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Oneness Pentecostals
- Thread starter Riders
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Until one comes around, here is some information that might help get you started:
by Matt Slick (from CARM)
Oneness Pentecostal theology affirms that there exists only one God in all the universe. It affirms the deity of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. However, Oneness theology denies the Trinity. The Trinity is the doctrine that there is one God who manifests Himself as three distinct, simultaneous persons. The Trinity does not assert that there are three gods but only one. This is important because many groups who oppose orthodoxy will accuse Trinitarians of believing in three gods. But this is not so. The doctrine of the Trinity is that there is one God in three persons.
Oneness theology denies the Trinity and teaches that God is a single person who was "manifested as Father in creation and as the Father of the Son, in the Son for our redemption, and as the Holy Spirit in our regeneration."1 Another way of looking at it is that God revealed himself as Father in the Old Testament, as the Son in Jesus during Christ’s ministry on earth, and now as the Holy Spirit after Christ’s ascension.
In addition, oneness theology also maintains that baptism is a necessary part of salvation; that is, in order to be saved, one must be baptized and by immersion. If you are not baptized, you cannot be saved. However, not only must baptism be by immersion but also it must be administered with the formula "In Jesus’ name" rather than the formula "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit" which is mentioned in Matt. 28:19. Finally, this baptism must be administered by a duly ordained minister of a church that maintains oneness theology: United Pentecostal, United Apostolic, etc.
Oneness churches also teach that speaking in tongues is a necessary manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Since a person cannot be saved without the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9), it follows that only those who have spoken in tongues are really saved. There is, therefore, an emphasis that Oneness church members speak in tongues to "demonstrate" that they are saved and have the truth.
Oneness groups are decidedly Arminian in the doctrine of salvation. They deny predestination and maintain that it is completely up to the individual to decide whether or not he wants to be saved. They also teach that it is possible to lose one's salvation.
There is within the Oneness movement an attempt to represent themselves in a modest and holy manner. This is to be commended. However, sometimes it tends to become legalistic in that women are required to abstain from wearing makeup and pants. They also must have their heads covered. Likewise, men should be well-dressed--preferably in ties (this has been my experience with them). Such practices are not wrong in themselves and are good examples of propriety. However, when they become requirements for acceptance in a church, it is legalistic. Legalism leads to bondage and the requirements of keeping the law to maintain salvation. It then becomes a means by which a person's spirituality is judged. Oneness churches strongly imply that if you go to movies or have a TV or wear makeup, etc., then you are not "really" a Christian.
I am not saying that the Oneness Theology necessarily leads to legalism, but it seems to be quite evident that it has taken over much of Oneness practice.
More information on Theology [from CARM]
by Matt Slick
Oneness Pentecostal people are many and varied. The two main groups that hold to Oneness theology are the United Pentecostal Church International (the largest) and the United Apostolic church. There are others like the Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Bible Way Churches of Our Lord Jesus Christ as well as a host of independent Oneness churches scattered throughout the United States.
The following points of doctrine are generally held to by the Oneness Pentecostal groups.
Within Orthodoxy
There is only one God in all existence.
The Bible is God's inerrant word.
Jesus was born of a virgin.
Jesus had two natures.
Justification by faith.
Baptism must be by immersion.1
The elements of communion are bread and wine and are only for believers.
Foot-washing (John 13:4-5) is a divine institution to be practiced by church members.2
Abstain from joining secret societies (James 5:12; 2 Cor. 6:14-18).
There will be a future rapture of the Church where the Christians will be transformed (1 Thess. 4:13-17; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; Phil. 3:20-21).
Outside of Orthodoxy
Denies the doctrine of the Trinity.
Denies justification by faith alone by stating that baptism is also required for salvation.
Jesus is God the Father.
Jesus is the Holy Spirit.
The name of God is "Jesus."
Baptism is necessary for salvation.
Denies pre-existence of the Word as the Son. Teaches that the He existed as the Father.
Being born again means repentance, baptism, and speaking in tongues.
Baptism must be administered by an ordained Oneness minister to be valid.
Baptism must be administered with the phrase, "In the name of Jesus" instead of the phrase, "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit," (Matt. 28:19).
Speaking in tongues is a necessary requirement to demonstrate that a person has been baptized in the Holy Spirit and is, therefore, saved. It is claimed to be the initial sign of the infilling of the Holy Ghost.
Restitution of all things though the devil and the angels will not be restored.
Women may be pastors.3
Only Oneness people will go to heaven.
Footnotes:
1. Orthodoxy allows for sprinkling as well.
2. Many Christian churches practice foot-washing. But it is not a required practice according to the Bible.
3. Many Oneness people deny that women can be pastors, but the UPCI (United Pentecostal Church International) does not. Also, there are many Trinitarian churches that practice women ordination and eldership. But generally speaking, women are not to hold these positions. If you are interested in more on this issue, please see Can women be pastors and elders?
by Matt Slick (from CARM)
Oneness Pentecostal theology affirms that there exists only one God in all the universe. It affirms the deity of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. However, Oneness theology denies the Trinity. The Trinity is the doctrine that there is one God who manifests Himself as three distinct, simultaneous persons. The Trinity does not assert that there are three gods but only one. This is important because many groups who oppose orthodoxy will accuse Trinitarians of believing in three gods. But this is not so. The doctrine of the Trinity is that there is one God in three persons.
Oneness theology denies the Trinity and teaches that God is a single person who was "manifested as Father in creation and as the Father of the Son, in the Son for our redemption, and as the Holy Spirit in our regeneration."1 Another way of looking at it is that God revealed himself as Father in the Old Testament, as the Son in Jesus during Christ’s ministry on earth, and now as the Holy Spirit after Christ’s ascension.
In addition, oneness theology also maintains that baptism is a necessary part of salvation; that is, in order to be saved, one must be baptized and by immersion. If you are not baptized, you cannot be saved. However, not only must baptism be by immersion but also it must be administered with the formula "In Jesus’ name" rather than the formula "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit" which is mentioned in Matt. 28:19. Finally, this baptism must be administered by a duly ordained minister of a church that maintains oneness theology: United Pentecostal, United Apostolic, etc.
Oneness churches also teach that speaking in tongues is a necessary manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Since a person cannot be saved without the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9), it follows that only those who have spoken in tongues are really saved. There is, therefore, an emphasis that Oneness church members speak in tongues to "demonstrate" that they are saved and have the truth.
Oneness groups are decidedly Arminian in the doctrine of salvation. They deny predestination and maintain that it is completely up to the individual to decide whether or not he wants to be saved. They also teach that it is possible to lose one's salvation.
There is within the Oneness movement an attempt to represent themselves in a modest and holy manner. This is to be commended. However, sometimes it tends to become legalistic in that women are required to abstain from wearing makeup and pants. They also must have their heads covered. Likewise, men should be well-dressed--preferably in ties (this has been my experience with them). Such practices are not wrong in themselves and are good examples of propriety. However, when they become requirements for acceptance in a church, it is legalistic. Legalism leads to bondage and the requirements of keeping the law to maintain salvation. It then becomes a means by which a person's spirituality is judged. Oneness churches strongly imply that if you go to movies or have a TV or wear makeup, etc., then you are not "really" a Christian.
I am not saying that the Oneness Theology necessarily leads to legalism, but it seems to be quite evident that it has taken over much of Oneness practice.
More information on Theology [from CARM]
by Matt Slick
Oneness Pentecostal people are many and varied. The two main groups that hold to Oneness theology are the United Pentecostal Church International (the largest) and the United Apostolic church. There are others like the Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Bible Way Churches of Our Lord Jesus Christ as well as a host of independent Oneness churches scattered throughout the United States.
The following points of doctrine are generally held to by the Oneness Pentecostal groups.
Within Orthodoxy
There is only one God in all existence.
The Bible is God's inerrant word.
Jesus was born of a virgin.
Jesus had two natures.
Justification by faith.
Baptism must be by immersion.1
The elements of communion are bread and wine and are only for believers.
Foot-washing (John 13:4-5) is a divine institution to be practiced by church members.2
Abstain from joining secret societies (James 5:12; 2 Cor. 6:14-18).
There will be a future rapture of the Church where the Christians will be transformed (1 Thess. 4:13-17; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; Phil. 3:20-21).
Outside of Orthodoxy
Denies the doctrine of the Trinity.
Denies justification by faith alone by stating that baptism is also required for salvation.
Jesus is God the Father.
Jesus is the Holy Spirit.
The name of God is "Jesus."
Baptism is necessary for salvation.
Denies pre-existence of the Word as the Son. Teaches that the He existed as the Father.
Being born again means repentance, baptism, and speaking in tongues.
Baptism must be administered by an ordained Oneness minister to be valid.
Baptism must be administered with the phrase, "In the name of Jesus" instead of the phrase, "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit," (Matt. 28:19).
Speaking in tongues is a necessary requirement to demonstrate that a person has been baptized in the Holy Spirit and is, therefore, saved. It is claimed to be the initial sign of the infilling of the Holy Ghost.
Restitution of all things though the devil and the angels will not be restored.
Women may be pastors.3
Only Oneness people will go to heaven.
Footnotes:
1. Orthodoxy allows for sprinkling as well.
2. Many Christian churches practice foot-washing. But it is not a required practice according to the Bible.
3. Many Oneness people deny that women can be pastors, but the UPCI (United Pentecostal Church International) does not. Also, there are many Trinitarian churches that practice women ordination and eldership. But generally speaking, women are not to hold these positions. If you are interested in more on this issue, please see Can women be pastors and elders?
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I'm not Pentecostal, because that is a feast LOL. But I'm a Oneness preacher. 1 Peter 1:16 'For it is written, be ye holy ; for I am holy.'
The Church of the Almighty God. For he told us to be holy. 1 Peter 1:16, Pentecostal is a man started religion with a start date. God has no start nor a end. Be ye holy not Apostolic,Pentecostal etc. But I do preach, One Lord One Faith One Baptism. All in the name of Jesus Christ.