One of the most fundamental doctrines in Christianity is the Trinity. Non-Christians may find it controversial. According to the doctrine, Christians believe that there is only one God and that Jesus Christ is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all fully God. Are Pentecostals able to believe that the Bible supports this belief?
The doctrine of the Trinity is affirmed by Orthodox Pentecostal Christianity, such as the Assemblies for God. They believe God is one and that the Father, Son (who is Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit are all God. Some organizations use the name “Pentecostal” but reject the Trinity.
What are the Pentecostals who reject the doctrines of the Trinity? What beliefs do they hold? Are Pentecostals who believe in the Trinity able to have fellowship with those that don’t? How can the largest Pentecostal church, the Assemblies of God, explain its belief in the Trinity? Continue reading to find the answers to these and other questions.
- The Trinity in Pentecostal Christianity
- Are there any Pentecostals who reject the Trinity?
- Statement of belief by the Assemblies on the Trinity from The Assemblies Of God
- Only One True God
- God is a Trinity
- The Trinity is Beautiful, Mysterious, and Mysterious
- The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one.
- The Holy Spirit, Father, and Son are unique and cooperative persons
- Conclusion
The Trinity in Pentecostal Christianity
How did Pentecostalism start? Historians attribute the origin of modern-day Pentecostalism to the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, California, in 1906.
Is Pentecostalism considered a denomination? No, Pentecostalism doesn’t exist as a denomination. However, some churches and denominations have that word in their names. On the other hand, Pentecostalism is a belief system that some denominations believe in. The Assemblies of God and the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel are two of the most prominent Pentecostal denominations around the globe.
What does an Orthodox Pentecostal believe? Orthodox Pentecostals hold the same core beliefs as other Christians, including the Trinity, original sin, and the inspiration of Scripture. They also believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
What about speaking in tongues and baptism of the Holy Spirit? Pentecostals believe this. However, most non-Pentecostal Christians believe baptism occurs at conversion.
Are Pentecostals open to miracle gifts? Many non-Pentecostal Christians believe that miraculous gifts were necessary for the establishment and growth of the church in the first century. However, Pentecostals believe in miraculous gifts, including the gift of healing.
Can orthodox Pentecostals fellowship with other Christians? Even though they may have different beliefs, orthodox Pentecostals can be united with Christians from all historical denominations, such as Methodists, Baptists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, and Episcopalians. All parties agree that primary doctrines are more important than what divides them.
Are there any Pentecostals who reject the Trinity?
Some organizations that have the name “Pentecostal” reject the doctrines of the Trinity. These groups and their members don’t believe the doctrine is in the Bible.
Are Pentecostals who reject the Trinity Christians? Some Orthodox Pentecostal churches and denominations claim that non-Trinitarian Pentecostals don’t qualify as Christians. They consider rejecting the Trinity heretical.
It doesn’t matter whether non-Trinitarians use “Pentecostal” in their language or agree with them about issues such as speaking in tongues and baptism in the Holy Spirit. The fellowship-breaking offense is rejecting God’s nature, as revealed in the Bible.
What Pentecostal churches reject the Trinity? This belief system is sometimes called “Oneness Pentecostalism“, because it believes that one being (i.e., “one”) manifested in three distinct ways. First, as the Father, then as the Son, and finally as the Holy Spirit.
These churches are sometimes called “United Pentecostals“ because it’s the name for the largest organization that shares this belief system.
| Organization | Membership |
|---|---|
| United Pentecostal Church International | 5.2 Million |
| Pentecostal Assemblies of the World | 2 Million |
| Apostolic Assembly of the Faith in Christ Jésus | 2 Million |
| Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith | 500,000 |
When was Oneness Pentecostalism founded? Most modern “Pentecostal” denominations and organizations can trace their roots back to the Asuza Street Revival in Los Angeles, California, in 1906. Although most revival participants and leaders believed in the Trinity, small groups separated from the main movement because they didn’t.
What is Modalism, and why did the early church reject it? Modalism refers to a heresy that was condemned as non-biblical. Modalism is derived from the word mode. It taught that the Father and Son were distinct modes or forms of the same person, as Oneness Pentecostalism teaches. Orthodox Christians believe that Oneness theology is revived Modalism from 2000 years ago and was rejected by the early church.
Statement of belief by the Assemblies on the Trinity from The Assemblies Of God
With more than 70,000,000 members, the Assemblies of God ranks as the largest orthodox Pentecostal congregation in the world.
The belief statement of the denomination The 16 Fundamental truths represent the convictions and beliefs of all orthodox Pentecostal Christians regardless of their church or denomination. The nature of God is one of the 16 biblical truths in the doctrinal declaration. You can find it in multiple explanation paragraphs.
Only One True God
One true God revealed Himself to be eternally self-existent, “I AM,” the creator of all things and the redeemer of humanity. He also revealed Himself as the embodiment of the principles and association of relationship and association, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28.19; 2 Corinthians 13.14; John 14.16-17).
God is a Trinity
While the terms “Trinity” and “persons” as they relate to the Godhead are not in the Scriptures, these words are in harmony with the Scripture. We can communicate to others our immediate understanding of the doctrine of Christ concerning the Being of God as distinct from “gods many, lords many.”
Therefore, we can speak with propriety about the Lord our God, one Lord, as a trinity, or as one Being of three people, and still be completely scriptural. (Matthew 28.19; 2 Corinthians 13.14; John 14.16-17).
The Trinity is Beautiful, Mysterious, and Mysterious
The distinction in the Godhead and Relationship: Christ taught a distinction between Persons in Godhead. He did this in terms of relationship as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. However, this distinction and relationship is difficult to understand and unexplainable because it is not explained. Luke 1:35, 1 Corinthians 1:24, Matthew 11:25-27, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 John 1;3-4).
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one.
Therefore, the Father is the Father, and the Son is the Son. The Son is the Son, and the Father is the Son. And the Holy Spirit is the Holy Spirit, neither the Father nor the Son.
The Father is the Begetter, while the Son is the Begotten. The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, is the one who proceeds from the Father and Son. Because these three individuals in the Godhead are united, there is only one Lord God Almighty, and His name is one. John 1:18; John 15;26; John 17;11; John 17.21; Zechariah 14.:9)
The Holy Spirit, Father, and Son are unique and cooperative persons
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not identical in Person. They are also never confused about relation. As regards relationship, the Son is with the Father while the Father is with the Son. As to fellowship, the Son is with his Father, and the Father is with him.
The Son is not from the Father; the Father is not from him. In terms of nature, relationship, cooperation, and authority, the Holy Spirit is both from the Father and the Son. Hence, neither Person in the Godhead exists or works separately or independently of the others. (John 5:17-30; John 5:32; John 5:37; John 8:17,18)
Conclusion
In conclusion, despite what some may think, Pentecostals believe in the Trinity. As evidenced by their beliefs and practices, they believe that God is three distinct persons united in one purpose. This understanding of God allows them to experience Him more personally, which is evident in their worship. While some may disagree with their beliefs, it is clear that Pentecostals have a strong foundation for their faith.