That the BIBLE, consisting of the Tenach (Holy Scriptures)
and the later writings commonly known as the Brit Chadasha
(New Covenant), is the only infallible and authoritative
word of God. We recognize its divine inspiration, and
accept its teachings as our final authority in all
matters of faith and practice (Deut. 6:4-9; Prov. 3:1-6;
Ps. 119:89, 105; Isa. 48:12-16; Rom. 8:14-17;
II Tim. 2:15, 3:16-17).
GOD
We believe that the Shema, "Hear O Israel,
the Lord our God, the Lord is one" (Deut. 6:4),
teaches that God is Echad, as so declared: a united one,
a composite unity, eternally existent in plural oneness
[Gen. 1:1 (Elohim: God); Gen. 1:26 "Let us make man in
our image"; Gen. 2:24 Adam & Eve were created to be as
one flesh (basar echad)], that He is a personal God who
created us ( Gen. 1 & 2), and that He exists forever in
three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as
mentioned in Romans 8:14-17 (Father, Spirit, and
Messiah - Son) and Matt. 28:18-20 (immersing in the
name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
GOD THE FATHER (Abba)
John 6:27b; I Cor 1:3; Gal. 1:1;
Rev. 3:5, 21; Jer. 3:4, 19; 31:9; Mal. 1:6;
Matt. 6:9, 32; Luke 10:21-22; John 1:14; 4:23; 5:17-26;
6:28-46; Rom. 8:14-15.
GOD THE SON (HaBen)
God does have a Son [Ps. 2; Prov. 30:4-6 (cf. Heb. 1);
Luke 12:35-37; John 1:29-34, 49; 3:14-18].
The Son, called Yeshua (Jesus), meaning salvation,
came to this world born of a virgin [Isa. 7:14
(cf. Luke 1:30-35)].
The Son is God (Deity), and is worshipped as God, having
existed eternally [Ps. 110:1 (cf. Heb. 1:13); Isa. 9:6-7;
Matt. 28:18-20; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:15-19;
Rev. 3:21 (Heb. 1 - worshipped by angels); Rev. 4:8,
5:5-14].
This One is the promised Mashiach (Messiah) of Israel
[ Is. 9:6-7; 11:1; Dan. 9 (esp. verses 20-26); Isa. 53;
John 1:17, 40-41, 45, 49; Mark 8:29].
He is the root and offspring of David,
the bright and morning star (Num. 24:17; Rev. 22:16).
He is our Passover, the Lamb of God ( I Cor. 5:7;
Rev. 5; John 1:29).
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT (Ruach HaKodesh)
Introduced in Gen. 1:2b.
In the Tenach, the Spirit of God came upon individuals
during the times of our forefathers, like Moses, David
(see II Sam. 23:1-3), and the Prophets, for the specific
purposes.
In the New Covenant, the Messiah, Yeshua, promised His
disciples that "the Comforter" would come to them after
He was gone, described as the Spirit of Truth
(John 14:17, 26), who was with them and would be in them.
Yeshua further declared that the Spirit of Truth, would
guide us into all truth and would glorify Him - the
Messiah - not Himself (John 16:13-15). He empowers us
(Acts 1:8). He seals us [Eph. 1:13; 4:30 (see NIV and
Jewish New Testament versions)]. If we have not the
Spirit, we are not His (Rom. 8:9). He leads us and
teaches us (Rom. 8:14-17). His indwelling enables us to
live a godly life. Acts 2:38 says, "Repent, be immersed,
and receive the Holy Spirit."
MAN
Created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27), but:
through disobedience, man fell from his first state
and became separated from God (Gen. 2:17; 3:22-24).
Therefore, according to the Scriptures, all men are
born with a sinful nature (Ps. 14:1-3; 49:7; 53:13;
Isa. 64:6; Rom. 3:9-12, 23; 5:12).
Man's only hope for redemption (salvation)
is through the atonement made by the Messiah
(Lev. 17:11; Isa. 53; Dan. 9:24-26; I Cor. 15:22;
Heb. 9:11-14, 28; John 1:12, 3:36), resulting in
regeneration by the Holy Spirit (Tit. 3:5), which is
the new birth (John 3:3-8). For by grace we are saved
through faith, it is a gift of God (Eph. 2:8-9).
RESURRECTION AND JUDGMENT
We believe in the resurrection of both the redeemed
and the lost: the former to everlasting life and the
latter to eternal separation from God, a state of
everlasting punishment (Job 14:14; 19:25-27; Dan. 12:2-3;
John 3:36; 11:25-26; Rev. 20:5-6, 10-15; 21:7-8).
THE MESSIAH - The Redeemer.
The Scriptures promised two "comings" of the Messiah:
First coming
Promised in Dan. 9:24-26.
His purpose was to make atonement for sin
(Dan. 9:24-26; Isa. 53; Rom. 3:21-31; Heb. 9-10;
John 3:16-17).
Second coming
Promised coming in the air to receive the
believers to Himself (I Thess. 4:13-18; John 14:1-6;
I Cor. 15:51-57).
Messiah's return to the earth.
The Redeemer shall come to Zion (Isa. 59:20-21;
Zech. 14:4).
Israel's spiritual redemption (Zech. 12:8-13:1;
Rom. 11:25-27; Heb. 9:28; Jer. 31:31-40; the New Covenant).
Israel's national restoration is to recover the remnant of
His people Israel from the four corners of the earth, and
restore the Davidic Kingdom (Isa. 11 - to re-establish the
throne and kingdom of David, which will last forever)
[Isa. 9:6-7 (cf. Luke 1:30-33); Jer. 23:3-8].
Israel IN PROPHECY
We believe in God's end-time plan for the nation of Israel
and for the world. A central part of Messianic Judaism is
the belief in the physical and spiritual restoration of Israel,
as taught in the Scriptures. The greatest miracle of our day
has been the re-establishment or rebirth of the State of
Israel according to prophecy (Ezek. 34:11-31; 36-39; Hos. 3;
Amos 9:11-15; Zech. 12-14; Isa. 11; 43; 54; 60-62; 66;
Rom. 11:1-34) (see also Scriptures under V. THE MESSIAH).
MESSIANIC JUDAISM
We recognize that Jewish people (physical descendants of
Abraham through Isaac and Jacob, whether through the
mother's or the father's blood-line) who place their
faith in Israel's Messiah, Yeshua, continue to be Jewish
according to the Scriptures (Rom. 2:28-29). Gentiles who
place their faith in Yeshua, are "grafted into" the
Jewish olive tree of faith (Rom. 11:17-25) becoming
spiritual sons and daughters of Abraham (Gal. 3:28-29).
We observe and celebrate the Jewish Holy Days given by
God to Israel, with their fulfillment in and through the
Messiah Yeshua. We believe that true "Biblical Judaism,"
the faith of first century believers, which we seek to
practice, acknowledges the continuity of faith in the
one true God, revealed throughout the Scriptures, and
ultimately manifested in God's Son, Yeshua the Messiah.
We believe that salvation has always been "by faith,"
and that works of law, or righteous acts, have never
saved anyone (Gen. 15:6; Rom. 2-6; Eph. 2:8-9;
Heb. 11:6, 39).
We acknowledge that the New Covenant body of
believers is composed of both Jews and Gentiles
who have received Yeshua the Messiah as the Promised
Redeemer. The "middle wall of partition" has been
broken down and now we worship the God of Israel
together (I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 2:13-14).