Jesus and God: Are They One and the Same Person?

A Lie Is Still A Lie No Matter Which Half Of The Lie Is True!

Most of our Apostolic/Pentecostal groups (often called “Oneness” or “Jesus Only”) in describing who Jesus is, in relation to God, are probably best known for using the phrase Jesus and God are “One and the same.” We proclaim Jesus and God are “the same” person (Jesus is God and God is Jesus) and although the Bible does not explicitly make these statements verbatim, our justification is based on scriptures we say “implies” this understanding to be correct.

Well, this is a topic that has caused a lot of confusion and arguments, primarily because there are scriptures that are often taken out of context or those which reference attributes that were given to Jesus from God or of the authority given to Jesus in which he spoke for God. There is a big difference between being One with God and being God. So to resolve this argument, the first thing we have to do is first identify and define all of the potential variables involved that we have come to rely on as the basis for our conclusion. Let’s start with this terminology that has come to be coined “ONENESS.”

What Is “Oneness?”.

The Oneness of God refers to the “singleness” of God; that there is only one God and that there was no God before him or after him (Isaiah 43:10)

By definition: One is singular; (as in a single person, thing, unit, kind, group, or category)

By definition: Oneness refers to “singleness” (Encarta Dictionary)

The Bible contains many verses that specifically state there is only one God and that there is no other. (Deuteronomy 4:35, 4:39, 6:4; Isaiah 43:10, 44:6, 45:5-6, 18, 22; Ephesians 4:6)

Other verses confirm the existence of One God however they also indicate that there was a man (named Jesus) who being the chosen Lamb of God died on the cross for the atonement of sin (John 1:29; Romans 5:8 – 11). This man God resurrected from the dead (Acts 2:32, 4:10, 10:40, 13:30, 13:37) ascended up to Heaven and is now in heaven with GOD and holds a completely different status than God (Hebrews 4:14, 7:25, 9:24; Romans 8:34).

(1 Timothy 2:5) states: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus”

These passages of scripture (and there are more) clearly reflect Jesus as a man. These are biblical stated facts (something we can prove) anything else is a man-made conjecture (something not found written in the Bible ANYWHERE); They do not reflect Jesus as GOD or GOD the SON.

Many who do not study the Scriptures for themselves have relied on man-made doctrines that are false, misleading, and often contradictory to biblical statements and sound doctrine, which has led to much confusion specifically when it comes to a correct understanding of the Godhead and just exactly how Jesus fits into that puzzle and who exactly Jesus is.

Most biblical interpretations about Jesus can be tested as being true or false by a simple three-step process: Identification, Verification and Test to prove it. An interpretation may sound or even “appear” to be possible and yet be totally wrong if it is not correctly applied. In fact, such near misses of interpretation can be the most treacherous, since they are so close to the truth. These interpretations may satisfy one condition yet not meet another necessary condition.

The Fundamentals Of Proving The Truth

IDENTIFY: what’s involved;

VERIFY: that the description (or translation) given is correct;

TEST IT: before you claim it to be true

Jesus and God: Are They “One and the Same?”

Most of our Apostolic/Pentecostal groups (often called “Oneness” or “Jesus Only”) in describing who Jesus is in relation to God are probably best known for using the phrase Jesus and God are “One and the same.” We proclaim Jesus and God are “One and the same” person (Jesus is God and God is Jesus) and although the Bible does not explicitly make these statements verbatim, our justification is based on scriptures we say “implies” this understanding to be correct.

As individuals mature and become more knowledgeable in the Word of God it becomes apparent that “other” scriptures exist that otherwise challenge the soundness of the historical “Oneness” or “Jesus Only” doctrinal point of view. Factors that we (THOSE OF US who carry the banner of being “Oneness”) have not addressed either in print or publicly; Now would be a good time to do so.

The following illustrations demonstrate the difference between fact and false theology, truth, and tradition, and will help you determine how to test and prove for yourself that which is biblical and of “sound doctrine” in contrast to that which is not true.

Let’s consider these five groups of words; (square & circle) (Father & Son) (God & man) (God & Son of God) (Spirit & Flesh). Each of these groupings contains different words that have specific meanings. Each word has specific characteristics (or features) that make it possible to distinguish one word apart from the other. We are therefore able to make an informed decision as to the truthfulness of a statement as it would pertain to one of these words.

Example 1: Are These Figures (Square & Circle) One and The Same? Why?

This is a circle, it is round and symmetrical there are no straight edges and it resembles a ball or the full moon in shape.

This is a square, it has four equal sides that are perfectly straight and meet at 90-degree angles creating four corners.

Even when the square is inside the circle they are two completely different objects. Due to their definitions, a square will never be a circle and a circle will never be a square, however, they can be as “one”; you can put a smaller square inside a circle or vice versa and create unity between two very different objects:

Example 2: (Father & Son) Are They One and The Same? Why?

In the Bible, we have written words. These words have been translated and defined based on accepted and common sources such as the dictionary, the Lexicon, or historical use. When we read the word of God it is expected to be read encompassing the whole word in harmony.

Clearly, in the word of God, a father is the source of the son and the son is the lineage or heritage of the father. In all instances in the Bible of fathers and sons, it is never shown that a man was his own father or that a son begat his father. The father was always the creator of the son, the son was born subordinate to the father and received his power, authority, inheritance, etc. from the father.

We cannot take the common definitions of words (Father and Son/God and man) out of context and bend them just to fit our own personal theology.

NOTE 1: It is true men were both fathers and sons but they were never their own father or their own son. Sure, we can say God can be both his own father and his own son, the exception is God can do anything except lie (Titus 1:2).

NOTE 2: Scriptures indicate that God said: Jesus was his son (Luke 3:22; Hebrews 1:5; 2 Peter 1:17) they do not indicate that God said he would “incarnate” himself as a man and then “pretend” to be a son to himself. (See also: Common misunderstandings in “incarnation” )

God gave specific criteria for the sacrifice that would satisfy the redemption of man, the humanity of, not the deity of satisfied that criteria. If you dilute the humanity of a man overcoming the same challenges and temptations that we face we lose the significance of the sacrifice. It becomes God circumventing the natural order he created and the criteria he ordained, we dilute the sacrifice. Jesus becomes a God/Man that never overcame the same temptations we face as human beings because he would have had the advantage of being God and perfect without ever having had the free will choice to submit his flesh to the cross, God did not choose to be sinless, he was never anything but sinless and cannot sin.

One by Association

Whenever the bible reflects more than one “person” (i.e., Jesus & God, man & God) or uses the plural pronouns (we, our, they, us) associated together as being one, (“that they also may be one in us“, or “that they may be one, even as we are one” (John 17:21-22)) it is always reflective of a specific category to which the referenced individuals belong, in this case “they” (plural) are considered as “one” in the same manner as “we” and “us” (plural) are considered as one; that is they are (as a group) unified, on one accord or of one mind (2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 2:2).

This is called figurative (metaphoric) talk. (We do not physically merge into and become one body with God (or with Jesus) “literally.”)

Many biblical illustrations reflect this manner of speaking:

Our Marriages – these two bodies shall be one (Mark 10:7-8);

Our Churches – although many members we are all one body in Christ (Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:18-20; Galatians 3:28)

Our Purposes – all having the same resolve (counsel, consent, etc.), mind, purpose, and will:

 (1 Peter 3:8) “Finally, be ye all of one mind”

 (Romans 15:6) “That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

 See also (2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 1:27, 2:27; Revelation 17:13)

Jesus was “one” with the Father not because Jesus was God himself but because he had the Spirit of God (the Father) dwelling in him; “I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works” (John 14:10)

This was Jesus’ prayer for the church then and the church now

(John 17: 20-23) “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; ²¹ that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. ²² And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: ²³ I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”

Jesus clearly describes his understanding and concept of Oneness with God in this passage. Jesus unmistakably wanted the church to be one, (United) with each other and with “Us” (Us = God and Jesus). Jesus explains his understanding of that oneness as he describes his personal relationship with the Father. Verse 21 states, “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You;” Jesus plainly states, in verse 22 “that they may be one just as We: I in them, and You in Me;” Jesus wants the church to have the same relationship with God that he has with the Father.

Based on these verses above, which record the prayer of Jesus, it was not his intention or understanding that every believer throughout history would become God. It is also clear he did not consider himself God; but one with the Father, indwelled with his Spirit, purpose, and committed to his plan.

The Oneness Of God In Christ

Since the humanity of Jesus Christ is fundamental to every Christian doctrine we should first prove if Jesus was indeed human, thus we need to make sure that we really understand exactly what constitutes a man as being “human”. This is a very important matter because in order to prove who Jesus is (or who he is not) we need to be able to do two things:

1. distinguish the difference between being “totally human” from that of being “totally God”; and
2. distinguish the difference between having the “Spirit of God” from the “spirit of man”; that which makes man human and separates him (his humanity) from being God.

Tradition Taught Us:

Many churches instill in their members a non-biblical or “created concept” called “incarnation”. This is a fundamental tenant used by many churches to support the teaching that God (“the Father”) was something other than just a Spirit (John 4:22-24); God was also “totally human” by means of incarnation. God embodied himself in a body of flesh (Jesus) and by doing such that made God “totally human” (or a complete human) while at the same time, he was “totally God”.

The “Trinitarian” Groups

There are those who classify themselves as “Trinitarians” (Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, etc..). They profess that God consists of three persons in one God, all three are “co-equal”, “co-eternal” and “co-substantial” in persons known as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. This concept is called “Trinity” or “Tri-unity”. Each person is given a unique characteristic when viewed in relation to the others: the Father is unbegotten, the Son is begotten or generated, and the Spirit is proceeding. Jesus was the “incarnation” of God the Son, the second in the Godhead.

Trinitarians frequently use the diagram of a triangle to explain their doctrine. The three corners represent the three members of the Trinity, while the complete triangle represents God as the whole Trinity. Thus, the Father is not the Son and is not the Holy Ghost. Furthermore, neither Father Son nor Spirit is completely God without the others.

The “Oneness” Groups

There are those of us who classify ourselves as “Oneness” (Apostolic, Pentecostal, and various Non-Denominational churches). Most of these groups presented God with a slightly different twist than the Trinitarians. They profess that God consists of three manifestations but not in the manner the Trinitarians portray Jesus. They believe that Jesus was the “incarnation” of God himself. The fundamental difference is that they believe “Father, Son, and Holy Ghost” are titles that belong solely to Jesus. They teach God came to earth in the form of a human infant, called himself Jesus, then acted as (or pretended to be) his own Son to himself (while he was in his human body of flesh) and used his “own” human body (that did not sin) to be the sacrificed atonement for the sins of the world.

What They Both Have in Common

Although many other differences distinguish these groups apart (Oneness/Trinitarians) they both teach and instill in their members the same non-biblical “created concept” called an incarnation, that God was “totally human” by means of incarnation. God embodied himself in a body of flesh (Jesus) and by doing such that made God “totally human” (or a complete human) while at the same time, he was “totally God”.

NOTE: To the “unlearned”, this terminology may “sound plausible” but there is a very important difference between a spirit or entity (God) being “incarnated” in its own individual body in comparison to a man (Jesus) having the Spirit of God “indwelling” in his human body. (See also: Incarnation vs Indwelling)

By definition: The Oneness of God in Christ refers to the “singleness” of God who was “in” Christ.

(John 8:29) “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone;…” (It is clear that this man Jesus is not by himself, nor did he send himself, nor was he referring to himself as the Father)

(John 14:10) “I speak not of myself: but the father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works”

(2 Corinthians 5:19) “To wit that God was “in” Christ; < NOT > God was “incarnated as the Christ”.

Unfortunately, this is how many Christians were led astray and deceived into adopting non-biblical terminologies in an attempt to support their own man-made doctrines instead of adhering the word of God.

It is this aspect of Jesus (understanding what happened to his human soul/spirit) that is so critically important in determining if our understanding of God “in” Christ is correct and does it support who we proclaim Jesus to be. (See: So Where Is The Human Soul & Human Spirit of Christ? )

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