One Name not three!

Jesus Commanded Baptism in
One Name in Matthew 28:19 Jesus was talking to the apostles. He said to them, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations [which included the Jews, Gentiles, and mixed races such as the Samaritans], baptizing them in the name [singular] of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” If Jesus had said to baptize in the “names” He would have meant that there were three different names in which to baptize. But He said “name,” a singular noun, which shows that the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost is the name Jesus. Matthew 1:21 says, “She shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS.” If a person were to baptize anyone in the name of the Son he would have to baptize him in the name of Jesus, since that is the name of the Son. In John 5:43 Jesus said, “I am come in my Father’s name.” Finally, in John 14:26 He said, “The Comforter . . . whom the Father will send in my name.” Thus the name that reveals the Father and Holy Ghost is Jesus.

The apostles, as they carried out their commission, proved by their actions that the name in which to baptize is Jesus. They baptized the Samaritans in the name of one divine person, Jesus Christ (Acts 8:16). They baptized the Jews in the name of one divine person, Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38). And they baptized the Gentiles in the name of one divine person again, the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 10:48). Finally, Acts 19:5 shows that the apostles rebaptized the converts of John the Baptist in the name of one divine person, whose name is Jesus.

No passage in the Bible even resembles the trinity dogma especially in regard to water baptism. After Jesus gave the Great Commission to the apostles (recorded in Matthew 28:19), He opened their understanding and explained to them that the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost actually was His own name—Jesus (Luke 24:47). At Jerusalem the apostles began practicing the Great Commission. They baptized their converts in the name of one divine person—that is, in the name of Jesus.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:38-39).

Nowhere nor at any time in the Bible did anybody ever baptize anyone by recognizing a trinity of persons in God. The trinity doctrine is a direct violation of the Word of God.

The Oneness Doctrine

The Oneness Pentecostal movement teaches that the biblical, apostolic, Christian doctrine of God, which it commonly calls Oneness, excludes the modem doctrine of the trinity.

The doctrine of Oneness can be stated in two affirmations:

(1) God is absolutely and indivisibly one with no distinction of persons (Deuteronomy 6:4; Galatians 3:20).

(2) Jesus Christ is all the fullness of the Godhead incarnate (John 20:28; Colossians 2:9).

All the names and titles of the Deity, such as God, Jehovah, Lord, Father, Word, and Holy Ghost, refer to one and the same being. These various names and titles simply denote manifestations, roles, relationships to humanity, modes of activity, or aspects of God’s self-revelation.

The titles of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost describe God’s multiple roles and works, but they do not reflect an essential threeness in God’s nature. Father refers to God in family relationship to humanity; Son refers to God in flesh; and Spirit refers to God in activity.


1. There is one God with no distinction of persons.

2. The oneness of God is not a mystery, but the identity of Jesus is.

3. Jesus is the incarnation of the fullness of God; in His deity He is Father, Word, and Spirit.

4. The Son of God was begotten after the flesh, not from eternity; the term refers to the Incarnation.

5. The Word is not a separate person but is God’s mind, plan, thought, and self-revelation, which is God Himself.

6. Jesus is the revealed name of God in the New Testament.

7. Water baptism should be administered by invoking the name of Jesus.

8. To receive Christ is to receive the Holy Ghost and vice versa.

9. Believers will definitely see only one divine being in heaven: Jesus Christ.