Oneness Pentecostalism Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Oneness soteriology== Oneness theology does not represent a monolithic [[Soteriology|soteriological]] view; however, there are general characteristics that tend to be held in common by those who hold to a Oneness-view of God. In common with most [[Protestant]] denominations, Oneness Pentecostal soteriology maintains that all people are born with a sinful nature, sin at a young age, and remain lost without hope of [[salvation]] unless they embrace the Gospel; that Jesus Christ made a complete [[Atonement in Christianity|atonement]] for the sins of all people, which is the sole means of man's redemption; and that salvation comes solely by [[Divine grace|grace]] through [[Faith in Christianity|faith]] in Jesus Christ.<ref name=fp123-4/><ref>{{cite book |chapter=Only through faith in Jesus Christ |first1=David |last1=Bernard |title=A Handbook of Basic Doctrines |publisher=Word Aflame Press |year=1988 |pages=31–2 }}</ref> Oneness doctrine also teaches that true faith has the fruit of obedience, and that true salvation is not only to profess faith, but to demonstrate it as well in action.<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Salvation is through faith |first1=David |last1=Bernard |title=A Handbook of Basic Doctrines |publisher=Word Aflame Press |year=1988 |pages=31–5 }}</ref> Oneness churches, while exhibiting variations, generally teach the following as the foundation of Christian conversion: * [[repentance]]; * [[water baptism]] in the name of Jesus Christ ([[Acts 2:38]]; [[Acts 10:48]]); * [[baptism in the Holy Spirit]] with the evidence of [[speaking in tongues]] ({{bibleverse|Acts|2:4|KJV}}; {{bibleverse|Acts|10:46|KJV}}; {{bibleverse|Acts|19:6|KJV}}).<ref name=fp123-4/> Oneness Pentecostals generally accept that these are the minimal requirements of conversion.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=9 August 2020 |title=The "Oneness" Heresy Exposed |url=https://thebereans.net/2020/08/09/the-oneness-heresy-exposed/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119014839/https://thebereans.net/2020/08/09/the-oneness-heresy-exposed/ |archive-date=19 November 2020 |access-date=19 November 2020 |website=The Bereans Apologetics Research Ministry |language=en-US}}</ref> ===Grace and faith=== Oneness Pentecostals maintain that no good works or obedience to law can save anyone, apart from God's grace. Furthermore, salvation comes solely through faith in Jesus Christ; there is no salvation through any name or work other than his ([[Acts 4:12]]). Oneness teaching rejects interpretations that hold that [[Predestination|salvation is given automatically to the elect]]; they believe that all men are called to salvation, and "whosoever will, may come" ([[Revelation 22:17]]).<ref name=":8" /><ref name="Bernard Grace and Faith">{{cite book|last1=Bernard|first1=David|url=http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/New-Ch2.htm|title=The New Birth|publisher=Word Aflame Press|chapter=Grace and Faith|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318090455/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/New-Top.htm|archive-date=18 March 2009}}</ref> While salvation is indeed a gift in Oneness belief, it must be ''received''.<ref name="Bernard Grace and Faith"/> This reception of salvation is generally what is considered conversion, and is accepted in the majority of evangelical Protestant churches. The first mandate is true faith in Jesus Christ, demonstrated by obedience to God's commands, and a determination to submit to his will in every aspect of one's life. Oneness adherents reject the notion that one may be saved through what they call ''mental faith'': mere belief in Christ, without life-changing repentance or obedience. Thus, they emphatically reject the idea that one is saved through praying the [[Sinner's Prayer|sinner's prayer]], but rather the true saving faith and change of life declared in scripture. Oneness Pentecostals have no issue with the prayer itself, but deny that it alone represents saving faith, believing the Bible accordingly mandates repentance, baptism by water and spirit with receipt of the Holy Spirit as a ''manifestation'' of the spirit part of the rebirth experience and the true, godly faith obeyed and done by the early Church believers. Thus, one who has truly been saved will gladly submit to the biblical conditions for conversion. According to these believers, Jesus and the apostles taught that the [[Born again (Christianity)|new birth]] experience includes repentance (the true Sinner's Prayer) and baptism in both water and God's Spirit.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bernard|first1=David|url=http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/New-Ch12.htm|title=The New Birth|chapter=Those Who Profess Christ|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230163246/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/New-Ch12.htm|archive-date=30 December 2008}}</ref> ===Repentance=== Oneness Pentecostals maintain that salvation is not possible without repentance. While repentance is in part godly sorrow for sin, it is as much as complete change of heart and mind toward God and his word. This is why Oneness churches expect a complete reformation of life in those who have become Christians.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Hidden Cult of Oneness Pentecostalism|url=http://www.marketfaith.org/the-hidden-cult-of-oneness-pentecostalism/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119011745/http://www.marketfaith.org/the-hidden-cult-of-oneness-pentecostalism/|archive-date=19 November 2020|access-date=19 November 2020|website=www.marketfaith.org}}</ref> ===Water baptism=== Oneness Pentecostals believe that water baptism is essential to salvation and not merely symbolic in nature. They also believe that one must have faith and repent before being baptized, therefore deeming baptisms of infants or by compulsion unacceptable.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cooljc.org/AboutUs/StatementofFaith/tabid/70/language/en-US/Default.aspx|title=Church of our Lord Jesus Christ Statement of Faith|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120824233306/http://www.cooljc.org/AboutUs/StatementofFaith/tabid/70/language/en-US/Default.aspx|archive-date=24 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://aljc.org/doctrine-statement/|title=Doctrine Statement|work=ALJC|access-date=5 March 2015}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> ====Baptismal mode==== {{Main|Immersion baptism}} Oneness Pentecostal theology maintains the literal definition of baptism as being completely [[Immersion baptism|immersed]] in water. They believe that other modes either have no biblical basis or are based upon inexact Old Testament rituals and that their mode is the only one described in the New Testament. The Articles of Faith of the UPCI state that "the scriptural mode of baptism is immersion and is only for those who have fully repented."<ref>{{cite book|title=Manual, United Pentecostal Church International|chapter=Articles of Faith|page=33|date=2017|url=http://www.pentecostalsofdadeville.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2017upcimanual.pdf|access-date=13 January 2022}}</ref> ====Baptismal formula==== {{Main|Baptism in the name of Jesus}} Oneness adherents believe that for water baptism to be valid, one must be baptized "in the name of Jesus Christ,"<ref name=":10">See "The Baptismal Formula: in the Name of Jesus" and "The One Name in Matthew 28:19, in David Bernard, A Handbook of Basic Doctrines, Word Aflame Press, 1988, pp. 43-45.</ref> rather than the Trinitarian baptismal formula "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."<ref name=":9" /> This is referred to as the Jesus' name doctrine. "Jesus' name" is a description used to refer to Oneness Pentecostals and their baptismal beliefs.<ref name=fp123-4/> This conviction is mainly centered around the baptismal formula mandated in [[Acts 2:38]]: "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." Oneness Pentecostals insist that there are no New Testament references to baptism by any other formula–save in [[Matthew 28:19]], which most hold to be simply another reference to baptism in the name of Jesus.<ref name=":16" /> Although Matthew 28:19 seems to mandate a Trinitarian formula for baptism, Oneness theology avows that since the word "name" in the verse is ''singular'', it must refer to Jesus, whose name they believe to be that of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.<ref name=":6">{{cite book|last1=Bernard|first1=David|url=http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/New-Ch7.htm|title=The New Birth|chapter=The Singular Name|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301203217/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/New-Ch7.htm|archive-date=1 March 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first1=David |last1=Bernard |url=http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216034825/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm |pages=136–137 |archive-date=16 February 2008 |title=The Oneness of God |publisher=Word Aflame Press |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-912315-12-6|chapter=Father, Son, and Holy Ghost|quote=In this passage, Jesus commanded His disciples to baptize "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." However, this verse of Scripture does not teach that Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three separate persons. Rather, it teaches that the titles of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost identify one name and therefore one being. The verse expressly says "in the name," not "in the names." ... Jehovah or Yahweh was the revealed name of God in the Old Testament, but Jesus is the revealed name of God in the New Testament... Father, Son, and Holy Ghost all describe the one God, so the phrase in Matthew 28:19 simply describes the one name of the one God. The Old Testament promised that there would come a time when Jehovah would have one name and that this one name would be made known (Zechariah 14:9; Isaiah 52:6). We know that the one name of Matthew 28:19 is Jesus, for Jesus is the name of the Father (John 5:43; Hebrews 1:4), the Son (Matthew 1:21), and the Holy Ghost (John 14:26).}}</ref> Oneness believers insist that all Bible's texts on the subject must be in full agreement with each other; thus, they say that either the apostles disobeyed the command they had been given in [[Matthew 28:19]] or they correctly fulfilled it by using the name of Jesus Christ. Some Oneness believers consider that the text of Matthew 28:19 is not original, quoting various scholars and the early Church historian [[Eusebius]], who referred to this passage at least eighteen times in his works.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Matthew 28:19 Corruption |url=http://www.teliacarriermap.com/tag/matthew_2819_corruption/index.html |access-date=13 April 2021 |website=The Apostolic Voice}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Historical Evidence in favour of Matthew 28:19 and Response to Claims of Inauthenticity|url=https://www.asitreads.com/blog/2018/2/22/historical-evidence-in-favour-of-matthew-chapter-2819-and-response-to-claims-of-inauthenticity|access-date=13 April 2021|website=As It Reads|date=22 February 2018|last1=Valiant|first1=Brendan|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Willis |first1=Clinton D. |title=A Collection of Evidence Against the Traditional Wording of Matthew 28:19 |url=https://www.onenesspentecostal.com/matt2819-willis.htm |website=Institute for Biblical Studies |access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref> Eusebius' text reads: "go and make disciples of all nations in my name, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Burgos|first1=Michael R. Jr.|title=Against Oneness Pentecostalism, 2nd Ed.|publisher=Winchester, CT: Church Militant Pub.|date=2016|pages=101–112}}</ref> However, most Oneness believers accept the full Matthew 28:19 as an authentic part of the original text.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kilmon |first1=Bobby |title=Is the longer reading of Matthew 28:19 a trinitarian Insertion? Should the text read "in my name" instead of "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost"? |url=https://ibcperspectives.com/answer-forum-vol-31-no-10/ |website=IBC Perspectives |publisher=Indiana Bible College |access-date=18 October 2021 |date=14 October 2021 }}</ref> Oneness Pentecostals assert that all of the five mentions of baptism in the Book of Acts were performed in the name of Jesus ([[Acts 2:38]]; [[Acts 8:16]]; [[Acts 10:48]]; {{bibleverse|Acts|19:3-5|KJV}}; and [[Acts 22:16]]), and that no Trinitarian formula is ever referred to therein.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Schoolcraft|first1=Ron|date=11 July 2009|title=The Name in Matthew 28:19|url=https://www.apostolic.edu/the-name-in-matthew-2819/|access-date=13 April 2021|website=Apostolic Information Service}}</ref> In addition, {{bibleverse|1 Corinthians|1:13|9}} is taken by Oneness Pentecostals to indicate baptism in Jesus' name as well;<ref name=":6" /> Oneness author William Arnold III explains their reasoning: "If we follow Paul's train of thought, his obvious implication is 'No, Christ was the one crucified for you and so you were baptized in the name of Christ.' So the believers at Corinth as well as those in Rome were baptized in Jesus' name."<ref name="Arnold Baptism">{{cite web |last1=Arnold |first1=William |title=Baptism in Jesus' Name |url=https://www.onenesspentecostal.com/name.htm |website=Institute for Biblical Studies |access-date=7 November 2021}}</ref> Hence, Oneness believers claim that this constitutes proof that the Jesus name formula was the original one and that the Trinitarian invocation was erroneously substituted for it later. As additional support for their claim, Oneness Pentecostals also cite editions of [[Encyclopædia Britannica|Britannica]], the [[Catholic Encyclopedia]], [[Interpreter's Bible series|Interpreter's Bible]] and various scholars to justify this claim;<ref>{{cite web|title=History of Baptism in Jesus' Name|url=https://www.apostolicarchives.com/articles/article/8801925/180090.htm|access-date=7 November 2021|website=Apostolic Archives International Inc.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Trapasso|first=Michael|date=8 October 2009|title=History Authenticates That the Early Church Baptized In The Name of Jesus: Part V|url=https://www.apostolic.edu/history-authenticates-that-the-early-church-baptized-in-the-name-of-jesus-part-v/|access-date=9 January 2022|website=Apostolic Information Service|language=en-US}}</ref> Norris teaches that "there is a strong scholarly consensus that the earliest Christian baptism was practiced in Jesus' name."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Norris |first1=David |title=I AM: A Oneness Pentecostal Theology |date=4 September 2009 |publisher=Word Aflame Press |isbn=978-1565630000 |page=193}}</ref> In contrast, the ''[[Didache]]''—a [[Jewish Christian]] text generally dated to the first century AD—cites the Trinitarian formula.<ref>{{Cite book|last=O'Loughlin|first=Thomas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IfpqBgAAQBAJ|title=The Didache: A window on the earliest Christians|date=15 February 2011|publisher=SPCK|isbn=978-0-281-06493-9|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Didache|url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04779a.htm|access-date=7 November 2021|website=Catholic Encyclopedia|publisher=New Advent|quote=This (vii-x) begins with an instruction on baptism, which is to be conferred "in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost" in living water, if it can be had — if not, in cold or even hot water.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Brickley|first=Ralph|date=24 October 2018|title=Schisms: Baptism in Jesus Name or…|url=https://dividetheword.blog/2018/10/24/schisms-baptism-in-jesus-name-or/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107222101/https://dividetheword.blog/2018/10/24/schisms-baptism-in-jesus-name-or/|archive-date=7 November 2021|access-date=7 November 2021|website=DivideTheWord.blog|language=en|quote=Now concerning baptism, baptize thus: Having first taught all these things, baptize ye into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living water. And if thou hast not living water, baptize into other water; and if thou canst not in cold, then in warm (water). But if thou hast neither, pour [water] thrice upon the head in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.}}</ref> In response, some Oneness Pentecostals deride the text and support the now less-common assertion of it being a second-century text;<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ritchie|first=Steven|date=22 October 2016|title=The Didache – Can We Trust It?|url=https://www.apostolicchristianfaith.com//post/2016/10/22/the-didache-can-we-trust-it|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109044830/https://www.apostolicchristianfaith.com//post/2016/10/22/the-didache-can-we-trust-it|archive-date=9 January 2022|access-date=9 January 2022|website=Apostolic Christian Faith|language=en|quote=Falsely Called "The Teaching(s) of the Twelve Apostles." The only manuscript we have of the Didache (which means "Teaching") was discovered in 1873 in Constantinople (modern day Turkey). The manuscript is signed, "Leon, notary and sinner," and bears the date, A.D. 1056.}}</ref> they also consider it untrustworthy, citing one manuscript existing (though a Latin manuscript was discovered in 1900).<ref>{{CathEncy|wstitle= Didache |volume= 4 |last= Chapman |first= Henry Palmer |author-link= |short=1 |quote= see second sentence - It was rediscovered in 1883 by Bryennios, Greek Orthodox metropolitan of Nicomedia, in the codex from which, in 1875, he had published the full text of the Epistles of St. Clement. The title in the MS. is Didache kyriou dia ton dodeka apostolon ethesin, but before this it gives the heading Didache ton dodeka apostolon. The old Latin translation of cc. i-v, found by Dr. J. Schlecht in 1900, has the longer title, omitting "twelve", and has a rubric De doctrin' Apostolorum. }}</ref> Mainstream (or Nicene/Trinitarian) Christians exegete "in the name of Jesus Christ" as by the "authority of Jesus" which denotes baptism in the name of the three persons of the Trinity.<ref>{{Cite web|date=8 December 2008|title=Must baptism be "in Jesus' name"?|url=https://carm.org/oneness-pentecostal/must-baptism-be-in-jesus-name-baptize/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109044313/https://carm.org/oneness-pentecostal/must-baptism-be-in-jesus-name-baptize/|archive-date=9 January 2022|access-date=9 January 2022|website=Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Why Don't We Baptize in the Name of Jesus? |url=https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/why-dont-we-baptize-in-the-name-of-jesus |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=Catholic Answers}}</ref> In response, Oneness Pentecostals have claimed that the wording of Acts 22:16 requires an oral invocation of the name of Jesus during baptism ("calling on the name of the Lord"). They also assert that the way one exercises the authority of Jesus is by using his name, pointing to the healing of the lame man at the Gate Beautiful in Acts 3 as an example of this.<ref>{{cite book |first1=David |last1=Bernard |url=http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216034825/http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Top.htm |pages=137–138 |archive-date=16 February 2008 |title=The Oneness of God |publisher=Word Aflame Press |year=1993 |isbn=978-0-912315-12-6|chapter=Father, Son, and Holy Ghost|quote=Acts 22:16 says, "Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." The Amplified Bible says, "Rise and be baptized, and by calling upon His name wash away your sins." The Interlinear Greek-English New Testament says, "Invoking the name." Therefore this verse of Scripture indicates the name Jesus was orally invoked at baptism. James 2:7 says, "Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?" The Greek phrasing indicates that the name was invoked over the Christians at a specific time. Thus, TAB says, "Is it not they who slander and blaspheme that precious name by which you are distinguished and called [the name of Christ invoked in baptism]?" (brackets in original). For an example of what "in the name of Jesus" means, we need only look at the story of the lame man's healing in Acts 3. Jesus said to pray for the sick in His name (Mark 16:17-18), and Peter said the lame man was healed by the name of Jesus (Acts 4:10). How did this happen? Peter actually uttered the words "in the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 3:6). The name Jesus invoked in faith produced the result. The name signifies power or authority, but this signification does not detract from the fact that Peter orally invoked the name of Jesus in effecting the healing.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Arnold III |first1=William |title=More On Baptism In Jesus' Name |url=https://www.onenesspentecostal.com/morebaptism.htm |website=Institute for Biblical Studies |access-date=12 January 2022 |quote=Jesus is the one who personally commissioned the disciples to go and baptize and they went "on behalf of him," or "in his name." He also sent them to heal people and work miracles. When Peter healed the man at the Gate Beautiful in Jesus' name, scripture tells us that he actually spoke the words "in the name of Jesus Christ" when he did it (Acts 3:6). Even when Trinitarian Christians pray for someone for healing they speak the words "in Jesus' name." They realize that they are doing it "on behalf of" or "in the name of" Christ. Why would baptism be any different? Jesus said that when we pray we are to ask the Father in him name (John 14:13; 15:16; 16:23, 26). And so when many Christians pray, they end their prayer with the actual words "in Jesus name."}}</ref> ===Baptism of the Holy Spirit=== Oneness Pentecostals believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a free gift, commanded for all.<ref name="Bernard 1988 The Baptism of the Holy Ghost: Promise and Command">{{cite book |chapter=The Baptism of the Holy Ghost: Promise and Command |first1=David |last1=Bernard |title=A Handbook of Basic Doctrines |publisher=Word Aflame |year=1988 |pages=45–6 }}</ref> Pentecostals—both Oneness and Trinitarian—maintain that the Holy Spirit experience denotes the genuine Christian Church and empowers the believer to accomplish God's will. As do most Pentecostals, Oneness believers maintain that the initial sign of the infilling Holy Spirit is [[speaking in tongues]] and that the New Testament mandates this as a minimal requirement. They equally recognize that speaking in tongues is a sign to unbelievers of the Holy Spirit's power, and is to be actively sought after and utilized, most especially in prayer. However, this initial manifestation of the Holy Spirit ({{bibleverse|1 Corinthians|12:7|9}}) is seen as distinct from the gift of divers kinds of tongues mentioned in {{bibleverse|1 Corinthians|12:10|9}}, which is given to selected spirit-filled believers as the Holy Spirit desires. Oneness adherents assert that receipt of the Holy Spirit (manifested by speaking in tongues) is necessary for salvation.<ref name="Bernard 1988 The Baptism of the Holy Ghost: Promise and Command" /> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. 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