Oneness Pentecostals Theology?

[PetoVeritas]

I was watching TBN the other day (don’t know why really) and I heard a man (I want to say it was Robert Kayanja but don’t quote me - he had an African accent like Kayanja so that’s why I think it was him ) speaking on Christ and in his teaching he said, “If Christ did had not had the Holy Spirit within Him when He’d died on the Cross, then His death wouldn’t have meant anything. Without the Holy Spirit having come upon Christ His death would have meant nothing.”
This has really stayed with me particularly since I vehemently disagree with that statement. The reason I bring it up is not to argue the point or the theological beliefs or merits of this man, but simply to get more information on the background of the theology. From what I could ascertain from his website, he’s definitely charismatic, but I was curious to know if this ideology is something that is contained in what is known as Oneness Pentecostalism (and for any Pentecostals out there who adhere to this theology and don’t like this term, I apologize, I’m not trying to pick a fight over terminology either, but I don’t know what else to call it.)
If not or if so, I was just curious to know where the basis for this comes from and what he could have possibly meant by this phrase. Obviously I am familiar with the Bible passage of Jesus’ Baptism and the Holy Spirit descending upon Him, but is this man really suggesting that if, for some reason, Jesus had been killed before this point in time that it wouldn’t have meant anything? That for some reason, like a prophet, the Holy Spirit had to be with Him first. Wouldn’t the fact that He is the Son of God and part of (as many Christians believe) an undivided Trinity make this view invalid?
Again, not trying to create an argument or a fuss nor am I trying to validate my point over someone else’s. I really do just want to get (name removed by moderator)ut about this statement, especially from someone who holds this idea as a theological truth.
God Bless.

 

[oneGODoneCHURCH]

I was watching TBN the other day (don’t know why really) and I heard a man (I want to say it was Robert Kayanja but don’t quote me - he had an African accent like Kayanja so that’s why I think it was him ) speaking on Christ and in his teaching he said, “If Christ did had not had the Holy Spirit within Him when He’d died on the Cross, then His death wouldn’t have meant anything. Without the Holy Spirit having come upon Christ His death would have meant nothing.”
This has really stayed with me particularly since I vehemently disagree with that statement. The reason I bring it up is not to argue the point or the theological beliefs or merits of this man, but simply to get more information on the background of the theology. From what I could ascertain from his website, he’s definitely charismatic, but I was curious to know if this ideology is something that is contained in what is known as Oneness Pentecostalism (and for any Pentecostals out there who adhere to this theology and don’t like this term, I apologize, I’m not trying to pick a fight over terminology either, but I don’t know what else to call it.)
If not or if so, I was just curious to know where the basis for this comes from and what he could have possibly meant by this phrase. Obviously I am familiar with the Bible passage of Jesus’ Baptism and the Holy Spirit descending upon Him, but is this man really suggesting that if, for some reason, Jesus had been killed before this point in time that it wouldn’t have meant anything? That for some reason, like a prophet, the Holy Spirit had to be with Him first. Wouldn’t the fact that He is the Son of God and part of (as many Christians believe) an undivided Trinity make this view invalid?
Again, not trying to create an argument or a fuss nor am I trying to validate my point over someone else’s. I really do just want to get (name removed by moderator)ut about this statement, especially from someone who holds this idea as a theological truth.
God Bless.

Oneness Pentecostals are not Trinitarian. They do not hold to christ being fully human and fully divine. As Cathoilic we hold that Christ was both fully human and fully devine always.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Doesn’t Oneness Pentecostals believe that God is only one, and that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit different manifestations of the same God? Or am I thinking of another group?

 

[PetoVeritas]

No, you’re right. That’s them. They believe God is just one Being manifesting Himself in different ways but the Holy Spirit and Jesus are not separate entities of their own yet still sharing in a Trinitarian design.
That’s why I wasn’t sure if this idea that Jesus’ death “didn’t count” until the Holy Spirit was upon Him was some sort of off-shoot or idea born out of the Oneness Pentecostalism theology because the man speaking seems to be a part of that movement. That’s why I was trying to see if that was just something this guy had come up with or if it was part of the Oneness theological espousal.

 

[PetoVeritas]

Just as an update I have answered my own question by much research and reading. Apparently, the idea that Jesus was simply a man and that His death on the Cross counted only because the Holy Spirit came upon Him is a theology promoted by what’s called the “Word Faith” movement in Evangelical Charismatic/Pentacostalism.

The concept is similar sounding to the Mormon doctrine of “As man is, God once was; as God is, man may be.” It is the promotion of the idea that a man can be exactly what Jesus was because Jesus was merely a man before the Holy Spirit came upon Him. Therefore, it is possible for men today to be exactly what Christ is/was. We could have even been Redeemers ourselves if called upon. (cf. “Substitution and Identification” by Kenneth Copeland)

“[Most Christians] mistakenly believe that Jesus was able to work wonders, to perform, miracles, and to live above sin because He had divine power that we don’t have. Thus, they’ve never really aspired to live like He lived.
They don’t realize that when Jesus came to earth, He voluntarily gave up that advantage, living His life here not as God, but as a man. He had no innate supernatural powers. He had no ability to perform miracles until after He was anointed by the Holy Spirit as recorded in Luke 3:22. He ministered as a man anointed by the Holy Spirit.” (Copland)

So there’s the answer for anyone who’s looking for it either now or in the future.