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The Scriptures We believe that the Scriptures, both the Tenach (Hebrew Scriptures) and the Brit Hadasha (New Covenant), are fully inspired and are God's complete and final revelation to man until the Messiah returns. The 66 books of the Bible are inerrant in the original autographs. They are true and authoritative in every category of knowledge to which they speak. We encourage the use of translations that are 'word-by-word' literal and faithful to the text. (Proverbs 30:5,6; Isaiah 40:7,8; Jeremiah 31:31; Matthew 5:18; John 10:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Pet.1:19-21) The Tri-unity We believe that God is one and yet exists as three separate and distinct Persons. Hence, we believe that God is a Tri-unity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is the creator of all things. He is infinite and perfect, eternally existing in three equal persons, each possessing the nature of deity, as well as the characteristics of personality. He is Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient. We believe this understanding is not the invention of a church, but is the original truth expressed in the Hebrew scriptures. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 48:16; Matthew 28:19; John 6:27; Acts 5:3,4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:8) Part 1: God the Father - We believe He is Father over all creation, and thus its sovereign ruler; Father of Israel, whom He has chosen as His unique people; Father of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus), whom He sent into the world to redeem mankind and creation; and Father of all who trust in His gracious provision. (Exodus 4:22; Matthew 3:17; John 1:12, 3:16; Acts 17:29; Galatians 3:26) Part 2: God the Son - We believe that God the Son took on flesh in the person of Yeshua of Nazareth, the promised Messiah of Israel, who was conceived of the Spirit of God and born of the Jewish virgin Miriam. We believe in His full deity and full humanity, His sinless life, and His miracles. We believe that Messiah Yeshua arose from the dead bodily, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for believers. He will come again in glory establishing His literal Millennial kingdom on earth. (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6,7; Jeremiah 23:5,6; Micah 5:2; Luke 1:26-79; John 1:1,2,14-18) Part 3: God the Holy Spirit - We believe the Ruach HaKodesh (The Holy Spirit) is a Person. He possesses all the distinct attributes of deity and personality. He does not call attention to Himself and is ever present to glorify and testify of Messiah Yeshua. We believe the Spirit of God is active today, convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He regenerates, seals, and sets the believer apart to a holy life. At the moment of salvation, each believer is baptized with the Spirit into the body of Messiah and at the same moment is permanently indwelt by the Spirit. We believe that at salvation the Holy Spirit sovereignly imparts at least one spiritual gift to every believer for the purpose of edifying and equipping the body of Messiah. The 'filling' of the Holy Spirit is separate, it happens when a believer empties themselves of 'self-will', whereby the Holy Spirit is able to better use them in service, and they have lives that reflect the light of Messiah. (Nehemiah 9:20; Psalm 139:7; John 15:26, 16:13-15; Acts 5:4; 1 Corinthians 2:10,11; 12:11; 2 Cor. 13:14) Satan and Demons We believe in the reality and personality of Satan, the Adversary of God. Satan is the originator of moral evil and the god of this world. He is active in blinding mankind to spiritual truth, inciting anti-Semitism and attempting to defeat believers. Believers can and should resist him by applying Scriptural truth. (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19; 2 Corinthians 4:3,4; 10:3-5; Ephesians 2:1,2, 6:10-18; 1 Timothy 3:6; 2 Peter 2:4) Angels We believe a great company of angels are before the throne of God, praising, worshipping, adoring, and glorifying Him. They are sent forth 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; Hebrews 1:13,14; Revelation 7:11-12) Mankind We believe that the human race was created in the image of God. Adam and Eve sinned and as a consequence experienced not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. All human beings are born with a sinful, corrupted nature, and go on to sin in thought, word, and deed. Mankind is invited to fully embrace God's provision of redemption in Messiah Yeshua by the work of the Holy Spirit in his understanding. (Genesis 1:26,27, 2:16,17, 3:6, 6:5; 8:21; Exodus 33:19; Psalm 14:1-3; Isaiah 53:6, 64:6; Jeremiah 17:9, 31:33; Mark 7:20-23; John 2:24,25, 3:3-5, 6:44; Romans 3:23, 5:12-19, 9:1-18; Ephesians 2:1-10) Salvation We believe that anyone who by genuine, heartfelt faith trusts Messiah Yeshua as Savior and Redeemer is immediately forgiven of sin and becomes a child of God. This salvation is not the result of any human effort or merit, it is the undeserved favor of God. Further, there is no other way of salvation apart from faith in Messiah Yeshua for any person, whether Jewish or Gentile. We believe that Messiah Yeshua died as the sacrifice for man's sin and that all who believe in Him are declared righteous on the basis of His shed blood alone. We believe that all believers are kept eternally secure by the power of God through the new birth and the indwelling and sealing of the Holy Spirit. (Genesis 15:6; Leviticus 17:11; Deuteronomy 9:4-6; Habakkuk 2:4; John 1:12,13; Acts 2:37-39; Romans 1:16,17, 3:28, 8:9,15-17; Ephesians 1:7, 2:8,9,19; Titus 3:5) The Body of Messiah We believe that all believers in Yeshua are members of the universal body (community) and bride of the Messiah. The body of Messiah began at Shavuot (Pentecost - Acts 2) with the baptism of the Holy Spirit after the ascension of Yeshua. Membership in the body is based solely on faith in Messiah. This body is distinct from Israel and is composed of both Jews and Gentiles in unity in Messiah. The ordinances of the local congregation are water immersion and the Lord's Supper. We believe that the purpose of the local congregation is to glorify God through worship, instruction, accountability, discipline, fellowship and outreach, and as these things are done, believers grow in maturity. The Scriptures encourage the active participation and regular assembly of believers in the local body. Messianic congregations are fully part of the universal Body of Messiah, one of many permissible ethnic forms as seen around the globe. Jewish believers in Yeshua have a dual identity, both as members of the people of Israel through the Abrahamic Covenant, and as members of the church, the body of believers in Messiah. (Matthew 16:15-18 Luke 22:24-27; Acts 1:5, 2:14-36; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 2:11-18, 5:23-27; Colossians 1:18, 3:14,15) The Gifts and Present Day Ministry of the Holy Spirit We believe that at salvation the Holy Spirit imparts at least one spiritual gift to every believer for the purpose of edifying and equipping the body of Messiah. We believe that God sovereignly distributes Spiritual Gifts to believers and so giving undue emphasis to any one particular gift can be divisive. We believe that God heals in accordance with His will. This may occur miraculously, medically, or naturally. Supernatural healing may occur in response to prayer and in accordance with God's sovereign will. However, physical healing cannot be claimed solely on the basis of the atonement. We believe that the filling of the Holy Spirit is the ongoing process of God to which we yield whereby He sanctifies us (sets apart) and brings forth the fruit of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:13-14; 1 Corinthians 12:28-31; 13:1-3,13; 1 Corinthians 14:12, 19, 23, 27-28; Galatians 5:22-23) Israel We believe Israel is God's special people, distinct from the Church, the body of Messiah, chosen by Him to be a holy nation and a kingdom of priests. The election of Israel is irrevocable (Rom. 11). Jewish believers in Yeshua have a unique twofold identity. They are the spiritual remnant of physical Israel and at the same time are part of the body of Messiah. We believe the Abrahamic Covenant is an irrevocable, unconditional covenant God made with Jewish people. This covenant provides title to the land of Israel for the Jewish people and promises a descendant (the Messiah) who would come to redeem Israel and bless the entire world. While the Abrahamic Covenant is made with the Jewish people, the spiritual benefits of that Covenant overflow to all the nations. God will ultimately fulfill every aspect of the covenant in the Messianic Kingdom, both physical and spiritual. We believe that Israel's relationship to God through the eternal Abrahamic Covenant does NOT grant atonement to individual Jewish people. Every individual, Jewish or Gentile, must individually respond in faith to the offer of salvation through the sacrifice of Messiah. Therefore, it is the believer's privilege and duty to tell the Good News of Messiah Yeshua to the Jewish people. (Genesis 12:1-3, 15:1-21, 17:1-21; Romans 11:1-29; Galatians 3:14-17) The Believer and the Law of Moses We believe the Law of Moses as a rule of life has been fulfilled in the Messiah and therefore believers are no longer under its' obligation or condemnation. The ongoing relationship of the Jewish people to God is through the eternal Abrahamic Covenant (see 'Israel' above). While the Law of Moses is no longer obligatory for believers, the Law has much to teach us regarding the heart of God and a joyfully Jewish way of life. Both Jewish and non-Jewish believers have the freedom in Messiah to maintain any aspects of the Law of Moses which do not violate the principles of New Covenant Grace. Believers have full freedom in cultural areas that do not violate scripture. (Acts 21:24-26; Romans 6:14;8:2;10:4;14:1-23; 1 Corinthians 9:20; 2 Corinthians 3:1- 11; Galatians 3:3,3:10-13;6:2; Ephesians 2:14 ) Last Things We believe that upon physical death believers enter into the joyous presence of God, whereas non-believers enter into conscious suffering apart from God. We believe in the personal, bodily, visible, and pre-millennial return of the Lord Yeshua. At that time He will lift the corruption which now rests upon the whole of creation, totally restore Israel to her own land, give her the realization of God's covenanted promises and bring the whole world to the knowledge of God. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men. Believers shall be resurrected to enjoy eternal life with God. Non-believers shall be resurrected to experience judgment and then eternal suffering/separation apart from God. (Jeremiah 30:7 Daniel 9:24-27; Ezekiel 20:33-40; Matthew 24:30; Acts 1:11; Romans 8:19-23; 11:25-27; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 4:13-18; 5:1-11; Titus 2:13; Revelation 3:10 ) Mottel Baleston, Messengers of the New Covenant - October 2019 revision and update. |
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thing: Two House/Ephraimite doctrine - Error of Ten "Lost" Tribes We have been asked our position regarding the new/old Two House/Ephraimite doctrine and the related speculation about the 10 Northern Tribes of Israel supposedly getting 'lost' and then showing up in Europe, or Japan, or central Africa where they pose for photos in brand new prayer shawls, or in teepees on the on the plains of Nebraska. This false idea is even occasionally used to justify the sin of anti-Semitism. There are various new twists that spread on the Internet every year based on old false doctrines. Here is a summery of our understanding: 1. The Ten Northern Tribes were taken captive by Assyria. One hundred years later Babylon became powerful and defeated Assyria and took all their captives, including the Hebrews of the Ten Tribes. Babylon also defeated and took captive the Southern kingdom of Judah with it's 2 Tribes. So there was a reunion of sorts, albeit in Babylonian captivity, of all the 12 Tribes. After more years, Persia defeated Babylon and guess what they did? They let everyone go home, including the members of all 12 Tribes, together. The New Testament records members of several of the Northern Tribes back in Israel in the First Century. So, they weren't "lost", they were reunited with the rest of the Hebrew people. The myth of "10 Lost Tribes" is the product of poor Bible exegesis, or sensational speculation or an intentional delusional effort to invent a scenario that names some ethnic group or church as descendants of a tribe. 2. Scripture uses the terms Jewish and Israel interchangeably. So, trying to invent some difference between the terms is really "reading back" into the Scriptures a recent false teaching. A good example of the interchangeability is Romans 11:1, where Rabbi Sh'aul (known generally as Paul) calls himself an "Israelite" of "the Tribe of Benjamin". Of course, Benjamin was part of Judah. 3. Gentile Believers in Messiah Yeshua are fully beloved of God (Ephesians 2) and do not need to invent, imagine or make up a false Jewish/Hebrew/Israel lineage to be equal and top-ranked "players" in the family of God. God loves Gentiles and wants them to come to faith in the Jewish Messiah, and so do I. Selah. Mottel Baleston. |
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