An interesting book about Oneness Pentecostals
It is an interesting book about Oneness Pentecostals and their main beliefs, by a man who used to be one of them, though later he converted to Protestant Trinitarianism.
He showed well how the Oneness Pentecostals are wrong in stating that the early second century Catholic church was Oneness. He showed likewise how it does not seem logical to explain some verses in terms of the Oneness doctrine. Yet other verses are clearly explained better by assuming Oneness, so there is some contradiction in the Bible. He does not want to believe there can be any contradiction in the Bible.
Similarly with salvation, Oneness Pentecostals generally believe that obedience to God is also necessary for salvation, not only faith. But that is what some verses teach. He claims that the Oneness doctrine leads to a works salvation doctrine, ignoring the fact that before Luther, generally all churches taught salvation by not only faith, but also works, obedience, and repentance of sins. Already in the second century, if not in the first one, though I suspect even in the first one. Though I can see how it is really contradictory in the Bible.
And there is in fact one Oneness denomination that is radically teaching salvation by faith alone, the International Ministry Growing in Grace, which is so radical, that they say it does not matter what you do, as long as you have faith in de Jesus Miranda, who they teach is Jesus, and therefore God, and that there is really no sin today. So it is taking salvation by faith to an extreme. So Oneness belief does not necessarily lead to belief in works needed for salvation, just like Trinitarian belief of course does not necessarily lead to belief in salvation by faith alone.
Also other beliefs are discussed, like water baptism needed for salvation, women not allowed to cut hair, and tongues needed for salvation, which he correctly shows can lead to some Oneness Pentecostals being in anguish, why are they unable to speak in tongues, and therefore not yet saved.
