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/
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/
-
3
-
2
-
1
-
1
- Show all
