MESSIANIC JUDAISM

2006-03-26T10:48:00.000-08:00

We recognize that Jewish people (physical descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob) 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 (Jesus), are "grafted into" the olive tree of faith (Rom. 11:17-25) becoming spiritual sons and daughters of Abraham (Gal. 3:28-29).

We observe and celebrate the Holy Days given by God to Israel, with their fulfillment in and through the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus). We believe that true "Biblical Judaism," the faith of the 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 (Jesus) the Messiah. We believe that salvation has always been "by faith," and that works of law, or righteous acts, do not save 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 (Jesus) the Messiah as the Promised Redeemer. The "middle wall of partition" has been broken down and now we worship the God of Israel, the God of us all, together. (I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 2:13-14).

1. The Bible- consisting of both the "Old Covenant" [the Tenakh: the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings] and the "New Covenant" [Brit Chadashah] make up a single unit which is the inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God. ("All Scripture is given by the Ruach [Breath or Spirit] of Elohim [God], and is to be used for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness." 2 Timothy 3:16)

2. 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 (Unity), 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) - [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 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 Spririt (Ruach HaKodesh) - 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. In the New Covenant, the Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus), 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 (Jesus) 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 Testatment 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."

3. 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).

4. The Messiah - The Scriptures promised two "comings" of the Messiah: The first coming, promised in Gen. 3:15. His purpose was to make an atonement for sin (Dan. 9:24-26; Isa. 53; Rom. 3:21-31; Heb. 9-10; John 3:16-17). The second coming, Promised coming in the air to receive all believers to Himself (I Thess. 4:13-18; John 14:1-6; I Cor. 15:51-57). The Messiah's return to the earth 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].

5. Resurrection & Judgement - 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 (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). For by grace we are saved through faith, it is a gift of God (Eph. 2:8-9). The Lord through the atoning work of Yeshua (Jesus) is our ultimate Passover Lamb. (Ps. 14:1-3; Rom. 3:23).

6. Israel - 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 and 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).

OUR FAITH

MESSIANIC JUDAISM