What happens when a new Christian discovers that her Pentecostal church may not believe in the biblical Trinity? In this intense conversation, a young woman tells Sam Shamoun that she recently left a non-denominational church, joined a Pentecostal congregation, and was baptized in the name of Jesus. But when Sam Shamoun investigates the church’s statement of faith, he discovers that it teaches Oneness Pentecostal theology rather than the historic Christian doctrine of the Trinity.
Sam Shamoun explains the crucial difference between Trinitarian Christianity and Oneness Pentecostal modalism. The Trinity teaches that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are three distinct persons who share the one divine nature. Modalism, however, teaches that God is one person who appears through different titles, offices, manifestations, or modes. Using the example of one woman being a daughter, sister, and cousin, Sam Shamoun demonstrates why three roles belonging to one person do not constitute the Trinity.
Turning to John 14 and John 17, Sam Shamoun examines the relationship between Jesus Christ and God the Father. Jesus says that He is in the Father, that believers are in Him, and that He and the Father will make their dwelling with believers. Sam Shamoun argues that being “in” another person does not make two people the same person. Jesus also prays to the Father, speaks of the Father sending Him, and says, “We will come,” revealing a real personal distinction between the Father and the Son.
The discussion then turns to spiritual feelings, receiving the Holy Spirit, baptism, speaking in tongues, biblical interpretation, and spiritual deception. Sam Shamoun warns that powerful emotions, peaceful experiences, signs, wonders, and religious language cannot by themselves prove that a church or spiritual experience comes from God. Scripture must be understood correctly because even Satan quoted the Bible while tempting Jesus Christ. Sam Shamoun challenges the new believer to test every doctrine—including Oneness Pentecostalism, Jesus-name baptism, modalism, and tongues—according to the complete teaching of the Bible.
⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 Why she left her non-denominational church
2:07 Baptized in Jesus’ name at a Pentecostal church
3:34 Sam Shamoun investigates her church
5:37 Trinity versus Oneness Pentecostal modalism
7:56 Does Jesus being “in the Father” make Him the Father?
10:43 “We will come”: Jesus and the Father in John 14
13:43 John 17 and Jesus praying to the Father
17:51 Her church’s statement of faith denies three persons
21:46 Feelings, receiving the Holy Spirit, and spiritual deception
24:56 Sam Shamoun addresses speaking in tongues
⚠️ Important Disclaimer
I am not Sam Shamoun. This channel edits and shares clips from his teachings with permission in order to make his content more accessible and help spread the Word of God. All credit for the teaching belongs to Sam Shamoun.
