Podcasts about modalists

Title: 13 Men Stuck Between Two Faiths Text: Acts 19:1-7 FCF: We all struggle to with the tension of the diversity and uniformity that exists in the church. Prop: Because all kind of people will receive the Holy Spirit, we must call all to repent, believe on Christ, and be baptized in His name. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts 19. In a moment we will read starting in verse 1 from the New English Translation. You can follow along in the pew bible or whatever version you prefer. Last week Luke closed out the record of the second missionary journey of Paul. As he did this, he gave record of the work as it continued in Paul's absence. Part of this work was to record an episode concerning another major figure in the work of the kingdom. Apollos the evangelist and apologist steps on the scene and heads off to Achaia to continue the work there refuting the Jews. Today, in what is obviously connected thematically to the previous episode of Apollos, Luke will record another interaction with 12 men who were also converts of John the Baptist. But this time we will see Paul address and correct their deficiencies in doctrine. In this narrative episode, we will learn a great deal about how the gospel call will be answered by a broad and diverse group of people, but the gospel effect is quite narrow and uniform. Let's look at chapter 19 verse 1. Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the reading of the Word of God. Invocation: Most High God, Father of the Nations, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, we come to You today as citizens of Your Kingdom. You have called and gathered us from the ends of the earth and granted us sight to see the wonderous truths of Your holy order. You have shone through our blind eyes to awake us to the hope of life in Your son Jesus Christ. You have plunged us into baptism, immersed us into the total work of the Godhead to save us from sin and death and free us to life eternal. You have given us your Holy Spirit to live in us and guide us in all things. Father these truths are so precious to us. Help us to see in Your word today how these truths affect how we engage our culture and even our enemies. Help our faith to be moved to action today by what You have revealed. Help us to love You more. We pray this in Jesus' name, Amen. Transition: [Slide 2] It's amazing how catastrophic the smallest piece of information withheld at the worst time can be. Whether it is a navigation system failing to give an audible direction on time, or a text not coming through to inform you of the change of a meeting time or location, or the failure of a coach to give the signal to steal. In these moments, had the information been given, certain catastrophe could have been avoided and all would have gone according to plan. Today we will meet 12 men who missed, by a good 20 years, a rather pivotal piece of information regarding the most important subject that exists… the future of their eternal souls. They had 90% of the message, but unfortunately for them the last 10% was so significant, they were now caught between two faiths, seen as a heretic by one and as lacking by the other. So, are they without hope? Are they too late? Are they just victims of bad timing? Let's find out. I.) All who are genuinely part of Christ's church have received the Holy Spirit, so we must call all to repent, believe on Christ, and be baptized in His name. a. [Slide 3] 1 - While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul went through the inland regions and came to Ephesus. i. Although Luke only said that Apollos was going to Achaia, as he continues, it is clear that the capital of Achaia was Apollos' true destination. ii. We know from various other passages of scripture that Apollos made an impression on the city of Corinth. iii. While he was there, Paul comes to Ephesus by the inland regions. iv. We don't quite know when this missionary journey began. v. The best estimates are somewhere between late AD 52 and AD 53. vi. [Slide 4] Paul travels through the inland regions meaning he comes by a direct route to Ephesus. He is visiting some of the churches he planted in the first missionary journey along the way. vii. But it is clear that Paul intends to come to Ephesus and spend a good deal of time there. viii. This verse provides a clear connection between Apollos' story and what will follow. Apollos is referenced along with the beginning of the trip Luke already mentioned in chapter 18 verse 23. ix. It is obvious that the first 7 verses of chapter 19 are intended to be taken together with the previous account of Apollos. x. It is an unfortunate chapter division. b. [Slide 5] He found some disciples there 2 - and said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” i. When Paul arrives, he discovers a group of disciples, followers, learners who appear to be believers. ii. Nevertheless, something seems off about them. So, Paul asks them if they had received the Holy Spirit when they believed. iii. The Holy Spirit's indwelling is THE sign of a person being a citizen of the kingdom of God. iv. Paul does not ask first if they believed on Jesus. He doesn't ask first if they have been baptized. He doesn't ask first if they are involved in a local church somewhere. v. The book of Acts makes it clear that the only way we really know that someone is of the Kingdom of God – is if they have received the Holy Spirit. vi. That is the sign given to us that we are redeemed. vii. Furthermore, Paul links the coming of the Holy Spirit with belief. Receiving faith in Jesus Christ for a genuine member of the church is, at least in Paul's mind, linked with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. viii. This is NOT the Spirit's work of regeneration, which happens prior to belief as we have seen in several of our book studies over the last few years. ix. That work is like a wind and happens unpredictably and without warning, like Jesus says to Nicodemus. x. But the Indwelling of the Spirit is a predictable outcome upon genuine belief. At least this is what Paul is assuming. xi. Now because these men answer in the way they do it is very obvious that they are not truly disciples of Christ. 1. There is an untranslated word in the Greek that indicates something that is in addition to in an amplifying manner. 2. In English we often use the expression “not only, blah blah blah, but also blah blah blah” in these instances. 3. The NET translators have done an excellent job expressing this efficiently by simply supplying the word “even” in the text. 4. Not only have they not received the Holy Spirit… but also we have not even heard that there IS a Holy Spirit. 5. This could mean that they have never heard of the third person of the Godhead, but because they are Jews, it is far more likely that they had not heard that the third person of the Godhead was present in this way and was available to be received by anyone or by any means. xii. Since their response obviously indicated that they were not indwelled by the Holy Spirit Paul has another question. c. [Slide 6] 3 - So, Paul said, “Into what then were you baptized?” “Into John's baptism,” they replied. i. Had their statement been either that they had received the Spirit, or that they THOUGHT they had received the Holy Spirit, we might expect Paul's question to be different. 1. In other words, the test of whether or not someone has the Holy Spirit is not what that they have been baptized into the triune God. 2. From other texts of the New Testament, we find that the true test of whether or not someone has been indwelled with the Spirit is knowledge of God on an intimate level. 3. Although assurance can be lost for a time, the New Testament makes it seem that most Christians should live in a constant awareness of the Spirit's indwelling presence. 4. Indeed, so much of the New Testament is given as a means to see, experience, recognize, or assure ourselves of the Spirit's indwelling presence in us. 5. And not only for us but also for assurance of the Holy Spirit's presence in others. 6. And His presence is greatly tied to His changing and grace giving power in us to be and do what God has remade us to be and do. ii. So, notice here Paul's immediate question following their confession that they did not realize that the Spirit was available to be received. iii. Paul immediately associates the indwelling of the Holy Spirit with baptism. iv. In Acts, while sometimes the Spirit comes before water baptism, sometimes after, and sometimes at the same time, there is a close association of the indwelling of the Spirit and baptism. v. Just as there is a close association with the indwelling of the Spirit and belief on Christ. vi. In this, Peter's message at Pentecost remains the definitive test for the normal indicative experience of every person entering the family of God. vii. As Peter puts it “Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” viii. Repentance and belief on Christ lead to the indwelling of the Spirit of God and baptism in Jesus' name proves the commitment of one who is indwelled with the Spirit of God. To Paul – all three should be present because all three are necessary, even if they are not necessary in the same way. ix. Paul has taken these men as disciples of Christ and even assumed that they were baptized members of the church. But if they haven't been indwelled with the Spirit of God… then he needs to find out more about their baptism. x. If their baptism wasn't in submission to the indwelled Spirit of God… what was it for? xi. And in this we find that they were baptized into John's Baptism. xii. Since, as we said, Luke has put the stories of Apollos and these men back-to-back, it is clear Luke wants us to see that both Apollos and these disciples were faithful Jews who had been taught from John's school. xiii. Jews baptized to prepare them with repentance for the coming forgiveness of sins through the immanent Messiah. xiv. What is also clear is that the baptism of John, including all John taught, was not enough to fully transition a Jewish persons' faith into a Messianic, New Covenant faith. It was not enough to push them to take the next step of Judaism and become a Christian. xv. The way the book of Acts crafts this whole discussion is that there are not two different faiths, Judaism and Christianity. Instead, there is True Judaism which was for the Jews to receive Jesus as their Messiah and join the church to become Christians… and there were those Jews who had rejected their own Messiah and become dead branches and cut off from their covenant promises. xvi. But in regard to these men, they are somewhere in-between. They are stuck in the Old Covenant still. They haven't rejected Christ; in fact, they are prepared to receive Him… but they have not yet understood what to receive and how. xvii. So, the real question is – are they allowed at this late hour to be admitted into the Kingdom of Christ? Is it too late for these Jews who have not yet rejected their Messiah, to receive their Messiah? xviii. We'll have to see what Paul does with them in a moment. d. [Slide 7] Summary of the Point: Luke begins this third missionary journey with the record of Paul testing the profession of a group of 12 men. In this we see Luke's point, that the Kingdom of God produces certain uniform and verifiable results to all who enter it. The very first of these is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, which is inextricably linked to receiving faith in Christ and baptism in His name. In this we can draw the teaching that the Holy Spirit's indwelling presence is the standard by which we test if someone is part of Christ's church or not. It is not mere profession alone, nor mere baptism alone. Evidence of the Spirit's indwelling is absolutely essential. And the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit is only given to those who have repented and believed the correct doctrine concerning Jesus. And The Spirit's indwelling presence is first evidenced by obedience in submitting to baptism in Jesus' name as a picture of their faith in Christ. Since all this is true, just as Paul did, we must be sure that all who would be part of the church have received the Spirit through repentance and faith in Christ and have evidenced the Holy Spirit's indwelling through obedience first by baptism in Jesus' name. Transition: [Slide 8(blank)] So now that Paul knows the problem, what will be his tactic to deal with these men who are stuck between two faiths? Are they disqualified? If not, how will he prove to them that they lack understanding concerning the Messiah? Let's look. II.) The gospel call will be answered by all kinds of people, so we must call all to repent, believe on Christ, and be baptized in His name. a. [Slide 9] 4 - Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” i. How does Paul engage these Jews who are on the edge of taking the next step in Judaism? ii. He engages them in what he knows John taught. He started from what they believed and knew. iii. A wonderful tactic we should emulate when we take the gospel to others. iv. John taught them to be baptized in repentance and to believe in the one who was going to come after him. v. Well John's been dead for about 25 years, and apparently, they had not heard, or had forgotten that Jesus had actually came to John to be baptized, at which point John identified Him as the one who came after. vi. Either they had not heard or had forgotten that John prophesied that the Messiah would baptize with the Holy Spirit. vii. Paul's message is – my friends, have you not heard? The One who was to come after John has come. The One who baptizes with the Spirit has come. viii. He is Jesus. b. [Slide 10] 5 - When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, i. Again, we see baptism, belief, and repentance rolled into one event. ii. Baptism is again affiliated strongly with the conversion of a person and not their preparation for conversion. We as Baptists really like to point that out. iii. They were baptized into a new and better baptism. iv. Where John's baptism was anticipatory (like many baptisms in Christendom today seem to be), Jesus' baptism is a declaration of affiliation. v. Where John's baptism was never meant to be the final baptism, baptism into the triune God is final. vi. Where John's baptism was in preparation for a hope of something to come (again like many baptisms in Christendom today), Jesus' baptism is a physical sign of that hope being fulfilled. vii. John's baptism required repentance and admission of sinfulness and desire for forgiveness, but it was not enough. You must believe on Jesus and be baptized into Him in order to be part of the church. viii. Luke recording this immediately following Apollos' experience sheds more light on what is going on here. ix. It is probably safe to conclude that even though Apollos taught rightly about Jesus in what he knew, he too was only acquainted with the teachings of John. Meaning that he too needed to receive faith in Christ and be baptized into Him. x. And even though Luke did not record such an event, because of what we see happening only a few verses later, we can reasonably assume that he too was baptized into the triune God. c. [Slide 11] 6 - and when Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy. 7 - (Now there were about twelve men in all.) i. As we've seen in each of the cases where a new group of people have come to faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit's indwelling is accompanied with the sign gifts of tongues and prophesy. ii. The same sign indicates that all these different kinds of people are joining the same church. iii. There is not a Samaritan church, a God-Fearer church, a gentile church, a Jewish church, and now a Baptistic Jewish Church. iv. All the different factions of humanity homogenize into one church who are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone and are indwelled with the Holy Spirit. v. Some may ask, “Why did the Holy Spirit come after belief and baptism and only when Paul placed his hands on them? 1. To the Jews in Acts 2, the apostles were filled with the Spirit and spoke in tongues yet we have no passage in the entire New Testament where they were baptized in Jesus' name. 2. Then they preached to other Jews who accepted the message and were baptized, but the timing of the Holy Spirit's indwelling is not mentioned there nor that they displayed sign gifts. 3. To the Samaritans in Acts 8 they accepted the message and were baptized but did not receive the Spirit until Peter and John came down and prayed that they would receive the Holy Spirit. After this, it is said they did receive the Spirit but not how that was known. We assumed it was due to sign gifts. 4. To the God-Fearers and Gentiles in Acts 10, they heard the message and in their receiving of faith, the Holy Spirit fell on them evidenced by sign gifts such as speaking in tongues. With this evidence, Peter concludes that baptism should be offered immediately since they have the Spirit. 5. Finally, here in chapter 19 we see the apostle Paul (much like Peter and John toward the Samaritans) laid hands on these twelve Baptistic Jewish after they had believed and were baptized and they received the Holy Spirit as evidenced with sign gifts. 6. So, our question is… is the lack of a pattern teaching us a lesson? 7. The lesson is that the Holy Spirit came when He wanted upon those whom He wanted and when He arrived that was a sign not only meant for the person who had just believed, but primarily for those who were already a part of the Kingdom to recognize that this new group of people could join and were now part of the church. 8. People who aren't pure Jews could be part of the church. People who weren't Jews at all but were somewhat Jewish in their faith could be part of the church. People that were neither Jewish in faith or nationality could be part of the church and finally those who were not quite Jewish but not quite Christian… could be part of the church. 9. With this, the last demarcation of human existence is toppled. God so loved the world… All kinds of different people… that He gave His only Son that ALL the believing ones in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. d. [Slide 12] Summary of the Point: Although Luke's first point was the rigidness and uniformity of the path to become part of Christ's church, his second point shows the diversity and breadth of those who will answer the gospel call. As Baptistic Jews these men were borderline Jewish heretics while at the same time being borderline Christian heretics. They were truly a group of people caught in the middle with no belonging. But just as we have seen the gospel go to the nation of the Jews who rejected their own Messiah, just as we've seen the gospel go to the Samaritans who were Jewish cultists and heretics, just as we've seen the gospel go to those who could never be Jewish like the Ethiopian Eunuch, Just as we've seen the gospel go to God-Fearers who were gentile Yahweh worshippers, just as we've seen the gospel go to gentile pagans who were polytheists, just as we've seen the gospel go to the wealthy, the powerful, the poor, the weak, so now we see the gospel go to this group who don't belong to any faith at all. Religiously ousted by the Jews and not quite Christian either. Yet they respond and come to Christ. Luke's point – is that the gospel is for all kinds of men. The gospel call goes out to all people. And it will be heard by all kinds of people. So we must be sure to call all to receive the Spirit through repentance and faith in Christ and evidence the Holy Spirit's indwelling through obedience first in baptism in Jesus' name. Conclusion: So, what have we learned today CBC, and how shall we live? Doctrinal takeaway: [Slide 13] Two points of doctrine coalesce into the funnel of the Kingdom of God. The gospel call will be answered very broadly. Men and women from all kinds of backgrounds will hear the call of God and receive faith in Christ and be baptized in His name. People coming from various religious backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, political perspectives, ethnicities, skin colors, the powerful, the famous, the weak, the deplorables and every one in between, the Lord is gathering, in the broadest possible way, His Kingdom together. But this is a funnel because as He gathers them from a diverse and broad background, He funnels them into the same narrow gate. They must receive the Holy Spirit through repentance and faith in Christ alone and that reception of the Spirit must be evidenced by obedient and submissive hearts to publicly declare with their words and actions that Christ is their Lord and Savior, first in baptism in His name and every day following by living upright and holy lives. Though we may have been very different people before we came to Christ – after coming to Christ we are all more alike than we are different. Why? Because the things that made us different before are insignificant when compared to the thing that makes us the same. Since this is true… we must call all kinds of people from various backgrounds to the exact same gospel. Repent, believe the gospel of Christ and be baptized in His name. You will receive the Spirit of God and then all the world will know you are His. Sealed until the day of redemption. But let me apply this more specifically to us today. 1.) [Slide 14] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must believe that the gospel call will be answered by people from a wide variety of backgrounds. a. Why must we love our enemies? b. Why must we love those who persecute us? c. Why must we pray for those who spitefully use us? d. Why are we not free to treat others as they treat us? e. In the political realm, in the social realm, at work, in our families – why can't we fight fire with fire? Trade insult for insult? Scream louder? Fight harder? f. My friends, in a moment, according to the will of God, His Spirit can regenerate a heart and prepare it to receive faith in Christ and with faith the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. g. Such a miracle can happen to literally any person we know who still draws breath on this earth. h. Died in the wool democrats with the most liberal agenda, wealthy autocrats, corporate stooges, porn stars, drag queens, transgender people and pundits, Mormons, Modalists, Managers, Swiss people, German people, black, white, red and yellow, bumpkins and geniuses, southerners and northerners… and yes, apparently even Ohioans – My friends the gospel call goes to all and the gospel call is received by all kinds. i. The vision of the New Kingdom is global and the Lord is gathering His church from all the nations of the earth. j. Even these 13 men, forgotten in the middle of these two religious systems., but friends they were NOT FORGOTTEN by GOD! k. He had elected them before the foundation of the world and although they were late to the party… they were given the truth and welcomed to the fold. l. You and I cannot afford to be at war with anyone on this earth. Why? m. Because even if they aren't now… they may one day be our brother or sister in Christ. n. So what does that mean for us? 2.) [Slide 15] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must take the gospel to all people. a. I'm not saying we should not fight to keep morality and godly principles as the law of the land. b. But when we are talking about actual people. Not organizations or groups… but people… we must assume that even they, if the Lord so allows, will be brought to Christ through His Word. c. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by what? The Word of God. d. And what does the Lord say about His word in Isaiah 55? It will not return to him void. It will accomplish the purpose for which it was sent. e. The Word of God always accomplishes the purpose that God sends it to do. f. We preach the word of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ and we call all men everywhere to repent and believe the gospel and be baptized in Jesus' name. g. God's purpose for His Word is different for different people. For Pharoah, it hardened Him. But for you and I… it broke us. h. If the gospel call goes out to all men, then all kinds of men are being drawn with that gospel Word. i. We must faithfully give it to all. Even those who persecute us. Even those who spitefully use us. j. Don't get sucked in to fighting battles over policies and earthly issues. k. Preach the Word of God and share His gospel. l. They may hate you for it… but at least then you are doing what your Lord has required of you. 3.) [Slide 16] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must deny that people can enter the narrow way by various gates. a. But we would also do well to remember that although the ones whom the Lord has called to His Kingdom are from a diverse background… all who come, come by a narrow way. b. In some very unimportant things, we have great diversity in the church. Music preferences, certain doctrinal convictions on dress standards, movie preferences and more. c. But listen, where it counts, in what matters… we are exactly the same. d. We believe in God the Father almighty maker of heaven and earth. e. And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord. f. Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified died and was buried and descended into hell. g. The third day he rose again from the dead, he ascended in heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. h. From there He will come to judge the living and the dead. i. We believe in the Holy Spirit and His indwelling in all who truly believe. j. We believe in the Holy Universal Church which was predestined, called, justified, is being sanctified and will one day be glorified. k. We believe in the communion of this church known in the scriptures as the saints. l. We believe in the forgiveness of sins by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. m. We believe in the resurrection of the body in whom Christ was firstborn of many siblings. n. We believe in eternal life which is given to all the believing ones in Christ. o. This set of beliefs and all the ramifications it has on us are the core of what we are. p. So much so, that to deny any of these points sets one's profession immediately into question. q. There is no room for diversity in these things for those who have entered the narrow gate. r. And for us, CBC, we also believe in being baptized in the name of the Triune God as a picture of belief in Christ and that we will one day be raised to life eternal which begins the moment we are baptized in the Spirit. s. That those who are truly Christ's followers must follow in baptism. There is no such person in the New Testament who after receiving Christ by true faith, was not baptized shortly after if it were possible. t. My friends… doctrine matters. Paul did not tell these men… well… close enough guys. u. Instead, he preached the gospel to them. And baptized them again in the triune God. v. And they are so very glad that he did. w. What does this mean for us? 4.) [Slide 17] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must test professions of faith for evidence of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. a. Although we preach the gospel to all because all may come… b. Once a person comes, we must expect them to be more the same than they are different. c. In our hyper individualized world, we sometimes forget the communal aspect of the church. d. You cannot join us and be who you wish to be. e. The church is one body. We must function together. We must be more alike than we are different. f. This is why the Scriptures exist. This is why church discipline exists. This is why Elders exist. To ensure that we are all of one body and mind. Unified in doctrine and practice. g. We can have room for diversity in matters that the scriptures do not make plain. h. But there can be no unity when we disagree over issues to which the scriptures clearly speak. i. In this passage Paul expects the Holy Spirit to be present, and a profession in Christ and baptism in His name to be necessary. j. To this list we can add all that the scriptures plainly declare to us concerning all things most important of which being the way of redemption. k. When we find those who lack this by doctrine or practice – we must investigate and reprove, rebuke, correct, and instruct in righteousness so that they will be furnished for every good work. 5.) [Slide 18] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” God won't deny any who faithfully seek Him. a. These 13 men faithfully sought the Messiah. b. They believed John and were baptized into his teaching. c. They were simply ignorant of the Messiah's identity and mission. d. God does not forget them. He doesn't leave them behind. He doesn't say – so close… but too late. e. Our friends, relatives, those we love, and those who hate us – if they faithfully seek the Lord… He will reveal Himself to them. f. For our God is a good and gracious God. [Slide 19 (end)] Let me close with a prayer by the English Puritan John Bunyan. Lord, we profess the faith, and yet care not for the dying. We profess, and yet long not for the coming of the day of God. We profess, and yet by our whole life show to them that can see how little a measure of it we have in our hearts. Lord, lead us more into the power of things. Then the virtues of Him who has saved us, and called us out of darkness into His marvelous light, will be made known to others. It is in His name we ask this. Amen. Benediction: May He who builds His lofty palace in the heavens And sets its foundation on the earth, Who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out over the face of the land Grant you an awareness of His love that you may be always joyful, praying continually and giving thanks in all circumstances and bearing witness of this to all For this is the will of God for you. Until we meet again, go in peace.

Are there theological similarities between modern Oneness Pentecostalism and the so-called "modalism" of early church history? In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. David K. Bernard compares what is known about modalism in the early church with modern Oneness Pentecostalism.Visit PentecostalPublishing.com to shop Dr. Bernard's full catalog of published works. Enter promo code DKB10 at checkout to save 10 percent on your order.If you enjoy this podcast, leave a five-star rating and a review on iTunes or your preferred podcast platform. We also appreciate it when you share Apostolic Life in the 21st Century with family and friends.

This video helps explain Tertullian's Christology on its own terms in its historical context and in response to polemical arguments with Gnostics and Modalists. It also shows that Tertullian was not an orthodox trinitarian by the later standard definitions. This video mentions  @InspiringPhilosophy  ,  @JayDyer  ,  @TheMuslimMetaphysician  ,  @shamounian  ,  @m.davidlitwa  ,  @MythVisionPodcast  others.

Oneness believers have often been accused of being Modalists. This is not a new argument, it's been going on for nearly 2,000 years. Is this accusation fair? What exactly is Modalism?Do modern, Oneness Pentecostals actually believe in Modalism?We address these questions and more in this episode.Subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Coming soon to Apple Music!Reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with your take on this discussion.Visit our home on the web: 2pentecostals.com

In this episode, we continue a previous discussion of the nature of God, specifically in regard to the doctrines of Oneness and the Trinity. We started this conversation back in 2019 but held off on releasing the rest of the series, due to our desire to give the subject the treatment it deserves. We are finally ready to have the discussion at length. In this episode, which is basically part 2 of the series introduction, we discuss some reasons why this series is necessary, both for our oneness and trinitarian listeners. As this segment of the Doctrine Series continues, we will discuss some of the nuances ofthe debate. We will look at some problematic scriptures, dive into a little textual criticism (can't wait for the backlash from that one...), and specifically talk about Modalism (and why we are not Modalists). You can find us on your favorite podcast app or on our website, 2pentecostals.com.2pentecostals.com is also home to our blog, 2 Pentecostals and a Word Processor. Please reach out to us with any feedback, questions, or rebuttals. We want this conversation to go beyond the podcast and into social media and our listeners' everyday conversations. Reach out to us at 2pentecostals.com or @2pentecostals on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. If you haven't already done so, we would appreciate it greatly if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast app!Thanks for listening to 2 Pentecostals and a Microphone!

In this episode, we continue a previous discussion of the nature of God, specifically in regard to the doctrines of Oneness and the Trinity. We started this conversation back in 2019 but held off on releasing the rest of the series, due to our desire to give the subject the treatment it deserves. We are finally ready to have the discussion at length. In this episode, which is basically part 2 of the series introduction, we discuss some reasons why this series is necessary, both for our oneness and trinitarian listeners. As this segment of the Doctrine Series continues, we will discuss some of the nuances ofthe debate. We will look at some problematic scriptures, dive into a little textual criticism (can't wait for the backlash from that one...), and specifically talk about Modalism (and why we are not Modalists). You can find us on your favorite podcast app or on our website, 2pentecostals.com.2pentecostals.com is also home to our blog, 2 Pentecostals and a Word Processor. Please reach out to us with any feedback, questions, or rebuttals. We want this conversation to go beyond the podcast and into social media and our listeners' everyday conversations. Reach out to us at 2pentecostals.com or @2pentecostals on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. If you haven't already done so, we would appreciate it greatly if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast app!Thanks for listening to 2 Pentecostals and a Microphone!

Simple straightforward introduction to the great Trinitarian deniers of Church History; who unfortunately are still around.

Modern Arians (Unitarians and Jehovah's Witnesses) deny that Jesus is God according to the Bible, claiming that He is a creature that God created. In Part 2 of this Trinity series, we'll go through a mountain of biblical evidence proving that Jesus is God according to Scripture. It will be the most technical and apologetics-heavy in this series; If you find it too intricate at times, I encourage you to press through it and focus on the main points, and the summary at the end will help with that.

In this episode, we attempt to lay a groundwork for our discussion of the nature of God, specifically in regards to the doctrines of Oneness and the Trinity. We wanted to take the time to lay out our intentions because of the sensitive nature of the topic. It's too easy to use words as weapons when dealing with deeply held beliefs. We think that we can do better. As Oneness believers, we want to be taken seriously by Trinitarian believers and we believe that the inverse is true, as well. Too many times I've heard Oneness believers bash or ridicule Trinitarians or Trinitarians write us off as heretics or reject our beliefs out of hand. We believe that the time has come for a civil discussion of the issue and we want to be a part of that discussion.As this segment of the Doctrine Series continues, we will discuss some of the nuances of the debate and specifically talk about Modalism (and why we are not Modalists). Thanks to Myles from Portland, Oregon for suggesting that we cover that topic. You can find us on your favorite podcast app or on our website, 2pentecostals.com. Please reach out to us with any feedback, questions, or rebuttals. We want this conversation to go beyond the podcast and into social media and our listeners' everyday conversations. Reach out to us at 2pentecostals.com or @2pentecostals on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. If you haven't already done so, we would appreciate it greatly if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast app!Thanks for listening to 2 Pentecostals and a Microphone!

In this episode, we attempt to lay a groundwork for our discussion of the nature of God, specifically in regards to the doctrines of Oneness and the Trinity. We wanted to take the time to lay out our intentions because of the sensitive nature of the topic. It's too easy to use words as weapons when dealing with deeply held beliefs. We think that we can do better. As Oneness believers, we want to be taken seriously by Trinitarian believers and we believe that the inverse is true, as well. Too many times I've heard Oneness believers bash or ridicule Trinitarians or Trinitarians write us off as heretics or reject our beliefs out of hand. We believe that the time has come for a civil discussion of the issue and we want to be a part of that discussion.As this segment of the Doctrine Series continues, we will discuss some of the nuances of the debate and specifically talk about Modalism (and why we are not Modalists). Thanks to Myles from Portland, Oregon for suggesting that we cover that topic. You can find us on your favorite podcast app or on our website, 2pentecostals.com. Please reach out to us with any feedback, questions, or rebuttals. We want this conversation to go beyond the podcast and into social media and our listeners' everyday conversations. Reach out to us at 2pentecostals.com or @2pentecostals on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. If you haven't already done so, we would appreciate it greatly if you could leave us a review on your favorite podcast app!Thanks for listening to 2 Pentecostals and a Microphone!

I've been searching for truth since I was a youngster.  I had thoughts and inklings and premonitions about things like love, and God and kindness, but they were typically corrected or overrun by the group-think powers surrounding me.I grew up in an era where black people were not only laughingly referred to by other names, but so were Hispanics, and Asians, and anyone else that was not white.Mine was a time when it was completely natural to refer to a homosexual as a fag, a lesbian as a dyke, and a disabled person as a gimp or retard.What amazes me most is that while I, the individual, was secretly entertaining other thoughts toward these people groups who were different than me – thoughts of kindness and acceptance – the religion my parents had embraced, which promoted itself as “the only true church on the face of the earth” and its male leaders who were in charge of me, encouraged the rhetoric that I was secretly concerned about.In time their promotion of hate took root in my soul and I fully embraced all the elements of being a misogynistic, narcissistic, racist, homophobic fascist jerk – ironically known also as a returned Missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.Looking back, however, I can see the winds and waves of change at work on my soul.  Sometimes they would arrive in one giant swell and never leave – like when Jesus came to my heart in 1997. But at other times truth and my ability to receive it came in waves stretched out over spans of time  . . . without my realizing that each wave was part of the same storm.Having three older siblings I cut my teeth on music – on a wide arraignment of types and styles.  But sometime in the midst of my teens – around 1977  - I had become a fan of a form of music that I could really resonate with - punk.  Along with my best friend and next door neighbor Steve (who is now an LDS Stake President in Los Angeles), we discovered the Sex Pistols and dove headlong into what I felt was a “raw garage-like honesty” as compared to the fabricated sounds of corporate rock, studio bands, disco and of course, the prefabricated ideals and ideas of the only true Church on the face of the earth.What I mean to say is that in very short order I learned to trust the authentic expressions of punk over the ersatz group think messages of all of the former.One week around that time Steve and I learned that the Sex Pistols (our first exposure to punk and the first punk album I ever owned) were going to be on Saturday Night life and, like many of you, we anxiously passed the hours of that week waiting to hear, “Live from New York, Its Saturday Night.”  We could hardly wait to see them live.We were disappointed however when the Pistols were replaced (for some unknown reason) by a guy named Elvis Costello (of whom we knew nothing about).Nevertheless, because we were seeking for more authentic expressions in music we watched on – from our respective family dens.Evil Costello took to the stage that night looking cool enough, and he and his band launched into a song that seemed original and honest enough but then all of a sudden I watched with both shock and delight as Elvis manically jerked himself from the microphone, spastically stopped the music, apologized to the audience, and turning to his band, told them to play something different – a song called, “Radio Radio.”I suppose it was what I was longing to see someone do in my life all along – to step forward in teachers quorum and spastically stop a homophobic joke, or to tell us kids that it was okay to love people who were of the world with all of our heart – and I was mesmerized by the courage of this wirey little bespeckled Brit for doing whatever he was doing.What was this?  I said to myself, fascinated by the spectacle.  What is this guy actually doing?  Why did he stop the first song?  Why sing this second song instead?  I was tempted to call Steve next door on the telephone but remained transfixed as Elvis Costello sang, “Radio, Radio” angrily.  Passionately, as if in defiance of a some Totalitarian power f which I was totally unaware.I didn't know how to react, where to put my hands, and I remember looking around the room to say something to somebody about this . . . but nobody was there.By the time song ended, which I later learned was an indictment against the powers that run the radio waves, I knew a couple of things as much as I knew that the Boom of Mormon was true - I knew I I wanted what Elvis Costello had – that devotion, and passion - THAT willingness to do what he did NOT appear to have the permission to do – and I knew that Elvis Costello, more than my young mens' advisor, more than my Bishop, more than my own parents, could be trusted.This was my Montgomery Pop festival.  My Woodstock.  My Tieniman square.  And it all took place in my heart and head in the glow of an agitated man named Elvis Costello and his band the Attractions.As the next week rolled around, two female friends at school (who were artists and real music aficianatos) told me the inside scoop to the SNL event:Elvis had not only been told to sing the song they opened with by NBC and Lorne Michaels, but he was expressly prohibited to sing “Radio Radio” – which he did anyway – which resulted in a great debacle at the time.  Elvis Costello would pay the price for his disobedience and would not be invited back to SNL for over a decade thereafter but in the least, he gained the trust of one idiot southern California teenager through his act of defiance in the face of artistic authenticity.Several week later I heard a knock at my door and found a new silkscreened tee- shirt of Elvis Costello and the attractions laying on my parents front porch – an unsolicited gift of love from my two female friends at school.That sort of amazed me – that two girls who were not members of the only true Church on the face of the earth had enough love and care for me to gift me with something that they knew I would love.I wore that shirt out as I continued forward in search of unvarnished, authentic truth in art, life, music and ultimately, even spiritual matters.Nearly twenty years later, after a full time mission and marriage in the LA temple and while still outwardly an active Latter day Saint but one totally immersed in years of seeking for unvarnished spiritual authenticity, I was invited to go to Sri Lanka (for a month or so) and to develop a line of clothing from warehouses of fabric owned by the largest cutter and sewer of clothing in South East Asia, Kumar Deapura.I was not a traveler then (or now) and had never been outside the United States with the exception of Tijuana a couple of times and Canada in college so I knew that this was going to be a new experience for me.After all the shots and paperwork I embarked on the 21 hour flight to Sri Lanka where I would actually live with Kumar in his home and work out of his offices to create this line of clothes.Remember now, I had – since returning home from my LDS mission – been seeking “authenticity” in my life.  Ever since the SNL event I had been seeking to be authentic – though I usually failed.For years prior to this long journey to a completely foreign land, I had spent years seeking truth in music and in film, which branched out into literature, thenPhilosophy, then Marxism, and devoled into thrill, pain and pleasure seeking and wound up in using substances and extra marital relations to ease my troubled mind and heart.Nothing was breaking through.Nothing lasted.  Nothing could withstand scrutiny and remain standing in the end – including the proclamations from my leaders in the only true Church on the face of the earth.Sometime around 1AM Sri Lanka time I literally stumbled out of the plane at the Bandaran-EYE-eeka airport (as I had taken a sleeping pill with a shot of champaign on the plane to sleep) and I dreamily ambled toward the exit by just following the crowd.Though early morning, the air was hot and wet and the smell was not pleasant.  And I found my way to the terminal exit and walked outside and was met with a sight that absolutely stunned me back to my full senses as I found myself face to face with several THOUSANDS of people  - of all ages – there at 1 in the morning – crying and reaching out through the bars of this tall wide iron gate for help.Their hands twisted in the air for money, for food, for some kind of help or attention causing the long high fence itself to almost seem alive.It was something Marx never described in his books, nor Victor Hugo, nor was it something I was ever told about in priesthood meeting or Sunday School.We had no such walls in Huntington Beach, California.  Mom and Dad never talked about such a situation, and all of the rancor and hate and animus toward individuals race, and gender, and lifestyle immediately disappeared in the face of it.  The scene was so raw as it presented itself to me as something I had never even CONSIDERED before.  Out of the blue and in complete contradistinction to the scene before me,  my stare was broken by the sound of an oncoming car blasting it's horn.I turned to my left and watched in what seemed like slow motion as a beautifully polished black Jaguar with fully tinted windows pulled toward me on the drive.It stopped where I was standing and the driver, wearing a purple turban and long flowing white robes exited the vehicle bearing a fully automatic machine gun in his left hand.He came around to where I was standing,  opened the back door and motioned for me to get inside as he stood on high alert.  I got into the most luxurious car I had ever been in in my life, and when he shut the door it almost completely silenced the screams and cries of the fence people lined up on the other side of the road.The driver got in and without a word we sped away, leaving the begging masses, then the iron fence, and finally the lighted airport in our dust as we entered into the dark night of the surrounding country.I was met with an overwhelming feeling of shame followed by an immediate sense of entitlement.The surrounding poverty was cut in half by the silent luxury of the British automobile, the utter despair and stench of abject poverty matched by the hope of luxury surrounding me.It was truly a moment of complete opposites, both equally pulling at my heart and head.  Looking back I can see that it was the culminating event as it was backed by more than a decade of my arduously searching and seeking for truth and authenticity.In the midst of this scene the driver, said flatly, “Music?”And he turned the stereo on allowing the voice of someone I learned to actually trust as a teenager fill the car with sounds of Truth.It was Elvis Costello and the heavy almost chaotic beats of Nick Lowes, “What's so funny about peace love and understanding?” began to play.I was back in my den as a teenager as no words, even from a living prophet, rang more true to my head: As I walk throughthis wicked world Searching for light in the darkness of insanity I ask myself is all hope lost Is there only pain and hatred and misery And each time I feel like this inside theres just one thing I want to know What's So Funny bout Peace, Love, and Understanding oh What's So Funny bout Peace, Love, and Understanding  And as I walk on through These troubled times My spirit gets so down hearted sometimes So where are the strong? who are the trusted? And where is the harmony? sweet harmony Cause each time I feel it slippin' away Just makes me want to cry What's So Funny bout Peace, Love, and Understanding oh What's So Funny bout Peace, Love, and Understanding It was a clarion call to my heart, after all the seeking, all the sinning, all the searching, that said this world – my world – my family, and children, and friends, and community – the members of the “only true church on the face of the earth” – needed someone strong, someone that they could trust – who would unabashedly pursue AND deliver the unvarnished truth without a care for the repercussions.The song and the setting was the final surge in a long series of life-changing waves in my life, as it washed over me, created by my own tears – a wave of shame, a wave of determination. It was a wave that would ultimately serve to help me several years later, as a man then void and desperate to see and understand the absolute NEED for a true Savior in my own life. And then to receive and accept His offering into my soul, allowing me to respond Elvis's question once and for all in my own honest authentic heart: What's so funny about peace love and understanding?  Nothing, Elvis.  Nothing at all.  (RUN THE INTRO TO HEART OF THE MATTER REDUX HERE)It would take a couple more years before the seeds sown in my heart that night would germinate and take root but ultimately, one afternoon in 1997 they were made alive by the most authentic of ALL, and I began to understand, over the course of time, that peace and love and empathy were possible in the lives of people not so naturally inclined to possess them.From that day forward I began to try to live from a place of authenticity, and truth, and genuine expressions.It took time for institutional religion to really reveal itself for what it is – conglomerations of like-minded people seeking to dominate and control others.But before I fully understood this (which I do now) I decided to pen a book about my experiences with this otherworldly peace gifted to me from above and called the finished product, Born-Again Mormon.The principle point of this book, written all they way back in 2003, was to openly ask my LDS family and friends and readers if they too have been “born from above” – you know, “to ask if they have been filled with His Peace, love and understanding?”I knew that once they had – once they heard Him speak to their hearts directly and outside any and all religious affectations, that these people – these devout people who went about seeking to please Heavenly Father but through complicity to the directives of those in power – they would receive and become emancipated from the bondage that religious men put upon them!  They would be free to live in peace, free to love, free to understand the living God but until that time they were no different than the thousands of Sri Lankians reaching out through the bars of a long steel fence.I had the freedom . . . and I wanted them to have it too.In time I entered the arena of live television here in Utah and my message was the same to any who would hear:“have you been born from above?  Is Jesus your Lord, Savior and King?”That's all I cared about then.  That's really all I care about now.  I mean, we even went so far as to say:You wanna stay Mormon?  Go ahead.  But who is Jesus to you?  Have you been given new life in and through Him?  Born from above and given the capacity to live with peace, love and understanding for others?But we noticed that our approach, our attitude, our liberality - was not really appreciated by others also trying to reach the LDS people.From the attackers down at temple square, to pastors of the larger churches here in town, to most people involved in ministry to the Mormons – they didn't get the peace love and understanding approach we were so keen on sharing.They wanted “war, anger, and sharp words.”  They wanted “doctrinal fences” to remain in place that would keep people begging UNTIL they accepted their all of their term – and only then would the seeking be supported and allowed to come around and feel peace, and love and acceptance.The by-line of our book titled, “Born-Again Mormon” was and is aimed at capturing the overall impetus of our purpose.  IT is purposeful and I want to ask you all to consider it tonight:The book:BORN-AGAIN MORMON (with the bi-line) Moving toward Christian Authenticity MOVING . . .TOWARD . . .CHRISTIAN . . .AUTHENTICITY I did not write a book called Born Again Mormon: Moving Away from Christian Authenticity It was purposely described as “moving toward it.” What does that really look like – to move toward Christian Authenticity?  Think about that for a minute, will you?   (Beat) As I've taken the time to reflect on the statement I realized something: The people I know in my life who I can honestly say have moved toward Christian Authenticity have done so despite their religious affiliations!  Or at least I can say, that those who are truly authentic Christians are such INSPITE of the denomination or religious expression that they have chosen to align or associate themselves with. Can you say the same thing? I mean, let's first describe what “Christian authenticity,” really looks like. Think about this! What do the MOST authentically Christian people LOOK LIKE?  How do they live and operate in this world!  Don't they EMBODY . . .  Love, and all of its biblical descriptions?  Aren't the MOST authentic Christians the people who are Kind? Humble? Patient? Longsuffering? Selfless? Not of this world? – people who possess the fruit of the Spirit, are self-effacing, without guile, forgiving, peacemaking?  Isn't it remarkable that when we look around in our personal lives that we stumble upon such folks and isn't it remarkable that the folks who appear to STRUGGLE MOST with manifesting authentic Christians traits are the ones who are the most demanding dogmatically regarding doctrine and denominational directives?   Understand here and now, I am in no way condoning or supporting Mormonism, Mormon doctrine, Mormon practice or culture as sound, good or viable. Our remaining shows will be about these failures in the systems called Mormonism. But despite these institutional demands placed on some Mormon people, I still find some of them – like I still find some Catholics, and some Protestants, and some Calvinists, and Some Muslims – authentically Christian . . . as defined by their selfless love. So this is the first point I want to make in this four-part series – Authentic Christians are known as Authentic Christians BY THEIR LOVE and all of their permutations – no matter what denomination they may associate with. IF my observation is true, then isn't it time to step back against the former rhetoric and vitriol against individuals who practice Mormonism? Can we begin the peacemaking process that will enable reason to step in and work among us? I know the mindset of the insane religionists – and there isn't anything we can really do to stop them.  We cannot bind and gag the zealots outside temple square or the magazines and books that use hyperbolic language to assassinate every Mormon on earth. But by God, what's so funny about peace, love and understanding when it comes to dealing with individuals composed of flesh and blood who have needs, and families, and spouses, and are trying to know and follow God?  Can't we at least begin to openly admit that there are authentic Christians who happen to also be Catholics, and Mormons, and Baptists, Methodists, Prebyterians, Calvinists, Arminianists, Modalists, Binitarians, Trinitarians and all the rest? I want to make this perspective clear to you tonight – because it is important to me. Show me a man or a woman who authentically “bears the fruit of the Spirit” in their lives and I will show you a man or a woman who is my brother or sister in the Lord.  This is my message – without any lines drawn in my book about which Jesus, which God, which book of scripture, which temple, which priesthood. This is JUST the starting point in the dialogue – and we need one.  I am NOT suggesting I agree with any of the LDS views on these things, and I openly admit that their stance ON such things only serve to INHIBIT the freedom and liberty of those who are under their influence, but can we all at least begin with the acknowledgement that no matter what, if a person evidences the fruit of the Spirit in their lives that we receive them as brothers and sisters – after all, didn't Jesus say that “by their LOVE we would know His disciples?” So can't we START here? (beat) Can't we admit that just as Joseph Smith was a faulty con that Erasmus had problems too? And that just as Brigham Young said some really wonky things about women and blacks that Martin Luther was guilt of anti-Semetic rhetoric? Can't we admit that the way Jean Calvin describes the plan of Salvation for man is as jacked up as the Mormon view? And can't we admit that where the Mormon machine certainly manipulates its members into conformity and compliance that most religious organizations do the same? Do we HAVE to so biasedly pick on them reaching for the splinter in their eyes when our own approach is overloaded with fails too? I am not trying to suggest that Mormonism and its doctrines are equal to or superior to the pure doctrines that are derived from sound exegetical reasoning from the scripture. This whole program is based on proving how manipulative Mormonism is toward its own people.  But to me those of us who are on the outside and are trying to reach in and help emancipate LDS people from such manipulation have to be fair, and reasonable, and willing to give LDS people every benefit of the doubt IF we are going to have any real success in getting them, or their institution to change. This brings me to two final points before we either take your calls or wrap it up for tonight. In my world-view, there are two types of people – and both are deserving of my utmost love and respect. The first type are those who do NOT operate by the fruit of the Spirit or selfless love for others. Again, my response mandated by my King, is to love them with the kind of love the Word describes. We have had many of them on our show – they are humanists, LGBTQ people, attackers of others, self-promoters, cause-driven souls, people of this world, atheists – whatever. Most of them either feign some sort of attraction to “a god of somesort” or they flat out admit that they don't really care. This is the first group.  And again, as a believer I am convinced that our job is to love them as we love ourselves, that we receive them, and accept them, and hear what they have to say. That is the first group.   The second group are those who embody the fruit of the Spirit, who have a longing and love for God, and whose words and deeds for others reflect the words and ways of the King of Christianity – Christ Himself. What I want to make clear to any and all who hear me tonight is my primary audience are the second group. And while I actually, literally do love all who are in the first group, I speak to, reach to and try to teach and encourage those who are in group two. You are my friends.You are my brothers and sisters.You are His children, Sons and Daughters of God – and EVERYTHING I SAY AND DO, EVERYTHING I TRY TO TEACH AND SUGGEST – is to you. Heart of the Matter is a show for those who seek God in Spirit and Truth and put agape, selfless love for all first in their lives. Finally, the people who make up this second group I maintain come from all walks of religious life.  All of them. 

1/9/16 Saturday 1pm ET/12pm CTRL/11am MTN/10am Pac Call in and listen, share comments, or ask questions at 1-347-934-0379 or online at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/healingxoutreach/2016/01/09/btr-guest-dr-phil-fernandes-what-is-modalism-why-are-they-not-christians You can also listen via Six screens telenetwork dial in via your telephone (712)432-8710 When prompted dial 9925. Have a comment would like to talk with us press *1 to unmute yourself or by video suite for details on how to get to the video suite go here: http://www.sixscreensofthewatchtower.com/telenetwork/telenetwork-directions.php Our topic is: "What is Modalism and why are Modalists not considered Christians? Our Guest is Dr. Phil Fernandes who received his PHD in philosophy from Greenwich University and is the President for the "Instititute of Biblical defense." He has written 7 books including his latest work "Hijacking the Historical Jesus - Answering Recent Attacks on the Jesus of the Bible." His other books are, "Contend Earnestly for the Faith, God, Government, and the Road to Tyranny, The God Who Sits Enthroned: Evidence for God’s Existence, No Other Gods: A Defense of Biblical Christianity, Theism Vs. Atheism: The Internet Debate and The Decay of a Nation" His ministry website is at: http://instituteofbiblicaldefense.com/

2013/14 saw Oneness Pentecostals celebrate their centennial anniversary.  However, the heresies that this group holds to regarding the nature of God and the person of Jesus Christ can be traced back much further, to the early beginnings of Christianity in the second and third centuries A.D.  Very early on in it's history, the Church of Jesus Christ has had to withstand and refute the heresies of Modalists who denied the Trinity and instead sought to teach that God is only one in relation to His person.  This teaching explores that early history and in particular addresses what took place at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D.  Download the notes for this teaching below http://traffic.libsyn.com/bethesdashalom/5b_Oneness_Pentecostals_Pt2.pdf

Actually, what's going on is we're fighting for the doctrine of the Trinity.  It's Trinity Sunday, and we have the Athanasian Creed in mind, and it's time to set the record straight again before the full blown Modalists get their chance to mess things up...  Happily, most Modalists don't celebrate Trinity Sunday.  Strange...