We believe that the Scriptures, both the Tanach and the Brit haChadashah, are fully inspired and are God’s complete and final revelation to man until the Messiah returns. The 66 books of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation are inerrant in the original writings. They are authoritative in every category of knowledge to which they speak, including faith, practice, science and history (Proverbs 30:5-6; Isaiah 40:7-8; Jeremiah 31:31; Matthew 5:18; John 10:35; II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:21).
We believe in the unity of God as reflected in the Shema. God is the creator of all things, infinite and perfect, eternally existing in three equal persons, having the nature and the perfection of deity, as well as the characteristics of personality (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 48:16; Matthew 28:19; John 6:27; II Corinthians 13:14; Acts 5:3-4; Hebrews 1:8).
We believe He is Father and sovereign ruler over all creation, Father of Israel whom He has chosen as His unique people, Father of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus), whom He sent into the world to redeem mankind and creation, and Father of all who trust in His gracious provision (Exodus 4:22; Matthew 3:17; John 1:12; 3:16; Acts 17:29; Galatians 3:26).
We believe that God the Son became flesh in the person of Yeshua of Nazareth, the promised Messiah of Israel, who was conceived by the Spirit of God and born of the Jewish virgin, Miriam (Mary). He is both fully God and fully man, united forever without division or confusion (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Micah 5:2).
We believe that Messiah Yeshua died as a substitutionary sacrifice for man’s sin and that all who believe in Him are declared righteous on the basis of His shed blood. The Messiah’s substitutionary death was the purchase price for our redemption and was foreshadowed in the Tanach in the slaying of the Passover Lamb, the sin and trespass offerings and the sin offerings on Yom Kippur (Leviticus 16:15-16; 17:11; Psalm 22:16; Isaiah 53:4-6; 10-12; Daniel 9:26; Zechariah 12:10; Mark 10:45; Romans 3:24-26; 5:8-9; II Corinthians 5:14, 21; I Peter 3:18).
We believe that Messiah Yeshua arose from the dead bodily, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. Presently He serves as our Kohen Gadol (Great High Priest) according to the priesthood of Melchizedek. As such, He is intercessor and advocate before the Father on behalf of all believers (Genesis 14:17-20; Psalm 16:10-11; 110:4; Zechariah 6:12-13; Acts 1:9-11; I Corinthians 15:4-8; Hebrews 7:1-25; 8:1; I John 2:1).
We believe the Ruach haKodesh (The Holy Spirit) is a person. He possesses all the distinct attributes of deity and hence He is God. He does not call attention to Himself and is ever present to glorify and testify to Messiah Yeshua (Genesis 1:2; Psalm 139:7; Nehemiah 9:20; John 15:26-27; I Corinthians 2:10-11; 12:11; II Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:30).
We believe that during the period of the Old Covenant, the Spirit of God was active in creating the world and temporarily gifting, empowering and filling individuals for specific services to God (Genesis 1:2; Exodus 31:3; Numbers 27:18; Judges 6:34).
We believe the Spirit of God is active today convicting the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. He regenerates, seals and sets the believer apart to a holy life. At the moment of salvation each believer is baptized (immersed) with the Spirit of God into the body of Messiah and is permanently indwelled by the Spirit of God. Therefore, all believers are complete in Messiah and possess every spiritual blessing. It is the privilege and responsibility of all believers to be constantly filled (controlled) by the Holy Spirit, thereby manifesting fruit of the Spirit in their lives (John 14:16; 16:7-15; Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 12:13, 28-30, Ephesians 1:13; 5:18; Colossians 2:10; II Thessalonians 2:13).
We believe that at salvation the Holy Spirit imparts at least one spiritual gift to every believer for the purpose of edifying and equipping the Body of the Messiah. Believers ought not to emphasize searching for their gifts but rather give attention to the Scriptural requirements of becoming spiritually mature in order to function in the Body. If this is done, every believer’s spiritual gift should become evident. Spiritual gifts are given according to the sovereign choice of the Spirit of God. (I Corinthians 12:11; 13:13; Ephesians 1:15; 4:11-13; Colossians 1:3-5; I Timothy 3:1-12; Titus 1:5-9; I Thessalonians 1:3,11; II Thessalonians 1:3,4; I Peter 4:10).
We believe that promoting the gift of tongues often gives undue prominence to a gift that had limited use even in New Testament times. It tends to place more emphasis on tongues speaking as an external manifestation of the Spirit rather than on the work of the Spirit within the believer which produces godly character and behavior. Therefore, believers, in their local congregations, should seek the more excellent way of life and be zealous about perfecting and utilizing the more useful and edifying gifts (Romans 8:13; I Corinthians 12:28-31; 13:1‑3,13; 14:12,19,23,27-28; Galatians 5:22-23).
We believe that God has promised to heal according to His will. This may occur miraculously, medically or naturally. Supernatural healing may occur in response to prayer and accordance with God’s sovereign will. However, unlike salvation, healing cannot be claimed unconditionally in this age as a result of atonement (Exodus 4:11; II Corinthians 12:7; Galatians 4:13; I Timothy 5:23; II Timothy 4:20; James 5:14-15; I John 5:14-15).
We believe in the reality and personality of Satan, that he had the highest rank of the created spiritual beings known as angels. He sinned through pride and carried a great company of angels (who are now known as demons) with him in his moral fall (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19; I Timothy 3:6; II Peter 2:4).
We believe that Satan is the originator of evil. He and his agents are active in blinding mankind to spiritual truth, inciting anti-Semitism and hostility towards Israel, and attempting to defeat believers. Believers can and should resist by applying Scriptural truth (Genesis 3:1-19; Luke 10:18, II Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 6:10-19; James 4:7-8; I Peter 5:8-9; Revelation 12:13).
We believe Satan, as god of this world, now rules the non-believing world system. He was judged by the Messiah Yeshua’s death, though not executed. Satan will suffer eternal punishment by being cast into the lake of fire after the Messiah’s one thousand year Messianic reign (II Corinthians 4.4; Ephesians 2:1-3; Colossians 2:15; Revelation 20:10).
We believe a great company of angels remained holy and are before the throne of God praising, worshipping, adoring and glorifying Him. They are sent forth as special agents to bring about God’s intended plans and purposes and to minister to all believers (Isaiah 6:1-7; Daniel 10:10-21; Luke 15:10; Ephesians 1:21; Hebrews 1:14; Revelation 7:12).
We believe that man was created in the image of God. Adam sinned and consequently experienced not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. The consequences of this sin affected the entire human race. All human beings are born with a sinful nature, and sin in thought, word and deed (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:17; 3:6; Isaiah 53:6; 4:18; Mark 7:20-23; John 2:24-25; Romans 5:12-19; Ephesians 2:1‑3).
We believe that anyone who by faith trusts Messiah Yeshua as Savior and Redeemer is immediately forgiven of sin and becomes a child of God. This salvation is not the result of any human effort or merit. Salvation is entirely dependent on the undeserved favor of God (Genesis 15:6; Habakkuk 2:4; John 1:12; Romans 3:28; Ephesians 1:7; Titus 3:5).
We believe that all believers are kept eternally secure by the power of God through the new birth, the indwelling and sealing of the Holy Spirit, and the intercession of Messiah Yeshua (Zechariah 6:12-13; John 10:28-30; 14:16-17; Romans 8:38-39; Ephesians 4:30; I John 2:1; I Peter 1:23).
We believe that all believers, though forgiven, still have a sinful capacity in this life. In spite of this, God has made full provision for believers to live in obedience to Him through identification with Messiah Yeshua, reliance upon the Holy Spirit’s power, and the knowledge of the Scriptures (John 17:17; Romans 6:1-11; 7:15‑21; 8:11-13; I John 1:8-2:2).
We believe that all believers in Messiah Yeshua are members of the universal Body which is the bride of the Messiah. The Body of Messiah began at Shavuot (Pentecost) with the baptism of the Holy Spirit after the ascension of Messiah Yeshua. It will be completed when the Messiah returns for His bride. The membership of the Body is not based on any earthly organizational affiliation but is based on faith in Messiah Yeshua. This Body is distinct from Israel and composed of both Jews and Gentiles made one by the Messiah’s death. These members are under the solemn duty to keep the unity of the Spirit and the bond of love with a pure heart (Matthew 16:18; Acts 1:5; 2:14-36; I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 2:11-15, 23-27; Colossians 1:18; 3:14‑15).
We believe that water baptism is based on Jewish ritual immersion but under the New Covenant it symbolizes the work of the Messiah. The Lord’s supper is based on the Passover seder and is a memorial of the Messiah’s death until He returns. They are ceremonies of the New Covenant which the Messiah commanded His Body to observe (Matthew 28:19; I Corinthians 11:24-26).
We believe in the local body as the visible manifestation of the Universal Body. It is organized to glorify God through worship, instruction, accountability, discipline, fellowship and outreach. Entrance to the local body is required and based on an act of volition (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2.42-47; Ephesians 4:11-13; Hebrews 10:19-25).
Israel
We believe Israel is God’s special people chosen by Him to be a holy nation and kingdom of priests. The election of Israel is irrevocable, despite her national rejection of Yeshua the Messiah. God will purge Israel of unbelief during the Great Tribulation “the time of Jacob’s trouble”, ultimately resulting in her national acceptance of Yeshua as her true Messiah (Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Jeremiah 30:7; Ezekiel 20:33-42; Daniel 9:27; Zechariah 12:10; 13:8-9; Romans 11:26).
We believe Israel is distinct from the Body of Messiah. However, Jewish believers in Yeshua have a unique two-fold identity. First, as the spiritual remnant of physical Israel, and second, as part of the Body of Messiah (Exodus 19:6; Amos 3:2; 9:8; Romans 10:1; 11:2,5,28-29; Ephesians 2:14-16).
We believe the Abrahamic Covenant is an irrevocable, unconditional covenant given to the Jewish people. This covenant provides title of the land of Israel to the Jewish people, promises a descendant (the Messiah) who would come to redeem Israel, and blessing for the entire world through Israel and her Messiah. God will ultimately fulfill every aspect of the covenant in the Messianic kingdom, both physical and spiritual. At that time the Jewish people will know God personally through Messiah Yeshua and will possess the entire land of Israel according to its biblical boundaries (Genesis 12:1-3; 15:17-18; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Romans 11:25-28).
We believe that since the Gospel was given pre-eminently to the Jewish people, it is the believer’s duty and privilege to communicate the good news of Messiah Yeshua to them in a bold yet sensitive way. It is also the believer’s duty to support and love Israel, whilst opposing anti-Semitism according to the provisions of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:3; Numbers 24:9; Jeremiah 31:35-37; Matthew 28:18-20; John 4:22; Acts 13:46; Romans 1:16).
We believe the Law of Moses as a rule of life has been fulfilled in the Messiah and therefore, believers, whether Jewish or non-Jewish, are no longer under its obligation or condemnation. However, both Jewish and non-Jewish believers have the freedom in Messiah to maintain those aspects of the Law of Moses and Jewish cultural identity which do not violate Scripture. Observances of Jewish customs are to focus on biblical truths and magnify Yeshua. These observances are not nor ever were a means of justification or sanctification, which are by faith alone. Neither are they a source of sinful pride resulting in the reinstitution of the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile. Rather, for Jewish believers, these observances are intrinsically biblical expressions of a God-given Jewish identity and a means of fulfilling their responsibility to testify of God’s faithfulness to the entire Body of Messiah and to the non-believing world. For Gentile believers they are a means of identifying with the Jewish community and expressing the Jewish roots of their faith (Acts 21:24-26; Romans 6:14; 8:2; 10:4; I Corinthians 9:20; II Corinthians 3:11; Galatians 6:2; 3:3,11; Ephesians 2:14).
We believe that upon physical death believers enter into the joyous presence of God, whereas non-believers enter into conscious suffering apart from God (Luke 16:19-31; I Corinthians 5:6-8).
We believe in the imminent, personal return of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah for His Body. All members of the Body of the Messiah, living or dead, will at that time be gathered to the Lord forever (I Corinthians 15:51‑53; I Thessalonians 1:10; 4:13-18; 5:1-11; Titus 2:13; Revelation 3:10).
We believe in the personal, bodily, visible and pre-millennial return of the Lord Yeshua. At that time He will lift the corruption which now rests upon the whole creation, totally restore Israel to her own land, give her the realization of God’s covenanted promises, and bring the whole world to the knowledge of God (Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:2-5; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Matthew 24:30; Acts 1:11; Romans 8:19-23; 11:25-27).
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men. Believers shall be resurrected to enjoy eternal life with God. Non-believers shall be resurrected to experience judgment and then eternal suffering apart from God (Psalm 49:13-20; John 5:28-29; I Corinthians 15:52; I Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 20:4-6, 12-15; 21:1-8).
