Testament”) – is the complete written Word of God (YHVH) and has been preserved for us through YHVH’s Ruach (Spirit) (John 14:26) for our instruction and salvation (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 119:41, 81).  We believe that the Bible is absolutely true (John 17:17) and is God’s inspired (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20), infallible (Psalm 119:160), literal (2 Timothy 3:16), inerrant (Psalm 12:6), and eternal Word (Psalm 119:89, Isaiah 40:8, 1 Peter 1:25), and that it is the only authoritative source and norm for life, faith, and teaching about YHVH and His kingdom (Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4, Romans 10:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

 

God’s Messiah

We believe that Yeshua HaMashiach (“the anointed One”) is the living and incarnate word of God (John 1:1, 14).  We believe He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6) – and that no one can come to the Father (YHVH) (John 14:6) or be forgiven and saved unto everlasting and eternal life without a living and dynamic relationship with YHVH through Yeshua (John 3:16, 6:27, 17:3; Acts 4:10-12; 1 John 5:11) – a relationship that must endure to the end (Matthew 10:22, 24:13) and is substantiated by love, faith, and obedience (Deuteronomy 30:17-20; John 14:15; Matthew 7:21-23; Hebrews 11:6).  We believe that Yeshua HaMashiach is one with His Father, YHVH (John 1:1-2, 10:30; 1 John 5:20), that the fullness of YHVH dwells in Him (Colossians 2:9), that without Him nothing was created (John 1:3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2), and that He ascended to the Father (John 6:62, 20:17; Acts 1:9) where He is our High Priest (Hebrews 2:17, 3:1, 4:14 - 5:10, 6:20, 7:28, 8:1, 9:11, 10:12, 10:21) and Advocate (1 John 2:1).

 

God’s Holy Spirit

We believe that Ruach HaKodesh is the Spirit of the Living God – Y’HoVaH (Matthew 3:16; John 4:24; 2 Corinthians 3:3; Romans 8:9, 11) – and is not a separate, “consubstantial” entity or third party that exists in addition to or distinct from the one true Living God (Deuteronomy 6:4), Y’HoVaH, as is declared by the Roman Catholic trinitarian doctrine that was formulated in the fourth century AD, a doctrine that alleges God to be a triad of persons – a doctrine that is adhered to by most Christians – both Catholic and Protestant throughout the world (Deuteronomy 6:4; Jeremiah 10:1-2).  We believe that through His own Holy Spirit, God gives Himself to us in the most intimate way possible (John 14:23; Romans 8:26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:9-14) just as was promised by Yeshua who taught that the Father would send the Spirit to comfort us (John 14:16), dwell in us (John 14:17b, 1 Corinthians 3:16), teach us everything and remind us of all that our Messiah had said (John 14:26), lead us into all truth (John 16:13), convict us of sin (John 16:8-9), direct us to righteousness (Galatians 5:5), and empower the believer for godly living and service (Acts 1:4-8; Ephesians 3:16).

 

Water Baptism

We believe that water baptism is an obedient act of surrender to the sovereignty of Y’HoVaH through His Son, Yeshua, who by His death restored our relationship with God and now calls and commands those who are biblically prepared and spiritually ready to be baptized (Mark 1:15; Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38).  Water baptism is not just a ceremonial or sacramental event; rather it is the doorway into a new life that is ours in Messiah Yeshua – a life of faith, discipleship, servanthood (Romans 6:3-7), and obedience (John 14:15; 1 Peter 4:17-19).  Most importantly, when we are baptized, we clothe ourselves in Messiah (Galatians 3:26) and His resurrection (Romans 6:5; 1 Peter 3:21-22) and are literally baptized into the name of our Savior as sons and daughters of God (Matthew 28:19; Numbers 6:27).

 

Holy Spirit Baptism

We believe that a person’s baptism in the Holy Spirit of Y’hovah is a precious gift (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16; Acts 1:4, 11:15-16, 13:52; 1 Corinthians 3:16), and that while it is possible for the baptism of the Spirit to occur in and with one’s water baptism, it is more often a distinct and separate event (Acts 8:14-17, 10:44-48, 19:1-7).  According to Yeshua, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is necessary for a person to be born again and to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:1-8).  Through the witness of the Bible and by our own experience, we attest to the transformation that takes place in the life of a believer who is Spirit-filled that empowers them to rightly understand the scriptures, grasp the nature and importance of the kingdom of God, maintain a biblical world view, and walk in an authority, authenticity, boldness, and wisdom that is not possible outside of the Spirit of Y’HoVaH (Numbers 11:23-29; Acts 1:8, 2:4, 4:31, 6:3; Romans 5:5; 1 Corinthians 2:9-14; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 6:17b,c).  It is of supreme importance, however, that we are not only filled with the Spirit, but that we also are guided by the Spirit – otherwise we will end up grieving the very Spirit of God that was given to enable us for life and ministry (Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 4:30).

 

The People Of God

We believe that there is only one true people of God (YHVH), Israel, whom God chose (Deuteronomy 7:1-8) to bear forth the oracles of God (Romans 3:2) and through whom all the families of the earth were to be blessed (Genesis 12:3).  Because of His great love and mercy (Psalm 103:8; 1 John 4:8) for those He has created (2 Peter 3:9), He allows and invites all people, regardless of nationality or lineage, to join His people, Israel, by being grafted in through Messiah Yeshua (Luke 14:23; Romans 11:17-18; Ephesians 2:11-13).  As was true of the sojourners who left Egypt with the Israelites (Exodus 12:38), those who are wild olive branches and have lived like the nations as “Gentiles,” are invited to live as God’s people through the instruction of the Torah, the testimony of the Prophets, and the life and ministry of the Messiah (Isaiah 56:3-8; Matthew 5:17-19; John 3:16).  The bride of Messiah (2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:7) is the believing community that keeps Torah and follows Yeshua HaMashiach (Matthew 7:21-23; John 10:27).  That community is to dedicate itself to the word of God, prayer, worship, holiness, mutual encouragement among believers, and the ministry of being a visible witness to those who have yet committed their lives to Y’HoVaH.

 

Salvation

We believe that salvation is obtained only through a genuine relationship with the living God (1 Peter 1:8-23; 2 Corinthians 7:9-10; Acts 4:12; John 3:16-21).  A genuine relationship with Him is based on the forgiveness and restoration we receive through the blood of Messiah and is evidenced by love (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37-38), faith (Hebrews 11:6; James 2:26), and a new life of obedience to the instruction and commandments of God (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; John 14:15).  This is NOT salvation by works, it is salvation by relationship, a relationship that has structure and content as stipulated by God (Deuteronomy 30:11-20; Philippians 2:12-16; Matthew 7:13-14; Titus 2:11-15; Matthew 7:23; Hebrews 10:26-36).  The whole purpose of Yeshua's coming to earth was to restore the broken relationship between us and our Father in heaven.  The restoration of that relationship IS the grace that God offers to us and to all people – but it is not the last or final word.  What a person does with that grace and their life is the final word and decision (Revelation 20:11-15).  It is a deception to think that salvation can be accomplished by reciting the sinner's prayer when Yeshua said so clearly that "those who endure to the end will be saved" (Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13).  Enduring to the end means having a genuine relationship with God to the end of our lives.