08/03/09

My Personal Statement of Faith

The Holy Scriptures

I believe the Bible, the Tanak, (Old Testament) and the Renewed Covenant (New Testament) is the divinely inspired, infallible Word of YHWH in the original texts and manuscripts, and they are true.

I believe the Scriptures must be our final authority for faith, doctrine and practice and must be correctly studied, and interpreted holistically, in a historical, cultural, lingual, Hebraic, Eastern context and mindset. 

Torah

I believe the Written Torah, and all the Commandments are the foundation for the rest of Scripture, and is YHWH’s standard for holy living with YHWH and mankind.

I believe Yeshua Ha Moshiach came to show us how to live out the Torah daily in our lives, and not to abolish or do away with it.

I believe in the living a Torah observant lifestyle as Yeshua Moshieynu did.  I believe this will not save you, but backs up ones faith and express our love, devotion, and obedience to YHWH.

I believe that the rejection and disobedience to the Torah is sin (I Jn.3:4).

I believe YHWH rewards those who obey Torah and punishes those who disobey Torah. (Deut. 27-28)

I believe the Torah has not been done away with, nor will it be exchanged for another. (Mt. 5:17-20)

I believe the Torah we have now is the same one given to Moshe

The Covenants

I believe all the Covenants:

·        The Adamic Covenant

·        The Noadic Covenant

·        The Abrahamic Covenant

·        The Mosaic Covenant (Torah)

·        The Davidic Covenant

·        The Renewed Covenant

All still exist and are in full effect, each one confirms and build upon the other.  None of them have been nullified, or cancelled out on account of Yeshua Messiah’s death, and resurrection.  On the contrary, they are reaffirmed, and brought, and will be brought into their fullness.

Noachide Laws / Laws of Acts:

I do not believe that the Noachide laws are the only laws Gentiles are required to keep, nor do we believe that the four laws in Acts 15 are the only ones Gentiles must keep. I believe that the Torah, all “613 commandments” was given to all mankind because of the mixed multitude, a representative of all 70 nations was there and accepted the Torah when it was given at Mount Sinai although the Jews are the primary caretakers and recipients (Ex. 12:38, 19:8). I also believe the four laws in Acts 15 were starter laws to enable Jew and Gentile to be able to sit and fellowship at the dinner table with the knowledge of the facts that the Gentiles would eventually learn and keep all the commandments (Acts 15:21).

ELOHIM / G-D / YHWH

I believe YHWH was not created and has always existed and is eternal.

I believe YHWH created everything.

I believe YHWH is One (Echad: One in plurality.  Not Yichad: As in One singularity.)

I believe YHWH is a Spirit and cannot be affected by natural phenomenon.

I believe HE is the First and the Last (The Aleph and the Tav, the Alpha and Omega).

I believe we should only pray to YHWH and no one else.

I believe YHWH knows, sees, and has power over all.

MESSIAH

I believe Yeshua Ha Moshiach of the Branch is the prophesied Messiah of Israel.  That He was FULLY YHWH to be able to redeem us from our sins, and FULLY man to have the right to redeem us from our sins, to be our Kinsmen Redeemer (Ruth, Jer.17:5-7, Jn.1).  Yeshua is the perfect, holy, sinless Messiah, the figurative Son of YHWH, who is the Word that became flesh dwelt among us (Jn.1:14) who came to dwell in a mortal body that never saw corruption (Ps.14:10), a pure deity manifest in the flesh.   He was not an incarnation, which would denote that 100% of YHWH came in the flesh.  Yeshua was FULLY YHWH in the flesh, but not 100% YHWH.  YHWH is so infinite that He is everywhere and fills everything, so it would be impossible for ALL of YHWH to be limited to a mortal body.  In the words of Dr. Friedman, “If we were to go to the Mediterranean Sea and fill a glass with sea water, we can say that all the water in the glass is truly sea water.  However we cannot call the glass, “The Mediterranean Sea.”  There is much more to the Mediterranean Sea than the glass.  Yet nonetheless, the water in that glass is truly Mediterranean Sea water through and through.”  I believe that Yeshua is the Kohen Ha Gadol (High priest) who became the ultimate, once and for all atoning sacrifice Himself, for all mankind (Heb.4:14-5:10; 6:19-8:2).  I believe salvation is only available through Him.  I believe Yeshua came first as Messiah ben Yosef (Joseph) the Suffering Servant, and will be returning as Messiah ben David the Kingly Messiah.  I believe that these two pictures of the Messiah, given in Scripture are one and the same.

I believe in Yeshua Messiah’s prophesied virgin birth, holy, sinless life, Torah observant lifestyle, His miracles, redemptive sacrificial death, victorious resurrection, ascension, and future return and reign.

I believe The Messiah will come again.

Ruach Ha Kodesh

(The Holy Spirit)

I believe that the Ruach Ha Kodesh is an inseparable part of YHWH.

I believe that through the Ruach Ha Kodesh one can properly worship, pray to YHWH, and have power of discernment to interpret Scripture, and live a Torah obedient life.

The Gifts of the Spirit

I believe in the “Baptism” of the Ruach Ha Kodesh, and in all the gifts of the Spirit and in the Sheliachim (Apostles), Nevi’im (Prophets), and Roim (Pastors), Morim (Teachers), M’vasrim (Evangelist) according to I Cor. 12-14.

Salvation

I believe Salvation is a gift from YHWH to all who will accept Yeshua the Messiah, the Living Torah, confesses, repents, and turns away from their sins.  This is Faith Righteousness.   This will result in becoming spiritually alive and indwelt with the Ruach Ha Kodesh of YHWH.  This in turn will cause one to desire to love, obey, and please YHWH.  One shows this by keeping the Written Torah.  This is Works Righteousness.  In other words, one will walk in the footsteps of Yeshua Moshieynu (our Messiah) by walking in the Torah.  Salvation comes by grace through faith alone.  Salvation is not earned by Torah observance.

I believe a person who does this will spend eternity with Him, in Heaven if one dies prior to the final resurrection, or on the New Earth in the World to Come.

Circumcision

I believe that circumcision is a commandment of YHWH that is still in effect and has not been done away with. I do not believe that it is necessary or obligatory for salvation and entry in to the world to come, but we believe it is necessary for conversion to Judaism, but not necessary for one who desires to keep the commandments. Those who choose not to undergo circumcision or the Hatafat Dam Brit for what ever reason is considered a Goy Tzadakim, a Righteous Gentile, or as they were called in the Brit Chadasha, a G-d Fearer (Acts 10:2).

Eternal Punishment

I believe those who reject Yeshua Ha Moshiach, the Living Torah will spend eternity separated from YHWH in Hell, and ultimately the Lake of Fire with all senses in tact (Rev. 20:14-15).

The Natsari Community

I believe in being a first century Natsarim Community here in the modern day.  To live as close a possible within a modern context as the first century Natsarim did in faith and practice.  To be such a place, that if Yeshua and His Talmidim (disciples) were to walk in, they’d feel right at home. I believe the Natsarim Community, and the leadership through Torah, has the right when necessity arises, to discipline one of their own, by the appointed elders, through a Beyt Din (House of Judgment).  And to make decisions concerning and establishing Halakah (the way one lives out Torah) in the same fashion.

Biblical Appointments

I believe the Feasts of the YHWH in summed up in Leviticus 23 are not “Jewish” Holidays, but are to be celebrated by all of YHWH’s people, Jew and Gentile.  These Feasts have a past, present, and future prophetic fulfillment.

The “Moedim”, the Biblical Appointments are, just that, Appointments.  HaShem has set aside specific times and dates on the calendar to meet, and commune with us. 

He has also set up “unofficial” voluntary meetings, for us to meet with Him daily.  These are the Shacharit (Morning), Mincha (Afternoon), and Ma’ariv (Evening) prayers.

I believe in celebrating the Feasts of the YHWH within the framework of the calculated Hebrew calendar set up by the Sanhedrin just before they were forced to disband, so that Jews through out the Diaspora could observe the Feasts of the YHWH together in unity. 

I believe in the celebration of Jewish Holidays such as Chanukah, Tish B’av, Lag B’omer, Purim, etc.  They may not be commanded to be celebrated as in Lev.23, but I feel commemorates important events in the history of YHWH’s people. Yahshua celebrated Hanukkah. (Jn. 10:22-23).  Yeshua being a Torah observant Jew celebrated Purim (see book of Esther). 

I DO NOT recognize Sunday as the Sabbath, or Christmas, Easter, and other Western holidays as acceptable expressions of true Biblical faith, excluding Thanksgiving, which was modeled after Sukkot, and some National and Civil celebrations.  All these Western holidays have their roots in Paganism.

End Times / Eschatology

I DO NOT believe, nor adhere to in any way the Pre-Tribulationalist or Dispensationalist view of the End Times, this view is so young (little over 100 years old), it in no way could be the view of Natsarim Judaism of the first century.  It has NO roots in Judaism, and did not even exist in Christianity till the 19^th century.  Its main views are totally contrary to Judaism period.  Here is a general view of the chronology of the End Times:

Immediately AFTER the Tribulation (Mt.24:29; Mk.13:24) the Messiah will appear in the sky (Dan.7:13-14; Mt.24:29-31; I Thes.4:16-17) there will be a final trumpet (Rev.8:2; 11:15; Mt.24:31; Is.27:13; I Thes. 4:16-17; I Cor. 15:52) and there will be a resurrection (I Cor. 15:50-55; I Thes.4:16; Rev.20:4-6; Is.25:8; Hos.13:14; Ezk.37:1-14) and a gathering together to Messiah in the sky (Mt.24:29-31; Mk.13:24-27; 2 Thes.2:1; I Thes.4:17).  This is followed by the Messiah coming with His set apart ones. In other words the “rapture, and the “Battle of Armageddon” happens all in one shot. (Jude1:14-15= I Enoch 1:9; I Thes.3:13; Rev.19:11-16; Zech.14:4-5).  After this, the 1,000 year reign of Messiah is established (Rev.20:1-3, 7).

The “rapture” is the regathering of Israel to the Land of Israel at the return of Messiah, and not a pretrib rapture of the “Church.””

The Land: Eretz Yisrael

I believe the Promised Land of Israel and all its borders described in the Scriptures belong forever and always, by YHWH given right, to the people Israel.  When Messiah reigns during the Millennium and in eternity in the World to Come, on the New Earth (Rev.21:1-4), Israel will finally have and occupy the entire Land of Promise (Gen.15:18, Psa. 105:8-11).

Creation

I believe in a literal 24 hour, 6 day creation.  I believe the Biblical records indicate an approximately 6000 year old earth.   Failing recognize this compromises the whole foundation and integrity of YHWH, and the Scriptures.  It opens the door for evolution, which in turn is used to give justification for moral relativism and the like as seen in our society today.

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