routinely claim that the Bible has been corrupted. If the Father and the Son are both God, distinct and conscious entities with their own nature (divine and human, respectively), then this logically entails polytheism. The Bible teaches there is only one God (Isaiah 43:10:44:6, 8; 45:5). Thus, if you have been baptized in a trinitarian formula, you must be re-baptized into a oneness formula. But the author suggests that this psalm is referring to Jesus. 17 And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. Oneness Pentecostalism teaches that when you are water baptized, the baptizer must recite the words in the name of Jesus. If he does not recite those words, the baptism is illegitimate, and you cannot be saved. How so? lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. OnenessRefutation.com | The problems with Oneness doctrine (Modalism) Oneness Refutation Understanding Logos Understanding the true meaning of the Logos in the Prologue of John Read More I am Statements Who do you say that I am? Jesus was born of a virgin. (1 Cor 8:6) Correspondingly, numerous scriptural references (15x) use the term God in reference to the Father and the term Lord pertaining to Jesus. He possesses all divine attributes. In Oneness Pentecostalism, there is no distinction between the Father, Son and. 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Similarly, Isaiah 7:14 says that his name shall be Immanuel. 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. The humanity of Christ is essential to the gospel, as shown at the link below. the interpretation of the psalms given by the author of Hebrews seems to disconfirm any insight that would suggest the finitude of the Son. 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. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. This is not social trinitarianism with three separate centers of consciousness. 1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. 28:20). 3This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight ofGodour Savior,4who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (Phil 2:9, Eph 1:17-21), A high priest works on behalf of God in relation to men, so how is it that God designated himself a high priest? Jesus, our high priest mediates a better covenant with his own blood. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence., 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Further, we will look at how Jesus acted according to Gods plan as a servant, that God exalted/appointed Jesus. 1:3). (https://carm.org/oneness-pentecostal/the-distinction-of-persons-between-god-the-father-and-jesus). He was the full expression of the trinity. (John 10:17), Jesus said that Father is greater than all. The following points should focus on the particular problems: A) The Oneness position cannot explain logically or Biblically the clear references to the pre-existence and Creatorship of the Son such as Colossians 1, Hebrews 1 and John 1. . 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 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. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. This is how the early church sprang out of an obscure village in the middle east on the backs of 11 peasants. Enter your email address and we will send you a link to reset your password. This is exactly how the Trinity doctrine is arrived at. As we read through the New Testament, we will encounter what boggled on Why Calvinists And Catholics Share The Nicene Faith, on Why Charismatics Should Cut Glossolalia (Tongues) Out of Their Theology, on Why Christians Should Empty Themselves of Kenotic Christology, 5 Things Christians Can Do About Abortion. 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? The principal and agent remain two distinct persons. Automated page speed optimizations for fast site performance, The problems with Oneness doctrine (Modalism), One Mediator - The essential humanity of the one mediator Jesus Christ, Biblical Agency - A Key Biblical Concept Pertaining to Christ, Jesus Is The Model - Understanding how Jesus is the model for us, I am Statements - Understanding how Jesus identifies himself in the Gospels, Understanding Logos - The true meaning of the Word in the prologue of John, One God One Lord - For us there is one God, the Father, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, Understanding the true meaning of the Logos in the Prologue of John, Who do you say that I am? 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 54 Jesus answered, If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. Why does Jesus say numerous times he is going to the Father if he is the Father? This is derived from Matthew 28:19 which reads that we should baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. If this were a formula, we would see consistency. If you act in somebodys name, you are acting under their authority. The objections to patripassionism are far too obvious. (Acts 3:26), Does God need to entrust himself to himself as at says he continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly? But Christ stepped in and paid our fine when he was murdered. They have realized that the doctrine is apparently supported by a handful of vague verses when interpreted in a particular way. So rather from descending from heaven and residing with him, wouldnt it rather emanate from him? It was Jesus. Jesus is totally God. The first premise of the trinity is that there is only one God. What is wrong with the oneness view of God? Hence, there is just no contradiction when Peter baptizes in the name of Jesus because it is the same authority. God made provisions just for the early church, and when the last apostle (John) died, the apostolic age ended. The truth of who Christ is is found in these two doctrines, known as the hypostatic union and the communication of the properties. 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. Doctor Bernard is merely propounding that the consciousness of the Father was duplicated into the person of the Son, and hence, on page 99, he argues that the Son can be thought of as God in one sense because he is the human image of the invisible God. In Christ, the fullness of deity dwells bodily. Who is the Son? Answer Oneness doctrine is a rejection of the Trinity and is found in some branches of Pentecostalism. The Bible is God's inerrant word. But as I pointed out in my article, Was There A Time When The Son Was Not? God who is immortal cannot die by definition. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. The most terrifying truth in all of Scripture is that God is good. The apostolic age, in addition to all of these signs and wonders, entails that there are apostles. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. Oneness theology has deep roots in Christian history and its weaknesses have a habit of showing up in surprising places. He is self-aware and aware of others. 5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, You are my Son, today I have begotten you; 6 as he says also in another place, You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.. 15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.. Having trouble logging into your account? They go to a Oneness Pentecostal Church, have no repentance in their heart, do not know anything about Christ or the Bible. 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. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.. That is what this article seeks to explore. The infinite cannot be finite and remain infinite. The main problem is the Oneness Pentecostal doctrine implicitly denies this absolutely fundamental truth. Modalism erupts today in what is known as Oneness Pentecostalism. Was he praying to himself? (Luke 4:18, Acts 4:26-27, Acts 10:38), Why does Jesus have no glory in himself if he is God? Jesus had a totally human nature and a totally divine nature. Monotheism characterizes the traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and . Oneness Tendencies amongst the Church . These references include Acts 2:23, Acts 2:32, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:10, Acts 5:30, Acts 10:40, Acts 13:30, Acts 13:37, Romans 6:4, Romans 10:9, 1 Corinthians 6:15, 1 Corinthians 15:15, Galatians 1:1, Colossians 2:12, and 1 Peter 1:21. 1:17), have separate thrones, (Rev. Jesus can be called God because he represents God. He can only represent fully in His nature another person that exists. The primary problem with theology is that it asks questions. (John 8:54), If Jesus himself is the Father, what sense does it make to say that the Father loves Jesus because he lays down his life? 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. Of course I went into this thoroughly in my subsection Oneness Pentecostal Heresy but I think it would be profitable to briefly lay out 5 problems with Oneness Pentecostal doctrines. Oneness theology denies the eternal distinctions among the three persons, insisting there is only one actual person in the Godhead . Please note, though, this is not saying there are three competing and separate gods (polytheism). 3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. The Trinity is saying, There is no other God beside me. The Trinity is the one God in existence. Given here are 25 arguments that demonstrate Jesus is not God. What is wrong with the oneness view of God? He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. This is because prior to the incarnation of Christ Jesus, there was no Jesus. But the Oneness theology poses problems by restricting Gods ability in and of himself to have fellowship and to love and be loved until something other than himself exists. I will elaborate on them in this article. The Son of Man is destined to judge the world in righteousness. This means that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, rather than being three distinct persons, are just manifestations of one person, in the same way that a man can be a father, a son, and an employee. The conviction that this multitudinous world is illusory can also encourage. Jesus is a servant of God who mediates for us. To the best of my recollection, not a single oneness person has ever refuted how the doctrine of the Trinity is arrived at using the Scriptures. In Hebrew thought, the first cause or ultimate cause is not always distinguished from secondary or proximate causes. The mediator is the Messiah (Christ) of Gods plan foretold by the prophets. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name., 36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, 37 but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. The Father is presented as on the throne and Heaven, and Jesus is presented as a lamb beside the throne. 38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. 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 declares that there is one being (God) and three persons (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). God is infinite, man is finite. 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. 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. I see five main problems with Oneness Theology as it relates to God as Father, Son, and Spirit. (Heb 9:24) Did God go into heaven to appear in the presence of God? 1 This verse, then, would be expressing that Jesus is totally God, not that Jesus is the Father and the Holy Spirit. They try and provide contradictions in God's word to weaken CARM is a nonprofit, non-denominational, multi-staffed Christian Apologetics Ministry that supports evangelism, radio outreach, and provides full-time support for several foreign missionaries. How can you say, Show us the Father? He is totally God. We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe. If so, why? 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. It is for this very reason in verse 7 that Paul was appointed a preacher and an apostle, a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 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. They are different roles that he takes in the world. This problem, sometimes called the 'threeness-oneness problem' or the 'logical problem of the Trinity', is the focus of this interdisciplinary volume. 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 21st-century reformation has a website directed specifically to those who are of a oneness background of oneness persuasion. On several occasions, Ive had in-depth discussions with oneness believers. Justification by faith. It is based on a misapplication of Colossians 2:9. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Fathers commandments and abide in his love. The following points of doctrine are generally held to by the Oneness Pentecostal groups. Jesus came from the Father (John 6:38; 17:1-5); the Father did not come from Jesus. 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. Within Orthodoxy There is only one God in all existence. When one speaks in tongues, then we can say that they are born again. (John 8:28), If Jesus is God, he would have the Holy Spirit within himself. 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. It is tongues. If Christ is God, how can it be said that Christ has entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf? They have the wrong view of. How can this be if they are the same person? Adam was a type of the one who was to come, and Jesus is the last Adam. But upon close examination, nowhere does the New Testament suggest that we have to believe that Jesus the one God and Father. Many members of the UPCI do not even realize what the larger organization believes. 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.. Man is mortal, while God is immortal. 10 Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Atonement is through the flesh and blood of the human Messiah (Christ). Who poured out his wrath upon Jesus? 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. This known as patripassionism and it is the pervasive view among many Oneness Pentecostals. But the Oneness Pentecostal church teaches that we are still in the apostolic age. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. Thus sophisticated Oneness Pentecostals have honed their theology so as it assuage these critiques. Since the Trinity doctrine states there are three persons who, in union are the one God, and Oneness Pentecostal theology states there is only one person, it is not possible for both to be right. It is summarized as follows: All the points above are critical to our understanding of the identity of God and Jesus and the distinction between the two. In fact, twice in the book of Acts, people are filled with the Spirit without speaking in tongues (4:13,8:17). This makes no sense. What I am explaining here is a form of monotheism. Second, it might be said that as the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15), the exact representation of the Fathers nature (Hebrews 1:3), Jesus was the human image of the trinity. Is he only part of the Godhead? This doesn't sound like a problem, until you realize the danger of questions. The ontological classifications of God vs man are categorical distinctions that cannot be crossed. Fair use is use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. 4. A declaration of YHWH to my Lord: Sit at My right hand, || Until I make Your enemies Your footstool.. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. monotheism, belief in the existence of one god, or in the oneness of God. Yes, people do speak in tongues (which are probably foreign human languages) in the book of Acts. Thank you for your interest in supporting CARM. I should begin by outlining or summarizing some of the corollary beliefs of Oneness Pentecostalism. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world? 23 Jesus answered him, If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 34 Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. These formal arguments are based on rules of deductive reasoning, not fallacious syllogism. The Oneness Pentecostal would agree with Arius who said that "there was a time when the Son was not." God is dependent on nothing. 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Anybody reading the gospels will see that there is some sort of distinction between Jesus and the Father. Regarding the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Agent (Hebrew. However, Oneness theology denies the Trinity. Was Jesus praying to Himself? It is something like an executioner acting in the name of the king. The human nature is the Son, and the divine nature is the Father. The main problem is the Oneness Pentecostal doctrine implicitly denies this absolutely fundamental truth.
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