Is the Father the Son?

[SDG]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Dan,

I believe discussions like this can be done without name calling.

Both sides may agree on your points BUT you are speaking in generalities. Seriously, there are profound differences in the Trinitarian God and the Oneness God which leads to a difference in who Jesus is : an eternal Son vs a Son by conception. There are differences in what we mean by Jesus being fully God and fully man as well.... different Christological views.

I can see you want to placate both parties into coming together on the common ground we agree on. You will find that Trinitarians and Oneness cannot speak the same thing nor be united in one belief because FUNDAMENTALLY we believe different things though our wording may be very similar at times. You see how difficult it is to have unity in a Oneness camp (the UPC or even the AFF) what makes you think it is possible to have unity with two completely separate views on who and what God is? You take an ecumenical view which to some may be commendable, to me it compromises truth.

BTW, there are Oneness believers that believe in Eternal Sonship ...

This issue is only an issue to most PAJC Oneness believers primarily because of their soteriological view, namely a baptismal formula ....

as long as that's the case ... you will see those who place their trust in Jesus Christ and enter into a binding relationship w/ him ... as lost ... and just well-intentioned.

If they are born of God and are filled w/ His Spirit .... they are my brethren .. . regardless if I view their explanation of God as lacking.

Your focus is in being able to explain God ... when He yearns for relationship.

My prayer is that of Jesus ... make us one .... as He and the Father are One.