Answering Questions About The Oneness Of God

I have found the best way to answer many of the doctrinal questions we receive in our comments is in the form of an article. This allows us to provide much more information than we would be able to in a simple comment. Which is especially helpful with dealing with complex issues of the faith. So that is exactly what we are going to do today in regards to a few questions someone recently had regarding the oneness of God.

Recently a commenter posted a few questions meant to cause us to question the validity of the oneness doctrine when compared to certain passages of scripture. Those questions are “why is Jesus said to sit at the right hand of God?” As well as “why did Jesus pray to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane?” Both are excellent questions and it is honestly easy to see where this passage of scripture could cause someone to question oneness.

Below I hope to answer these questions clearly and to the best of my ability. Both to help the person who originally posted them and to help anyone else who may be asking these very same questions. Please know that this is not intended to put down anyone who has this question but to simply help them better understand God’s word.

The Right Hand Of God?

Acts 2:34 (ESV)

34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, 

  “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, 

  “Sit at my right hand, 

Acts 7:55 (ESV)

55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

There are multiple places in the scripture that refer to Jesus being at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. From a quick surface view of these passages it would seem like this is a physical reference. However when you view Jesus at the right hand of God as a physical thing some pretty serious questions start to emerge. The biggest of those being does God the Father even have a physical right hand? 

The Bible says that God is a spirit. Which means that He is invisible. The only way God would be able to have a physical right hand for one to stand on would be if He manifested Himself in human form. Which is exactly what He did when He came to earth in the form of Jesus Christ. Scripture is clear that Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God. He is God robed in flesh.

1 Timothy 1:17 (ESV)

17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 

Colossians 1:15 (ESV)

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

The other issue is that the Bible makes it clear that no man ever has or even ever will see the Father. So to believe that Steven saw Jesus standing next to the Father in a physical form causes us to question other passages of scripture.

John 1:18 (ESV)

18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. 

1 Timothy 6:16 (ESV)

16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. 

1 John 4:12 (ESV)

12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 

We must interpret the statement “God’s right Hand” the way God intended it to be. Not in a truly physical sense but in a figurative sense. The right hand represents power, strength, and importance both in scripture and the world’s culture. We can see this displayed in other passages of scripture like Psalms for instance. In several verses the right hand is associated with victory over enemies.

Psalm 98:1 (ESV)

1  Oh sing to the Lord a new song, 

for he has done marvelous things! 

  His right hand and his holy arm 

have worked salvation for him. 

Psalm 110:1 (ESV)

1  The Lord says to my Lord: 

“Sit at my right hand, 

  until I make your enemies your footstool.”

The Jewish leaders of the time certainly understood what it meant for Jesus to sit at God’s right hand. The high priest even accused Him of blasphemy for making that very statement. Not because He said He would simply stand next to God. But because by making that statement Jesus was saying He held the power of God and was in fact God.

Matthew 26:64–65 (ESV)

64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy.

Jesus seated at the right hand of God represents the completion of His sacrificial work. It shows that He is not just a mere man, but in fact is God. With all glory and power belonging to Him. That is what Stephen saw, not Jesus next to God but as God. That is why He then proceeded to call out to Jesus as such.

Acts 7:59 (ESV)

59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

When we see references in our Bible to Jesus being at God’s right hand it doesn’t describe a physical sight in Heaven. Nor does it disprove oneness and leave the doctrine of the trinity. It simply represents the power and authority Jesus holds. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not three come together to make one but they are three in one. That one is Christ Jesus. 

Jesus Prayed To The Father

Matthew 26:39 (ESV)

39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Before Jesus was taken away to be crucified we see Him pray three times in a row. Each time He cries out to the Father asking for the cup of suffering to pass from Him. Then He finally humbly submits to follow the Father will. This seems like the perfect verse for one to make a case for the doctrine of the trinity, but is that really the case?

You see the doctrine of the trinity state that there are three coequal members of the godhead. Those of course being the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. If that is the case and they are truly coequal then one member would not pray to another. Because doing so places one in a subordinate roll to the other meaning they would not be equal. So while this verse may at first cause you to question the oneness of God, a deeper look should cause you to in fact question the concept of a coequal triune godhead.

What this verse does display is the dual nature of Christ. Jesus was no ordinary man. He was not like us who only have one nature. Jesus has two distinct natures, he was fully man and fully God. Scripture shows He was fully man by the teaching of Him being born of a woman. While also clearly showing He was fully God with the full deity dwelling within Him.

Galatians 4:4 (ESV)

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,

Colossians 2:9 (ESV)

9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,

When we see Jesus pray, we do not see a god praying. We see the man Jesus praying. God did not need help but the man did. That day in the Garden of Gethsemane the human will submitted to the divine will. It was also another part of having a high priest that could relate to all our struggles. Jesus wanted to and needed to feel the very same feelings that we all often feel. That included the feeling of not wanting to do what God is leading him to do and ultimately submitting to His will.

Hebrews 2:18 (ESV)

18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. 

Hebrews 4:14–16 (ESV)

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 

It is also important to remember that while Jesus is God in the flesh the Bible also points out that He is our example. Had Jesus not prayed often there would be those today who would question the need to pray. This account also shows our need to always accept the will of God and not that of our own flesh. Jesus was constantly teaching us through His words and actions, this time is not different.

Ephesians 5:1–2 (ESV)

1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 

1 John 2:6 (ESV)

6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. 

1 Corinthians 11:1 (ESV)

1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

The prayers that Jesus made in the garden to the Father may at first cause you to question oneness but as it is examined closer this account should in fact cause you to question the trinity. This account does not show a coequal triune godhead. In reality it stands to show the dual nature of our Lord and Savior. 

For More Information On Oneness

Hopefully this article has helped answer these questions about the Oneness of God. However these are only a couple of questions that often get raised concerning this important doctrinal issue. If you would like more information or have more questions please let us know in the comments below. We will do our best to provide you with the information you are looking for.

Also for anyone wanting to learn more about the oneness of God on their own a great place to start is by reading “The Oneness of God” by David K. Bernard. In this book Dr. Bernard covers these questions and almost any other you can think of concerning God’s oneness. It is packed with information and every Christian should read it. Especially those who hold to the concept of the trinity. As Dr. Bernard pours out all the knowledge he has on the subject from years of Bible study and research.

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