Non-Trinitarianism

[Vanda.356]

Can a Christian be a non-Trinitarian, yet believe that God is Jesus and Jesus is God, one and the same?

 

[Jeff Carr]

You can't be a Christian if you deny the Trinity.

 

[PloverWing]

Can a Christian be a non-Trinitarian, yet believe that God is Jesus and Jesus is God, one and the same?

I think so. Examples include Oneness Pentecostals and Kings Chapel, Boston. You may find that it's challenging to develop a full doctrine of the Incarnation without also having a doctrine of the Trinity, and of course you'd be standing outside of the main body of orthodox Christian belief. But if you believe that Jesus was God Incarnate and you look to Christ for salvation, I'd say that you're a Christian.

 

[Jerry N.]

Many in the Messianic community just don’t worry about it. Jesus is the Messiah who died for our sins and rose from the dead. Messianic Jews and Christians were not really part of the original discussion on the Trinity.

 

[bling]

Can a Christian be a non-Trinitarian, yet believe that God is Jesus and Jesus is God, one and the same?

I just cannot explain it. Jews cannot explain the two seemingly different forms of "God" in the OT either which Jesus does explain.

 

[Aaron112]

Can a Christian be a non-Trinitarian, yet believe that God is Jesus and Jesus is God, one and the same?

Depends on definition of "a Christian".
All of the Apostles and disciples immersed in Jesus in the first century simply believed that Yahweh is the Creator and Jesus , echad with Yahweh always forever eternally before anything and forever and ever after everything ,
is Savior-Messiah-Master-Shepherd-Teacher-Comforter-Deliverer ! HallaluYAH! Amen.

 

[Aaron112]

You can't be a Christian if you deny the Trinity.

By that definition you might not want to be ?

 

[Clare73]

Many in the Messianic community just don’t worry about it. Jesus is the Messiah who died for our sins and rose from the dead. Messianic Jews and Christians were not really part of the original discussion on the Trinity.

Those who deny the Trinity have to scale down the gospel--and they do.
Those who deny the Trinity deny the majesty of God, for they have him
begetting inferior beings (human Jesus) that are not divine,
redeeming by proxy instead of himself, not involving his person in the redemption (by the Son) and sanctification (by the Spirit) of men,
paying no personal price and,
thereby, they rob him of his glory (Ex 14:4).

They have to make God too small--and they do.
They take out the very heart, core and meaning of the Christian faith in God.

Can a Christian be a non-Trinitarian, yet believe that God is Jesus and Jesus is God, one and the same?

You just made human nature and divine nature the same thing.

So to have human nature, which I have, and to have divine nature are the same thing, which makes me God.

 

[Jerry N.]

Those who deny the Trinity have to scale down the gospel--and they do.
Those who deny the Trinity deny the majesty of God, for they have him
begetting inferior beings (human Jesus) that are not divine,
redeeming by proxy instead of himself, not involving his person in the redemption (by the Son) and sanctification (by the Spirit) of men,
paying no personal price and,
thereby, they rob him of his glory (Ex 14:4).

They have to make God too small--and they do.
They take out the very heart, core and meaning of the Christian faith in God.

Not worrying about the Trinity is not the same as denying the Trinity. For about 300 years, it wasn't an issue. It is hard enough to follow Christ in the real world, and the Trinity does not change the actions we must take. It does not rob Christ of His glory.

 

[Clare73]

Not worrying about the Trinity is not the same as denying the Trinity. For about 300 years, it wasn't an issue. It is hard enough to follow Christ in the real world, and the Trinity does not change the actions we must take. It does not rob Christ of His glory.

Of those with saving faith, who "worries" about
the Trinity, or
justification, or
imputation, or
passive and active obedience of Christ, etc.?

 

[Jerry N.]

Of those with saving faith, who "worries" about
the Trinity, or
justification, or
imputation, or
passive and active obedience of Christ, etc.?

If the Trinity is the foundation of your faith and you understand it, I would say nothing against it. However, believing that the Messiah died for our sins and rose from the dead is sufficient for some. Justification, imputation, and passive and active obedience of Christ, etc. is not affected for others. Belief that Christ is the Messiah makes Jesus the Son of God and incorporates the Holy Spirit in His being. There is one God, and how the Holy Spirit, Christ, and The Father are related and form that unity is beyond the understanding of many people, but it doesn’t affect grace or salvation. If somebody says that they believe in the Trinity and not understand it, does it affect their salvation?

 

[Dan Perez]

And there are some that say IF they cannot see. the word TRINITY that there is no Trinity. , really. !!

In 1 John 5:7 and 8 !!

Verse 7 reads , For there are THREE that bear record in. Heaven , the Father , the Word , and the Holy Spirit

and these THREE ARE ONE >

vERSE 8 , SAYS , And there are THREE that bear witness in Earth. , the Spirit. and the Water , and the Blood

and these THREE. AGREE IN ONE .

dan p

 

[Clare73]

If the Trinity is the foundation of your faith and you understand it, I would say nothing against it. However, believing that the Messiah died for our sins and rose from the dead is sufficient for some. Justification, imputation, and passive and active obedience of Christ, etc. is not affected for others. Belief that Christ is the Messiah makes Jesus the Son of God and incorporates the Holy Spirit in His being. There is one God, and how the Holy Spirit, Christ, and The Father are related and form that unity is beyond the understanding of many people, but it doesn’t affect grace or salvation. If somebody says that they believe in the Trinity and not understand it, does it affect their salvation?

Salvation is about believing in and trusting on the person and atoning work of Jesus Christ for the remission of one's sin and right standing with God, and walking in obedience.

 

[Aaron112]

Those who deny the Trinity have to scale down the gospel--and they do.

No.

 

[Aaron112]

Can a Christian be a non-Trinitarian, yet believe that God is Jesus and Jesus is God, one and the same?

Do you realize that The Father-Creator-of all and Jesus have been together uniquely forever and ever past , present and future ? While Jesus was on earth as a man, He Prayed to His Father and gave thanks and praise to His Father clearly.

 

[pastorwaris]

Can a Christian be a non-Trinitarian, yet believe that God is Jesus and Jesus is God, one and the same?

Dear Brother in Christ,

That’s an important and deeply theological question and I’m glad you’re asking it, because it shows you care about who Jesus truly is.
You asked, “Can a Christian be a non-Trinitarian, yet believe that God is Jesus and Jesus is God, one and the same?”

Let’s unpack this carefully.

1. The Heart of the Question​

Believing that “God is Jesus and Jesus is God” affirms something essential. The deity of Christ. Scripture clearly reveals this:

• “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” (John 1:1,14)
• “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” (Colossians 2:9)

So, if someone acknowledges that Jesus is fully God, they’re recognizing a core truth of the Christian faith. Without this belief, Christianity falls apart.

2. Where the Trinity Comes In​

However, the historic Christian understanding of God based on the whole counsel of Scripture is that the one true God exists eternally in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is not three gods, but one God in three Persons, co-equal and co-eternal.

• The Father is God (Philippians 1:2).
• The Son is God (John 20:28).
• The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3–4).

Non-Trinitarian views often affirm Jesus’ divinity but deny the distinct personhood of the Father and the Spirit, or merge them into one “mode” or “manifestation.” This is historically called modalism, and it has been considered outside orthodox Christian teaching because it doesn’t align with the way Scripture portrays the relationship between the Father, Son, and Spirit (e.g., Jesus praying to the Father in John 17, the Spirit descending at His baptism in Luke 3:21–22).

3. Can You Be a Christian Without the Trinity?​

Here’s where it gets delicate. Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8–9), not by having perfect theological terminology. However, our understanding of who Jesus is matters greatly, because trusting in a “different Jesus” is warned against in 2 Corinthians 11:4.

A person could come to saving faith in Christ without fully understanding the Trinity. Many new believers do. But to persist in rejecting the biblical revelation of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as one God in three Persons, after being shown the truth of Scripture, is a serious deviation from the faith “once for all entrusted to God’s holy people” (Jude 1:3).

4. Why This Matters​

If we only see “God as Jesus” and stop there, we risk missing the fullness of how God has revealed Himself:

• The Father sent the Son (John 3:16).
• The Son accomplished our salvation on the cross (John 19:30).
• The Holy Spirit applies that salvation to our hearts and empowers us to live for God (John 14:26; Acts 1:8).

The Trinity isn’t a man-made complication. It’s the beautiful reality of God’s nature, revealed in Scripture.

My Dear Brother,
If you believe Jesus is God, you are already standing on one of the unshakable foundations of the Gospel. My prayer is that you’ll keep seeking the fullness of God’s revelation in His Word, so you can know Him not just as Jesus your Savior, but as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2 Corinthians 13:14)

In His grace and truth,
Pastor Waris

 

[Clare73]

No.

Indeed they do, when God is not personally involved in our redemption and has farmed it out simply to a mere human.

 

[Aaron112]

Indeed they do, when God is not personally involved in our redemption and has farmed it out simply to a mere human.

That's not at all what your post was saying.

 

[linux.poet]

AMBASSADOR HAT​

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