In our last post we examined one of the errors of the United Pentecostal Church — its teaching that Jesus is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We noted a few passages which show a distinction between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (1 Tim. 2:5; Eph. 4:4-6; Matt. 3:16-17). We also cited God when He said, “Let Us make man in Our image…” (Gen. 1:26). When we teach such things, members of the UPC say we are teaching polytheism. It is a false charge.
God declared, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deut. 6:4). The UPC interprets this passage as meaning there is only one being in the Godhead. However, it is stated in the context of a world filled with idolatry, to ones who had been infected with idolatry (Josh. 24:14-15). In contrast to the pagan gods, one having power over the wind, another over the sun, etc., true deity possesses all power. There is only one God-nature, not many. Just like there is only one man-nature, manhood, not many, there is only one Godhood.
The Hebrew word for God in Deuteronomy 6:4, is Elohim, which Brown, Driver, Briggs Hebrew Lexicon states is plural. This is the same word use in Genesis 1:26, when God said, “Let Us…” The UPC also tries to use John 10:30, where Jesus said, “I and My Father are one,” to prove one single being in the Godhead. If that is true, then there is only one Christian, because Jesus prayed that all believers would be one (Jn. 17:20-23). Also, Paul and Apollos were the same person (1 Cor. 3:6-8).
By preaching another Jesus, the UPC makes nonsense of the Bible. They also rob the Father and the Holy Spirit of the glory due them.
Steven F. Deaton
