BASIC TENETS OF OUR FAITH

 

The Holy Bible (Old and New Testament) is the inspired word of God and is the basis of our statement of faith. We are committed, as a body of baptized believers in Y’shua (Jesus), to share the good news of salvation to lost mankind. 

The Scriptures Inspired

The scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct. Our code of conduct, practice, faith, guidance and discipline comes from both the Old and New Testaments.

(II Timothy 3:16-17)

The One True God

The One True God has revealed himself as the eternally self-existent “I AM,” the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. We recognize His Name as YHVH and He is the only God; and not to be confused with any other man-made god of this earth. Since YHVH is an invisible Spirit, He has further revealed Himself to mankind as embodying the principles of relationship and association as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

 (Genesis 1:1-2, Exodus 3:11-15, John 4:24, Colossians 1:15, I Timothy 1:17).

The Deity of the Lord Y’shua Messiah (Jesus Christ)

He is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:

(a) His virgin birth  (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31,35).

(b) His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22).

(c) His miracles (Acts 2:22; 10:38).

(d) His substitutionary work on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

(e) His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39;

     1 Corinthians 15:4).

(f) His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9,11; 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11;

     Hebrews 1:3)

The Fall Of Man

Man was created good and upright; for God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God

(Genesis 1:26,27; 2:17; 3:6; Romans 5:12-19).

The Salvation Of Man

Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Y’shua Messiah (Jesus Christ) the Son of God. (Acts 4:12)

      (a) Conditions to Salvation

Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Y’shua Messiah (Jesus Christ). (Luke 24:47; John 3:3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7).

(b) The Evidences of Salvation

The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24; Titus 2:12).

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Y’shua Messiah (Jesus Christ). This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian church. With it the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31). This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth

(Acts 8:12-17;10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9).

Water Baptism

Baptism by immersion in water (Matthew 28:19), in the name of Y’shua (Jesus), shall be administered to all who have believed on the Lord Y’shua Messiah (Jesus Christ) for salvation, and who give clear evidence of their salvation (Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12).

Holiness of the Sabbath Day

“Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it Holy” (Exodus 20:8-11). On the current Gregorian calendar the Sabbath begins at sundown on Friday and ends at sundown on Saturday. We believe and practice the command to honor and cherish the Sabbath Day, as set aside by God Himself, as a day of rest and worship of the Almighty God, and to spend time with family. We recognize that the weekly Sabbath foreshadows the coming eternal Shabbat (Sabbath) of Messiah. Each individual member shall examine himself/herself as to the appropriate manner in which to keep the Sabbath set apart. It is this congregation’s duty and obligation to assemble on the Sabbath to honor the set apart day.

Feasts of the LORD (YHVH)

The Feasts of YHVH shall be remembered and observed as best as possible since we are living in the diaspora. The Feasts are: the weekly Sabbath, Passover and Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Feast of Weeks, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Tabernacles and The Eighth Day. Each individual member shall examine himself/herself as to the appropriate manner in which to recognize, remember and observe these Feasts of YHVH; as the congregation seeks to assemble, during these celebrations, as much as is possible and feasible.

(Leviticus 23:1-44) 

Divine Healing

Divine Healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the

Atonement, and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:16,17; James 5:14-16)

Sanctity of Marriage

We recognize marriage as having been sanctioned/created and instituted by Almighty God as one man and one woman, and therefore the definition of marriage cannot be altered or changed by any jurisdiction, government, court system, individual, or etc. Furthermore, in the beginning God created them male and female, by birth. We do not recognize any marriage union, including civil unions, other than that of one biologically born male united in marriage with one biologically born female. (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:22-24, Ephesians 5:31)

Holy Living

…Be Holy; for I am Holy” (Leviticus 11:44; 20:7, I Peter 1:16). God commands his saints to live righteous and holy (set-apart) lives; obedient to His commandments, statutes and judgments.  The Old and New Testaments attest to the fact that His standards are very high and grace should never be used as an excuse for un-godly and lewd behavior. (Jude)

Against Pagan Practices

“You shall not worship YHVH your God with such things” (Deut. 12:1-4). We believe that research should be done into pagan practices which have been handed down by our church Fathers and accepted as normal for the worship of God and His son, Y’shua (Jesus). Once discovered these pagan practices should be eradicated from practice and association in the lives of believers. Having stated such, this congregation does not celebrate christmas, easter, and other such holidays with pagan backgrounds. In addition, Sunday is not the Sabbath, but instead that is a tradition that has been handed down to us by our church Fathers and the Catholic Church. We believe that this practice of examining our traditional practices is an ongoing process and as a corporate body made up of individual members, we recognize that each member arrives at their own conclusions regarding these matters as light is shined upon them by the guidance of the Holy Spirit and revelation of the Father. It is not the job of the Pastor, Elders, Trustees, any staff member or any individual member to condemn another because they still practice such things. Almost all members have practiced these things at one time or another in their lives.  We seek to bring unity in these matters while we seek YHVH (God) for truth.

The Resurrection of the Dead and Second Coming of Y’shua (Jesus)

The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Y’shua (Jesus) and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is our imminent and blessed

hope (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52).

The second coming of Messiah (Christ) includes the visible return of Y’shua (Jesus) when He will reign with His saints on the earth for one thousand years (Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:27,30; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-14; 20:1-6). This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel (Ezekiel 37:21,22; Zephaniah 3:19, 20; Romans 11:26,27) and the establishment of universal peace (Isaiah 11:6-9; Psalm 72:3-8; Micah 4:3,4).

The Final Judgment

There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be condemned to eternal punishment, which is the second death (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8).

The New Heaven and New Earth

“We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21 and 22)