Recently we received several email messages from a Oneness Pentecostal. He objected to our online article about that movement on the basis that he denies we are genuine believers in the true God (see our article: The Hidden Cult of Oneness Pentecostalism ). This installment is Part 3 of the e-mail dialog I had with the man concerning our views on the nature of God, the Bible, salvation, and baptism. To honor his privacy I have changed his name to Theophilus (the “Friend of God” Dr. Luke wrote to in his Gospel and the book of Acts). My remarks are bolded for clarity.
See Part 1: One on One with a Oneness: Part 1 (http://www.marketfaith.org/one-on-one-with-a-oneness-part-1/)
See Part 2: One on One with a Oneness: Part 2 (http://www.marketfaith.org/one-on-one-with-a-oneness-part-2/)
Mr. Davis,
Despite all your many years of studying scripture, you still are quite void of the truth and the new testament plan of salvation. As you indicated your full intentions at the close of your last message, my purpose is not to challenge you nor any other believer of false doctrine. I have far more important things to do than challenge people. Your eternal salvation may be a game, but I take mine very serious Mr. Davis. Why should I have to challenge someone that is confused about the deity of the Godhead anyway?
You only believe in the Trinity because that’s all you were taught or that’s all your fleshly mind will allow you to comprehend. The Trinity makes sense cause it’s man-made and not of the Holy Scriptures. In fact, I am more than certain that your parents, grandparents, and possibly your great-grandparents were believers in the Trinity. The word “Trinity” is no where in the bible. Why? Because it is completely man-made. You can thank the Roman Catholic church for that, but I’ll discuss that in more detail later!! There is not one scripture you can call that solidify your belief in 3 co equal parts of God. Since you believe in 3 Gods, whom or what part do you pray to? I bet they get really jealous when you spend too much time with the Holy Spirit, right?
The problem with Trinitarian believers is the fact you all can’t or don’t wanna accept the manifestation power of God. Even the Jews can understand the concept of Oneness. Another thing you do is negate baptism and the importance of it. The Holy Scriptures clearly state that baptism is required for remission of sin, and Acts 2:38 is where the solution is.
The problem you and the Trinitarians have is that you all haven’t been baptized with the Holy Ghost. You only can view the scripture in a carnal nature, and that leads to many errors!! If you had, you wouldn’t have wasted majority of your live believing in a God that splits his power trio-laterally!! Wake up Mr. Davis before it’s too late!!!
Theophilus:
I believe we have reached an impasse in our conversation. I have been a born-again Christian and studied the Bible for more than forty years, so I am not going to change my view of God from what I am convinced the Bible teaches. Believe me I take my salvation seriously and I do not believe in three gods. I believe in One God who exists infinitely and eternally in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
You are convinced you are right as well based on your experience that has determined your interpretation of Scripture. I have appreciated our dialog but this will be my final message. You may have the last word if you wish.
Tal Davis
Mr. Davis,
The son does not exist eternally. It is not possible for the son to exist eternally and also be begotten too. Eternally indicates that there was never a beginning nor an end to the sonship, and that is untrue and very erroneous.
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:18-21
Our dialogue was never about getting the last word, but arriving at the truth. You consider the UPCI (United Pentecostal Church International) a “cult,” yet we use the same Bible as you. The reality of the matter is, there is only one Lord, one Faith, and One Baptism. No way can everyone be right. God says he will not give his glory to another!! There is no Trinity, and I will leave this world holding that belief. The Holy word confirms that, and I know God has my back!! I pray that you receive revelation and understanding of who Jesus Christ is Mr. Davis before it’s too late. May the Lord bless you. Take care.
POST SCRIPT
In my dialog with “Theophilus” I came to an important conclusion about his Oneness perspective. He has based his belief primarily on his experience of being “baptized with the Holy Ghost.” That concept is commonly held by most Pentecostals and Charismatic Christians to mean a post-conversion “second blessing” as evidenced by speaking in tongues. Most of them consider it a miraculous subjective validation of their faith in Christ and an empowering of the Holy Spirit to live the Christian life. Most Pentecostals see no contradiction between that experience and the doctrine of the Trinity.
That is not so, however, with Oneness Pentecostals. They regard the experience of “baptism with the Holy Ghost” as a necessary ingredient in the salvation process. They contend it simultaneous with receiving salvation (it is not clear, however, as to whether they require water baptism before or after the baptism of the Holy Ghost).
The problem here is, of course, that interpreting the Bible in light of one’s personal experience is a dangerous way to handle the Word of God. Experiences, whether they be speaking in tongues, seeing visions, being “slain in the Spirit,” or any other, are easily manipulated and may cause one to accept unquestionably what the one who gave them the experience tells them is the truth.
You see this with a number of cults and world religions. For instance, when Mormons are confronted with questions they cannot answer about their faith, they often fall back on their “testimony.” That, apparently, is some sort of subjective revelation that they have experienced in their church that validates Mormonism as true, no matter what the objective facts may be.
Most Eastern religions rely on subjective mystical experiences to validate the truth claims of their faiths. Gurus often give their followers some sort of experiential “enlightenment” that confirms their authority. New Agers often speak of mystical spiritual experiences they have had to validate their “Spiritual path,” whatever it may be.
We Evangelical Christians often speak of our experience of knowing Jesus as our Savior and Lord and the joy of salvation. However, we do not base our salvation on feelings. Our salvation is based on grace through faith in the facts of the Gospel. It is true whether we feel anything or not. We must always be careful to place our experiences under the judgment of accurate Scriptural teaching. Even Satan can deceive people with emotional highs and lows.
In the case of Oneness Pentecostals, I believe they have deceived themselves by relying on the distorted interpretations of their leaders who are adroit at manipulating followers with subjective experiential knowledge instead of clear biblical study and exegesis. We can only conclude that Oneness Pentecostals preach and teach “another gospel” (Galatians 1). They not only deny the most important doctrine in Christianity, the Trinity, but they have added water baptism and speaking in tongues to faith as essential elements of salvation.
© 2013 Tal Davis