What We Believe
The Scriptures Inspired
We believe that the Holy Bible, which consists of 39 books of the Old Testament (the Tanakh) and 27 books of the New Testament (the B’rit Hadasha), is the inspired, only infallible, and authoritative Word of God. It reveals the love of God to the world, guides how Jesus’ disciples should live, and constitutes the divine rule of faith and practice. (1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrew 4:12; 1 Peter 1:23-25; John 3:16; 1 John 3:16, Marc 12:29-31).
The One True God
We believe that there is one God, Maker of Heaven and Earth. The one ("Echad") and only true God is eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1-2; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10-11; Isaiah 48:12-16; Proverbs 30:4; John 1:1; 14; Matthew 28:19; John 10:30; Romans 8:14-17; Ephesians 4:4-6; Colossians 1:15-17).
We believe that God is the creator and sustainer of all things and that He created the universe in love. He created man in His own image for fellowship and called man back to Himself through Yeshua/Jesus the Messiah after the rebellion and fall of man.
God has revealed Himself in creation, in Israel's history, and fully in the person of His Son, Yeshua/Jesus the Messiah, whom He promised to Israel. (Romans 1:20; Romans 9:4-5; John 14:9; Colossians 1:15; Colossians 2:9)
God is Father to those who become children of God through faith in Yeshua/Jesus. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving, all-wise, and fatherly in His attitude. (Matthew 5:48; 6:9; John 1:12; 14;18; 16:27; 20:17; Romans 8:15-17; Galatians 4:6; 1 John 3:1.)
The Deity of Jesus Christ the Messiah
In the fullness of time, the Divine Son became a human being – Yeshua/Jesus the Messiah, born of a Jewish virgin, a true and perfect Israelite, without sin, fulfilling without blemish the commandments (mitzvot) of the Torah and perfectly accomplishing the promises given to the Old Testament prophets. He brings to perfection the human expression of the divine image. He took upon Himself human nature with its demands and necessities and identified Himself completely with mankind, yet without sin.(Isaiah 7:14; John 1:14; Galatians 4:4; Hebrews 1:1-4, 4:15)
We believe in the deity of the Lord Yeshua/Jesus the Messiah, the redeemer promised to the people of Israel, descendant of King David, conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of a virgin named Myriam (Mary), in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood on the cross in Jerusalem during the feast of Passover, in His bodily resurrection on the day of First fruit, in His ascension and enthronement at God’s right hand as Israel’s Messiah, with authority extending to the ends of creation, from heaven he poured out the Holy Spirit on His disciples on the day of Shavuot (Pentecost), in His return in power and glory, and the establishment of His eternal kingdom on the throne of David in Jerusalem. (Isaiah 53:4-6; Psalms 110:1; Matthew 1:23; 28:18; Mark 14:61-62; John 1:1-4; 14 and 1:29; Acts 1:11 and 2:22-24; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 1:1-4; 4:15.)
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is God, active in creation and given to specific individuals in the Old Testament (priests, leaders, prophets, and craftsmen). The Holy Spirit was given to all of Yeshua/Jesus ' disciples in fullness at Pentecost/Shavuot. God poured out the Divine Spirit on the community of Yeshua’s followers so they might be joined intimately to the Messiah and call God “Father” from their grateful hearts, as they have become children of God.
The Holy Spirit empowers the saints for adoration, service, and witness, cleanses man from the old nature, and conforms us to the image of the Son of God. The Holy Spirit is sent to indwell, guide, teach, and empower believers. Baptism in the Holy Spirit, after initial repentance, releases the fullness of the Spirit and is evidenced by the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit inspired holy men of old to write the Holy Scriptures. He exalts Yeshua/Jesus the Messiah. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. (Genesis 1:2; Numbers 11:17; 2 Samuel 23:2; John 3:5-8; 16:8; Acts 1:8 and 4:31; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 12:3-14; Galatians 5:16-18; Ephesians 6:12; Colossians 2:6-10; 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 1:10-11)
Yeshua/Jesus ‘disciples' lifestyle
As we follow Yeshua/Jesus, we want to walk as he walked, gradually being transformed into his likeness and character (humility, meekness, selflessness, righteousness, holiness, joy, power, compassion, sacrificial love, kindness, and more). (Romans 8:29; 1 Corinthians 15:49; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 John 3:12)
As Yeshua/Jesus ‘disciples, we believe we must be known for our love for God, our brothers and sisters in the faith, our neighbors, and our enemies.
We believe our faith must be demonstrated by a life of obedience to God, His Word, and His Spirit (John 14:15,21,23-24; John 15:14).
We acknowledge that obedience in the footsteps of the Master can cause suffering. Yeshua/Jesus defines his disciples’ lives as denying themselves, following him, and carrying their cross. The apostle Paul states that suffering is part of a life of obedience to the Messiah (Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; 14:27; Romans 8:17; Philippians 1:29; 3:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:4-5; 2 Timothy 3:12; 2 Timothy 1:8; 2:3; 1 Peter 4:13; 5:9).
We believe every disciple should serve God to advance His Kingdom through prayer, acts of service, witnessing, discipleship, and generously using their spiritual gifts, natural talents, and resources to bless and edify others. As a part of the Body of the Messiah, the church is mandated to extend the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
We believe every disciple should forgive quickly, reconcile with fellow believers, and keep the unity of the Spirit.
Matthew 22:36-40; Luke 6:27-28; John 13:34-35; 1 John 3: 16; 4:7-12; 1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12; Ephesians 4
We believe that a consistent, faithful, personal, and corporate prayer life is necessary to follow and obey Yeshua the Messiah (Matthew 6:6,9; 9:38; 21:13; 26:41; Luke 18:1; 21:36; Acts 2:42; Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 5:16; 1 Peter 4:7; Revelation 8:3-4).
The Church, the Body of Messiah
We believe in the spiritual unity of Yeshua/Jesus ' disciples (Jews and Gentiles, male and female, rich and poor, young and old, people from various social statuses, cultures, languages, and spiritual backgrounds) and that all true disciples are members of His body, the Church. We believe every believer must be part of a local group of disciples to learn to love and be loved, to forgive and be forgiven, to bless and be blessed, to correct and be corrected, to disciple and to be discipled, to serve and to be served, to care and to be cared for, and to encourage and be encouraged.
We believe that belonging to a community of disciples is a Biblical requirement and a necessary dimension for reaching the unity of the faith and God’s intended maturity. We believe Jesus ' disciples can be a dwelling place of God's Spirit as a spiritual community of living stones. We believe the Church should be an expression of Yeshua’s family in values, affection, purity, holiness, truth, forgiveness, support, and ministry. (Matthew 12:48-50; 18:15-22; Acts 2:41-47; Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 12:12, 27; Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 John 3:14-16.)
Israel
We believe God has chosen Israel to be His covenant people. God has not rejected Israel and will maintain Israel as a nation until the end. God blesses those who bless Israel and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
We believe Yeshua/Jesus will save all Israel when He returns to establish His eternal kingdom on earth. Until the end of this age, the gospel shall be preached first to the Jews and the Gentiles. Both groups are saved by their faith in Yeshua/Jesus.
We believe the Church should align with God's everlasting love, sovereignty, and faithfulness toward Israel, diligently pray for Israel, and stand for Israel against antisemitism. The church is grafted by faith in the Messiah to the revelation and covenants of the God of Israel revealed in the Holy Scriptures.
(Genesis 12:3; 17:7; Exodus 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 7:6-8; Isaiah 41:8-9; Jeremiah 31:31-37; Psalms 122:6; Acts 4:10-12; Romans 9:4-5; 10:9-12; 11:1-2; 16-21; 26.)
Five-fold Ministry
Understanding and embracing the meaning of the five-fold ministry is crucial for equipping the followers of Yeshua to do their works of service. Leaders are called to exercise one or more of these gifts. Understanding these gifts maximizes the potential for effective leadership and ensures that leaders and others are not placed in the wrong roles. (Ephesians 4:11-16)
Man’s Fall, Redemption, Salvation, and Resurrection
We believe God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through the Messiah Yeshua. Furthermore, we believe everyone must be treated with compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31; Acts 3:19-21; Romans 10:9-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
We believe that all men everywhere are lost and face the judgment of God, and that Yeshua/Jesus the Messiah is the only way of salvation. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, the redeemed unto the resurrection of eternal life and communion with God, and the lost unto eternal separation from God and unto eternal punishment. (Job 14:14; 19:25-27; Daniel 12:2-3; Luke 24:46-47; John 3:36; 11:25-26; 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:23; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11; Ephesians 1:7 and 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7; Revelation 20:5-6, 10-15; 21:7-8.)
Money, wealth, and generosity
We believe we cannot serve God and Mammon.
We believe Yeshua/Jesus lived a life of joyful simplicity with his disciples, which modeled the life and understanding of the early Church. He emphasized that joy comes from relationships above material possessions.
We believe the love of money and the desire to get rich have led many believers to abandon the double commandment to love God with all their heart and strength and to love their neighbors, especially their family, coworkers, employees, business partners, and clients.
We believe that God provides for our needs and gives us enough to share with others.
We believe in generosity above and beyond our tithe.
We believe financial blessings come with a responsibility to be a blessing to less privileged brothers and sisters in the faith, to the needy, to the lost by advancing the proclamation of the Gospel, and to the messengers of the Good News.
Matthew 6:24; 6:33; Acts 2:45-46; 2 Corinthians 8:9-12; 1 Timothy 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 6:17-19.
Relationship to the world
We believe the creation God created is good, but we distance ourselves from the world system, values, and culture that hate, oppose, belittle, or mock God, His word, law, values, and people.
We are in the world but not of the world. We are called to influence the world, but not to be under its evil influence.
We honor and respect God's creation and creatures, and we love all people of the world as God loves the world and has given His only Son to save it. However, we don't love what the world that does not know God holds dear.
(Genesis 1:31; John 15:18-19; John 17; 14-16; 1 Corinthians 7:31; Galatians 1:4; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17).