ISBN 1-56186-517-6  large-size paperback (> Bob Ross BOOKS <)

304 pages  $14.00  Author: BOB L. ROSS
The TRINITY and the ETERNAL SONSHIP of Christ: A Defense Against 'Oneness' Pentecostal
Attacks on Historic Christianity

A strong defense and rebuke against David K. Bernard's "Oneness Pentecostal" attacks on historic christianity [including the recent foundation and history of the "Oneness" Movement / United Pentecostal Church], as well as an exhaustive exposition on the Doctrine of Jesus Christ's ETERNAL Sonship. A book entitled THE ONENESS OF GOD (written by Bernard) has come to my attention. The book seeks to prove the "Oneness" theory that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are actually only "titles, roles, manifestations, designations," etc for the one GOD. In other words, by Trinitarian standards, the book completely denies the reality of the Son of God and the Holy Spirit as "persons." To Mr. Bernard, these are only titles or roles. Instead of believing "these three are one," Bernard instead believes "this one is three roles." (see 1 John 5:7 — I am not entering the controversy on the authenticity of this passage, as Mr. Bernard has tried to expound it without favoring a particular view of textual criticism.)

Had Bernard simply confined his book to asserting and defending his views, I would have no interest in making any comments about the book; however, as is inherent with a peculiar concept which is an antithesis to another concept, its advocate finds it necessary to discredit the opposite position. It is in this area of discreditation of the Trinity that I find objectionable and fallacious material in Bernard's book. The weakness of the book is most obvious at this point, and perhaps this weakness also indicates the indefensible character of the "Oneness" doctrine itself, although I am willing to concede that foibles of a professed believer of a doctrine do not necessarily indict the doctrine.

The Bible doctrine about God, as well as God's revelation of Himself in Creation, has suffered at the hands of carnal reasoning since the fall of man (Romans 1:18-25). The mind of man in its fallen condition presents a very formidable obstacle to his coming to a complete knowledge of the truth (2 Corinthians 10:5). Although we often say, "I don't see how" some person or group can believe, or not believe, a particular concept, we are plainly told by the word of God that "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED" (1 Cor. 2:14), and "the carnal mind is enmity against God" (Romans 8:7). See also Ephesians 4:17-19.

Christians are warned of their own problem of possible deception: "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive" (Eph. 4:14). In fact, Christians are warned of "false Christs and false prophets" who, if it were possible, would seduce and deceive "the very elect" (Mark 13:22, Matthew 24:24).

CHRIST, the Primary Target

While all of God's truth has been and continues to be assaulted by those who "speak evil of those things which they know not" (Jude 10), it seems the central target of "false teachers" (2 Peter 2:1) is the Person and Work of our Lord. "Denying the Lord" (2 Peter 2:1) "denying the Son" (1 John 2:23) seems to be the favorite endeavor of those who are intent upon "beguiling unstable souls" (2 Peter 2:14). This is not surprising, since Satan himself, the "father of the lie" (John 8:44), mounted a personal and direct attack against the Lord Jesus at His birth and on through His earthly life (Revelation 12:4, Matthew 2:13, 4:1-11). Satan had no success in his efforts at tempting the Son of God, so now he is set upon distorting, perverting, and setting aside the Word of God (Mark 7:1-13, Isaiah 8:20, 1 Timothy 4:1-2, 5:15).

When we read the epistles, we find Christ was attacked in early apostolic times. His RESURRECTION was denied (Matthew 28:12-15). His DEITY was denied (2 John 7). His promised RETURN was denied (2 Peter 3:4). His gospel of GRACE was denied (Galatians 1:1-9, 3:1, 6:12-14). Perhaps no attribute of His person is free of the undermining advocates of "philosophy, vain deceit, the tradition of men and science falsely so-called" (Colossians 2:8, 1 Timothy 6:20).

— (above) Excerpted from the Introduction (in Chapter 1)

IN REVIEW, The Baptist Evangel (May 1993), by Editor Jack Warren

This book is not only an answer to the Oneness Pentecostal denial of the Trinity and the eternal Sonship of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, but it is also a great treatise on the Doctrine of the Trinity. There are 21 chapters, discussing Pentecostal attacks on the Trinity and eternal Sonship, and an appendix on John 1:18. Dr. Ross does not just present the negative aspect of the problem, but he also includes chapters on: God's decree in Psalms 2:7 and the word "begotten" from other scriptures; the Son of God as the Word and Wisdom of God; the triune Elohim of the Old Testament; the views of historic Christianity, the everlasting Father of Isaiah 9:6, understanding the Trinity, and a chapter on the Sonship of Christ by Andrew Fuller.

I have never read a better revelation of and denunciation of Pentecostals as Brother Ross does in this book. He gives a thorough history of Oneness Pentecostalism from its beginning and shows how their doctrine of "Jesus only" sprang from man's thinking rather than from the Word of God. He reveals the immorality and sexual aberrations of the founder of the Pentecostal Movement — Charles Parham — and others; such as A. A. Allen and Jimmy Swaggart.

Bob Ross shows what the following abnormalities have in common: egomania, paranoia, schizophrenia, and psychopathic behavior. He shows the deceitfulness of Pentecostalism's teaching on tongues, healing and baptismal regeneration. And he shows how much like Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Campbellites, and other cults, the Pentecostals are.

He says of the Oneness Pentecostals —

"... the 'Oneness' curse is a rebuke to the false claims of the whole Wesleyan-Arminian scheme of theology which magnifies the subjective experiences of man over the objective revelation of Divine truth." He says: "With its emphasis upon the will of man as the foundation of its theology, the Wesleyan movement developed its concept of holiness along the lines of the improvement of the flesh, ultimately arriving at the conclusion that carnality can be completely eradicated through a 'second work of grace,' erroneously called 'sanctification.' "

While he does not say they are Pentecostal in doctrine, Dr. Ross also discusses the view on the Sonship of Christ held by fellow trinitarians John MacArthur, Walter Martin, J. Oliver Buswell, as well as Adam Clarke's commentary and the Dake Bible.

A very important chapter is called, "Onenites Misrepresent Early History; Baptismal 'Formula' Is Unscriptural." In this chapter, Ross discusses the historical position on the Trinity of the church fathers, such as: Polycarp, Clement, Mathetes, Ignatius and others.

In a chapter on the views of "Historic Christianity," Ross quotes from the Westminster Confession, the London Confession, the Philadelphia Confession, the New Hampshire Confession and many others. On Christ as the begotten Son of God, he quotes many theologians, including: Augustus H. Strong, John Gill, C. H. Spurgeon, A. T. Robertson, B. B. Warfield, and others.

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BOOK. It challenges attacks made by Pentecostalism, Adam Clark, and others, on the Biblical teaching of the deity of Christ.

Detailed List of CHAPTERS coming soon

(> Bob Ross BOOKS <)

********************************************************************************

LAST MODIFIED  August 13 - 2004