Bishop John Francis

[TRFrance]

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

You are looking our way! LOL

I dont know about all that :O)
But I just dont think I have scriptural backing to say that knowledge of the Godhead is a requirement for salvation. Even many people who get saved in Oneness churches didnt know much about Godhead doctrine at the time they get saved.

Originally Posted by tstew

My only concern is once again the "if we or even an angel from heaven preach anything different let him be accursed"...Can you be accursed and saved at the same time?
I'm not sure how we define what is and isn't important, but I believe that adherence to proper doctrine is the only safe place.

"Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine." "Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. " 1 Timothy 4:13,16

I don't say this in a competetive, elitist type of way like some might. I genuinely would like all to be saved, and I'm just not sure where we can start to define the level of importance of any aspect of doctrine.

I certainly understand the sentiment there. And you raise some good questions.

I'd much rather be safe than sorry, anyway. As for me, I'd rather die as a Oneness believer than as a Trinitarian, any day of the week!

I guess the key question here is... is proper knowledge or understanding a requirement for salvation?(or...Is Godhead doctrine a part of the gospel?)

Many people walk into a church, repent, get baptized, and God fills them with the Holy Ghost, and these people dont know the first thing about the Oneness/Trinity debate. God didnt seem to require that of them before He filled them with His Spirit.

Some Oneness folks have argued that if such a person were to later switch to Trinitarian beliefs, he loses his soul. I cant say that's true, (although I really cant say its false either).

I do know there are some Trinitarian Pentecostals who have some harsh things to say about Oneness beliefs and Oneness believers, and it disturbs me that a person who'd been baptized in the HG could have such antipathy toward Oneness truth... but I'm not prepared to say that such a person is going to hell. I know there are more than a few Apostolics who would consign such a person to hell, but as for me, I'd rather leave that decision up to God.