Jehovah’s Witnesses
Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the Trinity and reject the
full deity of Jesus Christ. They also deny His bodily resurrection. Salvation,
according to their teachings, is not by grace through faith alone, but by a
combination of faith and works. They reject the traditional authority of
Scripture, relying instead on interpretations from the Watchtower organization.
They also deny the personhood of the Holy Spirit, reject the doctrine of
eternal conscious punishment, and hold to an altered understanding of the
Second Coming.
Unitarian Universalists
Unitarian Universalists reject the Trinity and deny
that Jesus is divine. They often dismiss the literal resurrection, and they
reject the idea of salvation exclusively through Christ. Biblical authority is
set aside in favor of individual interpretation or pluralism. Many also deny or
spiritualize the Second Coming, hold unclear or symbolic views of the Holy
Spirit, and reject the biblical teaching on the Church and its sacraments.
The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints—also known as Mormons
Latter-day Saints teach a polytheistic view that denies
the historic doctrine of the Trinity. Jesus is seen as a spirit-child of God,
not eternally God Himself. They deny the sufficiency of Christ’s atonement and
place extra-biblical scriptures—like the Book of Mormon—on equal or even
greater footing than the Bible. Their understanding of the end times diverges
from Scripture, and the Holy Spirit is not regarded as God, but as a separate spiritual
influence.
Oneness Pentecostals
Oneness Pentecostals reject the Trinity, teaching
instead that God is one person who appears in different modes. This leads to
confusion between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Some even
misinterpret the roles in the resurrection. Many require baptism specifically
“in Jesus’ name” for salvation, adding to the gospel. They also misunderstand
the Holy Spirit, not as a distinct person, but merely as another mode or form
of God.
Christian Science
Christian Science denies both the true deity and the
humanity of Jesus Christ. It also rejects the literal death and bodily
resurrection of Christ. Salvation is believed to come through spiritual
understanding, not through the cross. The Bible is only accepted when
interpreted through the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy. The future bodily
resurrection is denied, and the Holy Spirit is reduced to an impersonal
principle called “divine Science.”
Christadelphians
Christadelphians reject the Trinity and deny both the
deity and eternal preexistence of Christ. They also deny the immortal soul and
even the bodily resurrection of Jesus. Salvation is viewed as a process
involving works and a future resurrection. The Holy Spirit is not seen as a
person, and the sacraments are often minimized or redefined.
Gnostic Groups
Gnostic groups typically deny the Trinity and often
reject the idea that Jesus had a true human body. They deny the physical
resurrection and believe salvation comes through secret or hidden knowledge,
not through the cross. Scripture is often replaced with mystical or esoteric
texts. The Second Coming is dismissed or reinterpreted, the Holy Spirit is seen
as a mysterious force, and they reject both the Church and its sacraments.
Christian Universalists
Christian Universalists may loosely affirm some basic
doctrines, but they deny that salvation is found exclusively through Jesus
Christ. They reject the reality of eternal punishment, which undermines the
seriousness of judgment and the meaning of atonement. Scripture is frequently
reinterpreted to fit their belief in universal salvation.
Some Liberal Protestants
Many liberal Protestant groups affirm the Trinity in
name but deny it in practice. They may question or even deny the deity of
Christ. The bodily resurrection is often spiritualized or rejected altogether.
Salvation is redefined as moral transformation or social inclusivity. Biblical
authority is set aside in favor of human reason and higher criticism. Their
views on eschatology, the Holy Spirit, the Church, and the sacraments vary
widely—and often depart from Scripture.
Conservative Quakers
Some Conservative Quakers reject the sacraments
entirely. They may also deny the need for ordained ministers or formal church
structure. Beliefs about the Trinity and the Holy Spirit can vary. Many
emphasize the inner light of personal experience over the authority of
Scripture.
The Unification Church
The Unification Church denies the Trinity and teaches
that Jesus was a failed messiah who did not complete His mission. Sun Myung
Moon, their founder, is viewed as a second Christ figure. Their sacred texts,
written by Moon, are placed above the Bible. They reject biblical eschatology,
portray the Holy Spirit as a feminine force, and redefine both the Church and
its sacraments.
These groups, though diverse, all share one thing in common: they depart from the doctrinal foundation laid by Christ and His apostles.
Jesus warned that many would come in His name, yet lead others astray. That’s why it is so vital to build our understanding on the solid rock of Scripture—so that when the rain comes, and the floods rise, the house of truth will still stand.