The Trinity is at the heart of Christianity. However, it is shrouded in mystery. Many people are perplexed by the theory that three divine beings are one. Many denominations are often confused as to how one God can be the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all at the same time. So then, do Pentecostals believe in the Trinity?
Some Pentecostals, including those who practice orthodox Pentecostal Christianity, believe in the doctrine of the Trinity. They acknowledge the oneness of God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. It should be noted, however, that there are other churches with the word “Pentecostal” in their names that do not believe in the Trinity.
Continue reading this article to learn more about which Pentecostals do not believe in the Trinity, why some Pentecostals reject the Trinity, and why some Pentecostals believe in the Trinity.
Which Pentecostals do not believe in the Trinity?
Pentecostals who practice oneness do not believe in the Trinity. They believe that God the Father, God the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are all different manifestations of the same person and thus cannot be considered as a single entity.
The United Pentecostal Church International, which has a membership of over 5.2 million people, is one of the largest denominations that believes in this theory. Many Pentecostals will tell you that Pentecostalism was born in Los Angeles during a street revival known as Asuza in California in 1906. The majority of people at the revival believed in the Trinity, but there was a group that disagreed with the doctrine.
This group did not believe in the Trinity as taught in the Bible. They believed in one God who manifested Himself in various forms, first as the Father, then as the Son, and finally as the Holy Spirit. Oneness has been linked to modalism, which teaches about a single God who manifested Himself in various modes as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Unitarians are another group that holds a different view of the Trinity. Their beliefs are nearly identical to those of Oneness Pentecostals. They do, however, believe in only one God. They do not recognize the Son or the Holy Spirit as God. They believe that the Son could simply have been an earthly man who had a very close relationship with God and also refer to the Holy Spirit as God’s power. They do not consider the Holy Spirit to be a person. The Unitarian Universalist Church is one of the largest churches that adhere to this teaching, rapidly growing in the United States.
However, Got Questions theologians refutes these belief systems, describing them as deceptions that mislead people away from what scripture holds to be true.
Why do some Pentecostals reject the Trinity?
Some of the Pentecostals mentioned earlier in the article reject the Trinity, claiming that no Biblical teaching or scripture supports a God who exists as a Trinity. Furthermore, many people reject the Trinity out of ignorance, but the majority do not understand how one person can be the same but have three versions.
It has been a source of contention since the dawn of time. Understanding God is understanding the Trinity. It is a mystery that cannot be solved through logical reasoning. Many people, however, try to understand the Trinity logically and end up confused or rejecting it because it is difficult to understand and makes no sense to them.
Some Pentecostals also oppose the idea because it implies that there is more than one God, which would encourage polytheism, although God is a single entity. Thus, they adhere to the doctrine of a single God who exists entirely on His own, with no separate entities that are united as one being.
Many people have misquoted and misinterpreted various scriptures in the Bible to prove their theory of a single God who exists entirely on His own, but this can be pretty misleading because scripture contains several verses that support the Trinity. These verses can be found in many places, including John 10:3, 1 Timothy 2:2, and 1 John 5:20.
Do the Pentecostals that believe in the Trinity associate with those that don’t?
Christianity teaches us to be friendly and welcoming to those who hold opposing opinions or beliefs. Pentecostals who believe in the Trinity mix with those who do not. They do not ascribe to or support their beliefs; instead, they relate to them in the same way they would relate to non-Christians, without passing judgment or attempting to persuade them to abandon their beliefs.
By not discriminating against or closing doors to those who do not believe in the Trinity, they can see Jesus as God who accepted everyone regardless of their religions, faith statements, or belief systems, and it is in this way that Christ can work in them to convict them to understand the Trinity.
According to Televangelist T.D. Jakes, in an interview at the Elephant Room Conference. He accepts the Trinity. After years of adhering to a oneness view of God, he came to the knowledge and understanding of what it meant, he faced backlash from many evangelicals for his previous unwillingness to acknowledge the Trinity. T.D. Jakes admitted that he knew nothing better than what he was taught as a child and member of a Oneness Pentecostal church.
T.D. Jakes also admits that he cannot cut ties with those who do not believe in the Trinity because he works with some of them and has even collaborated with them on various projects. However, this does not mean he agrees with their beliefs.
What is the rationale behind some Pentecostals believing in the Trinity?
Numerous Biblical passages support the Trinity. Many Pentecostal Christians cite these scriptures as proof of their belief in the Trinity. They use them to argue that God is indeed triune, consisting of God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. This is seen in the book of Genesis as early as during creation.
Genesis 1:2 begins by introducing the Holy Spirit. Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” In this verse, God refers to Himself in the plural “us,” implying the presence of other entities such as the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ. This is supported further by John 8:58, where Jesus states He existed before Abraham.
Pentecostals who believe in the Trinity base their beliefs entirely on biblical teachings from the Old Testament to the New Testament and depict God as a triune being. These teachings help make sense of the Bible as God’s word. The Trinity makes sense of the Old Testament and provides a framework for the New Testament.
The Trinity is the foundation of human salvation and redemption from sin. There would be no Christianity today if God did not offer Himself as Jesus on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice. The Trinity, which governs the relationship between Christians and God, holds Christianity together.
The Holy Spirit is also implied to be present with us on Earth to assist us in carrying out God’s mission and will. This then proves that the Father, Son, and Spirit, who is one God, all work together to fulfill the Father’s will. John 10:30 speaks of Jesus while He was referring to Himself as being the same as God.
What is the Trinity?
Many Christians believe that the Trinity is God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit in unity, which means that the Father is also the Son, and the Son is also the Father. The Trinity is central to Christianity because it explains God’s salvation plan from the Old to the New Testament.
God is three people but one essence. The Trinity is the foundation of Christianity and the work of salvation. The Godhead comprises God the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. It should be noted, however, that the Trinity does not imply worshiping multiple types of God; rather, it merely depicts God’s three-in-one nature.
If one does not believe in the Trinity, it implies that they do not believe in Jesus Christ, and rejecting Jesus is rejecting God himself, and one can end up in hell, where those who do not believe in Jesus will be cast away.
REFERENCES
What is the Doctrine of the Trinity?
Do oneness (united) Pentecostals believe in the Trinity? Get the facts
T.D. Jakes Embraces Doctrine of the Trinity, Moves Away from ‘Oneness’ View
Wondering if Pentecostals believe in the Trinity, learn the truth.
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
