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John 10:30 – Oneness Theory

Victor M. Eskew

 

            The Oneness Pentecostals believe that there is only one being in the Godhead.  One of the affirmations they make is that Jesus is the Father.  On page 66 of his book, The Oneness of God, David K. Bernard makes this statement:  “If there is only one God and that God is the Father (Malachi 2:10), and if Jesus is God, then it logically follows that Jesus is the Father.”

            One of the verses used to try to prove this doctrine is John 10:30.  Jesus said:  “I and my Father are one.”  The Oneness Holiness teaches that Jesus means “I and my Father are one being.”  Mr. Bernard affirms this position on page 198 of his book.  He writes:  “As God, Jesus is one with the Father in the sense of identity with the Father – in the sense that He is the Father” (John 10:30; 14:9).

            Let’s look at John 10:30 in its context.  Jesus is speaking to a group of Jews who refused to believe in Him (John 10:23-25).  He tells them that they believed not “because ye are not of my sheep” (John 10:26).  He then makes two interesting comments about His sheep:  1) They hear my voice and follow me (John 10:27), and 2) They have eternal life and no man can pluck them out of my hand (John 10:28-29).  Jesus’ comment on that latter point is telling.  “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”  If Jesus is the Father we have some interesting comments made by Jesus in this verse.  First, He is His own Father.  Second, He gave Himself His own sheep.  Third, the Father is greater than the Son, but the Son is the Father.  Such teaching is totally confusing.  It distorts the simple meaning of the English language.

            Jesus is not the same being as the Father.  He is, however, one with the Father.  They are one in attributes.  They are one in aim and purpose.  They are one in desire.  As Jesus said:  “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9).