{"id":4428,"date":"2021-09-12T03:02:14","date_gmt":"2021-09-12T09:02:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/integritysyndicate.com\/?p=4428"},"modified":"2022-11-13T01:40:41","modified_gmt":"2022-11-13T08:40:41","slug":"the-oneness-delusion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/integritysyndicate.com\/the-oneness-delusion\/","title":{"rendered":"The Oneness Delusion"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
Here we will outline the problems with oneness doctrine, including the key scriptural references. Although there are over 760 NT passages that make a clear distinction between God and Jesus, we will focus on the most compelling verses covering Jesus and the Father being separate witnesses, the explicit distinction between the person of God and Jesus, common distinctions in the New Testament, and verses that show a visual distinction. Further, we will look at how Jesus acted according to God’s plan as a servant, that God exalted\/appointed Jesus. A key point of reference will be how Jesus is identified by the Apostles in the book of Acts. References are provided as to the necessity of the Messiah of prophecy being an agent of God, and we will look at why the humanity of Christ is essential to the Gospel. Passages are quoted in the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise indicated.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
In John 8:16, Jesus says that he does not judge alone, but \u201cI and the Father who sent me.\u201d Nowhere in the New Testament is the distinction between the Person of God and that of Jesus more explicit. This is because, in verse 17, Jesus referred to the Law, stating that \u201cthe testimony of two people is true.\u201d Jesus counts himself and his Father as two people when he says in verse 18, \u201cI am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.\u201d<\/p>
16<\/sup> Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me<\/strong>. 17<\/sup> In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true<\/strong>. 18<\/sup> I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t These verses provide the strongest distinctions between God and Jesus not only in reference to them being separate persons but also provides distinction with respect to ontology (the Father being identified as God who is greater than all)<\/p> 42<\/sup> Jesus said to them, \u201cIf God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me<\/strong>.<\/p> 54<\/sup> Jesus answered, \u201cIf I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, \u2018He is our God<\/strong>.\u2019<\/p> 14<\/sup> I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me<\/strong>, 15<\/sup> just as the Father knows me and I know the Father<\/strong>; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16<\/sup> And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17<\/sup> For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life<\/strong> that I may take it up again. 18<\/sup> No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.\u201d<\/p> 29<\/sup> My Father, who has given them to me<\/strong>, is greater than all<\/strong>, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.<\/p> 9<\/sup> Jesus said to him, \u201cHave I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father<\/strong>. How can you say, \u2018Show us the Father\u2019? 10<\/sup> Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works<\/strong>. 11<\/sup> Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. 12<\/sup> \u201cTruly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father<\/strong>. 20<\/sup> In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21<\/sup> Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father<\/strong>, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.\u201d 22<\/sup> Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, \u201cLord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?\u201d 23<\/sup> Jesus answered him, \u201cIf anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we<\/span> will come to him and make our<\/span> home with him<\/strong>. 24<\/sup> Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me<\/strong>.<\/p> 28<\/sup> You heard me say to you, \u200b\u2018I am going away, and I will come to you.\u2019 If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I<\/strong>.<\/p> \u200b1<\/sup> When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, \u201cFather<\/strong>, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2<\/sup> since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him<\/strong>. 3<\/sup> And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent<\/strong>.<\/p> 17<\/sup> Jesus said to her, \u201cDo not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father<\/strong>; but go to my brothers and say to them, \u200b\u2018I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God<\/strong>.\u2019\u201d<\/p> \u201c… there is no God but one.\u201d 5<\/sup> For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth\u2014as indeed there are many \u201cgods\u201d and many \u201clords\u201d\u2014 6<\/sup> yet for us there is one God, the Father<\/strong>, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ<\/strong>, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.<\/p> 36<\/sup> Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ<\/strong>, this Jesus whom you crucified.\u201d<\/p> 18<\/sup> But what God<\/strong> foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled<\/strong>.<\/p> 26<\/sup> The kings of the earth set themselves,\u00a0 and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed<\/strong>\u2019\u2014<\/p> 8<\/sup> And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross<\/strong>. 9<\/sup> Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name<\/strong>, 10<\/sup> so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11<\/sup> and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father<\/strong>.<\/p> 3<\/sup> Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ<\/strong>, 4<\/sup> who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father<\/strong>, 5<\/sup> to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.<\/p> 5<\/sup> For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men<\/strong>, the man Christ Jesus<\/strong>, 6<\/sup> who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.<\/p> 3<\/sup> But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ<\/strong>, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God<\/strong>.<\/p> 2<\/sup> Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.\u00a0 3<\/sup> Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort<\/strong><\/p> 3<\/sup> We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ<\/strong>, when we pray for you<\/p> 24<\/sup> For Christ has entered<\/strong>, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf<\/strong>.<\/p> 15<\/sup> Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, \u201cThe kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ<\/strong>, and he shall reign forever and ever.\u201d<\/p> 10<\/sup> And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, \u201cNow the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ<\/strong> have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.<\/p> 6<\/sup> Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ<\/strong>, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t In a strict sense, there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ through whom are all things and through whom we exist. (1 Cor 8:6) Correspondingly, numerous scriptural references (15x) use the term \u201cGod\u201d in reference to the Father and the term \u201cLord\u201d pertaining to Jesus. The typical phrase used in Paul\u2019s greetings is, \u201cGod our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ\u201d. These references include Romans 1:7, Romans 15:6, 1 Corinthians 1:3, 1 Corinthians 8:6, 2 Corinthians 1:2-3, 2 Corinthians 11:31, Galatians 1:1-3, Ephesians 1:2-3, Ephesians 1:17, Ephesians 5:20, Ephesians 6:23, Philippians 1:2, Philippians 2:11, Colossians 1:3, 1 Peter 1:2-3.<\/p> Many numerous scriptural references (15x) say that God raised Jesus from the dead, indicating a distinction between Jesus who was raised and God who raised him. These references include Acts 2:23, Acts 2:32, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:10, Acts 5:30, Acts 10:40, Acts 13:30, Acts 13:37, Romans 6:4, Romans 10:9, 1 Corinthians 6:15, 1 Corinthians 15:15, Galatians 1:1, Colossians 2:12, and 1 Peter 1:21.<\/p> There are numerous scriptural references (13x) that refer to Jesus being at \u201cthe right hand of God\u201d indicating a distinction of God and Jesus who is at his right hand. These references include. Mark 16:9, Luke 22:69, Acts 2:33, Acts 5:31, Acts 7:55-56, Romans 8:34, Ephesians 1:17-19, Colossians 3:1, Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 8:1, Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews 12:2, and 1 Peter 3:22.\u00a0 Accordingly, it only the one God and Father who is literally God, and Jesus acts on behalf of God as God\u2019s right-hand man.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t 55<\/sup> But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God<\/strong>. 56<\/sup> And he said, \u201cBehold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.\u201d<\/p> 6<\/sup> And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain<\/strong>, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7<\/sup> And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne<\/strong>. 8<\/sup> And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9<\/sup> And they sang a new song, saying, \u201cWorthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God <\/strong>from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10<\/sup> and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God<\/strong>, and they shall reign on the earth.\u201d<\/p> 15<\/sup> \u201cTherefore they are before the throne of God<\/strong>, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16<\/sup> They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17<\/sup> For the Lamb in the midst of the throne<\/strong> will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Regarding Revelation 5, If you say the Lamb (between the throne and the four living creatures) is Jesus and God (who sits on the throne) is also Jesus. Then the result is Jesus taking the scroll from the right hand of Jesus<\/p> 6<\/sup> And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain<\/strong>, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7<\/sup> And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne<\/strong>. 8<\/sup> And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9<\/sup> And they sang a new song, saying, \u201cWorthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God <\/strong>from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10<\/sup> and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God<\/strong>, and they shall reign on the earth.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t \u00a018<\/sup> \u201cBehold, my servant whom I have chosen<\/strong>, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, <\/strong>and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles<\/strong>.<\/p> 34<\/sup> Jesus said to them, \u201cMy food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work<\/strong>.<\/p> 30<\/sup> \u201cI can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me<\/strong>.<\/p> 16<\/sup> So Jesus answered them, \u201cMy teaching is not mine, but his who sent me<\/strong>. 17<\/sup> If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18<\/sup> The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true<\/strong>, and in him there is no falsehood.<\/p> 6<\/sup> I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him<\/strong>.\u201d 27<\/sup> They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. 28<\/sup> So Jesus said to them, \u201cWhen you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority<\/strong>, but speak just as the Father taught me<\/strong>. 29<\/sup> And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.\u201d<\/p> 49<\/sup> For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment\u2014what to say and what to speak<\/strong>. 50<\/sup> And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p> 24<\/sup> Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s<\/strong> who sent me.<\/p> 10<\/sup> If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love<\/strong>.<\/p> 22<\/sup> \u201cMen of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God<\/strong> with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him <\/strong>in your midst, as you yourselves know\u2014 23<\/sup> this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God,<\/strong> you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24<\/sup> God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.<\/p> 26<\/sup> God, having raised up his servant<\/strong>, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.\u201d<\/p> 23<\/sup> When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly<\/strong>.<\/p> 3<\/sup> Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4<\/sup> who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father<\/strong>, 5<\/sup> to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.<\/p> 8<\/sup> And being found in human form, Explicit distinction between the person of God and Jesus<\/h2>
John 8:42, I came from God and I am here – I came not of my own accord, but he sent me<\/strong><\/h3>
John 8:54, It is my Father who glorifies me<\/h3>
John 10:14-18, I know my own and my own know me<\/strong>,\u00a0just as the Father knows me and I know the Father<\/strong><\/h3>
John 10:29, My Father is greater than all<\/h3>
John 14:9-12, I am going to the Father<\/strong><\/h3>
<\/p>John 14:20-24, We will come\u00a0 to him and make our home with him<\/h3>
John 14:28, The Father is greater than I<\/strong><\/h3>
John 17:1-3, you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent<\/h3>
John 20:17, I ascend to my God and your God<\/h3>
1 Corinthians 8:4-6, There is one God the Father, and one Lord Jesus Christ<\/h3>
In a strict sense in the category of “gods” there is one God the Father. In the category of “lords” there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. God made him both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36, Phil 2:8-11)<\/h6>
Acts 2:36, God has made him both Lord and Christ<\/h3>
Acts 3:18, God foretold that his Christ would suffer<\/h3>
Acts 4:26, against the Lord and against his Anointed<\/h3>
Philippians 2:8-11, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him<\/h3>
Galatians 1:3-5, Jesus gave himself according to the will of God the Father<\/h3>
1 Timothy 2:5-6, There is one God and one mediator<\/h3>
A mediator is an independent person from the God that he mediates for.\u00a0<\/h2>
1 Corinthians 11:3, the head of Christ is God<\/h3>
2 Corinthians 1:2-3,\u00a0 the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ<\/h3>
Colossians 1:3, God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ<\/h3>
Hebrews 9:24, Christ entered heaven to appear in the presence of God<\/h3>
God went into heaven to appear in the presence of God?<\/h6>
Revelation 11:15, kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ<\/h3>
Revelation 12:10, kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ<\/h3>
Revelation 20:6, Priests of God and of Christ<\/h3>
Common Distinctions in the New Testament<\/h2>
Visual distinction between God and Jesus<\/h2>
Acts 7:55-56, Stephen saw the glory of God, and Jesus at the right hand of God<\/h3>
Revelation 5:6-12, the lamb near the throne, took the scroll from God on the throne<\/h3>
Revelation 7:15-16, God is on the throne – the lamb is in the midst of the throne<\/h3>
Modalism results in two Jesus<\/h2>
Revelation 5:6-12\u00a0<\/h3>
Jesus acted according to God’s plan (not his own) as a servant<\/h2>
Matthew 12:18, \u201cBehold my servant whom I have chosen\u201d<\/h3>
John 4:34, \u201cMy food is to do the will of him who sent me\u201d<\/h3>
John 5:30, \u201cI seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me\u201d<\/h3>
John 7:16-18, \u201cMy teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.\u201d<\/h3>
John 8:26-29, Jesus spoke as the Father taught him<\/h3>
John 12:49-50, The who sent him has given him a commandment\u2014what to say and what to speak<\/h3>
John 14:24, \u201cThe word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s\u201d<\/h3>
John 15:10, \u201cI have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love\u201d<\/h3>
Acts 2:22-24, \u201cA man delivered up according to the plan and foreknowledge of God\u201d<\/h3>
Acts 3:26, \u201cGod raised up his servant\u201d<\/h3>
1 Peter 2:23, He entrusted himself to him who judges justly<\/h3>
Galatians 1:3-5, Jesus gave himself according to the will of God the Father<\/h3>
Philippians 2:8-11, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death<\/h3>