A question about the Oneness movement.

[ricky]

Let me first say that I am a convinced Trinitarian and believe that most non Trinitarian forms of "Christianity" is not Christian as they tend to take away the divinity of Christ, however, one non Trinitarian form of Christianity is the Oneness movement. While I disagree with them on many issues; I don't see them taking away the divinity of Christ. We have oneness neighbors and friends and the local United Pentecostal Church is quite large here. I find it hard to see how Oneness theology in its self can cause someone not to be a Christian. Of course that is not my only disagreement with them; Most in that movement I think they do not believe in grace, but works (a bigger hindrance to me in considering them Christian) also the church leadership is quite controlling of the members.

 

Anyway my question is: Is believe in the Trinity essential for salvation, even if non belief in the Trinity doesn't take away the divinity of Christ?

 

(Mods feel free to move to the appropriate forum is necessary)

Edited April 13, 2015 by saved_ricky

[missmuffet]

The oneness movement denies the tri-unity of God.The tri-unity of God is present throughout Scripture.

[Willa]

I ran into one who said that she did not realize that Jesus is God prior to coming there. That is true, but Jesus also prayed to Father God. Then He asked the Father to send us the Holy Spirit so after He ascended we are not left alone, wiithout God With Us, Immanuel. We still have God with us and now He resides in us as well. We still worship One God. It is as though He were one God with 3 faces, but each has different functions as well. 3 Persons of 1 God.

I have trouble saying that these people are not Christians as well, since who among us totally understand God and the Trinity. It is something that we accept because we can rationalize it, but it is still beyond human comprehension. But I agree that legalism may cause them to fall from grace.

[Openly Curious]

Anyway my question is: Is believe in the Trinity essential for salvation, even if non belief in the Trinity doesn't take away the divinity of Christ?

No believing in the Trinity is not "essential" for a person to come to salvation. A person can accept Christ as personal Savior through simple faith by believing he came, died on the cross and arose from the dead on the third day and be save by grace. Understanding of the GodHead (Trinity) fully comes as we begin to learn and study further in God's Word. We learn that God the Father sent his son to die on the cross to redeem mankind. We learn that through Christ Jesus we were reconciled back to right standing with God the Father. We learn that we have access to the Father through Jesus Christ. We learn after Christ's resurrection back to heaven the Holy Spirit was sent to the earth to lead and guide us into all truth and so forth. I personally did not understand the GodHead (Trinity) when I first got saved but learned these things later on in my walk with God as he showed me in His Word more about Himself. Many people know there is a God but don't know how to be reconciled to the Father through his Son.

[missmuffet]

 

Anyway my question is: Is believe in the Trinity essential for salvation, even if non belief in the Trinity doesn't take away the divinity of Christ?

No believing in the Trinity is not "essential" for a person to come to salvation. A person can accept Christ as personal Savior through simple faith by believing he came, died on the cross and arose from the dead on the third day and be save by grace. Understanding of the GodHead (Trinity) fully comes as we begin to learn and study further in God's Word. We learn that God the Father sent his son to die on the cross to redeem mankind. We learn that through Christ Jesus we were reconciled back to right standing with God the Father. We learn that we have access to the Father through Jesus Christ. We learn after Christ's resurrection back to heaven the Holy Spirit was sent to the earth to lead and guide us into all truth and so forth. I personally did not understand the GodHead (Trinity) when I first got saved but learned these things later on in my walk with God as he showed me in His Word more about Himself. Many people know there is a God but don't know how to be reconciled to the Father through his Son.

 

You are right.People need to learn the basics when they first come to Christ.Read the Gospels in the Bible and then as they grow study the harder concepts.The Trinity One God three Persons.

[Qnts2]

I do believe in the tri-unity of God. But, I believe a person who believes in the oneness theology could be saved.

 

Oneness theology is also called Modalism. Although there are variations, it basically teaches that there is only One God who manifests himself in different ways thru history. In the OT, He showed Himself as the Father God. In the gospels, the one God showed himself in the next mode, which is Jesus. After that, God shows himself in a third mode, the Holy Spirit.

 

The are various Oneness Pentacostal groups, which also vary in beliefs. The largest is the United Pentacostal Church, which is very strict with a lot of rules. The woman are only to wear skirts or dresses, near ankle length. Woman are not to cut their hair, ever again. They wear their hair in buns, and are often called bun ladies by outsiders. No makeup allowed and no jewelry.

 

To be saved, one must be confess, be baptized by immersion in Jesus name only, and be baptized in the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues. Lack of any one of these means the person is not considered saved. 

[Openly Curious]

I know exactly what you mean Qnts2 and none of those things are essential nor a requirement for a person to be saved. Neither should a persons faith and salvation be judged based upon those beliefs and requirements among those in these types of oneness movements.

[ayin jade]

UPC oneness folks are dangerous though because they actively try to convert Christians to their cult. They can damage a lot of young believers. 

 

Carm has a good bit of info on that belief system.

 

https://carm.org/oneness-pentecostal

 

This link shows the differences between them and most Trinity believers.

 

https://carm.org/religious-movements/oneness-pentecostal/what-does-oneness-pentecostal-teach

[Ezra]

Anyway my question is: Is believe in the Trinity essential for salvation, even if non belief in the Trinity doesn't take away the divinity of Christ?

 

As others have pointed out, the doctrine of the Trinity is not essential for salvation, but it is essential for Christian growth and stability. 

 

Denial of the Deity of Christ, on the other hand, is a different matter.  Unless a sinner truly believes that Jesus is God, he or she cannot, and will not, be saved.  That is according to the words of Christ Himself.

[Raven]

... Anyway my question is: Is believe in the Trinity essential for salvation, even if non belief in the Trinity doesn't take away the divinity of Christ?...

Hello saved-ricky.

I have heard variations on the meaning of the Trinity. That is, other than Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. My understanding of Trinity is Father (Truth), Son (Faith), and Holy Spirit (Love). 

To be saved from a life of fear requires Faith in Truth to know Love (which opposes fear).

To Love Truth is to have Faith. To be True is to be Loving and Faithful. Each requires the other to sustain the Trinity, to sustain divinity - reality.

In this way, the Trinity is essential for salvation from a false life of fear, or anything else that is based on untruths.

Belief in the divinity of Christ is to realize the Trinity. Jesus Christ without the Father or Holy Spirit as a man in need of salvation. IMHO.

Edited April 21, 2015 by Raven