Experto Creed

The Trinity does not exist: based on John 10:30 (Jesus says, “I and my Father are one”), following the premise if the Father is God, Jesus is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, then Jesus is all three. This is a necessary belief to be able to claim that Acts 2:38 is the scriptural design for salvation.

Speaking in tongues is evidence of salvation. One of the core beliefs of Oneness theology is the idea that a person cannot be saved until they speak in tongues. Oneness theology maintains that Acts 2:38 is the only scripture in the Bible that explicitly tells us how to be saved (Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized all you in the name of Jesus Christ and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’). No other verse in the Bible confirms this claim, nowhere does this verse state that speaking in tongues is the "evidence" of Holy Spirit infilling, and nowhere does this verse claim to be pertinent to salvation. Oneness scholars have a very difficult time correlating this verse to salvation, although it is necessary to maintain that baptism in the name of Jesus is the “fulfillment” of Matthew 28:19 and further “evidence” that Jesus himself is all three aspects of the trinity.

Grace itself is insufficient for salvation. Probably the most concerning teaching of the UPCI is the thought that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross merely gave us the opportunity to pursue him. The onus for salvation is clearly on us, according to this theology, to believe the right things, obey Acts 2:38, and live a life without sin. If this is true, I ask, why did Christ die? Read more here

Adherence to a strict dress-code is necessary for salvation. This belief is based on the multitude of scriptures that reference holiness. Holiness, to a Oneness believer, means women should not cut their hair or wear jewelry (including wedding rings), pants/shorts, makeup, or skirts above the knee; men should not wear shorts (even below the knee) or jewelry or have long hair or facial hair; and everyone should not watch television (some “liberal” churches approve of movies – but not at the cinema), listen to non-Christian music, or drink any form of alcohol. Doing anything that’s forbidden is deemed a sin, and the presence of sin confirms that one is unsaved (i.e. a man who dies with a goatee or a woman who dies with makeup on will go straight to hell). Jason Young at Acts Eighteen has an excellent expository here

Churches who do not agree line-by-line with UPCI teachings are wrong, hell-bound, and ripe for proselytizing. This belief lands Oneness Apostolics in a lonely spot – they have the “full” truth – and often they feel burdened for their “unsaved” sinner friends and family. Other healthy, Christian churches and believers are not believed to have the "whole truth" and not considered to have fully experienced Christ, thus they are excluded in the Apostolics’ perception from being brothers or sisters in Christ. Read this former UPC pastor's testimony