I'm a Oneness Pentecostal who used to be Trinitarian

11/12/2015

updated 2022 March 11th

I became a Christian in 2005. I was Trinitarian as I was taught this is who God is. In 2011 I became a Oneness Pentecostal. This blog is about my personal journey in coming to view the godhead differently. Before we get started, I do want to clarify that I am not here to argue or attack. I know there are debates out there on this topic and people dedicated to trying to disprove each other. That’s not how I do things. I’m going to share why my views changed. If you are also Oneness, you are welcome here. If you are Trinitarian, you are welcome here. We have the same God. We simply have different perspectives on how he can be the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

What is the Trinity?
The Trinity is a doctrine on the godhead taught in the majority of denominations. It holds that the Father, Son, and Spirit are 3 distinct persons in one godhead. A 3-leaf clover is often used as an example. Each person is fully God. It’s also described as 3 distinct persons in 1 divine essence. Though it is difficult to grasp, Trinitarians accept this as a mystery to be embraced as none of us can fully comprehend the greatness of God.

What is the Oneness doctrine?
Oneness believes that God is one. He is the Father and the Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit. God reveals himself in different modes. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are his titles. For an earthly example, a man is a son and husband and father yet it is the same man who fills all those roles. Oneness Pentecostals take the bible at its word that God is one. They reject the doctrine of the Trinity because it is not found in the bible.

Alright. Now that we’ve got the basics out of the way, let’s dive in.

I was atheist.

I became Christian.

I was taught the Trinity to explain who God is. I was not educated on other doctrines. I was also taught that most Christians consider any churches who are not Trinitarian to not be real Christians. I never really bought into the idea that non-Trinitarians weren’t Christian, but I was leery.

I didn’t question that. I never felt like the Trinity made sense, but I accepted it as something divine my human limitations couldn’t wrap my head around.

In 2011 I started going to an Apostolic Pentecostal church. When I found out they weren’t Trinitarian, I became cautious. That made me hesitate. However, you can’t be in their church services and think these people aren’t Christian. The way they worship? The way they pray? The miracles I see? The healings? The presence of the Holy Ghost? The move of God in the church and in their lives? No, you absolutely could not convince me that they didn’t know God.

I learned more about their views on the godhead in a bible study and in Sunday school. I had never questioned the Trinity. I had also never realized it was not mentioned in the bible. Nor did I realize that the bible says nothing about God being triune or 3 in 1 or “God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit”. When I noticed that is when I started to question. As I searched for answers, I found that the Trinity seemed to me to be logical. It was logical in the sense that the 3 persons in 1 godhead was the way to make sense of things. “Man’s logic is not God’s logic” is a reoccurring thought I had. One of the big things for me that led to my doubt was finding out the doctrine of the Trinity became accepted in 381AD at the First Council of Constantinople.

The apostles didn't teach it. The early church didn't teach it. Jesus didn't teach it. The bible does not use the word Trinity nor does it say anything about "God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit" with a triune teaching. The Trinity is using man's logic to explain how God can be in 3 roles. It is not in scripture nor is it a direct interpretation of scripture. Coming to that revelation and studying the bible verses on the godhead was sufficient for me to stop following the Trinitarian view.

At that point, I wasn’t Trinitarian anymore but I also didn’t want to immediately jump on the Oneness wagon without studying more. This was something that I thought over with much prayer and bible study. I’d like to share here the bible verses that spoke to me.

Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!
Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
Mark 12:28-34 One of the scribes came up and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” And the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher; You have truly stated that He is One, and there is no other besides Him; and to love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And then, no one dared any longer to question Him.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Colossians 2:9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
Colossians 1:15-20 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
2 Corinthians 4:4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
1 Timothy 3:16 By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory
1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 1:3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
James 2:19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

(All scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible)

God . . .

The prince of peace, the eternal father, the king

revealed in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16)

the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15, 2 Corinthians 4:4)
an exact representation of His nature (Hebrews 1:3)
radiance of His glory (Hebrews 1:3)
the fullness of the Deity in bodily form (Colossians 2:9)

I see one God in the bible.
Jesus

A couple other verses to consider:

Jesus says he has come in his Father's name (John 5:43)
John 14:7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen him.
John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

How can God be the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit?
God is omnipresent. He is everywhere all the time. He can be in numerous places at once; he can be in heaven and in spirit form and in bodily form all at the same time. He is that powerful. He is that big. He has no limits. He is not restricted the way that mankind is. He is able to manifest himself in multiple ways. He is not divided or weakened. He is one.

A man can be a couple's child, a woman's husband, and a child's father all at the same time. One man can be in those 3 roles without being divided. Surely God can be in 3 roles without division or restriction.

God said in his word that he is one. I believe it. I believe that God is One. Jesus is God. This is what I follow.

86 Comments

Leanna Mae

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Keyonma Robinson

8/7/2019 23:50:24

I have enjoyed this! I myself am a oneness Apostolic pentecostal who use to be trinitarian. The strange part is that, i was actuly raised in a oneness church from the time i was born. But i never knew the church i went to was Oneness..lol But when i discovered the truth i was amazed, exxited and mind blown! Ive been fully oneness for 4 years now and was a trinitarian for 7 years..(16-23) was baptized in Jesus ne at age 21 and 2years later converted my belief in doctrine at age 23. And till this day, ive made a promise toy heavenly Father, Jesus Christ that ill nwver return to the trinity! Thank you for your story!

Mondel cabague

6/12/2021 06:13:41

The bible itself old and new testament details that there is really a father co existence with the son as verses that follows proverbs 8.22to30,proverbs 30.4.and in the new testament Jesus himself mention that He is came and sent by the father as a matter of fact john 14..Jesus said trust in God and trust also in me. John 16...explains that Jesus is came from God and send by the father as what the 12 discple understood after He speak not in a view of figurative statement about the father and Jesus.. And clearly admit that He came not of his own but to the father. The onness insist that there is no father only Jesus while the scripture detailed that a father is exist with the son Jesus.

Ricardo B

13/3/2024 13:12:28

Jesus says that He is sent by the father because that's how we are supposed to be. He is showing us that we must also give all the glory to God, our Father. He is not saying that the Father is separate from him. How can He say if you have seen me you have seen the Father and not be the Father. He would be lying and would not be perfect and therefore make believing in Him pointless.

Amen

18/6/2024 01:02:13

Edward Bansemer

24/1/2025 09:35:37

John 10:30 I and my father are one. Colossians 2:8-10 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Javier zuñiga jr

11/10/2022 01:17:53

Glory and Honor and all Praises to the great God and Saviour Jesus Christ well explained brethren God bless you'll

Avery Crosdale

2/9/2024 07:13:03

The very scriptures that the writer quoted contradict his/her stance! Read them again. The word Trinity might not be used in the Bible but God did not create humans to be fools. God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. A clear indication was manifested at the baptism of Jesus. Jesus is now seated at the right hand of His Father, pleading and making intercession for us mortal sinners, while the Holy Spirit (the Comforter) that He sent on leaving earth, dwells with us here on earth. The Bible states that when we refuse to believe the truth that is so clearly laid out to us, God will send strong delusions that we will believe a lie. Let’s continue to pray for revelation of the real truth🙏🙏🙏

John

23/9/2024 22:11:13

Jesus can say "if you have seen me, you have seen the father",
Be cause he represented the father in perfect harmony. He obeyed the Father, He did His Father's will. He loved as the Father loved, etc.
Genesis says: God speaking; "Let us create man in our image".
Why did God speak as plurality; talking to whom?

Just a Man link

26/5/2021 23:53:30

I am drawn to Apostolic Churches because of it’s practice and teaching of holiness (a lot of Churches are comprised) however, I can’t wrap my head around Mark 1:9-11 as it relates to the Oneness doctrine.

Mark 1:9-11 KJV
[9] And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. [10] And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: [11] And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

You’d have to infer a lot to interpret this scripture as one God operating in 3 different modes.

If Jesus was with John, while seeing a dove (in the form of the Holy Spirit) descending from heaven and also hearing a voice saying saying to Jesus “my beloved son in whom I am well pleased”.

Was this Jesus speaking to himself from heaven while descending upon himself as the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove or three distinct members interacting at the same time?

Ultimately, I believe truly saved and Holy Ghost filled Oneness and Trinitarian believers will see God, I don’t think either view is heresy, but I’m just a believer not a theologian or preacher. I love Jesus Christ and have brought my life under his subjection. I just want to go to heaven.

Jackson Turner

18/10/2021 10:39:49

This video explains your question quite well: https://youtu.be/CU0P3awcikw. It is with Dr. David K. Bernard, who has a Doctorate in Theology from South Africa University.

Shannon Murdock link

15/4/2022 05:52:39

I believe both doctrine has points I do not know the answer but I do believe in holy ghost filled and that we must be truly saved and repent and surrender daily to Jesus to build are relationship.

Bobbie-Jo

4/5/2024 01:53:40

Acts 2:38

Nathan

23/2/2025 20:12:20

Yup!!!

Stephen Jurss

29/3/2023 12:38:49

First I would like to say I was born and raised catholic but I can't say I eve felt God or what I thought was God. In addition I heard thing taught and saw a lot of it not being followed.

Anyway I believe that "oneness" is a revelation from God. Now that said studying is the route most often used by God to reveal this. Let me give you some scripture that may help explain this.

Matt 28:19 KJV Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Act 2:38 KJV Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Now we know that the Word of God is inerrant. Which way is correct? There seems to be a contradiction here? Well Jesus said I come in my fathers name (John 5:43). The book of Acts has a number of instances where people were baptized and in each case (Act 10: 44-48, 8:16, 4:12). Since this is where the church started it gives a lot of credence to Jesus name baptism. If Jesus, God the Father and the Holy Ghost are all one then there is no contradiction between Matt 28:18 and Acts 2:38. God just gave us more information in Acts.

Eric Henry Williams

3/2/2024 19:19:23

Love this discussion. I worshipped the Father trinitarian and oneness assemblies.
I now believe the scripture makes it obvious that Jesus is the head of the church and that God is the head of Christ. Full stop. John 20:31 is the Pinnacle of the topic. Believe in the son for he will lead you to his God.

Billy link

1/8/2023 19:17:56

That was well said and amen!

Bob James

1/5/2024 01:01:05

That's called subordinationalism

Lane

8/1/2024 12:30:44

You really don't have to infer much at all. The Bible clearly declares in Jeremiah 23:24 that God fills the heaven and the earth. He is omnipresent. If we consider all information on the subject, it is easy to see that Trinitarianism is just not Biblical.

John 14:21, 23 show Jesus speaking of coming to live with those who love and obey Him. This would be a perfect opportunity for Him to mention the 3rd person of the Godhead, but He makes no mention of any 3rd person at all.

Romans 8:9-11 declares that Christ IS the Spirit of God. God is a spirit (Jn. 4:24). If the Father is a Spirit and Christ is a Spirit, then who is the Holy Spirit?

Most pro-Trinity Christians get all hung up on one single verse, or another, stubbornly convinced that the verse proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that God is three persons. What they don't understand is that no verse in the Bible can be said to refer to a concept/doctrine that does not exist anywhere in Scripture.

The idea that God is three persons is taught nowhere from Genesis to Revelation. Therefore, any verse that is claimed to refer to the Trinity is a "misinterpretation" at best. We must take the Bible in its entirety to decipher what doctrines are true and what are false. The Bible states in many places that God is ONE - nowhere does it state, or teach, that God is three.

30/4/2024 22:53:02

The Baptism of Jesus. Trinitarians must stop thinking of beings called persons in a composite godhead and think what is actually involved.
Jesus the man Christ, the Son is standing in the water, John baptizing him a voice from heaven from the deity which is SPIRIT,Not a person with a body as the Christ, Christ Jesus is the express image of the invisible God and Father, there is not another body, a person with Jesus, a voice doesn't denote a person, God is spoken in anthropormorphic terms, but doesn't literally have a body apart from Jesus's body. He has a right hand, a arm, a finger a hind parts, but not in the same sense of the real.pwrson Jesus. Look at Zech 12:10 YHWH IS SOEAKING, not a part of him, but the Holy ONE! Notice this Spirit Deity in OT says .. "they shall look upon me whom they have pierced." Tell me when was YHWH pierced? He is omnipresent Spirit. He can only be pierced by counting his Son or his flesh as that which was his express image that was really pierced after being begotten. The Father made sound from heaven without a mouth, because His voice can come from anywhere. A bush, a Mtn, in Wind. The Spirit the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, Spirit of the Lord ( not some other Lies, but Jesus ). God or the HS is not a dove, has never been a dove, but was seen as a visible image like a dove for John to know this was the anointed . Trinitarians must give up this idea of 3 persons, beings, individuals, entities in a godhead. It is ancient triad paganism seen in every culture around the Jews. The Jews never held any three in one idea and Monarchians of the early church didn't either. You need to search who the real church was that didn't kill as the Trinity churches did. Catholic and Protestant. I came out of first Catholicism, then the Protestantism of Baptist and then non Denominationalism. My studies have led me to Catholicism as a fraud and false and the murdering Lutherans, Calvinists, Dutch reformers and Church of England as not Christian. I would bet you never studied that. I hope the Baptism of Jesus makes more sense from Oneness view

23/9/2024 22:14:52

Yes, the biblical evidence is in the conversations between Jesus and the Father, as well as the statements proclaiming Jesus sitting / standing at the right hand of God.

23/2/2025 20:05:49

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! Glad someone said it. We can argue about the Godhead all day long but the real question is- Have you been born again and have you received the Holy Ghost!? I can’t truly say whom is right but what I can say is If you don’t have God’s Spirit, you can’t get into Heaven… (John 3:5-7)

Иов

27/3/2025 19:36:19

The solution to that I have found is this:
Jesus was fully Man and fully God. He had a man’s body, a man’s spirit, and God’s Spirit. This solves the question of “How could Jesus pray to Himself?” You have the Holy Spirit inside of you, yet you can still pray to God. Christ (the man) prayed to God (who dwelt in Him).
As for the Spirit descending upon Christ, it is simple. That was the beginning of Christ’s ministry. That was God descending upon Christ and anointing Him. The body which the Holy Ghost descended upon was not God. That was a man’s body. The Spirit inside of Christ is what is God, and because Christ has ALL of the Holy Spirit (and God is A Spirit—not a Spirit and a Man and another Spirit ??) then Christ is God because His Spirit is God.
I hope this helps and that I have explained this well :)

John Alexander link

8/6/2021 16:56:02

Its shameful to me that Christians actually BATTLE one another over such a ridiculous topic as the Trinity.
With so many other pressing issues that the church is confronted with in a rapidly changing world you'd think our house would be cleaned up enough not to put thee doctrinal stumbling blocks in front of so many central american migrants seeking Jesus.
The growing harvest of ex Muslims seeking Jesus who are already suspicious of the trinity and other complicated issues yet here we Christians stand divides as ever.

Each denomination claiming unity in the body yet can't properly define the classical definition of the trinity they claim to abhor as traditions of men.

No counting the number of steps one made on the sabbath was a tradition of men Jesus warned of. Filtering gnat's from drinking vessels traditions of men., failing to his observe the laws call for mercy were traditions of men.
The Triune God may embarrass some folks who avoid all the negative baggage associated with it. But the further we get away from the biblical ( inference ) of Gods relational nature.
Then we Christians will continue.to make a mockery of the love true disciples of Jesus are supposed to reflect.
God bless you all

Bob Smith

29/3/2023 05:18:40

You are very ignorant then my friend because scripture makes it clear that belief in Jesus as God is a requirement for salvation or else you go to hell:

Romans 10:9
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Don't be decieved by assuming "Lord" merely refers to Jesus having dominion over all. The greek word used here is "Kyrious" which is the same name used in place of the God's name in the Greek septuagint. Paul is equating him to Yaweh as verse 13 makes clear:

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:13 ESV

He's quoting from Joel 2:32 which is about Yaweh, so in other words you must confess that Jesus is Lord to be saved, those who call on the name of Yaweh, who is Lord and God, will be saved, so Q.E.D. you must proclaim Jesus is God to be saved.

Oh and Paul makes it unequivocally clear that Jesus is God in Romans 9:5

To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
Romans 9:5 ESV

I know you mean well, but you are doing damage to the body of Christ and leading people to hell by spreading false information. Please repent of this

1/8/2023 19:21:19

Amen, to be a Christian and saved you have to believe Jesus is God!

8/1/2024 12:42:10

Absolutely correct.

Amen.

Robert Anderson

13/5/2024 18:33:51

I Believe I'm leaning towards the Oneness Pentecostal view.

1/8/2023 19:19:59

Jesus = God

Azlin

5/10/2023 11:31:30

God = Jesus = Holy Ghost; He IS ONE

8/1/2024 12:40:17

I've seen this objection to discussing Oneness vs Trinity many times. What many don't understand is that only one can be in correct alignment with Scripture. They cannot both be correct. The Bible either teaches that God is three persons - as Trinitarians claim (which it does not) or it teaches that God is one person (which it does).

The very serious, and dangerous, issue is that the belief that is incorrect is what the Bible defines as an idol. That means a "false image/representation of God". And that is very serious. If we are worshipping a false god, we are not worshipping, nor representing, the God of the Bible, God Almighty.

And that is absolutely a Salvation issue.

1/5/2024 01:02:56

Trinitarianism is false Monarchianism is truth and the original Orthodoxy belief of the church.

Jeff Burroughs link

12/6/2021 21:03:44

I am goin thru situation now I've been a beleiver in Jesus as savior for 20 years or so but was always shown how God reveals himself as trinity but almost 2 years ago I was homeless I met a guy who said he was Christian and I told him I was believe r but he asked me if I ever was baptized I said yes a couple times he asked under what name I told him father son holy spirit but he explained acts 2 38 formula invited me to a bible study at a pentecostals church in jonesboro I went he eventually helps me off street I was rebaptized in Jesus name but introduced me to the oneness doctrine never heard it till then I've been goin for long while I started sharing gospel videos from there but I could never come to truly accept that oneness doctrine I've had lots convicted when I started sharing messages there I see both sides oneness but I also see trinity view my freind try in convince me it's only oneness but I still see in many verses both sides but I see more verses that support triune view than the other one I told my freind it's not opinion im look in for truth and I know only truth sets us free I beleive 100 percent Jesus is God manifested in flesh as son of God I accepted his salvation but now I'm struggling try in accept this oneness doctrine maybe u can help me in this area cause it's been troubling me

Jillian

18/3/2023 11:23:20

I believe the trinity is viewed how it is for humans to understand it ... I was trinitarian, but always felt they were one...until I found an Apostolic Church and they believe what I felt... Here's how I describe it... God the father is one you can look at as a father, he leads you, guides you, teaches you, tells you what to do, etc ... The son Jesus , came down in flesh ,self sacrificing, to show us he can be human like us, and still be holy, die for our sins , for us to understand his love and humbleness... Then the holy ghost is how we can physically feel him with us... So essentially it's like I am the father, I am the son made flesh and I am the holy ghost, feel me... It was made to be understood by humans ..cuz let's be honest...most humans aren't very bright... But we do comprehend we have a mother and father that teaches us, corrects us etc, we know what a son is , and being human, and we can feel spiritual wise... And know what "ghosts" are... So it lets us know hey you can feel me ...I'm like what you know a ghost is ... Even if you can't see me... So it's broken down to the simplest terms for all humans to comprehend... But here's an idea for you to think of... If God says thou shalt not have no other gods before me....do you really think there would be 3 separate distinct gods? ...no because that would be contradictory...he wouldn't want us worshipping 3 separate beings ...he is one ...

8/1/2024 12:52:17

Amen.

23/9/2024 22:31:34

I hear many oneness pentecostal say trinity = 3 God's. This is a very false representation of the trinity. I don't believe we (humans) can adequately describe God.
'three persons' versus 'three manifestations'. Believe both beliefs - believe there is only One God; doing their best to describe God.
Question: Genesis, God speaking: " Let Us create man in Our image"
Why did he use plurality language?
Who is He speaking to?

Jonathon

21/1/2025 17:24:46

No. Not even close, my brother. The Father sent the Son. You cannot send something that is not there.

8/1/2024 12:50:54

The concept that God is three persons must be taught somewhere in the Bible in order for any verse to be accurately interpreted as referring to it.

People claim Matt. 28:19 proves that God is three, but then there are no baptisms anywhere in Scripture performed in the Trinity recipe. They are all done in Jesus' Name. This is evidence that Matt. 28:19 is misinterpreted as referring to the Trinity.

Any verse can be taken out of context and said to mean something that it does not. In order to know for certain what the verse means, we must understand what the Bible teaches from cover to cover. Nowhere does it teach that God is three. On the contrary, it declares many, many times that God is one and NEVER declares that God is three. And the Father Himself declares to be ONE and to be all that Jesus is claimed to be in Isaiah chapters 40-48.

Cameron

10/11/2021 18:28:04

WOW! I was a baptist who believed in the trinity as well. I was always taught to avoid pentecostals because they had bad theology. I was excelling in my gifts and in my doctrine to the point that I was preaching every friday night to the youth at the bapstist church. I was also a guest speaker at many events. I preached my first sermon when I was 19 years old to the whole congregation one sunday morning in the baptist church because of my knowledge of the word. But I looked in depth to this Oneness doctrine and a light went off. It is like the more I learn the crazier I become about God. I study doctrine and read the word every single day no joke. So at 21 years old me and my wife both got re-baptized in Jesus name and we both have the Holy Ghost speaking in other tongues. I am going through a battle right now that gets very discouraging. Every pastor or brother I ever built a relationship with in the trinitarian community is challenging me and trying to re convert me and debunk the doctrine. I am standing tall and only letting the word of God speak for itself. They can not answer many things I present. Just like you I find it harder to debate Oneness than I do to debate trinity. God bless you and thank you for your testimony!!!

8/1/2024 12:52:45

Amen.

God bless you.

Felicia Johnson

21/1/2022 19:43:21

Hi Sister,

Came across your website today, very insightful. Same here. I was a staunch Trinitarian, and would argue anyone down who spoke otherwise, but over time the Lord begin to open my eyes and reveal His true nature to me. God bless you!

Ryan Poole

8/4/2022 02:38:48

Hello my name is Ryan Poole I Was a trinity for a long time I left the churchs to be with Jews an was in the process of conversion to join the Jewish community the jews belive in one G-d Deut 6:4 I prayed long and hard in tears wondering were should I go and christ led me to a apostolic oneness pentecostal church. What I love is I'm no longer starving emotionally and spiritually I'm closer to christ then I ever was in my life I found your article because it's been breaking my heart to see how much church gate us the trinity is not even A salvation issue I dont understand it may the Lord bless you

Amanda Bernard

2/5/2022 00:51:48

Just simply powerful. I am an apostolic and trust me when i say this has been a huge stumbling block for many people. I always encourage those struggling to Read the Word of God prayerfully. Jesus is not far from us and if we seek him diligently he will reveal himself.

Armando

3/6/2022 18:24:44

One question.
When Jesus prays to the father. Who exactly is he praying to?
To himself?
When he says, Father forgive them they don't know what they are doing. Or when he prays in John 17.
Just wondering.

8/1/2024 12:57:24

Everything Jesus did was an example to us of how to live properly and righteously. When Jesus prayed to the Father, He was showing us what to do in our own moments of great distress. Jesus was God Almighty, praying in the flesh to the Source that He came from as the Father exists outside of time and space and was still in the heavens while also existing in the flesh upon the earth.

Remember, Jeremiah 23:24 declares that God fills the heaven and earth. God is omnipresent, He exists in time and out of time and everywhere all at once. That is how powerful and unlimited God Almighty is. And that is WHO Jesus Christ is.

Cathy Snedegar

22/8/2022 23:49:58

I am another person who was trinitarian, until 1999, when the Spirit of God ripped that out of me and I immediately understood the basics of oneness. Of course I studied it also. I am totally convinced of its truth in explaining who God is. This is a great discussion on the subject.

Jacqueline Torres

16/9/2022 09:51:27

Matthew 28:18-20
New International Version
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.(A) 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,(B) baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,(C) 20 and teaching(D) them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you(E) always, to the very end of the age.”

16/9/2022 13:31:32

What is the name? God's name is Jesus. He is the fullness of the deity in bodily form. (Colossians 2:9. John 5:43, John 14:7, 26). We baptize in the name of Jesus because that is obeying this command in Matthew 28:19 as demonstrated each time the disciples baptized someone (Acts 2:38, Acts 8:12-17, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 19:1-7).

Isaiah

13/3/2023 22:53:34

John 1:1-2 Explicitly said that the Word was with God eternally.

Treva Peres

29/7/2024 20:35:11

Yes, but it says (B) baptising them in "THE NAME" NOT NAMES. That NAME is found in Acts 2:38, and it is JESUS.

Theo

23/1/2023 16:00:50

Wrong interpretion of verse and ideology, the gospel you are preaching here is not Biblical. Pray God should open your mind to understand Trinity
John 20:17
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.’”[ESV]

8/1/2024 15:46:35

Oneness doctrine is not about interpreting one verse correctly. It's about understanding what the entire Bible teaches. You, on the other hand, are taking a single cherry-picked verse and claiming it is the proof text for the Trinity. It is not.

Who does the Father say that the "angels OF GOD" are to worship?

Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:6)

And who does the Father say is "HIS God"?

Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:8)

All of Scripture teaches Oneness. None of it teaches Trinity.

23/9/2024 22:42:56

John 1 "In the beginning was the Word. The Word was WITH God and the Word was God."
Explain how the Word was with God, while being God.
Also, Jesus sat at the right hand of God.
Genesis: God spoke: "Let Us create man in Our image."
Why plurality? Who was God speaking to?
Trinity description is just a human way of describing the 'relationships' within the One true God.

Jeanie Williams link

10/2/2023 23:43:37

So, who died on the cross: the Father or the Son? Who's wrath was poured out on whom: Jesus the Father or Jesus the Son? This is one fallacy of the Oneness dogma doctrine of the Oneness Apostolic teachings. Further more, really educate your readers about the convoluted view of Jesus being the "flesh suit" that the Father was in. That's another fallacy of Oneness teaching. Scripture doesn't say Oneness Pentecostalism either so this point is mute when it was mentioned that the bible doesn't mention Trinitarianism.Both Oneness Pentecostals & Trinitarians have doctrinal problems. The whole entire Westernized American Christianity w/its thousand upon thousands of denominations is nothing more than the traditions of men & babbel (confusion).

Allison

18/2/2023 01:07:07

I love this discussion:) I was born again in 2018… Gods will not mine- saved from the occult new age world

I see so much bickering and in-fighting amongst Christians- it is terrible. I just read the book “live not by lies” and it speaks of how during persecution of the church denominational disagreements go to the wayside- they become irrelevant

I believe oneness and trinitarians are saying the same thing. Basically- Gods ways are higher than ours… I love reformed Baptist theology (postmil) and I nerd out on the Bible.

I recently listened to James whites Trinity book- when people ask “how can god the father be baptizing the son with the holy spirot descending as a dove?” Is he putting on a mask? A mode?

God can do anything… he can be in 10000000 forms and10000000 places at once he’s God! He could be demonstrating love and obedience to us in a human way we understand- it’s not far fetched to say God can’t be in a million different forms at once.

But from the human perspective we see these three roles displayed in the Bible all at once (like in Jesus baptism) and our human brains must define, categorize and understand. We need neat little boxes. Rather than eating an Orange we isolate vitamin c… then focus on vitamin c. I believe mankind does the vitamin c thing with God

If you believe Jesus is God- and he died and rose again and you are saved by grace through faith… then the rest is important and fun to ponder- but not salvific

I get frustrated when Christian trinitarians say oneness folks are heretics and not saved… the Bible doesn’t say that. Please Jesus- if I’m deceived in my understanding of trinity or oneness please forgive me…

Both trinitarians and oneness believe the core truths of Jesus. They both believe in Jesus.

Can’t it be both and? When I was finishing my masters in theology I had to build a bridge between Arminianism and calvinism- my born again experience was Calvinistic 100% but I also believe Arminianism is biblical and can be argued. Both and… same here.

I see the trinity perspective and the oneness perspective- I was trying to tell my oneness friend he sounded like a trinitarian… he did-

I’m gonna say both and… both the trinitarian and oneness are confessing the deity of christ and believe salvation is only in Jesus…

I feel like I’m 51% oneness 49% trinitarian and other days 51% trinitarian-

Honestly though- had I not been taught the trinity I would prolly not come up with it in its complexity on my own- just like I don’t believe I’d read the pretrib rapture theology with out hardcore indoctrination on my own… the Bible says nothing of the sorts of the dispensational pretrib eschatological perspective - that’s some hardcore gymnastics-

Jesus is God… he is God incarnate- on earth… there is one God… oneness and trinitarians agree. JW’s don’t believe Jesus is God. Mormons believe he is God… but he is one of a million of the gods… but the God of this world.

I pray that those who call on the name of Jesus- confess with their mouth that He is God, and believe in their heart- I pray those folks are saved… even if they are LDS or JW- I pray they are saved…

Humility - humbleness- these attributes are so important in all we do. God resists the proud. I hold theological side points with a loose hand- many Jews in the first century missed Jesus because they were ridgid and attached to the idea of a military leader vs a suffering servant.

Love this post and all the comments!

Clyde Morris

30/1/2024 15:39:32

Beautifully stated

Lynda G. Bennick

3/3/2024 00:25:02

This perspective is clearly educated and thoughtful! Raised Pentecostal currently worship as a Methodist who shudders every Sunday during the doxology. "God in Three Persons the Holy Trinity" makes me shudder. But I go to the Methodist church because they practice acts of love in the community in more ways than I ever saw my Oneness Pentecostal churches do. Not wanting to judge other believers, but in asking Gods direction and for me I choose to act on my faith and belief. feel its so much more important to follow the example Jesus our Lord set for how we should show love for our neighbors who are in need by feeding them, clothing them, rebuilding houses. We really cannot spend our time arguing about Jesus the King of Kings!

23/9/2024 22:50:36

Agree, well said. The discrepancy comes: when a Oneness Pentacostal believes that the trinity = 3 God's. I have heard this from some. There is an obvious relationship aspect between Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Humans use the teaching: Trinity to try and describe this relational aspect. But we are humans; God is God.

1/1/2025 23:41:58

I was saved in a Oneness Pentecostal Church. I backslid out of the church because of this century old argument. I then spent some time in trinity Pentecostal Churches as well. Both teaching sound the same on Jesus being God manifested in flesh.
Oneness believes in Water Baptism in The Name of Jesus for the remission of sins. Most trinity don't acknowledge Acts 2:38 but, some do and practice it but , not as an absolute prerequisite for salvation but rather as a sacred sacrament. I wish that both groups would not be so pitted against the other group. There are things we can and should learn from eachother. We should be able to worship together without hatred towards one another. I wish trinity teachers would consider Acts 2:38 without pre-conceived ideas. I wish Oneness teachers would stop thinking that everyone is lost who doesn't have the baptism of the Holy Ghost. ( and yes,they do say that frequently). We should seek the baptism of the Holy Ghost and we need to be Baptized in The Name of Jesus and we need the baptism of the Holy Ghost to have power to overcome wrong spirits.
As far as God being One or 3 persons in One, I'm not sure if I will ever understand that entirely. The last couple of months I have read numerous scriptures that make me think Jesus existed in eternity past as the Son seprate from God the Father. Hebrews Chapter 1 vers 8. Almost all of chapter 1.Hebrews Chapter 7.
There are people out there who are lost and we debate over who has the most biblical understanding on the divinity of Christ. We should be spending time fasting and prayer, for revival, and the manifested presence of God for salvation of lost souls and for spiritual healing and for physical and emotional healing for people in pain. Also praying for people who are homeless.
No disrespect for people from either side.
Think back on those early 20th century Pentecostal pioneers and how they started. The Shearer Schoolhouse Rivival back east, and Topeka Kansas, and Asuza Street, and The Arroyo Seco Camp Meeting. We owe those Pentecostal and Holiness pioneers much gratitude and we should honor their prayers and sacrifices by us doing better.
Perhaps The Assembly of God and Jesus Name Apostolics were never supposed to split up.
I think we need to do better.
I currently attend a UPCI Apostolic Church, in California however, I have friends at 5 different AOG churches and friends at a Free Holiness Church.
I have felt the Holy Ghost at all those places.
I have gone to the alter for prayer at both places. I see us as brothers, not enemies. If the Apostolic Preachers knew they might have some harsh words for me but, I keep that in Prayer. I still hold fast to Acts 2:38 but, I actually do often see Jesus as being separate from God in eternity yet, I know that he is God and I know there is only one God.
God bless all and please don't think I'm being disrespectful to anyone. Amen

Isabella Flores

3/3/2023 22:19:10

I was Catholic, so trinitarian. Then i became Christian and went to a trinitarian congregation. When i discovered a oneness pentecostal church, i could not believe how God could speak to me through the sermons that way and how seeking the Holy Spirit was the most important thing in our walk with God. I was baptized in Jesus name and saw the power behind calling on the name of Jesus. I left that church, however, because of the oneness pentecostal external holiness standards. They are not biblical. And after so much preaching on it (by the pastor) and studying the truth behind those standards (by me), it makes me question the oneness theology. I could use some help in that regard. Thank you.

7/3/2023 19:06:16

Hey, Isabella. I'm sorry to hear your pastor was so extreme on it. Standards have always been an obstacle for me as well. Too be honest, they are never preached in my area. My church is welcoming of people who do not follow the traditional standards. I hope you can find an Apostolic church in your area that is welcoming too. No one should be turned away for differing on such matters that are largely personal conviction anyway. Don't give up on the core doctrines because of the extremism. I promise not all Apostolic churches are like that.

Katherine

30/11/2024 12:44:20

Oneness theology is a rehashing of the Sabellianism/Patripassianism heresies that the church rejected in the AD300s.
It is not true that the Trinity was invented in the 300s. The Trinity was an existing concept that was given a name in order to defend the church from heresies attacking it. In the same way you wont find "omnipresent" or "omnipotent" in the Bible but the words are given to put a name on a preexisting concept. I hope that helps a little.

The idea of multiple persons being in one being is seen even in the cherubim. That was actually how God helped me grasp it. You have 4 distict persons - lion, ox ,eagle, man that are one being. The lion is not the ox, the eagle is not the ox - the ox is not a "mode" of the man, ect. Yet they are 1 cherubim.

God is 3 Persons in 1 Being.

Henry

28/3/2023 00:20:33

My mother is apostolic Pentecostal. She believes if I wasn’t baptized in Jesus name I’m not saved, also that if I don’t have evidence of speaking in tongues I’m not saved, and also says that Apostolic Pentecostals are the only ones with the truth and only ones going to heaven. That is absolutely absurd. She also believes there is only one. So explain 1 John 5:7
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one (case closed!!!). Apostolic Pentecostals that believe this are spreading false doctrine. I’m a Christian, I believe in Jesus and I believe that’s what matters!

glenna

18/5/2023 12:54:30

The word Omnipresent is not in the Word either, but we know God is. Trinity, means the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the three in one. They make up the God Head. PS 110:1 "The Lord said unto m Lord Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thing enemies thy foot stool." Jesus quoted this in the NT. He was saying God said unto Jesus because Jesus is the one who sits on the right hand of the Father. The Son, Jesus, after God has puts His enemies under under His footstool, the Bible says, then Jesus will turn all things back over to the Father. 1st Corinthians 15. starting in vs 24. "Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered p the kingdom to God, even the Father, when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25. For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet. 28. And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, the shall the Son aslo himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. And also why did David say in PS. And the Lord said unto my Lord. This means God said unto Jesus. It's also in the NT., when Jesus was responding to the Religious leaders.

I am just now in a oneness church trying to learn how they believe. I'm not there as far as understanding completely, but I'm learning and trying to understand the oneness doctrine. "Jesus said, the works I do are not mine, but they are of the Father." He can't be speaking to himself.

18/5/2023 19:25:28

Check out the title of Psalm 139. It mentions the omnipresence and omniscience of God. Oh how much i love the Lord!

I grew up Catholic, then went to a Trinitarian Christian church, but got baptized in a oneness church. I'm still trying to find the right church because I believe in the oneness of God, but not the man made holiness standards.

I'm replying because I do believe that it is wrong to think about God as 3 persons. God is one. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9. Rather than thinking of God as 3 people, it is more spiritual to think of Jesus as having a dual nature: Jesus as God and Jesus as man (the son of God).

I have loved going through the gospels and understanding when Jesus speaks as God and when he speaks as a human. If anything there is a duality. God is Spirit (John 4:24), and obviously the Holy Spirit. But Jesus is also the Holy Spirit (there is only one Holy Spirit), He is our comforter! "for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ," Philippians 1:19. And "Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Galatians 4:6. There are many more scriptures like this. It would be idolatrous to think that we have the Holy Spirit and Jesus' Spirit, they are one. Praise the Lord 🙌

If we really get in the word to gain God's wisdom on His Holy Spirit, we find that God is one. We, the church, are married to one God, Jesus is the church's husband. Imagined being married to a father, a son, and a spirit? That's incest, or something sinful. Jesus is God in the flesh. Jesus is God's name. We heal, cast out demons, and pray in the POWERFUL name of Jesus! The father, the son, and the Holy Spirit are not persons. They are the way that man relates to God. He's our celestial father, he's our brotherly friend, and he's the Holy Spirit that dwells in us and is outpoured over his believers!

Oh how i love God! I love His name Jesus! Thank you Lord that your church is married to the only true and living God, Jesus Christ, amen!

William r Favret

12/5/2025 00:38:31

Wow, your explanation is the best of the Oneness of God and how we relate to Him. I can see you love the Lord with all your heart. God bless you in the name of Jesus.

Allen brown

19/6/2023 16:31:10

I understand that you are now a Jesus only. Well I just want to tell you that I use to be a Jesus only but I don't go around starting fight or argument about Matthew 28:19. Really it's ungodly and stupid to argue over that. I discovered that most Penecostal pastors teach a false gospel of works and dont understand God's grace. Romans and Galatians Paul teaches us the true gospel. Its not a feeling or emotional experience it is simply faith believing God's testimony of Christ Jesus..

John Whick

29/6/2023 13:40:06

The Hindu Trimurti IS NOT A TRINITY. Its. One God [Brahman] that manifest himself in 3 ways[modes] : Brahma the creator, Vishnu the redeemer, and Shiva the destroyer.

Brahma, vishnu, and shiva are 3 modes of the One Brahman [Spirit]

Hindus also believe in the elohim of scriptures and are free to worship whatever elohim.

In the bible elohim are other gods.
Not God almighty.

The Pentecostal split of trinity and oneness was a hagelian dialectic. Both trinity Pentecostals and Modalist Pentecostals ARE THE SAME NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY.

Pentecostalism: Created by Freemason Charles Parham who planted his doctrinal seed.

All Pentecostals are of the same Seed, roots, tree and fruits.

Fruits of Parham: claimed the be Prophet Elijah reincarnated, the parahamite murders,William Branham[oneness like Brahman], Jim Jones, EVERY CHARASMATIC MOVEMENT like the toronto blessing, kenneth Copeland, word of faith, New Apostolic Reformation, the list goes on.
Without parham[AND freemasons]: these "movements" wouldnt exist.

God tells us that No good tree bears bad fruit.
No bad tree bears good fruit.

Besides both Trinity and Modalist Pentecostals all dance around the Roman Sun God Times and days along with the Roman Catholics, Baptists, Lutherns, etc.

All I know is that there is ONE GOD who is Father [YWHW, Yahweh/Yahuah which is His name that remains FOREVER according to scripture] that sent His Son: Yeshua [which means Yahuah/Yaweh is salvation].

Yeshua [Jesus] and the Apostles only ever preached OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES [The new hadn't been written yet for 100 years] EVERY SABBATH DAY.

Rome hid the Father, and by murderous force removed all Jewishness from the faith of Christian's.
The protestants [who are the Children of Rome] denied some aspects of Roman doctrine but KEPT MANY SUN GOD WORSHIP traditions THAT ARE NOT NOT FROM GOD/Scripture [Except it's a sin to follow the ways of the pagans and copy their traditions]

Aye W.

26/7/2023 13:52:53

Hello everyone! I’m loving the discussions taking place here. I didn’t see these verses mentioned so I wanted to share. It speaks to God being 3 in 1.

“This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Mike link

2/10/2023 20:55:13

Jesus was given to have "life in himself" by the Father so he cant be the same being as his father, if thats what you believe. Also "one God" does not mean one being. The Hebrew word for God in the old testament is plural. There are more than one being on the divine plane level of life (deity). Both the father and son are God (the functionality is as one God). Compared to the multiple pagan gods who were always warring against each other, the Father and Son are one, that is, they are in harmony and have the same goal, direction and purpose, with regards to the plan of redemption for mankind.

Russ

16/10/2023 14:03:58

Just about all the Scriptures cite in the article seem to affirm that God is one essence and three persons. How can Jesus pray to the Father if He is the Father? How can the Father's voice be heard from heaven if He is "Jesus" on earth? How can Jesus go, saying that He will send the Holy Spirit? The problem here is that we as finite humans cannot understand an infinite and holy God. To say that the concept of the Trinity wasn't taught is a misnomer. It was a heated discussion from the time Jesus died until the 4th century, where is was decided at the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. and reaffirmed in the Council cited in the article. There is so much throughout Scripture that supports God as one essence and three persons. Just because we can't wrap our heads around it doesn't mean that we should twist Scripture to make it fit what we believe. Although oneness people can truly be saved, because it all depends on the grace of God, please remember that Jesus had a lot to say about how people viewed him and the Father. It is important to study to get it right. Not here to argue either, but if you do the research, you will see that the Bible does clearly teach a triune God. I encourage you to check it out on your own and not be subjected solely to others' teachings. They should welcome your research and questions, as long as they are genuine.

Mike

17/10/2023 09:02:35

I would recommend re-reading my statement above as you are not understanding what I'm saying. There is no such thing as a trinity or triune God taught in the Bible and the Father is not a third of a being and the son, Jesus is not a third of a being, which is what the trinity teaches. The Father is one complete individual being and Jesus is one complete individual being. 2nd Timothy 2:15 says, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing (discerning) the word of truth." While it's true we cant understand the nature of God fully while we are still here on earth, he would not have given us his word if we were not meant to understand it. The Father is one divine being and the Son is one divine being and they are both on the divine/spirit nature plane of existence. - 1st John 5:20. (nkjv used for quotes)....Mike

Raymond

20/2/2024 22:44:56

Mike, the TRINITARIAN doctrine is that there is One God in 3 Divine Persons, not people, not personalities. Persons is the best word Latin speakers used. The Greeks used “Hypostasis which literally means that which stands under. In any event, the Trinity is thus presented: One God. The Father is the One God but not the Son or the Holy Spirit. The Son is the One God but is not the Father or the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the One God but is not the Father or the Son. There is only One God. God is not divided into three. God is One. Oneness doctrine is that God is One who manifests as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Modalism.

Tracey McCoy

26/10/2023 00:36:25

So, I'm someone who wasn't raised in church but got the Holy Ghost in 2006 and was led to an Apostolic church where I was baptized in Jesus name. I fell out of church in 2011 and am returning this year, 2023. I have studied over the years and can honestly say I see both sides depending on which scripture I'm reading. I think it's splitting hairs and the devil uses this topic to cause division. I think when Trinitarians describe God, they are really saying the same thing and just using the word "persons" instead of "personalities" or "modes." It's the same thing just semantics. I also think we cannot describe an infinite God with our finite minds. People get defensive on this topic, and previously when in church, I would argue. But that is the enemy. Hands down. I did enjoy this post very much though. It reminded me why I am a Oneness Pentecostal.. be blessed!

Pamela Carter

15/11/2023 06:30:01

Yes Amen it is so. HE is ONE. How can that be impossible for God? Don't we as Christians declare that with God nothing is impossible.

David walden

12/12/2023 00:57:31

I just ran across this place and find it interesting. I am a believer in the absolute unity of God. That is God is not a compound unity. I was raised in a trinity atmosphere but never really cared enough about it to delve into it until I finally repented as a young adult. In my pursuit of truth I came to a oneness church one evening and asked what was the difference in their understanding. I did not swallow it hook line and sinker but rather set out to prove it wrong. In my studies I found it to be much more biblical than a Trinitarian view yet not without fault. The short of it is that before the beginning God knew everything that would happen in the future. Scripture tells us that the Word was in the beginning with the God and God was the Word. That is the literal reading of Jn. 1:1. John uses Word here in the sense of a concrete expression of an abstract thought. In other words God who is invisible in nature expressed himself with another nature other than his own nature. This visible nature is what we know as the Christ. This is not another “person” in the godhead but rather what God calls himself “ my”back parts in Ex. 33:23. He possesses this back parts. This is better known as the Angel of the LORD. God in-dwelt this angel. Just as our words are expressions that embody our thoughts, his expression embodies him. This is the second person singular that God speaks to in Gen. 11:7. This is how the omnipresent God can come down to where he already is! This is the image of the invisible God. God created all things through (dia) his image, 1Cor. 8:6, Jn. 1:3. Let us make man is plural. In our image is plural possessive of the singular image. Yes God speaks to his image and his image speaks to him, Jn. 12:28. God has always in-dwelt Christ. Christ is called God for this reason and for this reason only. His existence was that of the external appearance of God and as such he did not think it robbery to be equated with God, Php. 2:6. God was manifested to humanity by this means according to 1Tim. 3:16. The word manifest in this verse is in the passive voice. This is in concord with Jn. 1:18. No man has seen God at ANY time, the only begotten Son has declared or manifested him.
This external appearance of God was made flesh, Jn. 1:14. God was still in him when this happened. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, 2Cor. 5:19. God wants all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of this truth. For there is only one God and between this one God and sinful humanity is also one mediator, the human Christ Jesus, 1Tim. 2:4-5. He was tempted in all points like we are yet he didn’t sin. God cannot be tempted with evil, but his mediator was. If you put the mediator into the godhead you have no mediator. If you include him in sinful humanity you have no mediator. This is why Paul tells us in Gal. 3:20 that a mediator is not a mediator of one. A mediator is a go between TWO opposing parties. Notice how he talks numbers here? Then he adds, “but God is one.” Yes friends we are talking numbers here. He is not saying that there is one God. Rather he is saying that God is one in number. Very, very plain.
In Jn. 10:30 Jesus declares that he and the Father, “we are one”. The word “are” in The Greek text is esmen which is first person plural, present tense. He describes how he and the Father are one in verse 38. The Father was in him locally, and the Father being omnipresent , Christ the human was in him just as we live and move in him, Acts 17.28.
I hope this might bring some clarity to the subject at hand. The Father alone is the “true” God, Jn. 17. He in-dwells the Son causing the Son to be called God, Heb. 1:8, yet at the same time we know that the Father is the God of the Son as he states in Heb. 1:9.
This is a great mystery but it is given to those who obey him in holiness and truth. There is much much more but this is the paradigm in a nutshell. When you ascribe deity to that which is not deity is where the problem lies.
Thank you Leanna Mae for this page.

Debra Jean

4/1/2024 11:25:52

Hello LeannaMae .. How do you process .. Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father? Jesus prayed to the Father. Jesus submitted to his Father .. "your will not mine" "Take this from me" In Genesis 1:26 the use of "our"
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." Throughout scripture I see a relationship between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When I tell someone I'm going to the grocery store I do not say "We are going to the grocery store, we will be back in two hours" [I am speaking to Leanna and do not seek discussion with others - it's like interrupting a conversation]

Robyn Graves

21/1/2024 21:10:57

Fascinating conversations going on! Keep seeking the Truth, my brothers and sisters, in Christ.

Personally, I was raised in the Anglican/Episcopalian Church. I’ve always had a problem with the whole concept of the Trinity, and have just recently been studying about these issues including what’s actually in the Bible but also the history of the early church up to and including the 7 Councils of the Church. There’s plenty to think about. I find the work/podcasts/videos of Biblical Unitarians particularly compelling, as they thoroughly look at all of debated passages and provide a framework based on logic and reason. So glad to be following Yahweh, the One True God, and my Lord Jesus through the ever present enabling power of the Holy Spirit.

3/2/2024 13:41:06

Marvin

2/4/2024 07:59:15

Colosians says Yeshua is the first born of all creationCor 15 says All authority is given to Yeshua in heaven and earth that he might bring all things into subjection including death.When this is complete he returns his authority back to the Father God.
My perception is that Yeshua serves the one true God doing his bidding under God the Fathers authority but he is not God..He is servant to the most high God who now sits at the right hand of God interceeding on our behalf... Please share where i am mislead as i only seek to know and believe the truth nor do i wish to mislead others

David Walden

3/4/2024 12:06:44

Marvin, In John 20.28 Thomas calls Jesus "my Lord and my God", and Jesus does not rebuke him! Thomas understood what others do not have a right conception of today. The "man" Christ Jesus is the external appearance of the invisible God. This "man" is indwelt by the invisible Father who alone is the "true" God. The Father is the God of Jesus Christ. Yet, because we have this knowledge, we, along with the Father, call the Son God, and at the same time say the Father is his God, Heb. 1.8-9. This is the testimony of God himself.

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5/4/2024 15:44:36

Can God sin? How did God get rid of sin? He sent His son to pay the penalty for us all and became the sacrificial Lamb of God. His flesh is 100% Man and also 100% God. His flesh took on the sin of the world. Yes, there are three persons.

6/4/2024 18:40:04

Im still confused you say Yeshua is the son of God and then declare Yeshua to be God while not answering my original ?? Yeshua is the first of creation God does not beget God nor does God give authority to Himself as in Cor 15.

8/4/2024 13:24:19

In reply to what Marvin says. First, I assume that you have read my original post of 12-12-23. I have pointed out that the Father alone is God, 1Cor.8.6. Col.1.15 points out that Christ is the image of this invisible God. It also says that he is the "firstborn" of all creation. The word used here does not mean the first "created". Just as David was made the "firstborn" above all the kings of the earth, Ps.89.27, Christ is above all the creation of God. He is described as the "beginning" of the creation of God, Rev.3.14. The word beginning is arche and carries the meaning of head or chief, the first in line of charge. It does not mean the first thing God created.
You are certainly correct in saying that God does not beget God, nor does God have to give authority to himself. However, you are only half correct when you say that Jesus is not God. As I pointed out, in Heb1.8, the Father, not me mind you, calls the Son "God". Yet, in verse 9 the Father tells the Son that he is his God. Also, in Titus 2.13, the Greek text literally reads, "the great God and saviour of us Jesus Christ". That's how God originally put it. Again, not me.
If the Father calls the Son God then who am I to contend with the Almighty??
If you can understand how Jacob can call God, "the Angel which redeemed me from all evil", Gen.45.15-16,then you will understand how a man can be called God.

Dan Johnson

12/8/2024 04:32:34

Actually, both sides are wrong. The Apostles were neither Oneness or Trinitarian. The Arian view is the only view that satifies all the scriptures. Jesus said "the Father is greater than I" so he is not co-equal with the Father, and there are 2 personal pronouns in this declaration, so the Oneness doesn't make sense either. In I Corinthians 15, Paul said Jesus Himself will be subjected to the Father. Jesus is the first begotten of all creation and the rest of creation was through the Son. The Father has given Jesus "life in Himself, (self existence) because of His (Jesus's) obedience. So , there is only one eternal God that always existed and had no beginning - the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Jesus is divine and has "life in Himself" so Jesus had a beginning but now no ending (Alpha and Omega), so his essence is now God-like.

Doug Hilderman

3/10/2024 12:50:29

Hello All!!! I see a lot of brilliance written here about the spoken and written word. I just finished reading The Dead Sea Scrolls, early Codex literature, and the Codex Sinaiticus, which many of you know are where the present-day Bible comes from.

I also, like many of you, have one thing that is extremely important to me and that is making JESUS smile by following HIS very important and loving instructions HE gave HIS apostles & disciples, while living with them for 3 years and of course what many people call "The Great Commision", which has been referenced here by a plethora of people.

In my short life of nearly 60 years, I have been on many sides of this conversation. Before age 8, I would say I didn't know much about JESUS, even though I had attended a couple different Lutheran churches. When I was an infant and again at age 8, I was improperly baptized, not following the perfect example of JESUS' baptism that many of you have also referenced.

Going to Sunday School, regularly attending church, and thinking I was saved because of what I heard others saying on the pulpit was who I was for most of my life. I had even read the Bible 14 times from cover to cover, by the time I was 57 1/2 years old. In my mind, I thought that was a lot. (lol)

On July 5, 2022 at 10:15 am, I was in my home office reading out loud two different Bibles and a book called "Understanding The Godhead" when something wonderful happened!!!!!!! A voice, not my normal voice, came out of my mouth. It was definitely different than anything I had ever experienced. Unbeknownst to me, my life was about to change drastically. Please remember, at this point, I was a practicing trinitarian Missouri Synod Lutheran and believed 100% in what I had been taught from my youth in that religion.

Many of you who have experienced something similar to this and know exactly what happened. My eyes, however, were for the first time being fully opened to the promise Jesus told His apostles & disciples.

Again, please remember, it was still fairly early in the morning, so I felt I might simply have a frog in my throat, so I went to the bathroom and tried to clear it out. After this, I went back to reading out loud and the exact same thing happened again. I also remembered reading "many times" about the 9 Gifts of the Holy Spirit, however, never in my life had seen anybody legitimately being gifted with them.

A golfing buddy of mine was Oneness Pentacostal and an elder in his church, so I gave him a call to further discover what just happened to me, even though I had a pretty good idea. My buddy (Greg) was so happy when he heard what had happened that he was sobbing on the other end of the phone. He told me what I experienced was Biblically called utterance and informed me Biblically this was absolutely a portion of the gift Jesus told His apostles & disciples about, which is a requirement for salvation.

Now, I obviously was extremely excited, for I had been earnestly searching for the TRUTH for the last 15 years. Thank You JESUS for giving me the gift needed for salvation!!!!!!!

I was properly baptized about 2 months later, after doing an enormous amount of research in the Bible and proving everything about TRUE salvation.

Most people in the church I am attending spoke in tongues when they were baptized, however, I did not. The best I can explain what happened was like a partial paralyzation and only being able to say, Thank You JESUS, over, over, and over!!!!!!!

The Pastor's Wife, who just so happens to be my buddy Greg's oldest daughter, looked me in the eyes and quietly said, "UNDENIBLE."

I felt this was the perfect word, since I, like many others I have known, totally denied that this wonderful gift was happening in the present age. I actually felt everybody practicing this was faking it and just saying nonsense when claiming to be speaking in tongues. Man was I wrong. Since then, I have spoken in tongues many times and feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. Thank You JESUS!!!!!!!

When reading scripture, it is very clear that this is very real and definitely undeniable!!!!!!! It is the personal relationship you have with JESUS and communication directly with HIM, coming out in a groaning utterance.

This leads me to my final point about all the disagreeing I have been reading for the last 3 hours. There is ONLY one TRUTH.

It is up to each of us to do our diligence, explore the written word, and see exactly what has been written over thousands of years in God's word and find the TRUTH is His written word. At this point, I could reference many, many, many Bible verses, however, I am not going to. Nearly all the needed Bible verses that are necessary for salvation are written above by many of you. I will leave you with one though that should resolve most of the disagreement and that is the story of Cornelious and his family. Examine scripture and you can see exactly and specifically what the apostles and discipl

Patrick

24/10/2024 04:05:15

I've had Oneness Pentecostals object to the idea of the Trinity because it is a mystery. They would go on to say that Oneness eliminates the mystery.

But Oneness doesn't create any less mystery - God being in multiple places at once having conversations with Himself as if He were completely different people? This is no less mysterious. E.g. John 12:27-30

27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine.

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