Towerwatchman
Well-known member
Oneness: What do they believe?
According to Oneness when Jesus was born within Him was not a center of consciousness that identified as Jesus, but the center of self-consciousness that preexisted and identifies as God. Therefore, the question arises, “How is this possible if Jesus prayed your will and not mine.”
Their answer.
Jesus praying (John 17) - Why did Jesus pray to the Father? Not only is Jesus God, but to understand the prayers of Jesus we must also fully accept that he was truly man. Psalm 65:2 says all flesh comes to God. So, as God manifested in flesh as a genuine man, Jesus prayed. If you are a human being you are going to pray to God. Jesus was tempted in all points like we are yet without sin. The prayers of Christ prove that He was a genuine human being just like us except for sin. It would be shocking if He didn't pray because how could he be a righteous man and not pray and submit to the will of God.? The prayers do not indicate a distinction in the Godhead, but they tell us that he was an authentic human being. Out of his human identity He prayed.
[What is the Oneness of God as taught by Oneness Pentecostals? Andreas]
According to Oneness Jesus prayed because He was a genuine and authentic human being. Nothing is mentioned about praise or petition. As if the essence of humanity is to pray?
Essence -is properly described as that whereby a thing is what it is; the essence of a thing is that which is expressed by its definition. The essence of a thing is just that which makes it the sort of thing it is. That through which a thing is intelligible or capable of being grasped intellectually.
To grasp humanity is to grasp the essence of human beings [what makes X human] and thus understand what a human being is. To grasp triangularity is to grasp the essence of triangles. = what makes X triangles. The essence of a triangle is what all triangles in all possible worlds will have in common. =Three sides.
What is the essence of humanity? Is it to pray? I do not have to imagine all the possibilities in all the possible worlds to conclude that prayer is not the essence of humanity. Many in this world do not pray. =Atheist /Agnostics. So, the above explanation from Oneness makes no sense; therefore false.
What about Jesus praying, "Father, not my will but thy will be done"? This is not speaking of two divine wills of two eternal persons but the will of the man to the will of God or the Godhead.
[What is the Oneness of God as taught by Oneness Pentecostals? Andreas]
According to Oneness there exist no distinction of persons in God therefore, one person. “Person” refers to the center of consciousness and includes the idea of mind, will and desire. Just as I am a being with one center of self-consciousness, who I call “I”, God should be one being with one center of self-consciousness who identifies as “I”.
Luke 22:42…” not My will, but Yours, be done.”
From the passage we can conclude that two wills are involved. Since the will, mind and desire originates from self-consciousness we can also conclude that Jesus possess His own center of self-consciousness apart from God. In this verse we have a distinction of two persons within God. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke 22&version=NKJV
Oneness rises and falls on the concept of the oneness of God. When describing persons, Oneness seems possible. When reduced to self-consciousness, Oneness fails miserably.
- We acknowledge "Sola Scriptura" seriously.
- There is One God with no distinction of persons.
- Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the one true God manifested in the flesh. He is the One God incarnate. Jesus is the human personification of God.
- We believe in Father, Son and Holy Ghost but do not hold that these are three distinct persons,
- The OT establishes that there is One God without distinction of persons. (Isaiah 45)
According to Oneness when Jesus was born within Him was not a center of consciousness that identified as Jesus, but the center of self-consciousness that preexisted and identifies as God. Therefore, the question arises, “How is this possible if Jesus prayed your will and not mine.”
Their answer.
Jesus praying (John 17) - Why did Jesus pray to the Father? Not only is Jesus God, but to understand the prayers of Jesus we must also fully accept that he was truly man. Psalm 65:2 says all flesh comes to God. So, as God manifested in flesh as a genuine man, Jesus prayed. If you are a human being you are going to pray to God. Jesus was tempted in all points like we are yet without sin. The prayers of Christ prove that He was a genuine human being just like us except for sin. It would be shocking if He didn't pray because how could he be a righteous man and not pray and submit to the will of God.? The prayers do not indicate a distinction in the Godhead, but they tell us that he was an authentic human being. Out of his human identity He prayed.
[What is the Oneness of God as taught by Oneness Pentecostals? Andreas]
According to Oneness Jesus prayed because He was a genuine and authentic human being. Nothing is mentioned about praise or petition. As if the essence of humanity is to pray?
Essence -is properly described as that whereby a thing is what it is; the essence of a thing is that which is expressed by its definition. The essence of a thing is just that which makes it the sort of thing it is. That through which a thing is intelligible or capable of being grasped intellectually.
To grasp humanity is to grasp the essence of human beings [what makes X human] and thus understand what a human being is. To grasp triangularity is to grasp the essence of triangles. = what makes X triangles. The essence of a triangle is what all triangles in all possible worlds will have in common. =Three sides.
What is the essence of humanity? Is it to pray? I do not have to imagine all the possibilities in all the possible worlds to conclude that prayer is not the essence of humanity. Many in this world do not pray. =Atheist /Agnostics. So, the above explanation from Oneness makes no sense; therefore false.
What about Jesus praying, "Father, not my will but thy will be done"? This is not speaking of two divine wills of two eternal persons but the will of the man to the will of God or the Godhead.
[What is the Oneness of God as taught by Oneness Pentecostals? Andreas]
According to Oneness there exist no distinction of persons in God therefore, one person. “Person” refers to the center of consciousness and includes the idea of mind, will and desire. Just as I am a being with one center of self-consciousness, who I call “I”, God should be one being with one center of self-consciousness who identifies as “I”.
Luke 22:42…” not My will, but Yours, be done.”
From the passage we can conclude that two wills are involved. Since the will, mind and desire originates from self-consciousness we can also conclude that Jesus possess His own center of self-consciousness apart from God. In this verse we have a distinction of two persons within God. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke 22&version=NKJV
Oneness rises and falls on the concept of the oneness of God. When describing persons, Oneness seems possible. When reduced to self-consciousness, Oneness fails miserably.