problems with oneness theology problems with oneness theology

26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (John 8:28), If Jesus is God, he would have the Holy Spirit within himself. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. 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. While most parishioners are unaware of this, the leading Oneness Pentecostal organization, the United Pentecostal Church International, denies patripassionism. 1:3; 1 Thess. Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. There is absolutely no place in Scripture that says that everybody who has the Holy Spirit will speak in tongues. Since they believe that Jesus was, and is, the Father, then when he took a drink, the Father was thirsty. This is exactly how the Trinity doctrine is arrived at. We are left to say that nobodys wrath was poured out, because the Father was the one who was dying. Oneness risks denying the sufficiency of the atonement of Christ. Jesus is just part of God. Accordingly, it only the one God and Father who is literally God, and Jesus acts on behalf of God as Gods right-hand man. 16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentilesto whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. 19 Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. The Bible defines the Son of God as the child born of Mary, not as the eternal Spirit of God (Luke 1:35). One page 87, he says that it is the Son who died, but not the Father. It is something like an executioner acting in the name of the king. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. The apostolic age is the time between the death of the Jesus and the death of the last apostle. They are different roles that he takes in the world. His wrath abides upon us, he must give us just condemnation for our sins. 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. Oneness has a problem concerning the person of Jesus being the eternal God. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. (i.e., according to Gods predestined plan), Jesus is the mediator between God and men, How are Jesus and the Father two witnesses? Yet they speak of each other and to each other designating separation among persons. 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. We have lost this link because in our culture, people just name their children whatever sounds good but they do not give any attention to what the name means. 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? Jesus will be in us and we will be in Jesus, but that does not literally make us Jesus. What do these things mean? Problems with "A God Problem" | Psychology Today If god is one person, then how does that affect his ability to contemplate? The Father and the Son manifest at the same time (Isaiah 9:6; Matt. For the purpose of this article, I aim at the core of the oneness doctrine. there is no God but one. 5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earthas indeed there are many gods and many lords 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. In Isaiah 9:6, we read that the name of the messiah will be everlasting father, mighty God, wonderful counselor, prince of peace. If Jesus was praying to the divine side of Himself, then isn't He still praying to Himself? Anybody reading the gospels will see that there is some sort of distinction between Jesus and the Father. Instead, they ignore the facts of distinction and force scriptures into a oneness interpretation while ignoring the very nature of personhood. 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. 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. What Is Wrong With The Oneness View Of God? - Therefore, God Exists I see five main problems with Oneness Theology as it relates to God as Father, Son, and Spirit. Were all three of these distinct persons who do something Jesus? There are numerous scriptural references (13x) that refer to Jesus being at the right hand of God indicating a distinction of God and Jesus who is at his right hand. However, the Unitarian understanding is supported everywhere in the New Testament and with the most explicit references. 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. Oneness theology denies the eternal distinctions among the three persons, insisting there is only one actual person in the Godhead . 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. But what is interesting is that these two natures are both conscious entities. These references include. 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. On several occasions, Ive had in-depth discussions with oneness believers. But his name was not Immanuel. (John 10:17), Jesus said that Father is greater than all. Is he only part of the Godhead? The mediator is the Messiah (Christ) of Gods plan foretold by the prophets. Don't Make Me One with Everything - Scientific American Blog Network Oneness theologians would argue that if the Father and the Son were separate, then the Godhead could not fully dwell in Christ. T.D. Jakes Embraces Doctrine of the Trinity, Moves Away fr | News That is what this article seeks to explore. Jesus came from the Father (John 6:38; 17:1-5); the Father did not come from Jesus. It reads, You, LORD, In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth. What is wrong with the oneness view of God? These "forms" are not three distinct persons, but one person who occupied consecutive modes. 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). If there is only one person in the godhead, and Jesus is God, does this not mean that He is His own Father? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed. 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. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions., 5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 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? 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. Ibid., p. 22. So, when oneness adherents say that the name of God is Jesus or that there is one God is Jesus, they are making a mistake in theology and logic. Often when engaging in dialogue with a Oneness Pentecostal, they will refer to God in every context in the Old Testament as Jesus. There is no talk of repentance or being born again. "Oneness theology is nothing more than the crass unitarianism of Judaism and Islam. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. It is just a traditional doctrine. ' The relationship and communication between the Father and the Son become incoherent if we say that Jesus is identical with the Father. However, at the Council of Nicea, which arose in response to the Arian heresy (the view that Jesus is merely a creature), there were a few oneness representatives. 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. Does God need to learn anything? 28:20). If there are two persons in the body of Christ then only the human person died. lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. It is based upon a misunderstanding of Matthew 28:19 and Acts 2:38. The author of Hebrews clearly applied this creation psalm intended for YHWH to the Son, and even added the word YHWH so that there would be no misunderstandings. What are the beliefs of Jesus only / oneness Pentecostals? But the Trinity would solve this problem. Recently, certain Muslim apologists and YouTubers have been excited that former kickboxer and controversial internet by Matt Slick | Jan 2, 2023 | Islam, World Religions. 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. The problem is that a group's denial of an essential biblical teaching excludes that group from Christianity. Well, if you say that the Father died on the cross, you are led instantly into absurdity. But Christ stepped in and paid our fine when he was murdered. Trinity, Oneness, Oneness Of God, 52-week preaching calendar to help you plan your sermons, Customizable sermon manuscripts for verse-by-verse preaching, Preach with creativity and impact throughout the year, Help your church understand God's plan in pain, Call your people to experience a higher freedom, Proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth. What is Oneness doctrine? | GotQuestions.org But they never, even once, indicate that everybody must do this. Muslims routinely claim that the Bible has been corrupted. That is, a mediator is a third party. The Trinity is saying, There is no other God beside me. The Trinity is the one God in existence. Does this make any sense if Jesus is Lord to begin with? 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. 43. The agent acting and speaking for the principal is the principal by proxy (a person authorized to act for another). Don't get me wrong, I love questions. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. They problem is that when the apostles did acted in the name of Jesus, it was not a formula. Also in the garden, Jesus prayed, saying, O my Father. These words show a Me/ You relationship as though they are two distinct, simultaneous persons. 22 To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.. 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 one God and Father is the God and Father of Jesus. There is no doubt that there is some form of tongues in the Bible. But typically, God became a man. This entails that the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is Jesus. Denouncing Izzy's Heresy? Check Your Own Oneness First This site is made by those who have also come from a oneness background. The book of Acts chronicles exactly what those chosen by Christ proclaimed about who Jesus is. A key point of reference will be how Jesus is identified by the Apostles in the book of Acts. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. They often say that Jesus is one person, but when cross-examined, they affirm two persons in one body. If this were a formula, we would see consistency. Ephesians. OnenessRefutation.com | The problems with Oneness doctrine (Modalism) Oneness Tendencies amongst the Church . 4 The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. 5 The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. If Jesus is the fullness of deity, it follows that he is not 33% of God. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. The eternal relationship between the Father and the Son. Why Bishop Jakes and Oneness Pentecostals Are WRONG About the - YouTube The answer would be no, because if he knows everything already, how could he think about what He knows? . To save items to a SermonFolder, please sign in to your account. The Hebrew term for an agent or legal emissary isShaliachwhich is comparable to the Greek worldApostolosand the English word Apostle. (Luke 4:18, Acts 4:26-27, Acts 10:38), Why does Jesus have no glory in himself if he is God? It was Jesus. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. Yet they are clearly titles. A declaration of YHWH to my Lord: Sit at My right hand, || Until I make Your enemies Your footstool.. (Phil 2:8-9), Does it make any sense to say that God exalted himself? That is to say that they are telling future events. This is the heresy of Nestorianism, which teaches two persons in the body of Jesus. How does this issue reflect on the personhood of God, who is supposed to be self-sustaining and completely self-dependent from eternity past? They have the wrong view of. 18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. Dividing Over Oneness | Christian History | Christianity Today So when he told his disciples to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, he was telling them to baptize under their authority and power. 7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, 8 putting everything in subjection under his feet., 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 27 For God has put all things in subjection under his feet. But when it says, all things are put in subjection, it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 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? While there may be some Christians in Oneness churches, the movement as a whole is non-Christian. The ontological classifications of God vs man are categorical distinctions that cannot be crossed. The main problem is the Oneness Pentecostal doctrine implicitly denies this absolutely fundamental truth. Jesus, who is God incarnate, is baptized in the water. In this work, Michael Burgos has outlined in a systematic fashion the chief theological assertions of Oneness theology and then provides a point-by-point exegetical refutation. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. (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? God the Trinity is the only God worthy of worship. Examining the Oneness Objections to the Doctrine of the Trinity The Son of Man is destined to judge the world in righteousness. He is totally God. Yes, people do speak in tongues (which are probably foreign human languages) in the book of Acts. (Heb 5:8-10), If Jesus already is God and all things are subjected to God, does it make any sense to say God has put all things in subjection under his feet? The Primary Problem with Theology - Redeeming God In John 8:16, Jesus says that he does not judge alone, but I and the Father who sent me. Nowhere in the New Testament is the distinction between the Person of God and that of Jesus more explicit. Modalism erupts today in what is known as Oneness Pentecostalism. 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him 5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You will see the inconsistency and problems that arise from their position. In other words, can he think about what hes going to do and draw conclusions and make decisions based on that contemplation? In Hebrew thought, the first cause or ultimate cause is not always distinguished from secondary or proximate causes. 28 So Jesus said to them, When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. Bernard, The Oneness of God, pp . The trinity declares that there is one being (God) and three persons (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). 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 is how the early church sprang out of an obscure village in the middle east on the backs of 11 peasants. If you would like to read a critique of some of these corollary views, I invite you to browse my series Oneness Pentecostal Heresy. Oneness theology denies the Trinity doctrine and claims that there is one person in the Godhead who has manifested himself in three different forms: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 54 Jesus answered, If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. (Heb 9:24) Did God go into heaven to appear in the presence of God? 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus. It can be credited to Oneness Pentecostal theology that they teach that before you can be saved, you must be born again by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. 15 And I said, Who are you, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. Rather, in the dawn of its history, it received no small criticism from Tertullian. 2. (Luke 3:22), If Jesus is himself, God, why would an angel be needed to strengthen him? Answer The "Jesus Only" movement, also known as Oneness Pentecostalism or oneness theology, teaches that there is only one God, but denies the tri-unity of God. 16 So Jesus answered them, My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. Father, Son, and Spirit are mere titles, while Jesus is the name. 17 Jesus said to her, Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.. If you would like to get in on the discussion about this, join my Theology Discussion Group! There is no place at all. 22 Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. This is not social trinitarianism with three separate centers of consciousness. We greatly appreciate your consideration! After He rises out of the water, the Holy Spirit comes down from Heaven in the form of a dove and rests upon Him. Jesus is presented in Heaven in His glorified human state in Revelation 1. The Sinners Prayer teaches people that if they recite this prayer once in their life, then they are saved. He would already know everything he would contemplate. Solomons name was Jedidiah (2 Samuel 12:25). 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. How can this be if they are the same person? Atonement is through the flesh and blood of the human Messiah (Christ). 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. 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. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. (See The Christian Trinitarian God Examined In Depth). Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Passages are quoted in the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise indicated. 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? Oneness Pentecostalism: Heresy, Not Hairsplitting 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.. 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. Put another way, in the one substance of divinity, in the one being that is God, there are three co-eternal, co-existent, simultaneous persons: The Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit. The infinite cannot be finite and remain infinite. I am afraid that this emanates from a misunderstanding of trinitarian theology. 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. 28 You heard me say to you, I am going away, and I will come to you. If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. Further, we will look at how Jesus acted according to Gods plan as a servant, that God exalted/appointed Jesus. The eternal relationship between the Father and the Son. The Oneness folks have corrupted the word of God ( 2 Cor 2:17, Rom 16:17-18) by rejecting the Son of God, hallucinating that Jesus is the Father while swapping roles in heaven and denying His existence at the right Hand of God the Father ( Psa 2:7-9, Psalms 110:1-2, Heb 1:3, 8:1, 10:12, 12:2, Mark 16:19, Eph 1:20, Acts 2:33, Rom 8:34, 1 Peter Shaliach); The main point of the Jewish law of agency is expressed in the dictum, a persons agent is regarded as the person himself (Ned. Many members of the UPCI do not even realize what the larger organization believes. monotheism, belief in the existence of one god, or in the oneness of God. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit do not represent different persons within the Godhead, but rather, there are different modes that God takes. 4. The primary problem with theology is that it asks questions. They go to a Oneness Pentecostal Church, have no repentance in their heart, do not know anything about Christ or the Bible. They argue that this was fulfilled in Acts 2:38, which says that Peter baptized in the name of Jesus. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. This implies that God is not eternally self-sufficient in all areas. Oneness Pentecostals often mistakenly think that this is what the doctrine of the trinity represents. They deny the Trinity and teach that there is one person in the Godhead whom they call Jesus. PDF The Oneness Theology of The United Pentecostal Church International As In his masterful critique of patripassionism, Against Praxeas Tertullian wrote, Quoting Psalm 110:3 If you want me to believe Him to be both the Father and the Son, show me some other passage where it is declared, The Lord said unto Himself, I am my own Son, today I have begotten myself. We might pull our cars over for a police officer in the name of the law. Oneness Pentecostalism (OP) is a form of modalism. is an important topic related to the Trinity, Oneness presents a potential problem which deals with the apparent inability of the oneness god to contemplate. 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. (John 17:1-3), Why does Jesus refer to God as His God and his Father if he himself is the Father? In Oneness Pentecostalism, there is no distinction between the Father, Son and. 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. That is why John 1:18 says that he explains the Father.