WHAT WE BELIEVE

We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe that God is all knowing, all-powerful, ever present, and changeless and that He is holy, righteous, faithful, merciful and loving (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10,11; 48:16, Psalm 2; Proverbs 30:4; Isaiah 9:6,7).

We believe that the Father is all the fullness of the Godhead invisible. We rejoice that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all that come to Him through faith in Messiah Yeshua* (Exodus 4:22; Matthew 3:17; John 1:12,3:16; 8:24, 58; Gal. 3:26).

We believe that Messiah Yeshua (*Jesus) is the eternal and only begotten Son of God, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of a Jewish virgin, Miriam. He was sinless in His life and He made atonement for the sins of the world by the shedding of His blood unto death. We believe in His bodily resurrection from the dead, His ascension, His high priestly work in Heaven for us, and His visible premillenial return to the world according to His promise. (Leviticus 17:11; Psalm 22:16; 110:4; Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Daniel 9:26; Zechariah 12:10; Mark 10:45; Romans 3:24-26, 5:8-9; 2 Corinthians 5:14, 21; 1 Peter 3:18; Isaiah 7:14,9:6-7; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Micah 5:2; John 1:1, 8:58; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:2-3; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Hebrews 7:1-25,8:1; 1 John 2:1).

We believe the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) is a person of the Godhead; and as such, He possesses all the distinct attributes of Deity. He is ever present to glorify and testify of Messiah Yeshua. We believe that according to the New Covenant (Brit Chadasha), the Holy Spirit regenerates, permanently indwells, and seals the believer. He empowers, sovereignty imparting at least one spiritual gift to every believer for the purpose of edifying and equipping the Body of Messiah, guides, teaches, sanctifies, and fills believers, convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.

We believe the immersion of the Holy Spirit is both initiatory and universal. Believers should therefore seek to identify, utilize and develop their God given gifts for service in the Lord (Genesis 1:2; Psalm 139:7-8; Neh. 9:20; 1 John 2:20, 14:16,17, 15:26,27, 16:7-15; 1 Cor. 2:10,11, 12:4-31; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 1:13,14, 4:30).

We believe the Congregation is a living, spiritual body of which Messiah is the head and all true believers are members. The body of Messiah began at Shavuot (Pentecost) when believers were filled with the Holy Spirit after the ascension of Messiah Yeshua. It will be completed when the Messiah returns for His bride. The body of Messiah is distinct from Israel and is composed of both Jewish and non-Jewish (Gentile) believers made into one new man by faith in Messiah Yeshua (Matthew 16:18; Acts 1:5,2:14-38; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 2:11-15, 5:23-27; Colossians 1:18-20, 3:14-15). We believe that the local congregation is an organized body of believers in Messiah Jesus who have been through Mikveh (baptism) by immersion upon confession of faith and who associate for worship, fellowship, teaching, and service.

We believe the local congregation is governed by its members through the Zakanim (Elders) and is not ruled by any outside political authority. Its purpose is to glorify God through worship, instruction, accountability, discipline, fellowship and outreach (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:42-47; Ephesians 4:11-13; Hebrews 10:19-25). We believe Messiah commands Zicharon (The Lord’s Supper) and believer’s Mikveh (baptism) by immersion for observance by the Congregation (Mt 28: 18-20; Luke 22: 19-20; 1 Cor. 11: 23-26).

We believe that Satan is the chief enemy of God and our souls, and that while he continues to rule this present world, Messiah’s atoning death and resurrection have defeated him. Satan will suffer eternal punishment by being cast into the lake of fire after the Messiah’s one thousand year Messianic reign (2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:1-3; Colossians 2:15; Revelation 20:10). Satan is the father of lies and anti-Semitism and hostility toward Israel.

Believers can and should resist him and his demons by faith, applying Scriptural truth. We believe that believers cannot be demon possessed, but they can be demon oppressed (Genesis 3:1-19; Luke 10:18; John 8:44; Eph. 6:10-19; James 4:7-8; 1 Peter 5:8-9; Revelation 12:13).

We believe in the God ordained ministry of holy angels 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 7:11-12).

We believe that the Bible is God’s completed Word; that it was inerrantly written by divinely inspired men; that it is the supreme, infallible authority in all matters of faith and conduct; and that it is true in all that it affirms (Proverbs 30:5-6; Isaiah 40:7-8; Jeremiah 31:31; Matthew 5:18; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).

We believe that humanity was created in the image of God. We believe that because of the original sin, all men are by nature and choice sinful and alienated from God. Man has no possible means of reconciling himself to God and that, by persisting in the sinful state of unbelief, man is justly condemned by God to eternal punishment. (Genesis 1:26-27, 2:17,3:6; Isaiah 53:6, 64:6; Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:20-23; John 2:24-25; Romans 5:12-15; Ephesians 2:1-3).

We believe that man is reconciled to God, being justified by grace through faith in the atoning work of Messiah Yeshua. Being reconciled, man has peace with God and direct access to Him through Messiah Yeshua and has the hope of eternal glory in Heaven with God. Further, there is no way of salvation apart from faith in Messiah Yeshua for any person, Jewish or Gentile (Genesis 15:6; Habakkuk 2:4; John 1:12-13, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:28; Ephesians 1:7, 1 Timothy 2:5; Titus 3:5).

We believe that all who have truly trusted in Yeshua are kept eternally secure by the power of God through the new birth, the indwelling and sealing ministry of the Holy Spirit, and the intercession of Messiah Yeshua (John 10:28-30,14:16-17; Romans 8:38-39; Ephesians 4:30; 1 John 2:1; 1 Peter 1:23).

We believe that all who have trusted in Yeshua, though forgiven, still have to contend with the power of sin in this life. Each believer has the ability to choose sin or righteousness. God has made full provision for believers to live in obedience to Him through the complete atonement of Messiah Yeshua and the indwelling of the Spirit of God (John 17:17-19; Romans 6:1-11, 7:15-25, 8:11-13; 1 John 1:8-2:2).