Oneness Doctrine

Q

I have been saved and re baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I have been told this was not necessary by my brother’s girlfriend who is catholic. She said I was baptized as a baby and that is all I need. She said my church (which is the world of Pentecostal) believes in this oneness and it is very wrong, that I will be held accountable before God for teaching my children this way. I have been in my church for 5 yrs and have found what I believe is the truth. Preacher shows in the Bible that yes they are they Father Son and Holy Spirit, but only one name can save us and that is Jesus Christ. That God manifested himself in the flesh and was Jesus. So my question to you is do you believe Jesus and God are one?

A

I believe that John 10:30 and other places tell us that the Father and the Son are one and the same. I also believe that only belief in the atoning death of Jesus can save us.

But the “Oneness” doctrine taught by some Pentecostals goes beyond that, and if you’re asking if I believe in that, I would have to say no. Oneness teaches that Baptism is necessary for salvation, that Baptism must be in the name of Jesus only (contradicting Matt. 28:19) to be effective, and must be conducted by an ordained Oneness minister. They also believe that speaking in tongues is a necessary evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit disagreeing with 1 Cor. 12:7 & 11. Insistence upon these beliefs goes beyond and in some cases contradicts Scripture.