Our Beliefs and Practices as God-Fearers of Israel

Here are some of our core beliefs that we began compiling over 35 years ago. One of the reasons we put them in writing was because we visited many different groups and congregations in the 1990s, and it was difficult to determine what they believed and what they taught. Our desire is to always "walk as our Messiah walked."

THE GOD OF ISRAEL:

There is One God, the God Of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Ex. 3:6, Acts 3:13).

Elohim (Mighty Ones) exists eternally in Echad [oneness] (Gen. 1:1, Gen. 1:26, De. 6:4, Is. 48:16, Matt. 28:18-20; Rom. 8:14-17, 1 Peter 1:2):

• Father - Psalm 89:26, Is. 63:16, Jer. 31:9, Luke 10:21-22, John. 4:23, 1 Cor. 1:3, Rev. 3:5;

• Son - Psalm 2, Proverbs. 30:4-6, Is. 9:6-7, Is. 53, Micah 5:2, Luke 1:31-33, John 1:29-34, John 3:16-18, John 8:58, Col. 1:15-20; and

• Ruach Kodesh [Holy Spirit] - Gen. 1:2, 2 Sam. 23:1-3, Psalm 51:11-12, Mark 3:28-29, John 14:16-17, 26, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:38, Acts 13:2-4.

God is unchanging (Psalm 102:27, Mal. 3:6, Heb. 1:10-12, Heb. 13:8).

YESHUA (JESUS) - THE MESSIAH:

Yeshua is the Mediator (establisher) of the “New Covenant [Brit Chadasha]” with Israel, which includes God-Fearers grafted in from the nations (Jer. 31:31-34; Matt. 26:28; Rom. 11; Heb. 8:8, Heb. 12:24).

Yeshua came into this world born of a virgin (Gen. 3:15, Is. 7:14, Luke 1:30-35).

Yeshua is the root and offspring of David, the bright and the morning star (Num. 24:17, Matt. 1:1-17, Rev. 22:16).

Yeshua came to make atonement, provide reconciliation for Israel and all mankind, and begin the regathering of those who are part of the Abrahamic Covenant (Lev. 16:15-17, Psalm 22, Dan. 9:24-26, Is. 53, John 3:16-17, Rom. 3:23-26, Rom. 5:6-11, Heb. 2:17, Heb. 9:11-14).

Yeshua died and was resurrected from the dead (Psalm 16:9-10, Jonah/Matt. 12:39-41, Rom. 14:9, 1 Cor. 15:3-4, 20).

Yeshua will re-establish the throne and kingdom of David, which will last forever (Is. 9:6-7, Jer. 23:5-8, Luke 1:30-33, Acts 2:25-36).

BIBLE:

Consists of the TANAKH (Law/Prophets/Writings) and the Apostolic Writings (New Covenant). They are the only infallible and authoritative word of God.

Talmud and other commentaries, both Jewish and non-Jewish, may serve as rich and meaningful teachers about our faith in the G-d of Israel. However, these works are not authoritative, only the Scriptures (Matt. 15:3-6, Mark 7:8-9, Col. 2:8, 1 Tim. 1:3-4).

The Holy Scriptures are:

• Divinely Inspired - De. 6:4-9, Psalm 19:7-11, John 6:63, 1 Cor. 2:13, 2 Tim. 3:16a, 2 Peter 1:20-21; and

• Final Authority - in all matters of faith and practice (Psalm 119, Proverbs 3:1-6, Col. 3:16, 1 Tim. 4:13, 2 Tim. 3:15-17);

The Teachings of Moses (Torah) were given by God as guidelines and instructions for holy living (De. 28:9, Psalm 1:1-3, Rom. 3:31, Rom. 7:12, 1 John 5:3).

Yeshua affirmed the Torah in Matthew 5:17-20, "Don't think I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them but to establish (confirm/fulfill) them. I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yod or a stroke will pass from the Torah."

We cannot earn our salvation by keeping the Torah (Law) but it is through faithful obedience that we demonstrate our love for G-d. (Gen. 15:6, Gal. 3:24-26, Rom. 4:13, Rom. 8:3-4, Heb. 7:18-19)

MANKIND:

All mankind were created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-31, Gen. 5:1, Gen. 9:6, Ecc. 7:29, 1 Cor. 11:7, James 3:9).

Through disobedience, mankind fell from their created state and became separated from God (Gen. 2:17, Gen. 3:22-24, Eph. 4:17-18).

After the fall of Adam and Eve, all are born with a sinful nature (Psalm 14:1-3, 53:1-3, Is. 64:6, Rom. 3:9-12, 23, Rom. 5:12).

God made a way for man's reconciliation through the atonement made by the Messiah Yeshua (Lev. 8:15, Dan. 9:24, Rom. 5:1, 10, 2 Cor. 5:17-21, Col. 1:20-22).

After death, all mankind will experience a literal, physical resurrection. The wicked will be sentenced to eternal separation from God by judgment through annihilation. (De 8:19, Psalms 37:38, 2 Peter 2:12)

Believers in Messiah (Yeshua) are promised everlasting life and fellowship with God. (Job 19:25-27, Is. 26:19, Ezek. 37:1-14, Dan. 12:2-3, 13, Matt. 25:31-46, John 5:21-29, Acts 24:14-15, 1 Thess. 4:13-18, Rev. 20:4-15).

SALVATION:

By grace, through faith, we are promised salvation. It is a gift of God (Gen. 15:6, Hab. 2:4, Rom. 3:38, Rom. 5:1, Eph. 2:8-10, Heb. 11:6, 39).

Salvation is available to those who place their faith in Messiah’s atonement (De. 18:18-19, Psalm 2:10-12, John 3:16, Acts 4:10-12, Gal. 3:22, Eph. 2:4-6, Heb. 10:10).

True salvation produces holy lives (Rom. 12:1-2, 9, Rom. 16:19, Gal. 5:22-25, 1 Peter 1:14-16, 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:3-6, 9, 10).

ISRAEL:

God's plan for the nation of Israel and for the world, consists of both the:

• Physical Restoration of Israel - Is. 11:11-16, Is. 62:1-4, Jer. 12:15, Ezk. 36:1-24, Joel 3:16-18, Matt. 23:37-39;

• Spiritual Restoration of Israel - Ezek. 36:25-32, Hosea 3, Zech. 12:10-14, Joel 2:28-32, Acts 2:14-33, Rom. 11:26-27, Rev. 7:3-8.

God has and will keep His covenant with Israel (Isa. 50:1, Jer. 33:25-26, Hosea, Rom. 11:1-29, Gal. 3:15-17).

God-Fearers become part of Israel by faith in Messiah (Yeshua) and do not replace physical Israel (Romans 11).

JEWISH PEOPLE:

Jewish people are actual physical descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob, whether through the mother's or the father's blood line (Gen. 26:2-5, Acts 3:25, Acts 7:8).

Includes non-genetic descendants of Abraham who have taken on a Jewish identity by conversion to Judaism and have been recognized by the Jewish community as Jews. The following are verses from Scripture concerning conversion to Judaism (Gen. 17:10-14, Ex. 12:44, 48, Acts 2:5, 9-11, Acts 16:1-3).

According to the Scriptures, Jewish people who place their faith in Israel's Messiah (Yeshua) continue to be Jewish (Acts 21:17-26, 39, Acts 23:6, Acts 26:4-5).

GOD-FEARERS IN MESSIAH:

God-Fearers who place their faith in Messiah (Yeshua) are "grafted into" the olive tree of faith (Acts 10:34-35, Rom. 10:19-21, Rom. 11:13-25).

God-Fearers who place their faith in Messiah (Yeshua), are sons and daughters of Abraham (Gen. 17:5, Hosea 2:23, Rom. 3:27-30, Rom. 4:11, 16, Gal. 3:7-9, Gal. 3:28-29).

God-Fearers are joint-heirs with Israel (Rom. 8:15-17, Eph. 3:1-6, Gal. 3:29).

BODY OF BELIEVERS IN MESSIAH:

The body of believers in Messiah is composed of both Jews and those from the nations who have received Messiah (Yeshua) as their promised Redeemer (Acts 15:13-18/Amos 9:11-12, Acts 11:1-18, Rom. 1:16, Gal. 3:26-29, Gal. 5:6).

The "middle wall of partition" has been broken down and Jews and God-Fearers now worship the God of Israel together as ONE (Acts 15:7-11, Rom. 10:12, 1 Cor. 12:13, Eph. 2:11-22, Eph. 3:6-10).

We should imitate the faith of the first century believers, in a sect, originally called "The Way" (Matt. 23:1-3, Acts 2:42-27, Acts 3:1, Acts 5:42, Acts 24:14, 1 Cor. 5:8).

PRIESTHOOD:

Israel as a whole is considered a “kingdom of priests.” The Levitical priest had a special role (Ex. 19:3-6; 1 Peter 2:9).

Levitical priesthood is suspended (set aside) for a period of time as it cannot function according to Torah without the Temple. (Letter to the Hebrews)

In the future, the Levitical priesthood will be restored when Messiah returns and rebuilds the Temple and the Tzadokian order will be the only Levitical order to approach the most holy place. (Ezk. 44:9-18; Is. 66:15-24)

COMMUNITY LIFE - WHAT WE PRACTICE:

We assemble for Torah study, prayer, praise and fellowship/encouragement on the 7th day of the week (Biblical Sabbath) and on the High Holy Days (Feasts) in accordance with the Biblical (Jewish) calendar (Gen. 2:2; Lev. 23; Ex. 13:4-9; Ezk. 20:12; Hebrews 10:25; Luke 4:16; Acts 17:2; Matt 23:56).

We desire to follow the Torah through trusting obedience to it as the God-breathed words of our Messiah Yeshua who said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” This is what the 1st century followers of Messiah Yeshua did (Matt 19:16-17).

In keeping with God’s desire that we not mix the holy and the profane (pagan), we do not keep/practice the Greco-Roman holidays of Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween or Christmas (Saturnalia).

We rejoice in the Resurrection of our Messiah Yeshua on Shabbat after HIS execution on the tree and we celebrate HIS physical birth and anticipate HIS return to setup HIS millennial kingdom at the fall feast of Sukkot.

We follow the Scriptural teaching concerning “food.” When the Scripture refers to “food,” it means the things God has said are “food,” not any creature that moves (Lev. 11; De. 14).

All members and leaders/teachers are under the authority of the headship of Messiah. Leaders/teachers should have at least 3 years of continual Torah Study training, as Yeshua had 3 years training His taught ones.