What Do Oneness Pentecostals Believe? Official Doctrines and Teachings Of The UPCI, United Pentecostal Church International

Many people do not know who Oneness Pentecostals are or what they believe.  Oneness Pentecostals are of the United Pentecostal Church International, and they have many unbiblical doctrines and teachings contrary to the Christian faith.  What are the main doctrines of the UPCI that are unbiblical?  The UPCI rejects the doctrine of the Trinity; rejects God revealed in three distinct personages; rejects salvation by grace through faith alone apart from works; and they state those who believe in such man-made doctrines are not saved. (Christians)  The UPCI holds to a oneness view of God, which means they believe God has been revealed through three manifestations not personages.  The UPCI teaches that a person must not only believe in Jesus (the oneness view) but also be water baptized (in Jesus name only) and speak in other tongues in order to be saved. (as the evidence of being baptized with the Holy Spirit)

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Official Teachings and Doctrines of the UPCI on the doctrine of the Trinity

The United Pentecostal Church International rejects the doctrine of the Trinity.  They believe that God is three manifestations:  Father in creation; the Son in redemption; the Holy Spirit in regeneration.

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“the UPCI reflect most of the beliefs of the Holiness-Pentecostal movement, with the exception of the “second work of grace,” the historic doctrine of the Trinity, and the traditional Trinitarian formula in water baptism. It embraces the Pentecostal view that speaking in tongues is the initial sign of receiving the Holy Spirit.” (from http://www.upci.org/about.asp)

“In distinction to the doctrine of the Trinity, the UPCI holds to a oneness view of God. It views the Trinitarian concept of God, that of God eternally existing as three distinctive persons, as inadequate and a departure from the consistent and emphatic biblical revelation of God being one…Thus God is manifested as Father in creation and as the Father of the Son, in the Son for our redemption, and as the Holy Spirit in our regeneration.” (from www.upci.org/about.asp)

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Additional references from Oneness Pentecostal websites on the nature of God & the Trinity.

“We believe the Bible teaches that there is only one true, ever living, eternal God, infinite in power, holy in nature, attributes and purpose, and possessing absolute, invisible deity. The One true God has revealed Himself as Father, through His Son in redemption, and as the Holy Ghost, by emanation. This one true God manifested Himself in the Old Testament in various ways; in the Son while he walked among men; as the Holy Ghost after the ascension.” (Bethel United Pentecostal Church / www.bethelupc.org/faith.html)

“we see that the doctrine of the trinity is non-biblical both in terminology and in historical origin. It has its roots in polytheism, pagan religion, and pagan philosophy”  (David Bernard/ Oneness of God/ http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Ch11.htm)

“The Scriptures do not teach the doctrine of the trinity, but trinitarianism has its roots in paganism” (David Bernard/ Oneness of God / http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Ch11.htm)

“We believe that trinitarianism is not a biblical doctrine and that it contradicts the Bible in many ways. The Scriptures do not teach a trinity of persons. The doctrine of the trinity uses terminology not used in Scripture. It teaches and emphasizes plurality in the Godhead while the Bible emphasizes the oneness of God. It detracts from the fulness of Jesus Christ’s deity. It contradicts many specific verses of Scripture. It is not logical. No one can understand or explain it rationally, not even those who advocate it. In short, trinitarianism is a doctrine that does not belong to Christianity.” (David Bernard/ Oneness of God / http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Ch12.htm)

“The Bible does not teach the doctrine of the trinity, and trinitarianism actually contradicts the Bible. It does not add any positive benefit to the Christian message. Without the man-made doctrine of the trinity we can still affirm the deity of Jesus” (David Bernard/ Oneness of God / http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/One-Ch12.htm)

These references give the truth on what the UPCI (Oneness Pentecostals) believe concerning the Trinity doctrine.  It is clear they worship a different God, Jesus, and Christians need to be informed.  The intention of sharing this was to expose openly the unbiblical doctrines of the UPCI, and give Biblical resources.  The following links are solid articles refuting Oneness Pentecostal false doctrines & teachings of the Trinity.

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A Biblical Account to, “What is the Trinity”

Click Here

Refuting the false doctrines of Oneness Pentecostalism on the doctrine of the Trinity

www.spotlightministries.org.uk/oneness.htm

What does the Bible teach about the doctrine of the Trinity?

Click Here

Official Teachings & Doctrines of the UPCI on “What must I do to be saved?”

The official teachings and doctrines of the UPCI for someone to be saved are:  A person must repent of their ways; turn to Christ; be water baptized in Jesus name only; speak in other tongues as the evidence being baptized in the Spirit; and live a holy life.

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“a sinner must believe the gospel; he is commanded to repent of his sinful life, to be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ, and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (from http://www.upci.org/about.asp#doctrinal)

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“It is true that water itself does not contain any saving virtue, but God has chosen to include it in His plan of salvation. Peter explained, “Baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 3:21). According to Luke 7:30, “the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized.” (from www.upci.org/doctrine/baptism.asp)

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“Millions have experienced this same baptism in the Spirit. Wherever this message is proclaimed, the question is asked, “Why did God choose speaking in tongues as the initial, physical evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost?”…One vital reason why God chose other tongues as the initial sign of receiving the Holy Ghost is that speaking in tongues is an immediate, external evidence.” (from www.upci.org/doctrine/tongues.asp)

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“The initial, outward evidence is speaking with tongues, which means speaking miraculously in languages the speaker does not know…Speaking with other tongues has been connected with Spirit baptism since the beginning of the church age." (from http://www.upci.org/doctrine/holyGhost.asp)

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These references can easily be found online.  I have provided them so people will know exactly what the United Pentecostal Church International (Oneness Pentecostals) teach on what a person must do to be saved.  The following links provide Biblical refutations to the false and inaccurate teachings of the UPCI.

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Refuting Oneness Pentecostal Doctrines & Teachings on Salvation

www.focusonthefaulty.com/Pages/oneness.html

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Refuting Oneness Pentecostal Doctrines & Teachings on water baptism for Salvation

 www.gospeloutreach.net/brchap.html

The Gospel Message Click Here

This information was shared for Christians to know exactly what Oneness Pentecostals believe and why they are not Christians Biblically, theologically, and logically.  For more information on the history and development of the United Pentecostal Church International check out the Watchman’s Expositor profile of them at

www.watchman.org/profile/onenesspro.htm

There may be some of you who think this is being judgmental against those in the UPCI movement, and you may think that they are Christians.  But Biblically they have another God, another Jesus, another gospel, and another spirit.  The Bible warns about those who claim to be of the faith but are not Christians.  The Bible warns about being careful of false teachings and prophets who appear to be of God but are wolves in sheep’ clothing.  The bottom line is to examine yourselves to see whether or not you are in the faith, unless you fail the test. (Matthew 7:13-27, Matthew 24:22-24, Acts 20:23-31, Galatians 1:6-9, 2 Corinthians 11:4 & 13-15, 2 Corinthians 13:5, 2 Peter 2-3, 1 John 2:18-23, 1 John 4:1-4)

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Those of the United Pentecostal Church state that those who do not hold to their doctrines are not saved.  The following is from David Bernard, a UPCI pastor and teacher:

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“Sincere profession based on a faulty concept of Christ is not enough; one must believe and obey the gospel. False prophets and cultists profess Christ, but they are not saved. According to Jesus, some people will sincerely profess Him, believe that they are saved, and even profess to perform miracles in His name, but they will not be saved because they did not obey His Word (Matthew 7:21-27). Many will profess to know Him and even to have enjoyed His presence but will not be saved (Luke 13:25-27)."

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We cannot impose demands that the Bible does not support, nor can we make exceptions that the Bible does not grant. Precisely because God is sovereign in granting salvation, we must limit ourselves to the clear teaching of Scripture. If God has plans that go beyond what He has revealed to us in the Bible, that is His prerogative, but we have authority only to teach the plan God gave to us in the Scriptures.We have no right to offer false or uncertain hopes based on wishful thinking, speculations, reasoning, philosophy, or doubtful interpretations of difficult passages. We cannot make exceptions for situations that arise from failure to follow biblical teachings and examples.

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“What must I do to be saved?” The New Testament answer is to exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, by repenting from sin, being baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, receiving the Holy Ghost with the initial sign of speaking in tongues, and continuing to live a holy, separated life by the power of the indwelling Spirit.”  (David Bernard/  http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pentecostal/New-Ch14.htm)

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If you have any questions or comments concerning this information or additional topics please send us an email.  May this information be clear and useful for the body of Christ, and help lead people out of the non-Christian affiliation of the UPCI into a genuine relationship with the God of the Bible and be set free from their sins.