What Is Modalism?

[robycop3]

The other day, I posted a few Scriptures from the KJV against the blasphemous, apostate heresy called modalism/ sabellianism/ oneness, which says that God is but one Personage who manifests Himself in the "modes" of Father, Son, or Holy Spirit as the occasion demands. However, Scripture makes it plain that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each a separate, distinct Personage, while being parts of the one Godhead.

The modalists' prOBlem is that they try to compare GOD with MAN. They just cannot see how THREE PERSONAGES can be ONE GOD, even though it's made plain in Scripture. When Jesus said "I and My Father are one" in John 10:30, this is what He meant, as He later prayed, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: ... {John 17:20-22) We see that He meant that HE AND HIS FATHER WERE IN PERFECT HARMONY in their wills and intent, NOT that they were ONE SINGLE PERSONAGE.

But let us look for more Scripture proving modalism false. In Psalm 110:1, David wrote, by the HOLY SPIRIT..."
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

I have heard the absurd argument that this reading is a result of some opinionated translation of some OBscure Hebrew. Yeah, RRIIGGHHTTT! Those folx are correct, and hundreds of translators are wrong!

BUUZZZ!

Every valid English version I've ever seen reads pretty well the same! Moreover, we have the words of JESUS, recorded into precise Greek, translated into English for us: "For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Now, was GOD THE FATHER talking to Himself? Not hardly!

And in Genesis 1:26 we read,"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:.."

Again, was God talking to Himself?

And in John 14:16, JESUS says: "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;"

And who is this Comforter? Jesus tells us:"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."(John 14:26) Jesus mentions Him further in John 15:26 & John 16:7. And from these passages we see that the Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit, is a Personage, as JESUS calls Him "he" in John 14:16. And He is NOT God The Father, who sends the Comforter in Jesus' name.

And in Revelation 4 John sees the throne of God in heaven, and in Rev, 5 he sees Jesus as the Lamb of God take the scroll from His Father's right hand. They are certainly separate Personages!

Now, this is but a short list of further Scriptural proofs that MODALISM IS FALSE! And while the term "Holy Trinity" is not found in Scripture, the DOCTRINE is, plain as the nose on your face. The argument against the Trinity doctrine("Holey Trinnuty aint found in Scripcher") is asinine; it's as answering a fire alarm by spraying water on the alarm. Plainly, Scripture PROVES that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each a separate, distinct Personage, each part of the one Godhead. God The Father said, "Let US..." Jesus PRAYED! To WHOM? Jesus said He could forgive blasphemy against HIMSELF, but NOT against the HOLY SPIRIT. Jesus said, "MY FATHER is GREATER than I." He said HIS FATHER would send the COMFORTER, who is the HOLY SPIRIT, in His name. He sits BESIDE THE THRONE OF HIS FATHER, AT HIS FATHER'S RIGHT HAND.

As my pastor explained it, the best we can see the HOLY TRINITY in human terms is in the form of an absolute monarchy. Say there is a king in such a monarchy, with two sons. The king has absolute power, answering to no one; he rules all he surveys. His oldest son is subject only to his father. the younger son is subject only to his father and brother. All three of them have absolute rule over the kingdom, and the sons dearly love their father and OBey his will perfectly, and their father loves them just as dearly. There are three persons in the royal family, but ONLY ONE MONARCHY, or ruling entity.

How can anyone with a lick of sense who believes the Bible deny that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each a separate, distinct Personage? Denying the existence of any of them is pure BLASPHEMY!

[Quiet Listener]

I was not aware of this belief of modalism.
Thank you for this post and discussion.

I do have a question though. I see that the LORD reveals Himself in the Trinity as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. I see that Jesus Christ most definitely did not pray to Himself when He prayed to the Father. What I don't understand is why God's Word says "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:" (Deu. 6:4).

I believe that verse to be true and I also believe the Trinity to be distinct persons, but I do not see how I am to reconcile the two.

Perhaps this is where we say that the Trinity is beyond our understanding and if so than O.K., but if anybody has any scriptual information that could help me to understand this relationship than please post it here!

Thank you and may Jehovah bless and keep you!

[Invicta]

Good for your wife, PB, for CONFRONTING a cultist by questioning the cultist's belief. My wife's brother's mom-in-law is a Oneness Pentecostal, the person with whom my wife discussed women wearing pants. (My wife wears pants guilt-free whenever.)

I had a long talk with her, as she tried to sway me from my anti-KJVO stance. So, I asked her, "Do you believe EVERY WORD of the KJV, exactly as written?" & she answered ' yes. So, I picked up her KJV & turned to


John 14:28 "Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I."

as well as Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22, & John 1;29-34.

In the gospel of John, he said he "bare record" of these things. This is VERY important, because under Roman law, this was equivalent to a sworn affidavit of today, with severe penalties for falsely bearing record.

She said she was sure there was some explanation, but that she'd hafta get back with me. That was a few weex ago, & I'm still waiting. I'll letcha know that she has to say when next I speak with her.

And your point is?

[Jerry]

The word for "one" in Deuteronomy 6:4 means "one made up of parts. Some words that are also be spoken of the same way are: family, army, grape cluster, the tabernacle.

[robycop3]

The point is, Invicta, that this is not a false doctrine hidden away in some OBscure sect somewhere; it's found in many a congregation in the USA alone, and it's FALSE AND BLASPHEMOUS, entirely against Scripture. We should be warning more people about it.

Good info, Jerry! Just as my pastor's example of the monarchy points out, there are three Divine Personages, but only ONE GODHEAD.

[JerryNumbers]

The point is, Invicta, that this is not a false doctrine hidden away in some OBscure sect somewhere; it's found in many a congregation in the USA alone, and it's FALSE AND BLASPHEMOUS, entirely against Scripture. We should be warning more people about it.

Good info, Jerry! Just as my pastor's example of the monarchy points out, there are three Divine Personages, but only ONE GODHEAD.

I knew of the oneness of the Pentecostals, but I did not know it was called Modalism.

rOBycop3, Years back I had a ongoing debate with a Pentecostal preacher. I gave him many of the same verses you posted, but it did not seem to sway him the least bit. Pentecostals seem to have blinders on.