Typical "Jesus Only"/Oneness statements

Here is a typical series of statements that you would generally find on
"Jesus Only"/Oneness websites.

1. Take note that if you believe in One God doesnt mean that you are Jesus ONLY believer....
2. There is only one Lord. Eph. 4:5. When Paul was struck down on the road to Damascus, he cried, "Who art thou, Lord?" And the Lord said, "I AM JESUS." Acts 9:5. Beyond a shadow of a doubt the Lord God Jehovah of the Old Testament is the Lord Jesus Christ of the New Testament!
3. Jesus confirmed that He was not a separate Person, but God manifested in the flesh. Jesus said unto Philip, ". . .He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. . .The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself; but the father that DWELLETH IN ME, He doeth the works...Believe me that I am in the Father, and the FATHER IN ME. . ." John 14:9-11. Jesus simply stated, "I and My Father are ONE (not two)." John 10:30.
4. Jesus emphasized the importance of His identity as He taught the people in the temple. He said, ". . .For if ye believe not that I AM HE, ye shall die in your sins. . .They understood not that He spake to them of the FATHER." John 8:24-27.
5. When Jesus was baptized by John in Jordan River, the voice of God spoke, "This is my beloved Son, IN WHOM I am well pleased."Matt. 3:17. Notice, God said, "IN WHOM" – not with whom! "To wit, that GOD WAS IN CHRIST, reconciling the world unto Himself. . ." II Cor. 5:19.
6. As Stephen was facing death, he saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God. Acts 7:55. The term "right hand" does not form a part of another Person or Deity. It is symbolic of the power and authority of God. Jesus said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Matt. 28:18.
7. The question may be asked, "Is Jesus in the Godhead, or is the Godhead in Jesus?" If the Godhead is in Jesus, there can only be one Person. The Bible clearly states, "For IN HIM (Christ) DWELLETH all the FULLNESS OF THE GODHEAD BODILY. And ye are COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the HEAD OF ALL PRINCIPALITY AND POWER." Col. 2:9, 10. So there is only ONE PERSON in which the Godhead is manifested, because the GODHEAD IS IN JESUS!
8. In Jesus Christ, two wills or natures are portrayed: a human will and a Divine will. He was man (flesh) and He was God (Spirit). As man He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, "O my Father.. not as I WILL, but as THOU WILT." Matt. 26:39. Also He cried out on the cross, "My God, my God. Why host thou forsaken me?" Matt. 27:46. Certainly these Scriptures do not imply that Jesus Christ is a separate Person or Deity with the Father. Far Deity does not pray to Deity! Futhermore, Deity cannot die! So as man, Jesus Christ prayed in His human nature to His Divine nature. Because, in His human nature, the flesh did not want to die, but He knew the will of the Spirit must be done. Also at Calvary He cried out in His human nature to His Divine nature; and when the Spirit left the body, He fulfilled His human role of death. As man, He was hungry, He slept, He became weary, He wept, He increased in wisdom and stature, He prayed, and He died. (See Matt. 4:2, Matt. 8:24, John 4:6, John 11,35, Luke 2:52, Matt. 26:39, Matt. 27:50.) As God, He healed the sick, He cast out devils, He raised the dead, He calmed the sea. He forgave sins, He answered prayer, and He arose from the grave. (See Matt. 4,23, Luke 8:35, John 11:43,44, Mark 4:39, Mark 2:5, John 14:14, John 2:19-21.)
   

Now what follows is my response to the above:

No. 1

Let's discuss true "One GOD Doctrine" ...

There is indeed solely ONE GOD.
But He isn't Jesus.
Jesus is the Son of GOD.
[Matt 16.16, John 20.31]

Rather, Jesus identified the Father
as the only true GOD.
[John 17.3]
So the truth of the matter is that there is solely ONE GOD, the Father.
Jesus the Messiah is the human Son of the ONE GOD;
Jesus is the one man whom the ONE GOD made both Lord and Christ.
[Acts 2.34-36]

(1 Cor 8:4) ... that there is none other God but one.
(1 Cor 8:6) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him;
and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

(1 Tim 2:5) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus;

That is "true" ONE GOD Doctrine!


No. 2: Eph 4.5, Acts 9.5; Beyond a shadow of a doubt the Lord God Jehovah of the Old Testament is the Lord Jesus Christ of the New Testament!


ME: There is indeed solely ONE GOD, the Father. [1 Cor 8.4,6]
The "mix-up" is confusion over the word "Lord".
The word "Lord" in the Bible is used for GOD, Christ, angels and men.
One must first know the context to determine in what sense the word "Lord" is being used.
For example, the Father is the LORD GOD;
whilst His Son is the Lord Messiah
[Col 3.24, Luke 2.11]
That is, Jesus Christ is "Lord" in fulfillment of Psalm 110.1
(Psa 110:1) The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Note in our English Bibles, the word "lord" appears twice in that verse.
However, the Hebrew words have totally two different meanings.
The first word 'LORD' is in Hebrew, GOD's name, YAHWEH
(I prefer to use the name YAHWEH; as oppose to Jehovah; it is truer to the Hebrew)
This is GOD's name forever [Exo 3.15]; it has never changed.
Therefore, wherever you see the word (the) "LORD" in capitals in the OT; it is GOD's name in the Hebrew. For example, (Exo 3:15) ... YAHWEH God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

Now the 2nd word, 'Lord' in Psa 110.1, is the Hebrew word adoni which is never ever used in reference to GOD Almighty; it is used in ref. to men and occasionally angels.
(We know from the first 3 chapters of the Book of Hebrews, that Jesus is not an angelic being)

So, what is Psalm 110:1 about?
One day, GOD was going to invite a special man, a man who is David's lord, David's adoni, to sit at His own right hand; a place of supreme authority.
This was fulfilled when GOD Almighty raised Jesus from the dead; glorified him and exalted him to His right hand; as stated by Peter:
(Acts 2:34-36) For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself,
The Lord [YAHWEH] said unto my Lord [adoni],
Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly,
that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified,
both Lord and Christ.

Therefore, Jesus the Messiah, is the 2nd 'lord' of Psalm 110.1; he is not the LORD GOD.
Only YAHWEH is the LORD GOD.
Rather, Jesus is the 'lord' who is now at
YAHWEH's (the LORD GOD's) right hand.
Jesus is the Lord Messiah, the one and only man whom the ONE GOD has made 'Lord'
Hence, there is "one Lord"
[Eph 4.5, 1 Cor 8.6]
Jesus is the Lord Messiah, the one man whom the LORD GOD has made 'Lord of all' [Acts 10.36] second only to GOD Himself.
For more info, on the different uses of the word "lord" in the Bible please see:
LORD, Lord, lord

So context determines how the word 'lord' is used.


Concerning Acts 9.5
Now let's imagine a Mr. John Doe.
Someone such as a friend of Mr. Doe for example, would know, who Doe was! They would know him!
They wouldn't therefore ask "who are you, John Doe?"
Rather, someone who does not know John Doe, may ask "who are you, Sir?"
And so it is in Acts 9.5.

Saul/Paul was a Pharisee, touching the law blameless; [Phil 3.5-6]
He knew full well who his GOD was! He knew full well who the GOD of his fathers was!
Namely, YAHWEH the ONE GOD!

So this would be a stupid question for Saul to ask:
Who art thou, YAHWEH/Jehovah?
Saul knows his GOD and especially the name of his GOD.

Rather, in Bible times; when one would "hear a heavenly voice"; it is always assumed that an angel is speaking on behalf of GOD.
[e.g. John 12.28-29]
The word 'Lord' (Greek kurios) is equivalent to the word "Sir"; not only is this Greek word used for the name of GOD in the NT; it is also used to address angels, dignitaries, masters, and of course, the Messiah.

So because Saul did not know who was speaking to him, he asked,
Who art thou, Lord/Sir? i.e. Who art thou, kurios? ...
Seeing that he is addressing an heavenly voice.
(Like I said, it was the custom to address "an angel" as 'lord')

Then the speaker identifies himself as Jesus!

Saul thereafter addresses Jesus as Lord/kurios; this is how anyone in that era would address the Messiah
(in light of Psalms 110.1)

In Acts 9, therefore, Saul most definitely was not calling Jesus, YAHWEH/Jehovah! No!
He was calling him 'Lord'
(Compare the Gospels' usage when people who didn't even know that Jesus was the Messiah would call him 'kurios'
i.e. Sir/Lord; seeing that it is a 'term of respect'
e.g. John 4.11,15,19; 5.7; 20.15, etc)

After realizing that Jesus is the Lord Messiah, look at Saul's response:
(Acts 9:20-22) And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? 22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

Saul went about preaching that Jesus was truly
the Christ, the Son of GOD;
Not a word about him being YAHWEH/Jehovah!!!

So, the LORD GOD of the OT is the same LORD GOD of the NT.
In this regard, NOTHING has changed!

What has changed, however, is that the Messiah has been revealed!
Namely, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of GOD. YAHWEH has made him the "One Lord" of the NT; that is, the Lord Messiah in fulfillment of Psalm 110.1.
The man Messiah Jesus our Lord, is now a glorified man at the ONE GOD's right hand.

So, ONE GOD, the Father;
ONE Lord, the man Jesus Christ.

No. 3: Jesus confirmed that He was not a separate Person, but God manifested in the flesh. Jesus said unto Philip, ". . .He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. . .The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself; but the father that DWELLETH IN ME, He doeth the works...Believe me that I am in the Father, and the FATHER IN ME. . ." John 14:9-11. Jesus simply stated, "I and My Father are ONE (not two)." John 10:30.


ME:
Jesus is indeed a separate person; as separate as any son would be from his father.
Jesus is truly GOD's son [Matt 16.16]
And yes, the ONE GOD dwells in him.
Jesus did not say to Philip, "I am the Father and the Father is me";
Rather he said: "Believe me that I am in the Father, and the FATHER IN ME."

Father and Son makes TWO! We know this!
For example:
(John 8:16-18) And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. 17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

So, of course, Jesus the Son is separate from his own Father.
However, only ONE of them is Almighty GOD.
Let Jesus tell us who?
(John 17:1) These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, ...
(John 17:3) And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

So, Father and Son makes TWO!
However, ONE is GOD, the other is NOT!

Now, because Jesus is the image of the invisible GOD [Col 1.15]; and Jesus so totally represents his Father; then to see Jesus in action, was to see the invisible Father in action, performing mighty miracles through him [Acts 2.22];
thus, to see Jesus, was to "see" the Father. [John 14.9]
Not because Jesus is the Father; but rather, because he totally represented the invisible Father.

In John 10.30, Jesus is stating that he and his Father are "one" in purpose, in unity.
In fact, Jesus went on to pray that we be "one" even as he and the Father are one.
[John 17.11,21-23]


No. 4: Jesus emphasized the importance of His identity as He taught the people in the temple. He said, ". . .For if ye believe not that I AM HE, ye shall die in your sins. . .They understood not that He spake to them of the FATHER."
John 8:24-27.


ME: Let's look again at that passage, John 8.24-27.
If as Oneness imply, Jesus was stating that he was Almighty GOD in verse 24; the people would not then ask Who art thou?
i.e. Who are you? Would they?
According to Oneness, he just told them in verse 24!!!

No, Jesus was not identifying himself as the Father in verse 24.
And for one to realize that, one needs to ask this:
Seeing that verse 25 says (John 8:25) Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.

Ask yourself:
From the very beginning of his ministry ...
right up to this point in John 8:24-25.
Who did Jesus claim to be?
That is, From the very lips of Jesus who did Jesus of Nazareth claim to be, from the beginning?
Did he claim to be Almighty GOD? Or did he claim to be the Messiah, GOD's Son?

Truly, there is only one answer. He claimed to be the Messiah, the Son of GOD.
Therefore if one does not believe that Jesus is the Messiah, one will die in their sins.

(BTW, v27 He spake to them of the FATHER is in ref. to verse 26: ... but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
Verse 27 therefore, is not in reference to verses 24-25!)


No. 5: Matt 3.17, 2 Cor 5.19


ME: Yep! The ONE GOD was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.


No. 6: As Stephen was facing death, he saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God. Acts 7:55. The term "right hand" does not form a part of another Person or Deity. It is symbolic of the power and authority of God.


ME: NO & YES!
No man has seen GOD at any time.
[John 1.18, 1 John 4.12]
Stephen truly saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.
Remember, the saints now knew who Jesus was and that Psalm 110.1 had been fulfilled.
They knew in light of Acts 2.34-38 that Jesus is GOD's right hand "man"
So, that is exactly what Stephen saw.
This does not make TWO Gods or TWO deities.
NO!
There is ONE GOD in Heaven; the man Christ Jesus is at His right hand.
ONE GOD, ONE man.

So yes, "right hand" is indeed symbolic of power and authority.
The man Christ Jesus has been given that power and authority; hence he is the Lord Jesus Christ who is now in Heaven, at the ONE GOD's right hand.
So, Stephen saw the glory of GOD and the Lord Jesus standing in the position of all power/authority in the presence of the ONE GOD.


No. 7: The question may be asked, "Is Jesus in the Godhead, or is the Godhead in Jesus?"


ME: "Godhead" is the old English word for "Godhood" i.e. what makes GOD, "GOD"
The fulness of the Godhead dwells in Christ
[Col 2.9]
That doesn't make Christ GOD. Rather it makes Christ, GOD's ultimate vessel, His ultimate dwelling-place, because
(Col 1:19) For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
So, the ONE GOD dwells in the man Christ Jesus.

No. 8: In Jesus Christ, two wills or natures are portrayed: a human will and a Divine will. He was man (flesh) and He was God (Spirit). As man He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, "O my Father.. not as I WILL, but as THOU WILT." Matt. 26:39. Also He cried out on the cross, "My God, my God. Why host thou forsaken me?" Matt. 27:46. Certainly these Scriptures do not imply that Jesus Christ is a separate Person or Deity with the Father. Far Deity does not pray to Deity! Furthermore, Deity cannot die!


ME: The two wills portrayed are rather Jesus' own will and the will of the Father his GOD.
Just like you and I, we have our own will; and yet we must follow our Master's example; and submit our own will to the will of the Father, the ONE GOD.
We don't have two natures and neither did Jesus!

Matt 26.39,27.46; of course most definitely implies that Jesus Christ is a separate person from his Father.
I know why Oneness believers struggle with this, with the plain meaning of these verses.
It is because of the way that they are taught to interpret verses such as the above

However, once you come to the realization that the Bible literally means what it says; and above all, Jesus means what he says;
you will realize, that Jesus solely called the Father "GOD"; and Jesus never ever said that he was GOD!! He claimed, rather, to be the Messiah, the Son of GOD.

Then, you will realize, why the Bible speaks the way that it does: because it is the word of truth.
The Father is the ONE GOD.
Jesus of Nazareth is His human son, a man approved of the ONE GOD. [Acts 2.22]
Therefore, the NT portrays:

GOD & His Son;
The ONE GOD & a man.
Jesus, a man totally dependent upon his GOD;
Jesus, a man who prayed always to his GOD;
Jesus, a man who died for the will of his Father and GOD.

"As man" ...
That all that Jesus ever was and is.
He is the man Christ Jesus.

(1 Tim 2:5) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus;

So yes, being a man, Jesus indeed was hungry, slept, became weary, wept, increased in wisdom and stature, prayed, and above all, died for our sins.
This is something GOD could never do. GOD alone has immortality. Which means GOD cannot die!
[1 Tim 6.16]
Rather, Jesus Christ, the ONE GOD's Son, died for our sins;
the ONE GOD raised him from the dead, glorified him, made him Lord and set him at His right hand.


See:
(John 14:10) Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
Also,
(Acts 2:22) Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by/through him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
(Acts 10:38) How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Jesus stated that: (John 5:19) ...Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, ...
[See also John 5.30, 8.28]
Therefore, Jesus performed no miracle of himself. He cannot do anything of himself.
Rather it was the Father, his GOD, who performed the works through him.

It was GOD the Father who healed the sick, cast out devils, raised the dead, calmed the sea, and forgave sins. GOD did all these things through Christ His Son.
Compare:
(Mat 9:6-8) But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power/authority on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. 7 And he arose, and departed to his house. 8 But when the multitude saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power UNTO MEN.
(Luke 7:14-16) And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

You see? The people realized that Jesus of Nazareth was a mighty man through whom their GOD was doing many wondrous things.


CONCLUSION

Oneness believers have rightly been taught that there is solely ONE GOD. AMEN! AMEN!!

Sadly, Oneness believers have also been taught that Jesus is GOD therefore seeing there is only ONE GOD, the Father; then Jesus must be the Father.

However, our gracious GOD can deliver one out of the "Jesus only" error.

Once one realizes that there is indeed ONE GOD, the Father; and Jesus is not Almighty GOD; then one will see:
there is no problem, no confusion; no need to speak of "two natures", God-man, "Jesus only" or anything like that.

Rather, ONE GOD & ONE man, GOD's Son.

ONE Person who is Almighty GOD.
And ONE Person who is NOT!!

There is the Father and the Son.
ONE is Almighty GOD,
the other is NOT!
It is that simple.

That is why Jesus said things such as:
(John 20:17) Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them,
I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Jesus really meant it. He never ever thought of himself as GOD and neither did his disciples.
That is why John concluded: (John 20:31) But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Jesus is the Son of GOD who is now in the very presence of GOD Himself.

(Heb 4:14) Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
(Heb 9:24) For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

(1 Th 1:9-10) For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Even now, as a glorified human being in heaven; Jesus clearly recognizes his GOD e.g.
(Rev 3:12) Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.


Reader, please be Berean.
And look over all the things that I have stated.
Any questions, feel free to email me, I will do my best to answer.
(My email address is on my profile)