STATEMENT OF FAITH

We believe Yahweh is the one true God, creator of heaven and earth, manifest in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Jn 1:14, 17:21-24; 1 Cor 8-6; 1 Jn 5:7, 8).

We believe the Bible (sixty-six books of the Jewish-Christian Bible, in the original manuscripts) are the inspired and infallible word of Yahweh. The Bible is the final authority in establishing all doctrinal truths, all principles for living, and all practices of worship (Ps 119:105, 130; 2 Tim 3:16, 17).

We believe Yeshua was conceived by the Holy Spirit, of a virgin (Miriam), and born a man (Mt 1:18-25; Lk 1:26-38).

We believe Yeshua was crucified, buried, and resurrected from the dead on the third day. Yeshua is the final mediator between God and all humanity (1 Tim 2:5, 6; Heb 9:15). Forty days after His resurrection, Yeshua ascended into heaven and will, one day, physically return (Acts 1:11).

We believe Yeshua judges the living and the dead (Jn 5:21-30; Acts 10:42; 2 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 4:5).

We believe every person has sinned and fallen short God’s glory. Thus, all are in need of the justification offered to us by Yahweh, through Yeshua: a justification that releases us from the penalty of sin and affords us right standing with God (Rom 3:23; Gal 3:22).

We believe one’s salvation (i.e., justification) is by grace through faith, not of works (Eph 2:8-13; 2 Tim 1:8, 9). Nevertheless, we were created for good works; that is, to walk in the commandments of our God (Eph 2:10).

We believe repentance is necessary for forgiveness and attaining right standing with Yahweh. Forgiveness is possible only through the shedding of Yeshua’s innocent blood (Mk 2:17; Acts 11:18; Rom 2:4; 2 Pet 3:9; 2 Cor 7:9-10; Col 1:13, 14).

On Rites: The essential rites include the Lord’s Table (communion), water baptism, and the laying on of hands (1 Cor 10:16, 17; Heb 6:1-3).

On the Indwelling Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh): The Holy Spirit, whom the Father has sent in Yeshua’s name, dwells within all believers for the purpose of leading, guiding, teaching, comforting, and empowering them to live righteous lives (Heb 13:8; Jn 14:26).

On the Role of Torah in the Believer’s Life: Yeshua did not come to abolish the Law (Torah), but to show people how to properly live the Torah while in a right relationship with the Father. All Scripture (i.e., the Tanakh at the time of Paul’s letter to Timothy) is given by inspiration and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness so that the man (and woman) of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (Mt 5:17; Gal 3:22-25; 2 Tim 3:16, 17).

On Torah and Transformation: For the unbeliever, the Law is a “ministry of death” (2 Cor 3:7), designed to show people their sin and, consequently, their need for forgiveness. For the believer, however, while the Law still points out sin, the primary function of the Law shifts to facilitating life (characterized by righteousness). Thus, the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) contains the “law of liberty” (Jas 1:25) and was graciously given to us, by Yahweh, as a standard for righteous living.

Given these truths, the Law has two primary functions. First, the Law points us to salvation. Second, the Law serves as a means of sanctification. Thus, Torah observance cannot save (Jn 5:40) or sanctify (Ex 31:13). Post-salvation, then, those who love Yeshua, having received the Spirit (Ruach) for the transformation their “inner man” will walk in Yahweh’s commandments (Jn 14:15) and, in doing so, will walk as ones set apart and blessed (Lev 20:7, 8; Dt 28:1-14; Jn 14:20-23, 15:1-10; Rom 12:1, 2; 1 Pet 1:16; 1 Jn 5:2, 3).

On the Local Assembly: All who trust in Yeshua, each in their generation, are to live out their faith in the context of a local community of fellow believers (Heb 10:25).

On Grafting: When a Jew or Gentile (non-Jew) places their trust in Yeshua as Messiah, they are grafted (or re-grafted), by faith, into the “olive tree” of Israel. Faith in Israel’s Messiah Yeshua makes one a member of the commonwealth of Israel. Our (ancestral) father, Abraham, believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. In the same way, those who’ve trusted in Messiah for the forgiveness of sin are in Abraham’s seed (Yeshua) and heirs according to the Promise (Jn 8:33-39; Rom 11:17-27; Eph 2:11-19; Gal 3:29).

On One Law: There is not one law for the Jews and another for Gentiles. Rather, there is one King (Yeshua), over one people, who walk together in one law (Ex 12:49).

On Biblical Interpretation: Understanding the culture, contexts, history, language, idioms, and the authors of Scripture is necessary to understanding the Bible. Scripture cannot be broken (Jn 10:35) and thus the original meaning of Scripture stands firm and cannot be overturned by the contextual interpretations of men.

On the Weekly Sabbath: As the people of God, we keep the seventh day holy; inasmuch as it’s in our control, we neither do any regular work, buy, or sell. We gather as the people of God, in a holy assembly, for the purpose of studying Yahweh’s revealed Word and worship (Ex 20:8-10).

On the Appointed Times (Moedim): We observe the annual feasts of the Lord (Lev 23). These feasts are annual celebrations or solemn observances that cause us to remember important aspects of salvific history or prepare for the future return of Messiah Yeshua and everlasting Kingdom. All of Yahweh’s appointed times exalt the person and ministry of Yeshua (Acts 2:1, 12:3-4, 27:9).

On the Restoration of Israel: The restoration of the two kingdoms of Israel (scattered northern tribes and the southern tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin) will once again, upon Yeshua’s return, be joined together in the land of Israel and Yeshua will rule over the one nation (Lev 26:40, 42-45; Jer 33:25-26; Ez 36:21:22).

On the Names of God: While knowing and using the proper name for God (Father and Son) is, in principle a matter of some significance, we currently recognize a lack of sufficient and hard evidence for the exact pronunciation either YHWH (i.e., Yahweh or Jehovah) or the spelling and/or the pronunciation of Yeshua (Y’shua, Yeshuah, Yehoshua, Jesus). Without a strong scholarly consensus on such matters, we believe tolerance for variations in convictions regarding the name of God is the proper and godly response. Individuals who are or intend to be divisive on this issue are not welcome.

On the Promises of God: As a community, we believe Yahweh keeps all of His unconditional promises whether to individuals, the nation of Israel, or to believers in the Body of Messiah (Acts 2:39; Gal 3:14; Eph 1:13; Heb 9:15, 1 Jn 2:25).

On Marriage and Family: The family is the basic unit of the community of faith, founded through the uniting of one man and one woman in holy matrimony. From the beginning (Adam and Eve), marriage is depicted and described as one man in covenantal relationship to one woman. This Biblical depiction and description is confirmed by Yeshua and His Bride. The family unit is the basis of Biblical nurture. Parents are to disciple their children, diligently teaching them, in word and deed, Yahweh’s commandments, statutes, and judgments (Gen 2:24; 2 Cor 11:2; Eph 5:31-33; Eph 6:4; Dt 6:7; Mal 4:4-6).

On the Resurrection of the Saved and Unsaved: Both the saved and unsaved are resurrected: the saved to everlasting life and the unsaved unto eternal separation from God. Without Yeshua, sinful man is lost and must be born again by the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) to enter the Kingdom of heaven (Jn 5:28, 29; Rev 20:5, 6, Jn 3:3-7; 1 Cor 12:4-13).