problems with oneness theology

1:17). 13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. To sum up: The mystical doctrine of oneness is metaphysically disturbing, and it can foster authoritarian behavior. lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 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." And the word that you hear is not mine but the Fathers who sent me. 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.. One of the problems that many Oneness believers have when they hear the word "person" (as used by Trinitarians) is that . 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. However, a few seconds of reflection or perusing the gospels will reveal the problem with this view. There is absolutely no place in Scripture that says that everybody who has the Holy Spirit will speak in tongues. It is something like an executioner acting in the name of the king. If you would like to discuss this further, come join our Theology Discussion Group. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him., 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandmentwhat to say and what to speak. The Father is relaying that he will say these things to the Son in the future. The Trinity would solve this problem. 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). 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. Jesus can be called God because he represents God. God the Trinity is the only God worthy of worship. Oneness theology denies the true God by denying the Trinity and proposes a Nestorian view of Christ where the two natures (human and divine) are actually two persons who speak alternately even in the same sentence. Zechariah 12:10, I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. Many numerous scriptural references (15x) say that God raised Jesus from the dead, indicating a distinction between Jesus who was raised, and God who raised him. Over the years, Ive spoken to many people within the oneness Pentecostal movement. 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? (ESV) ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version),copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. 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. 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. 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. Oneness theology has deep roots in Christian history and its weaknesses have a habit of showing up in surprising places. 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. The text says that these are names. The solution is found in the next section. 5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. We might pull our cars over for a police officer in the name of the law. (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? 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. How can you say, Show us the Father? If they do not do that, then they are not really born again and do not really have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. However, the Unitarian understanding is supported everywhere in the New Testament and with the most explicit references. Ibid., p. 22. 17 If anyones will is to do Gods will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 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? They go to a Oneness Pentecostal Church, have no repentance in their heart, do not know anything about Christ or the Bible. We read inHebrews 3:1-2, Jesus is the apostleand high priest of our confession and was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses was also faithful in all Gods house. 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? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? 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 because he is totally divine. 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. This is because, in verse 17, Jesus referred to the Law stating that the testimony of two people is true. Jesus counts himself and his Father as two people when he says in verse 18, I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me., 16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. Jesus had a totally human nature and a totally divine nature. If Jesus was praying to the divine side of Himself, then isn't He still praying to Himself? 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. But following the theme of Ecclesiastes 3, there is a time to ask questions, and there is a time to shut up and . Passages are quoted in the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise indicated. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. But in the Bible, a name is definitional. 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. Denomination: A declaration of YHWH to my Lord: Sit at My right hand, || Until I make Your enemies Your footstool.. 3. 1:17), have separate thrones, (Rev. But his name was not Immanuel. He is totally God. Father, Son, and Spirit are mere titles, while Jesus is the name. He is still fully God and fully man. 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. In Oneness Pentecostalism, there is no distinction between the Father, Son and. In the light blue section in the table below are the characteristics of God. The mediator is a man. Enter your email address and we will send you a link to reset your password. This charge I have received from my Father.. 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 problem should be obvious. We are left to say that nobodys wrath was poured out, because the Father was the one who was dying. Does this make any sense if Jesus is Lord to begin with? 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. The human nature is the Son, and the divine nature is the Father. They were in different locations at the same time (Matt. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 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? (See The Christian Trinitarian God Examined In Depth). Within Orthodoxy There is only one God in all existence. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. CARM |P.O. 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. For the purpose of this article, I aim at the core of the oneness doctrine. To start saving items to a SermonFolder, please create an account. 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. If you think you are still in the apostolic age, you must also believe in the words of the Pope. So rather from descending from heaven and residing with him, wouldnt it rather emanate from him? The following points of doctrine are generally held to by the Oneness Pentecostal groups. 18 Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. 19 And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. 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 trinitarian would object to that on the basis that sometimes the Father is talking, others the Son is talking, and others the Holy Spirit is talking. If so, why? But despite that, they are surrounded by members of the congregation and told talk like me! 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. (John 8:28), If Jesus is God, he would have the Holy Spirit within himself. Amen. Oneness has a problem concerning the person of Jesus being the eternal God. 17 And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 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. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.. His wrath abides upon us, he must give us just condemnation for our sins. But Christ stepped in and paid our fine when he was murdered. Was Jesus praying to Himself? Anybody reading the gospels will see that there is some sort of distinction between Jesus and the Father. This site is made by those who have also come from a oneness background. 54 Jesus answered, If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. To be in the Father does not literally mean to be the Father. (John 10:29, John 14:28), Why does Jesus refer to the Father as the only true God and as himself as the one that he had sent? This is the heresy of Nestorianism, which teaches two persons in the body of Jesus. All of the wrath of God that we deserve went out upon him. What is wrong with the oneness view of God? They teach people that they saved when in fact, they are not. 4. 15 And I said, Who are you, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. A key point of reference will be how Jesus is identified by the Apostles in the book of Acts. He possesses all divine attributes. 3:17; 11:25, 27; 16:17; 24:36; Mark 13:32; 2 Pet. They problem is that when the apostles did acted in the name of Jesus, it was not a formula. 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. What do these things mean? The conviction that this multitudinous world is illusory can also encourage. Instead, it is one God, one divinely simple being who expresses himself to us in three distinct simultaneous persons. The Trinity is not the teaching, in spite of some of its critics, that there are three gods, nor is it the teaching that one person is three persons. 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. If the baptizer says anything other than the formula, in the name of Jesus, you cannot be saved. Although there are over 760 NT passages that make a clear distinction between God and Jesus, we will focus on the most compelling verses covering Jesus and the Father being separate witnesses, the explicit distinction between the person of God and Jesus, common distinctions in the New Testament, and verses that show a visual distinction. (John 8:16-18), Did Jesus learn obedience? 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 problem is that a group's denial of an essential biblical teaching excludes that group from Christianity. The mark of salvation in Oneness Pentecostalism is not bringing forth good fruit (Galatians 5:22-23), it is not repentance (Mark 1:15), and it is not throwing yourself on the mercy of God (Acts 16:31). 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. Answer Oneness doctrine is a rejection of the Trinity and is found in some branches of Pentecostalism. To save items to a SermonFolder, please sign in to your account. The Trinity is one of the foundational doctrines of Christianity. 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. They are different roles that he takes in the world. Man is mortal, while God is immortal. 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. Oneness Pentecostals often mistakenly think that this is what the doctrine of the trinity represents. In short, oneness theology is not Christian since it denies the True God, the True Incarnation of Christ, and the True Atonement. Thus, it is obviously not literally when Jesus said, Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.. The Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament describe the coming son of man as an agent of God through whom God will establish an everlasting priesthood and kingdom. Adam was a type of the one who was to come, and Jesus is the last Adam. This is because prior to the incarnation of Christ Jesus, there was no 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. 1 Tim 2:5-6is framed as the truth of the Gospel. 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.. They think that the words that you recite over the baptismal tank make or break salvation. How does this issue reflect on the personhood of God, who is supposed to be self-sustaining and completely self-dependent from eternity past? Oneness doctrine teaches that the one God reveals Himself in various forms: sometimes as the Father, sometimes as Jesus, and sometimes as the Holy Spirit. The problem is that they attempt to tie angelic tongues, necessarily, with salvation. Furthermore, this negates the sufficiency of the atoning sacrifice of Christ because it negates the divine quality of that sacrifice. Were all three of these distinct persons who do something Jesus? 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. This implies that God is not eternally self-sufficient in all areas. 34 Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe. If that is the case, that means that Jesus is both the Father, and the Son. The table below shows the supporting scriptures. The eternal relationship between the Father and the Son. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.. The primary problem with theology is that it asks questions. (Luke 22:41-42). This makes no sense. On several occasions, Ive had in-depth discussions with oneness believers. How can God be both the mediator and the God he mediates for? (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. 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 affirms the deity of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. 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? This is an idiom for power and authority that Jesus used. There is only one God, so the mediator between God must have a separate ontological distinction from God. All of the wrath of God that we deserve went out upon him. Yet, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are each called God. On October 1, 1915, 525 delegates met in St. Louis, ready for a confrontation. 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. Jesus was born of a virgin. Jesus will be in us and we will be in Jesus, but that does not literally make us Jesus.

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