A History of Christian Doctrine #3 - Online Christian Library

Oneness Pentecostal Organizations
wide, we have noted a diversity of beliefs and practices.
All of them share key beliefs with conservative
Protestantism, including the existence of one true God;
the creation of the universe by God; the inspiration and
authority of Scripture; the existence of angels, the devil,
and demons; the fall and sinfulness of humanity; the
Incarnation (Jesus Christ is God manifested in the flesh
and the Son of God); the Atonement (the death, burial,
and resurrection of Jesus Christ); salvation by grace
through faith in Jesus Christ; water baptism; the New
Testament church as the people of God; the priesthood of
believers; the rapture of the church; the second coming of
Jesus Christ to earth; the Millennium; the last judgment;
eternal punishment for the unrighteous; and eternal life
for the righteous. With the exception of a small American
“spiritual communion” group called the Associated
Brotherhood of Christians, they observe the Lord’s
Supper, and most practice foot washing as an ordinance.
Like other Pentecostal groups, they all teach the baptism
of the Holy Spirit with the initial sign of tongues,
spiritual gifts for today, and divine healing.
In addition, these groups share three major Oneness
Pentecostal distinctives: (1) the Oneness view of the
Godhead, (2) the plan of salvation according to Acts
2:38, and (3) holiness of lifestyle and dress (at least in
some measure). We have already examined the doctrine
of God in chapter 3, and we will examine the doctrine of
salvation next. The teachings on holiness are not unique
to Oneness Pentecostals, but they characterized the
Holiness and Pentecostal movements generally, including
Trinitarian Pentecostals until the latter half of the twentieth
century. Thus we will discuss this point in chapter 5,
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