The serious errors of Oneness/United Pentecostals

When one examines the serious errors of this breakaway group of Pentecostals, it seems that they are actually a cult, like the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Some have actually described them as a “hidden cult”. And there are probably over 2.5 million people who have been deceived into following this cult.

There are several groups who hold to the doctrines of Oneness Pentecostals: United Pentecostal Church International, Apostolic World Christian Federation, Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ, Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Pentecostal Assemblies of the World.

SERIOUS DOCTRINAL ERRORS
According to Pentecostals – Statistics and Denominations:
‘There are 80 Pentecostal denominations that are classified as Jesus' Name or Oneness Pentecostalism (often self identifying as "Apostolic Pentecostals"). These differ from the rest of Pentecostalism in several significant ways.

[1] Oneness Pentecostals reject the doctrine of the Trinity. They do not describe God as three persons but rather as three manifestations of the one living God. [Note: This is the heresy of Modalism or Sabellianism]

[2] Oneness Pentecostals practice Jesus' Name Baptism—water baptisms performed in the name of Jesus Christ, rather than that of the Trinity. [Note: This is a rejection of the very words of Christ regarding baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost]

[3] Oneness Pentecostal adherents believe repentance, baptism in Jesus' name, and Spirit baptism are all essential elements of the conversion experience. [Note: This is a rejection of the Bible doctrine of justification (salvation) by grace through faith in Christ and His finished work of redemption apart from any works of righteousness]

[4] Oneness Pentecostals hold that repentance is necessary before baptism to make the ordinance valid, and receipt of the Holy Spirit manifested by speaking in other tongues is necessary afterwards, to complete the work of baptism. [Note: This is a rejection of the Bible truth that not all Christians will speak in tongues, and also the meaning of the genuine gift of tongues]

This differs from other Pentecostals, along with evangelical Christians in general, who see only repentance and faith in Christ as essential to salvation. This has resulted in Oneness believers being accused by some (including other Pentecostals) of a "works-salvation" soteriology, a charge they vehemently deny. [Note: All cults deny that they are a cult].

Oneness Pentecostals insist that salvation comes by grace through faith in Christ, coupled with obedience to his command to be "born of water and of the Spirit"; hence, no good works or obedience to laws or rules can save anyone. For them, baptism is not seen as a "work" but rather the indispensable means that Jesus himself provided to come into his kingdom. The major Oneness churches include the United Pentecostal Church International and the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World.
https://www.liquisearch.com/pentecostalism/statistics_and_denominations

HISTORY
‘The founding date of the Oneness Pentecostal movement can be traced to a specific event: a revival meeting in Los Angeles on April 15, 1913. The culmination of the meeting occurred when Canadian revivalist R.E. McAlister baptized converts not according to the Trinitarian formula of the historic Christian Church, but in the name of Jesus only...

The next significant date in the development of the movement occurred exactly two years later, on April 15, 1915, when [Frank] Ewart gave his first sermon on Acts 2:38. David Reed believes that, despite the claims of Oneness Pentecostals that Ewart preached the message given to him by McCalister, Ewart did not actually develop his modalistic theology until after this sermon. Nonetheless, the approximate date for the development of Ewart’s teaching regarding the necessity of baptism in the name of Jesus only can be traced to this period.

Also on this date, Ewart rebaptized supporter Glenn A. Cook according to the Jesus only formula; Cook then rebaptized Ewart. This was the beginning of the rebaptism of thousands of Pentecostals. The Oneness movement quickly spread through Pentecostal churches, particularly the Assemblies of God. The AG debated the issue of baptism in Jesus’ name at their 1915 general assembly, and in 1916 defeated the movement in their denomination by requiring adherence to Trinitarian theology in the Statement of Fundamental Truths.

156 ministers subsequently left the AG to form an independent Oneness denomination. In January, 1918, the General Assembly of the Apostolic Assemblies merged with the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, a denomination affiliated with the original Pentecostal revival on Azusa Street in Los Angeles...’
https://www.watchman.org/profiles/pdf/onenesspentecostalismprofile.pdf

This tells us that Pentecostals in general REJECT the teachings of Oneness Pentecostals. And so should all Bible-believing Christians.

STRICT CODE OF CONDUCT
On the plus side, Oneness Pentecostals believe in a strict code of conduct, but when it is tied to maintaining salvation, then it is unbiblical. Sanctification is not about *maintaining* salvation but working out your salvation with fear and trembling. Big difference.

‘Oneness movements’ emphases on personal holiness and healthy lifestyles are commendable. Nevertheless, the requirements for outward adherence to a strict moral code in order to maintain salvation inevitably leads to legalism and a lack of assurance of eternal life.’
http://www.marketfaith.org/the-hidden-cult-of-oneness-pentecostalism/

How can you post about the supposed errors of other doctrines when you are posting clear doctrinal errors yourself??
The above statement is clearly false and unscriptural.
Jesus and the Apostles teach us all that the sign or evidence of being baptised in the Holy Spirit - that is receiving the indwelling
Holy Spirit with power - is speaking in a new tongue > praying in the Holy Spirit.
Stop accusing others of doctrinal falsehoods when you are not walking in the truth yourself.

Oneness Pentecostals are not alone in this traditional historic Christian doctrine - Luther maintained correctly the need for water
baptism; although like the Catholics he kept infant sprinkling as the method [due to the very high mortality rates of newborns].
Christian baptism as either sprinkling or immersion has always been Christian doctrine from the beginning.

Pentecostal popcorn anyone? It's baptized and anointed!

HAHAH and speaks with a new tongue when it goes "POP" in the pan..........

Baptismal font at the Hagia Sopia, Istanbul (Turkey) - sixth century > 501-600AD

The baptismal bath in the Christian house church at Dura-europos, Syria
second century > 101-200AD

I can't get baptized. too many crocs in the water

on the serious side, what I find the most serious, is replacing the blood of Jesus with baptism

stating that baptism takes away sin, is called baptismal regeneration

this teaching is not only false, but takes away from the fact that Jesus HAD to shed His blood for the remission of sins

they replace that with a list of deeds, when scripture states emphatically that nothing we do is presentable to God as a sacrifice

The church I attend is part of a pentecostal denomination that apparently was 'oneness' originally. The subject came up at a doctrinal discussion once. They haven't preached oneness since I've been there.

Hey Waggles.

I don't think posting pictures of baptismal fonts constitutes proof of any particular doctrinal view ABOUT baptism, but only that people in the early church practiced baptism.

That's not something anyone disagrees on.

.

Au contraire but they do.
Even denying the Biblical teachings and commandments to be baptised by full immersion.
Water baptism has been Christian doctrine and practice from the beginning and yet somehow in the USA
"Christians" have reinvented doctrine, and now a sinner's prayer has replaced the spiritual significance of water baptism.
Where is that in the scriptures?

2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves
teachers to suit their own passions,
4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
2Timothy 4: (ESV)
myth = give your heart to Jesus -
truth = … “Brothers, what shall we do?”
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins,
and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38 (the word of God)

If anyone thinks it humorous and worthy of berating any denomination in particular be it Mormon, Jw, Pentacostal, Charismatic, Baptist ad nauseum, the unfortunate soul should reveal the name of the denomination our Lord, and our God, teaches. I know, and I am of the same as He as long as He will have me. God bless allwho learn from the Teacher, amen. (and all who will.)

I kind of like this post. It does a fairly good job of declaring the beliefs that people with the label of "oneness" would like others to understand. Personally I don't like the application of labels because it leads to the misconception that the beginning of the label is the beginning of the underlying belief or practice...a misconception that you effectively debunked when you showed that the "oneness" people joined an already existing group who apparently already held the same beliefs and practices.

Love in Jesus,
Kelby

While it is true that there are a couple of instances where the evidence of being baptized with the Holy Spirit was manifested with GENUINE TONGUES (not the modern manifestation) the norm in the book of Acts was that people received the gift of the Holy Spirit WITHOUT SPEAKING IN TONGUES.

SINNERS SAVED BUT NO TONGUES MANIFESTED
1. Acts 2:41 --- about 3,000 Jews saved, no tongues spoken by them
2. Acts 5:14 -- multitudes saved no tongues mentioned
3. Acts 6:7 -- disciples multiplied along with priests, no tongues
4. Acts 8:12,17 -- Samaritans saved, no tongues mentioned
5. Acts 8:37,38 -- Ethiopian saved, no tongues mentioned
6. Acts 9:17,18 -- Saul of Tarsus saved, no tongues mentioned
7. Acts 9:31 -- churches multiplied in Judaea, Galilee, and Samaria, but no tongues
8. Acts 9:35 -- all the inhabitants of Lydda and Saron saved, no tongues mentioned
9. Acts 11: 19-21 -- great numbers believed in the region of Phenice, Cyprus and Antioch, no tongues mentioned
10. Acts 11:22-24 -- Barnabas came to Antioch, many more added, no tongues

There's the proof that you have invented a doctrine out of thin air. We could continue right through the book of Acts and prove that you are the one promoting falsehoods, and definitely promoting false doctrines. So I wonder if you will now have the grace to admit that you are ensnared in false teachings and repent.

Exactly. Baptism by immersion was an ancient Christian practice after the apostolic age. But the false doctrine of BAPTISMAL REGENERATION (adopted by the Oneness crowd) arose early and became the dogma of the Catholic church.

Are you adpt in linguistics? Have you heard of the of language that only the Father understands? I speak here of a sigh from the oul or a groaning from the heart? Do you possess the gift of interpreting tongues?

If your response is no to any of the above, you are not gifted tomake judgment on others and their gift or gifts of the Holy Spirit. Believe all things. Think on things beautiful, and you will be at peace i this arena.

For those interested you can find an indepth study Here on the Oneness error...

Now that is deliberately twisting and refusing to honour the truth and intent of scripture and the narrative in Acts chapter 8.
In fact the wisdom of God is so marvellous that Jesus is able to educate us that Mark 16:16 is true in Acts 8 and without directly
describing speaking in tongues, but in upholding this truth by implication through the sequence of events that occur.

so what! neither does scripture state that they all did not speak in tongues.
Paul's (Saul) salvation is documented and we can read that he was water baptised.
later in other scriptures it refers to Paul being filled with the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Still later Paul declares that he can and does pray in tongues.
Yet none of the events are contained in one verse.