Salvation has been a topic for eons – both in the Christian religion and other spirituality based religions. Societies and people across the pages of history have asked the question, and attempted to answer, the age-old question, “What is there after death? Is there an afterlife? If so, how do I enter it?”
For modern Oneness Pentecostals, they believe they have revealed, re-discovered, dug up and reformed the ancient ‘truth’ of Scripture, how one makes it to heaven, pleases God, obeys the Scripture, is justified, and finds true holiness, something that was supposedly closed off from mankind for centuries due to paganism, false doctrine and the likes of the Roman Catholic church.
Recently, a young man and his wife contacted me on the YouTube channel asking what my thoughts were on the Acts 2:38 message taught by Oneness Pentecostals, known as their salvation doctrine (soteriology). They wanted to leave the United Pentecostal Church for all the legalism and dogma (false doctrine) but were confused about attending other churches that didn’t teach Acts 2:38.
If you are not familiar with the evolved doctrines of the Oneness Pentecostal church (Evolved because it has changed many times since 1901ad at its inception) on Soteriology, Acts 2:38, in a nutshell, means that you deny the Trinity, that you are baptized in Jesus Name only, not in the titles Father, Son and Holy Ghost (this is a forced effort in denying the Trinity), that you repent by adopting their holiness standards (woman never wear pants, cut their hair, etc), and that you speak in tongues (initial evidence) as the gift of the Holy Ghost.
While this doctrine can be explained in multiple ways, both favorably and unfavorably, I have determined it to be incorrectly dividing the Word and placing upon people a yoke that Scripture did not demand and more importantly, the divergent doctrinal error cascades to many more doctrinal errors.
Also, important to note that I am purposed to equip the children of God to spot doctrinal errors. I’m not bitter, or vengeful, nor attacking any one ‘faith’. I’m not attacking anything, I’m focused on correctly dividing God’s Word.
There are many doctrines of Scripture that can be debated, questioned, given the ‘we will never understand that’ brush off, but Salvation is a critical aspect of Christianity and getting this right is paramount to our experiences with God.
First and foremost, Scripture makes it abundantly clear that our justification is by the obedience of one man (Romans 5:19), not of our own, and that it is faith in Christ alone that produces the grace that saves us (Ephesians 2:8). There is more to the Christian life, but the root of ‘how do I get saved’ is found in fully trusting in the finished works of Christ on the Cross. Grace is a gift, not a paycheck.
By way of example of the error of Oneness theology, let us examine vs 37 of the Acts 2:38 narrative to see if it lines up with the entire picture of Biblical salvation.
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
I want to compare this to Acts 16:30 which says, “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
In the case of Acts 2:37 you have a band of Jews that just witnessed a miraculous event and then heard the preaching of Peter that condemned them for taking part in rejecting the Messiah. After being convicted that they had done something wrong, they asked, paraphrased, What are we going to do about this??
Here, Peter answers with the hallmark platform of the Oneness Pentecostal Church;
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. ” ~ Acts 2:38, KJV
In the case of the Philippian jailer of Acts 16, who just witnessed an equally miraculous event, the question was specifically asked, “What must I do to be saved?”, which was not the case in Acts 2:37. We can make logical leaps, but I’m of the opinion we must take Scripture at face value.
Now – it is evident that Peter gave a pretty salvific response to the Jews, dwelling in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, speaking on forgiveness of sins, receiving the gift of the Spirit, being baptized, etc. Yet, something has to be wrong with the Apostle Paul in Acts 16 if that was the message for the Gentile Church because he did not repeat the same answer to the Gentiles. Or, something is wrong with the Oneness Pentecostal interpretation.
In fact, Paul outlined a very different salvation message to the Gentile believer, the Philippian jailer, and he repeated this same message dozens of times in all of his writings: “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:31)
Now, I want to use an argument that the Oneness Pentecostals use all the time in this vein of thought, who will often counter the argument opposing Acts 2:38 (Salvation) with this question, “IF Peter was preaching false doctrine in Acts 2 the other 11 Apostles would have called him out because Scripture says, ‘And Peter, standing with the eleven’ (Acts 2:13).”
Likewise, in Acts 16:31, Scripture said that Paul and Silas both answered the jailer on how to be saved, “And they said…” They were in agreement – and that wasn’t to repeat Acts 2:38. Acts 15 shows Paul and Barnabas and the entire elder council of the Christian Church speaking of what it takes for a Gentile to be saved. False doctrine (and legalism) was being rooted out of the Christian Church from the very beginning.
The Day of Pentecost, Signs, and Wonders
The real reason I’m writing this is is an examination of the upper room experience in Acts 2, to highlight the eisegetical error of this theology. As miraculous as this event was, Scripture does not portray it to be a repeatable event, and this highlights the error of the Acts 2:38 salvation doctrine of the Oneness Pentecostal church.
When Acts 2:38 says, ‘and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost‘, this has been interpreted (eisegetically) by Oneness Pentecostal theologians as speaking in tongues, or as they call it, the initial evidence of speaking in tongues. This is a belief that when one receives the Spirit of Christ, i.e. the gift of the Holy Ghost, they will, as seen in the upper room, speak in other tongues as the Spirit gives them utterance.
Indeed, they have made the claim that if one does not speak in tongues, they have not received Christ, they are not saved, and heaven will not be their home until they do. Their soteriology is wrapped up in the signs and wonders gift of speaking in another language.
But – is this what that Scripture really means? Two examinations of both events prove this to be patently false. If Paul told the jailer to speak in tongues in order to be saved, we could take that message and run with it. If the elder council of Acts 15 said to speak in tongues, we could run with it. If Paul taught the Church of Ephesus “For you are saved, by grace, (which is received when you speak in tongues)…” we could take that message and run with it.
But that is not what Scripture declares.
First and foremost, we see this evidenced immediately following Peter’s preaching. Don’t forget, Peter did NOT say that the gift of the Holy Ghost was ‘speaking in tongues’. This is an amalgamation of examples where people did speak in tongues on several occasions in the book of Acts (Cornelius Acts 10) so thus, every one will/must. Is this true?
Act 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Act 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
It is commonly accepted by theologians and scholars that vs 41 indicates 3,000 people became new converts, Christians in the aftermath of Peter’s message. If 120 were in the upper room speaking in tongues, with cloven tongues of fire sitting upon them, with reverberating rushing mighty winds seen and heard by all – imagine the attraction that 3,000 people repeating that event would create?
And yet – Scripture simply says they were baptized and added to the church. This is miraculous! Imagine today a town of 100,000 having THOUSANDS converted to the faith in one evening? Miraculous.
But, did they speak in tongues?
The Signs of the Upper Room Experience
If the Acts 2 experience at Pentecost was a repeatable event, to the degree that it was tied to an individual believers salvation experience, then we would be wise to follow it exactly as exampled in Scripture. Let’s take Scripture at face value.
Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Act 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Act 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
The three signs of the Pentecostal experience are these:
- The Spirit was preceded by the rushing mighty wind. The Greek word here for ‘sound’ is ēchos and it means literally ‘a loud or confused noise, that is, a roar‘. If you have ever stood on the ridge of the Grand Canyon you have heard a rushing mighty wind. The upper room would have been similar.
- The Spirit was preceded by cloven tongues like as of fire. This was something that appeared to all of them, not an apparition only visible to a single person. These have been described by scholars as scintillations, lambent flashes of fire that appeared throughout the room, splitting licks of fire that sat upon each person.
- The tongues that were spoken by each recipient was an immediately translated known language. There was and must be someone in the audience that recognized the language being spoken. This was not a private ‘prayer language’ as some Charismatics call what is now known as babbling, nor a language of angels.
Equipped with this view of the miraculous event of the day of Pentecost, we must then approach the modern day sign of ‘tongues’, through the lens of the Oneness Pentecostal movement that calls it the ‘initial evidence‘, and ask the question, “Does it actually match the biblical model they claim to be following?”
Looking at this scripture and theology of the Oneness Pentecostal religion under the microscope of Scripture we find a virus or an infection in the teaching. To claim that the ‘gift of the Holy Ghost’ is a repetition of the Acts 2 upper room experience doesn’t line up with the Word.
Having been in this religion for 15 years and being connected with hundreds and thousands of Oneness Pentecostals, I can tell you that no one, ever, received the ‘gift’ evidenced in the fashion of the upper room experience. It has never been preceded with a rushing mighty wind, never was it accompanied with cloven tongues visible to all around, and most importantly, NEVER was it a known language that was immediately recognized by someone surround the event.
The only argument to support the Oneness theology on this topic is to say, ‘it’s changed’. To express that it changed is to then dismantle the entire theology. To claim that it did not change is to then admit that they, and no one else is repeating the biblical event as exampled in Acts 2, and thus, have made up their own experience or are disobeying Scripture.
Conclusion
The conclusion is that the ‘gift of the Spirit’ is not the supposed initial evidence of speaking in tongues. In fact, Scripture makes it clear that the gift of the Spirit is the eternal promise (Ephesians 1:13) seal we receive upon believing in Christ. That the fruit of the spirit is the evidence of that gift, and finally, that the promise and hope of glory (Colossians 1:27) is the result of that gift.
Scripture also tells us that the ‘gift’ of God is free, and it is salvation. (Ephesians 2:8) Ephesians 4:7 tells us that each of us is given a measure of grace according to the gift of Christ. James 1:7 tells us that the gift is given by God and comes down from Him, who never changes.
We didn’t beg for this gift, we didn’t have to exert and stress and beg and scream and cry for it, we received it by faith! Freely we have been given this grace. In fact, 1 Peter 4:10 tells us that every man who has this gift is responsible for sharing and ministering the grace and freeness of God’s love to one another – being stewards of this gift.
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. ~ 1 Peter 4:10
Scripture never indicates that the gift is the event or outcome of speaking in tongues. This outlines both the falsity of the Oneness Pentecostal theology surrounding the Acts 2:38 narrative, but more important than any of that, illuminates the wonderful miracle of grace – that it was given to us freely, because of the obedience and love of Jesus Christ and that the real gift of the Holy Ghost is His presence with us, working for us and granting us the fruit of His Spirit, which is Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, and Self-Control – against such God has no law!
Blessings
I am a Oneness Pentecostal. You have come to late in telling me I have gotten Acts 2:38 wrong. I have no debate with you except someone is unlearned of scripture because they lack the Spirit of truth.
Mr. Conner, do you believe the book of Acts is an account of sheer perfection being executed by the early church?
I ask because, as a former Pentecostal of MANY years & having worn every hat but head of the church, that is what we were taught Acts was and, in turn, taught the same to all in our studies/sermons.
Then please explain to me why some genuine, honest hearted people are not able to speak in tongues? Is it because they’re not doing something right? If so, since when do you have to do something in order to get a free gift that Jesus wanted believers to have? He wanted it so badly that He suffered and died for it. If that’s the case, ( I’m doing something wrong therefore I’m not speaking in tongues) then it’s not a gift at all! The words evidence, nor initial is not in the New Testament but most Pentecostals think it’s scripture. No argument here, I’m just genuinely wanting to know!
The spirit of truth is within, throughout, and all over this post. Thank you so much for “rightly dividing.” Blessings!
I think ALL religion is missing it. If the substance of this temporal life is about relationship, one individual to another, how much more must life ETERNAL be about getting to know the one we will spend eternity with? In other words, if we treated each other the way we treat Him (as a doctrine, theology, series of intellectual concepts, etc.), that would amount to something you might refer to as a “dysfunctional relationship”.
That said, needless to say, I am not under any denomination or concept of man. I believe the Bible provides significant evidence, when translated by the Spirit of Christ, that He in fact restored each of us (who trust Him) to the relationship HE lost in the garden. He wants to walk with each & every one of us like He did with Adam. One Creator, with each of His creations. One daddy Father, with each of His kids. That’s all.
Just a thought, hopefully it did not offend. God continue to bless us as we seek Him in Jesus Christ our Lord
I like this: “In other words, if we treated each other the way we treat Him (as a doctrine, theology, series of intellectual concepts, etc.), that would amount to something you might refer to as a “dysfunctional relationship”.” That would make for a good article.
I’d like to take a shot at that. : )
Go for it. I sometimes post a guest blog. Just be sure to tie it in with spiritual abuse because that is the focus of this blog section of the website. Whenever you are ready, just email it to me. You can find the email on the contact page for the site.
That would be great! I will be in touch soon..
Great article. The remarks made were definitely things that bothered me throughout my time as a oneness doctrine believer. It is painful to see so many (including friends and family) that are so instilled by man-made religion and can’t back away from it to truly read the Word as it is written. Thank you for the blog and God bless you.
I strongly disagree with this article, I firmly believe in the Acts 2:38 message.
Studying the word of God will in fact prove that all scriptures work in perfect Unison together.
I could write just as compelling article, showing the errors of this one but rather I recommend you pray and study the word of God for yourself and let God lead you in all truth!
Even if you did I wouldn’t take you seriously
This is one of the best messages I’ve read.
I was a oneness Pentecostal too and because I heard that message my response was “Why did Jesus die on the Cross?”
How can so many be deceived? Millions
Scripturally, this writing is way off, I hope no one takes it seriously The Apostles would disagree with it and Paul would say, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!” Gal 1:8
note: I’m not UPCI and I’m sorry you ran into some religious bigots (it sucks and is traumatizing). The truth is still the truth and there are tons of Spirit filled churches/movements that are committed to the Apostles faith and teachings of Jesus and not traditions of men, don’t give up.
According to your logic…
How are we assured that we’ve been born again (water & Spirit baptism)?
What does being filled with the Holy Ghost look like without the evidence of tongues (with stammering lips and another tongue will I speak to this people)?
How did Peter and the early church Apostles get it so wrong, especially since all of the letters to the churches urge members to hold on to this faith? Why are you doing the opposite?
Concise Rebuttal
Acts 2:38 is where Peter (who has the keys to the kingdom) explains being born of water and the Spirit succinctly to a Jewish audience so they can participate in the New Covenant adoption. We see the Spirit poured out initially on 120+ Jesus followers and then 3000 witnesses of the outpouring. Peter explains this what the prophet Joel spoke of, “In the last days I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.” The entire OT is leading up to the day of Pentecost for the Jewish people and rest of the world. Peter was astonished that Gentiles received the promise when he heard them speak in tongues. Paul laid hands on the disciples of John the Baptist and they were filled with the Spirit and he heard them speak in tongues and then baptized them in the name of Jesus.
No matter what you’re experience in a denomination, God is looking for people who will obey His teachings and we will all stand individually before Christ. These arguments against Acts 2:38 demonstrate a holistic ignorance of how the OT is fulfilled in Jesus and the NT death, burial and resurrection is performed in repentance, baptism in Jesus, and baptism of the Spirit evidenced speaking another language. How can we be imitators of Christ without? Just doesn’t make sense. Also your definition of a believer seems purposefully ignorant, a believer is someone who followed “the Way” also know as the Apostle’s faith of which Acts 2:38 is the beginning.
My friends and I formed our own Spirit filled church according to Acts 2:38 and the gifts operate, we perform good works, and strive to be a light in our community.
ACTS2;38 states that you are to be baptised ”in Jesus name for the remission of sin”[i.e.to be born of water}, and you shall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost {i.e.born of spirit}…or you cannot see or enter into the kingdom of God.[JOHN 3;3-10] notwithstanding the unscriptural opinions of some individuals and isolated church groups.
On the day of Pentecost and right through the book of Acts, tongues was the evidence of the Holy spirits infilling. Tongues is not within itself the spirit infilling, it is simply the initial evidence for the spirits further work of holiness.{which you cannot achieve without the infilling of the Holy Spirit}, power to pray in the spirit, righteousness, purity, endurance, power to live above sin.etc etc……….
.Referring to Matt 28;19 we are asked to baptise ”IN THE NAME” of the father, son, and Holy Ghost {please note that in Matt.28;19 the name for these 3 tittles is in the ”singular”}……
Note Matt 28;18….JESUS SPEAKING…”All POWER IS GIVEN UNTO ME IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH…………If 1st TIM 3;16 says –”GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH” and ISA.9;6 says– the son that would be born unto a virgin — that the government shall be upon his shoulders, and his name would be called ..the mighty God, the everlasting father, the prince of peace, wonderful councillor….surely the name we should use in baptism FOR FATHER, SON, AND Holy Ghost in MAT.28;19
is JESUS no different to ACTS 2;38……..Maybe those people who are finding it difficult to receive the infilling of the Holy Ghost is that they have not been initially baptised in JESUS NAME FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS {therefore claiming his blood}…and secondly you are advised to find and belong to a oneness, holiness movement and to feel the power of the Holy Spirit on a regular basis.
I am going to briefly address one part of your commentary: “On the day of Pentecost and right through the book of Acts, tongues was the evidence of the Holy spirits infilling.” This is incorrect as there are only three places in Acts where speaking in tongues was mentioned. It involved a small number of believers. Unfortunately, many who have been taught this doctrine, they have learned to read speaking in tongues into other passages.
Acts 2 involves around 120 people, Acts 19 there are only about 12 men, and Acts 10 all the people were able to fit inside the house, so we are not speaking of hundreds of people. In all three instances, no one was expecting to speak in tongues, no one was seeking it, nor were they taught to expect it. In any other passages, tongues are read into them by those who believe the teaching. Note that these did not happen one right after the other. In addition, note that with Acts 10, Peter mentioned it happening as it did in the beginning- not each and every time. Jewish believers were skeptical and not at all inclined to be with Gentiles, so this event helped them to see that God also accepted the Gentiles.
As to people who haven’t spoken in tongues, your examples are off base as many of us watched- in our Apostolic churches- weeks, months and even years go by where someone who was baptized did not speak in tongues.
Is this a heaven or hell situation ? Say if someone is wrong which I believe the one-ness pentecostals are wrong . Would this cause them to not enter into heaven?
No, I don’t believe it is a matter of salvation. But parties on both sides would disagree with me. If one has to fully understand God in order to be saved, then no one will make it.
I do have to agree with you with the false teachings of the oneness pentecostal, as well as the non pentecostals who also reject the Trinity. But I do not agree with you about the baptism of the Holy Spirit is not for the believer today. It does not say anywhere in scripture that the baptism of the Holy Spirit was only for one time only on the Day of Pentecost. However you do not have to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and or speak in tongues to be saved because in John Yeshua breath on the Disciples as the recieved the Holy Spirit. Not the baptism, but they received Him and every believer doing conversion and being born again he/she receives the Holy Spirit. He enters the heart of the believer, but that is different from being baptized according to Acts. John the Baptist even preached about he baptize with water baptism, but Yeshua shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit. The baptism is not a must in order to be saved, but according to Acts the baptism empowers the believer to be a witness of Christ. I believe not every one speaks in tongues, but when I was baptized as the Holy Spirit come upon me I did speak in tongues. I know for a fact and according to scripture I had received the baptism. It was so miraculous and all I remember was the deep love that I experienced with Christ Yeshua at that moment. It was so much Joy that come over me and it did line up with scripture according to the Book of Acts. I am no pentecostal and I don’t even consider myself charismatic. Now if I’m not baptized with the Holy Spirit since you claim that the baptism was only for the one time event in Acts on The Day of Pentecost. My question is what in the heck was I baptized with and you got so many people claiming that it’s the Kundalini which would be blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Now there are deceiving spirits like the Kundalini, but not all cases and just like saying the baptism of the Holy Spirit is not for today is dangerous. I just need a scripture to back this claim up and if you find it can you please send it to me. Besides did Apostle Paul who was not converted doing the time of the Day of Pentecost; did he teach on the baptism as well as The Gifts of the Holy Spirit? If I’m correct he did mention that he speaks in tongues more than the others. Apostle Paul said only when he is among others he rather speak in a known language to edify the church. He then states he speaks in tongues more than them and that sounds like he speaks in tongues according to scripture when he is praying alone. There is another scripture in Romans that states that the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us with groanings that can’t be uttered I believe Romans 8:26. With that said no a believer do not have to be baptized with The Holy Spirit to be saved and the evidence of speaking in tongues, but one right today can be baptized as the Holy Spirit comes upon them to be empowered to be a witness.
I appreciate this link/blog I came across. Thank you for the scripture given so that we can do our own research and understand more and cross reference when seeking the truth.
I have a few Pentecostal friends. I wanted to understand why they believe what they do, as is it different from what I believe as a Christian (non-denominational).
This put things into perspective for me. I didn’t want to debate with them or offend.
Do we follow what Jesus says or do we follow a student of the teacher and base it mostly on 1 chapter? I choose to continue to follow what Jesus says. I will pray for my Pentecostal friends so that the truth may be revelad to them.. brakes my heart .. blessing to all.