🔥 Why Jesus Praying to the Father Refutes Oneness Theology

One of the clearest demonstrations that Oneness theology is in error comes from the simple, undeniable truth that Jesus prayed to His Father. If Jesus is the Father—as Oneness Pentecostalism claims—then His prayers would be meaningless, contradictory, and deceptive. But the Bible speaks plainly, and it shows us something beautiful and profound: Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, prays to the Father who sent Him. This is not a division of deity, but a revealed distinction of Persons within the one true God.

Let’s walk through the truth of Scripture and see how it completely disarms the Oneness claim.

📖 Jesus Prayed to Someone Other Than Himself

🔹 John 17:1 (KJV)

“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:”

In John 17, Jesus pours out His heart in what is often called the High Priestly Prayer. He speaks to the Father in love, reverence, and unity. He does not say, “I glorify Myself,” but instead, He seeks glory from the Father.

How can Jesus pray to Himself if He is the Father?

Answer: He cannot. He is not the same Person as the Father. He is the Son, and He prays to the Father.

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🔹 Jesus’ Will Was Distinct from the Father’s

🔹 Luke 22:42 (KJV)

“Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”

In Gethsemane, the Lord Jesus expresses a desire—“let this cup pass from me”—but submits to another will: “not my will, but thine.”

Two distinct wills are revealed here:

• The will of the Son (fully human, fully divine)

• The will of the Father

If Jesus were the Father, this prayer would be nothing more than a performance, a divine monologue disguised as dialogue. But Scripture shows it is a real exchange between two Persons.

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🔹 Jesus Was Sent by the Father

🔹 John 6:38 (KJV)

“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.”

Oneness theology claims that Jesus is simply a manifestation of the Father, not a distinct Person. But Jesus speaks of the Father as someone other than Himself—one who sent Him, one whose will He obeys.

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🔹 Baptism Reveals the Trinity, Not Oneness

🔹 Matthew 3:16–17 (KJV)

“And Jesus, when he was baptized… the Spirit of God descending like a dove… and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

At Christ’s baptism:

• The Son is in the water.

• The Spirit descends.

• The Father speaks from heaven.

Three distinct Persons, united as one God. This is not modalism. This is not one Person switching roles. This is the Trinity revealed.

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🛑 What’s Wrong With Oneness Theology?

Oneness theology denies the Trinity and claims:

• God is one Person who appears in different modes (Father, Son, Holy Ghost).

• Jesus is the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit.

• The Father became the Son.

This view:

• Contradicts Scripture, especially Jesus’ prayers and submission to the Father.

• Denies the eternal Sonship of Christ.

• Undermines the gospel, because if there is no real distinction, there is no true intercession, no true sending, and no true love between Persons.

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✅ The Biblical Teaching: One God, Three Persons

The Bible reveals one God (Deuteronomy 6:4), who eternally exists as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19). These three are:

• Co-equal

• Co-eternal

• Distinct in Person

• United in essence

This is not philosophy. This is Bible truth.

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🙌 Final Word

When Jesus prayed to His Father, He wasn’t pretending. He wasn’t talking to Himself. He was expressing the eternal fellowship between the Son and the Father—a fellowship that has always existed and will never end.

If you believe in the Bible, you must believe in the Trinity, not in the man-made distortions of Oneness theology. Let God be true, and every man a liar.

“That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father…”

— John 5:23 (KJV)

Let Your Yea Be Yea, and Your Nay Nay: Why We Shouldn’t Make Promises

Growing up, my mom had a quiet but profound way of teaching life lessons. One that stuck with me over the years is something she repeated often: “Don’t make promises.” I can still hear her voice saying, “Maybe we can do that,” or, “I’ll try to do that.” At the time, those words felt uncertain—like a soft maybe when I wanted a firm yes—but as I’ve gotten older, I realize she was modeling something deeply Biblical and wise.

In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He gave this direct instruction:

“But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”

— Matthew 5:37 KJV

And again, James—Jesus’ brother—echoes it:

“But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.”

— James 5:12 KJV

In both passages, the message is clear: speak simply, honestly, and without the need for oaths or grand promises. Our integrity should be so consistent that people can trust us without the added weight of “I swear” or “I promise.”

My mom didn’t quote Bible verses every time she said, “I’ll try,” but she lived by the principle. She understood that life is unpredictable. You can have every intention of keeping a promise, but what happens when the car breaks down, someone gets sick, or your circumstances change? That’s why she chose her words carefully. Not because she was afraid of commitment—but because she respected the uncertainty of life and the importance of being truthful.

Her restraint wasn’t evasive—it was humble.

Scripture gives us a powerful reminder of just how uncertain life can be:

“For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”

— James 4:15 KJV

Too often, we speak with certainty about things far outside our control. We say, “I’ll be there,” or "I’ll do that,” But none of us knows what a single day may bring. The humble response, as James teaches, is to say: “If the Lord wills.” That’s not just a spiritual tagline—it’s a confession that God is sovereign and we are not.

This doesn’t mean we become flaky or noncommittal. On the contrary, it means we commit to being honest and realistic, not driven by emotion or pressured to say what others want to hear. It means our yes carries weight because we only say it when we mean it—and our no is respected because it’s given with clarity and care.

It’s okay to say:

• “I hope to do that, Lord willing.”

• “I can’t promise, but I’ll make every effort.”

Let your words be true, even if they’re few.

Conclusion

In a world full of broken promises and hollow vows, simple honesty stands out. Jesus wasn’t just giving a rule—He was showing us the path of righteousness. My mom lived that out in the way she spoke to us: with caution, honesty, and faith. And now, those words have become part of my own vocabulary.

So today, let’s embrace this principle: Let your yes be yes, and your no be no. And when it's something out of your control, say... "We might go and do that," and "If it's God's will." Speak with humility, and trust God with the rest.

Jump5 vs. PureNRG: A Personal Look at Fun, Faith, and Growing Up with Christian Pop

When I think back to the early 2000s, some of my fondest memories include dancing around my room to Jump5. Their energetic music and upbeat rhythms brought joy to my childhood, and there’s no denying how fun they were to listen to. But while Jump5 was part of my journey, they weren't the group that helped me grow spiritually. They were simply fun — and sometimes, that’s okay.

Jump5: Fun Vibes, Light Message

Jump5 was a Christian pop group. But in my experience, their songs didn't have that deep spiritual pull. There was no real conviction in their lyrics. Sure, they weren’t bad — I wouldn’t say that at all. They made good, clean, catchy music that brought a lot of happiness. But when it came to finding depth, to really digging into my faith through music, Jump5 didn’t provide that for me.

They were the kind of group you could dance to, smile with, and enjoy on a surface level. That has its place. So as I grew older, I found myself searching for something deeper — something that spoke about Jesus in a way that moved my heart.

Enter PureNRG: Joy with a Message

That’s when PureNRG came into my life. I first discovered them around age 11, and their songs immediately struck a chord. Unlike Jump5, PureNRG didn’t shy away from singing directly about Jesus. Their lyrics were bold, full of truth, and unapologetically faith-centered.

From childhood into adulthood, their music stayed with me. Even now, I’ll occasionally pull up a PureNRG playlist when I want to revisit those days — not just for nostalgia, but because their songs still carry meaning for me. Songs like "Sweet Jesus" or "Savior" weren’t just catchy — they encouraged me to lean on the Lord. There’s conviction in their lyrics that felt genuine and purposeful.

Looking Back and Listening Today

Music has a way of marking different seasons of life. Jump5 reminds me of carefree dance parties and childhood play. PureNRG brings me back to moments of spiritual discovery, where I was learning to seek God for myself.

Both groups played roles in my upbringing. One gave me fun and movement; the other gave me roots and reflection. 

If you’re curious, I’ve made two videos where I talk more in-depth about each group. Check them out below — and let me know which songs from your childhood still stick with you today.