problems with oneness theology
Regarding Revelation 5, If you say the Lamb (between the throne and the four living creatures) is Jesus and God (who sits on the throne) is also Jesus. 16 So Jesus answered them, My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. They deny the Trinity and teach that there is one person in the Godhead whom they call Jesus. Rather, we see him as the human Messiah that God made both Lord and Christ. (Luke 22:42-43), God has no need to anoint himself. 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.. 1. Oneness theologians would argue that if the Father and the Son were separate, then the Godhead could not fully dwell in Christ. Within Orthodoxy There is only one God in all existence. Monotheism | Definition, Types, Examples, & Facts | Britannica If it were a formula, it would be consistent throughout. As such, it is distinguished from polytheism, the belief in the existence of many gods, from atheism, the belief that there is no god, and from agnosticism, the belief that the existence or nonexistence of a god or of gods is unknown or unknowable. We'd love to keep you up to date with what is happening at CARM. The Oneness Pentecostal would agree with Arius who said that "there was a time when the Son was not." Enter your email address and we will send you a link to reset your password. The Trinity is the doctrine that there is one God who manifests Himself as three distinct, simultaneous 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. 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. Accordingly, it only the one God and Father who is literally God, and Jesus acts on behalf of God as Gods right-hand man. If the baptizer says anything other than the formula, in the name of Jesus, you cannot be saved. 2 They teach people that they are saved when they are not. I will be with you always, even to the end of the age, If you have any issues, please call the office at 385-246-1048 or email us at, The Christian Trinitarian God Examined In Depth, https://carm.org/oneness-pentecostal/the-distinction-of-persons-between-god-the-father-and-jesus, Responding to Andrew Tate on Islam and Christianity, Responding to Andrew Tate on the nature of God. Against Oneness Pentecostalism: An Exegetical-Theological - Amazon 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. The mediator gave himself as a ransom for all. In Oneness Pentecostalism, there is no distinction between the Father, Son and. (Acts 3:26), Does God need to entrust himself to himself as at says he continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly? We are left to say that nobodys wrath was poured out, because the Father was the one who was dying. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Fathers who sent me. But this raises the question, whose wrath was satisfied on the cross? 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. Recently, certain Muslim apologists and YouTubers have been excited that former kickboxer and controversial internet by Matt Slick | Jan 2, 2023 | Islam, World Religions. The objections to patripassionism are far too obvious. The Oneness Pentecostal believes that Jesus is the proper name of God, something like the name Jehovah or YHWH. 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. talk like me! Once they do, they are declared to be saved. 29 And he who sent me is with me. 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. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 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. Christians have classically said that there is only one God who is eternally present in three persons. But it would be a mistake to say that it is always Jesus who is speaking. Bernard, The Oneness of God, pp . Did He ascend to His OWN right hand? 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. The Son did not send the Father. Furthermore, this negates the sufficiency of the atoning sacrifice of Christ because it negates the divine quality of that sacrifice. 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. But this makes little sense of the biblical data concerning the eternal relationship between the Father and the Son, such as the messianic statements in the psalms, like God, your God has anointed you. (Psalm 45:7). PDF Oneness Pentecostals and the Trinity - isca-apologetics.org (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? God is a personal being. Perhaps my greatest complaint against American Christianity is how we popishly declare that people are saved. He is still fully God and fully man. Given here are 25 arguments that demonstrate Jesus is not God. Atonement is through the flesh and blood of the human Messiah (Christ). Anybody reading the gospels will see that there is some sort of distinction between Jesus and the Father. 19 And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. 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. While most parishioners are unaware of this, the leading Oneness Pentecostal organization, the United Pentecostal Church International, denies patripassionism. 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? It includes a selection of recent philosophical work on this topic, accompanied by a variety of essays by philosophers and theologians to further the discussion. God is not and cannot become a man. I should begin by outlining or summarizing some of the corollary beliefs of Oneness Pentecostalism. The most terrifying truth in all of Scripture is that God is good. In Hebrew thought, the first cause or ultimate cause is not always distinguished from secondary or proximate causes. 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. He was the full expression of the trinity. But the Trinity would solve this problem. But, there are numerous problems with their position. That is why they often champion themselves Apostolic Pentecostal, or something similar. Any time God says something, it is Jesus speaking. 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. Well, if you say that the Father died on the cross, you are led instantly into absurdity. 5For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,6who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. If Jesus was praying to the divine side of Himself, then isn't He still praying to Himself? 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. If you want to know who God is, you look to Jesus. The primary problem with theology is that it asks questions. An apostle is an agent commissioned by a principal. The following points of doctrine are generally held to by the Oneness Pentecostal groups. 44. Philosophical and Theological Essays on the Trinity Rather, in the dawn of its history, it received no small criticism from Tertullian. 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. Examining the Oneness Objections to the Doctrine of the Trinity That is why John 14:9 says that Once youve seen me, youve seen the Father. Jesus is the expression of God. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 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. . [2] [3] It is most commonly associated with Oneness Christology and the movement of Oneness Pentecostalism; however, some Trinitarians also baptise in Jesus' name and interpret it as on the authority of Jesus' name which most of mainstream Christendom justifies as referencing the existence of a Trinitarian Christian deity through the Great Don't get me wrong, I love questions. 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. Therefore when Christ, the person, died on the cross, then the sacrifice was of divine value. The trinitarian will recite the Shema, Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one. The trinitarian believes that. Rule in the midst of your enemies! As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. Fair use is use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. 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. I am afraid that this emanates from a misunderstanding of trinitarian theology. When one speaks in tongues, then we can say that they are born again. Thus he appeals to the distinct natures within Jesus. In Oneness-unitarian doctrine, the unipersonal deity (the Father), came down Himself, and put on or wrapped himself in flesh without actually becoming flesh- thus, the Father Himself dwells in the incarnate Christ. (Luke 22:41-42). The book of Acts chronicles exactly what those chosen by Christ proclaimed about who Jesus is. 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. 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. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. The Oneness Pentecostal movements generally teach that to receive and maintain salvation, a person must adhere to four essential requirements. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. Understanding how Jesus identifies himself in the Gospels Read More Jesus is the Model for Us Justification by faith. 1:17), have separate thrones, (Rev. Did the Father die on the cross? The problem is that a group's denial of an essential biblical teaching excludes that group from Christianity. I think everything should be questioned. Please note, though, this is not saying there are three competing and separate gods (polytheism). The Bible is God's inerrant word. Christian/Church Of Christ. The Hebrew term for an agent or legal emissary isShaliachwhich is comparable to the Greek worldApostolosand the English word Apostle. The trinity declares that there is one being (God) and three persons (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). 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. 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. The mediator is the Messiah (Christ) of Gods plan foretold by the prophets. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. His most recent contribution, In Jesus Name, goes into detail on Oneness history and theology, but he primarily focuses his latter efforts on the significance of the name of Jesus. It was a time in which Jesus promised that the Father would answer all of their prayers for the growth of the church (John 14:13-14), people would instantaneously learn other human languages so that non-believers would be convinced (1 Corinthians 14:22), people would be able to handle snakes and drink poison (Mark 16:17-18), and perform many miraculous signs. 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. He is totally God. What is wrong with the oneness view of God? Adam was a type of the one who was to come, and Jesus is the last Adam. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 17 And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. (See The Christian Trinitarian God Examined In Depth). If you want to know who the trinity is, you look to Jesus. 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. Here, Jesus is distinguished from God in four ways: These four aspects of who Jesus is affirm that the humanity of Jesus is core to the Gospel message. If god is one person, then how does that affect his ability to contemplate? To start saving items to a SermonFolder, please create an account. This is not a novel objection to the oneness view of God. The mediator is a man. The one God and Father is the God and Father of Jesus. What is wrong with the Oneness view of God? Does this make any sense if Jesus is Lord to begin with? When I ask who Jesus was praying to in the garden (Luke 22:42), they say it was human nature praying to the divine nature. He can only represent fully in His nature another person that exists. Let me explain. This entails that the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is Jesus. 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? They are different roles that he takes in the world. Oneness risks denying the sufficiency of the atonement of Christ. It is tongues. There is only one God, so the mediator between God must have a separate ontological distinction from God. T.D. Jakes Embraces Doctrine of the Trinity, Moves Away fr | News How can God be both the mediator and the God he mediates for? They believe that if you are saved, you must speak in gibberish tongues. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. The problem should be obvious. The Father is relaying that he will say these things to the Son in the future. Furthermore, it denies the true incarnation by denying the hypostatic union, separating the persons into two and only the human person died on the cross, thereby negating the divine sufficiency of the sacrifice. 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. You must be indwelled by God himself and have a born again experience. This implies a static mind of simple knowledge without the action of contemplation. 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. That is how the trinitarian will understand these passages. 5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. Over the years, Ive spoken to many people within the oneness Pentecostal movement. They held to a modalist conception of God. Why would Jesus need to be anointed by God with the Holy Spirit? 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. This is precisely what happens to many people. 28:20). This is the heresy of Nestorianism, which teaches two persons in the body of Jesus. 9 Jesus said to him, Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? This is terrifying because while God is good, we are not. Prior to that, the pre-incarnate Christ existed as the word (John 1:1). 1:17). He possesses all divine attributes. Acts 5:3-4, Acts 7, Colossians 1:15, John 10:36, John 14:23, John 17:5, John 5:23, John 6:46, Luke 22:41-42, Matthew 3:13-17, Revelation 1, Sermon Topics: It is based upon a faulty conception of the trinity. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 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. 6 It has been testified somewhere, What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You will see the inconsistency and problems that arise from their position. The human nature is the Son, and the divine nature is the Father. 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. The table below shows the supporting scriptures. 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. We might pull our cars over for a police officer in the name of the law. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. 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. What is wrong with the oneness view of God? 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. This seems to me to be more peer pressure than the work of the Holy Spirit. They must be different considering that the Father sent the Son (Matt. The text says that these are names. For clarification, the Trinity is one God in three distinct simultaneous, coeternal persons. What are we to call him? So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.. 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. Similarly, Isaiah 7:14 says that his name shall be Immanuel. In Hebrews 1:10, the author quotes Psalm 102:25, and says that this is an example of the Father talking to the Son. Since they believe that Jesus was, and is, the Father, then when he took a drink, the Father was thirsty. Thank you for your interest in supporting CARM. Both Trinitarian and Oneness Pentecostal traditions have proceeded somewhat in parallel lines, both affirming their own position independently of criticism of the other, at least academically. The Father was tempted. I would like to suggest that what the Oneness Pentecostal has misunderstood is that a title is a name. 18 Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. 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. Again, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit each exemplify attributes of personhood. However, Oneness theology denies the Trinity. But despite that, they are surrounded by members of the congregation and told talk like me! You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. A person must have faith in Jesus Only. I will elaborate on them in this article. 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. The trinitarian believes that there is only one God. Who poured out his wrath upon Jesus? And the word that you hear is not mine but the Fathers who sent me. 3:17; 16:17; 2 Pet. All of the wrath of God that we deserve went out upon him. 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. Yet, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are each called God. 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. Oneness Pentecostalism does the exact same thing. by Matt Slick | Mar 13, 2023 | Oneness Pentecostal, World Religions. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. God is infinite, man is finite. 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. Examples of verses for examination if you have discussions with Oneness adherents, you might consider referencing the verses below and asking them which nature is speaking a different times. 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed. 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. Furthermore, each has a will, speaks, loves, and with whom we can have fellowship. 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. Oneness Pentecostalism (OP) is a form of modalism. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. To save items to a SermonFolder, please sign in to your account. (1 Cor 15:24-27). However, a few seconds of reflection or perusing the gospels will reveal the problem with this view. In Isaiah 9:6, we read that the name of the messiah will be everlasting father, mighty God, wonderful counselor, prince of peace. (Heb 9:24) Did God go into heaven to appear in the presence of God? ' The relationship and communication between the Father and the Son become incoherent if we say that Jesus is identical with the Father. They problem is that when the apostles did acted in the name of Jesus, it was not a formula. God is dependent on nothing. Man is dependent on oxygen, food, and water. To whom was the Father praying? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 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. The Messiah of prophecy is a human agent of God the Son of Man. One of the problems that many Oneness believers have when they hear the word "person" (as used by Trinitarians) is that . How can this be if they are the same person? This is problematic because the very nature of God is love (1 John 4:8). Denouncing Izzy's Heresy? Check Your Own Oneness First But if the Father is a conscious being and the Son is a conscious being and they are distinct from one another, then in what sense can it be said that they are truly one? The main problem is the Oneness Pentecostal doctrine implicitly denies this absolutely fundamental truth. But what is interesting is that these two natures are both conscious entities. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. Jesus came into existence 2000 years ago when He was born. They have realized that the doctrine is apparently supported by a handful of vague verses when interpreted in a particular way. It regards Jesus as God but fails to distinguish his personal existence from that of God the Father (or the Spirit). But following the theme of Ecclesiastes 3, there is a time to ask questions, and there is a time to shut up and . This entails that there is one God who is one person. Agent (Hebrew. The Father is presented as on the throne and Heaven, and Jesus is presented as a lamb beside the throne. 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. 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. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. They were in different locations at the same time (Matt. This is an impossible to solve problem for . Dividing Over Oneness | Christian History | Christianity Today 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). Corresponding to these criteria, Jesus cannot be God in a literal ontological sense: 1. But Colossians 2:9 says that in Christ, the fullness of deity dwells bodily. . This is because in Jewish thought, a title and a name are inextricably linked. If they do not do that, then they are not really born again and do not really have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 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.