2

But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (Hebrews 2:9 ESV)

If there is no distinction between the Father and the Son, as Oneness adherents believe, how could God who "upholds the universe by the word of his power" (Hebrews 1:3 ESV) die without the universe falling apart?

Improve this question
2
  • 1
    Jesus did not cease to exist when He died. You might want to expand to cover that point.
    – Alypius
    Commented Mar 20, 2013 at 23:13
  • 2
    The wording of your question implies that the problem with Oneness Pentecostalism is that they believe that God died on the cross. But isn't that what every Christian believes? Couldn't a Oneness defender just use the same explanations that a Trinitarian would use? (Jesus' death was a separation; He did not cease to exist or cease to be God in the process of "dying".)
    – Jas 3.1
    Commented Mar 22, 2013 at 21:38

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
5

United Pentecostals do not deny that there is a Father and there is a Son. They believe the Father and Son are one Spirit. They believe that there is a distinction between Father and Son. The Son is God in the Flesh. The Father is God not in the flesh. The United Pentecostals point out that in Scripture, the term "Son" is always used in reference to God in the flesh. If you would like to read more of what the UPC doctrine is, I suggest "The Oneness of God," by David Bernard. (I am not UPC, thus, I hesitate to go any further specifically regarding their doctrine, lest I misrepresent them).

As a Oneness adherent, I would continue thus in regard to this verse and your question:

Flesh is mortal, spirit is not. Flesh can suffer, flesh can die, the spirit experiences the suffering of the body, but the spirit does not die; Thus, When Christ died on the cross, God did not die. Note:

Luke 23 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last (NKJV). /"gave up the ghost" (KJV).

So, God did come in the flesh, and did experienced death in the Body he took on; He suffered, and in the sense that any man dies, he died. But God (Spirit) did not die.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .