Statement of Faith

Typical Messianic Statement of Faith

First of all, it must be understood that the so-called “Messianic Movement” is not a single organization with a central governing body to speak for it. It is not totally “Jewish,” and it is definitely not “Church.” It is not “Christian” in the same sense of the word that most non-Jewish Christians think of that word. Nor is it a total rejection of either “Church” or “Christianity,” though many Messianics are deeply troubled by what those two words have come to mean to the Jewish people over the past two thousand years.

The “movement” is, however, made up of both Jews and non-Jews who are attempting to restore to its original state the relationship with the Creator G-d and the way of life which was practiced by the Son of G-d and as taught to his original followers during His incarnation as Yeshua of Nazareth. As those who followed the Messiah during the first century of this era were almost exclusively Jewish, so the Messianic Movement is essentially Jewish. And since Messiah is to return soon to establish His seat of government in a restored Israel, it is altogether fitting and proper that we return to the form of worship that He established there.

Both the ancient Hebrew prophets and the Book of the Revelation (the final true prophetic revelation until the return of Elijah immediately prior to Messiah’s return to earth) tell us that in the “Kingdom Age” or “Messianic Age” all the nations of the world will come to Israel to observe the feasts of the L-rd. And so it is proper that all followers of Messiah observe those feasts now in obedience to the Word of G-d and in preparation for the coming Kingdom.

As the sages have said, “Wherever there are two Rabbis there will be three opinions.” And so it is with the Messianic Movement. There are probably nearly as many different expressions of Messianic faith as there are individual congregations.

In another place we have defined what we consider to be the absolute minimum requirements, or the “common denominator” if you will, of Biblical Faith. Those essential elements are the same as you will find on this page.

Among Messianics are those who practice the so-called “sign gifts” and those who do not. There are those who are “dispensational” in their approach to the interpretation of Scripture and those who are not. There are those who believe that the true follower of Messiah is eternally secure in his or her salvation, and there are those who believe that a believer can “backslide” and become lost after having once been saved.

However, we believe that most people who view themselves as “Messianic” would be in at least general agreement with the following statements:

1. The Creator of all things has revealed Himself to His creation through His personal Name which is represented by the Hebrew letters Yud-He-Vav-He. Out of respect for Him and His Name, we normally refer to Him as ADONAI (the Hebrew word for Lord) or by the appellation (or circumlocution) HaShem (Hebrew for “The Name”). He has revealed that in His divine nature He is an inseparable union; HaShem is One and there is only one HaShem. (“Sh'ma, Yisra'el! ADONAI Eloheinu, ADONAI echad [Hear, Isra'el! ADONAI our God, ADONAI is one]; Deuteronomy 6:4)

2. And yet the one ADONAI has manifest Himself to mankind in three divine “Persons:” Abba [the Father], Yeshua [literally “Salvation,” the Son] and Ruach HaKodesh [the Holy Spirit, literally “Breath”]. Yet all three “Persons” have but one Name. (“… the Name [singular] of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit …” Matthew 28:19)

3. The Bible, consisting of both the TaNaKh (The Hebrew Bible consisting of Torah, Nevi'im, and Kituvim — erroneously referred to as the “Old Testament”) and Apostolic Writings (erroneously referred to as the “New Covenant” or “New Testament”) make up a single unit which is the inspired, only infallible, authoritative Word of ADONAI. (“All Scripture is given by the Ruach [Breath or Spirit] of Elohim [God], and is to be used for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16)

4. Yeshua [“Jesus” is an incorrect transliteration of the Greek form of His name] of Natzaret [Nazareth] is the Messiah of Israel, the Savior of the world. He is HaShem who came in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16). He was born of a virgin (Luke 1:34) and lived a sinless and Torah-observant life. He died an atoning death as the full and complete payment of our sin debt to G-d (1 John 4:10), was resurrected from the dead (1 Cor. 15:4), ascended to the right hand of Abba, the Father (Mark 16:19), and now is glorified with all power in Heaven and in Earth (John 1:12-14). He will return physically as King of kings and Lord of lords to rule and reign over the earth from the throne of His father David [in Jerusalem]. (Zech. 14; Acts 1:9-11, Rev. 19:11-16)

5. All have sinned (transgressed the holy Torah [revealed Law] of ADONAI) and stand condemned before Him, and need the salvation provided by the grace of HaShem through the atoning work of Yeshua as our final and ultimate Passover Lamb. (Ps. 14:1-3; Rom. 3:23)

6. All who experientially believe and trust that Yeshua is the promised Messiah, HaShem come in the flesh, Who died as our Passover Lamb and rose again, are forgiven their sins and come into a renewed covenant with HaShem through Yeshua, and therefore become inheritors of all the unconditional promises that HaShem made with Abraham and Israel. (Romans 10:9-11, 1 Corinthians 5:7) [This requires not simple intellectual acquiescence to the historical facts, but a total and child-like faith and trust that Yeshua was exactly Who He claimed to be and that He will do exactly what He has promised to do. This kind of faith will produce the evidence of an appropriate lifestyle of Mitzvah (righteous works). See James 2:14-26.]

7. Ruach HaKodesh [the Holy Spirit] permanently dwells within all true believers to lead, guide, teach, comfort, and empower us to live a righteous life and to minister to the Miqra [the Ekklesia, or “Called-Out Ones”] as a royal priesthood of believers. (John 14:26; 1 Tim. 1:7; 1 Cor. 14:26; Acts 2:4; 1 Cor 12: 1-13, Rom. 12:3-21; Eph 1:13; 1 Pet. 2:5)

8. The promise of a faithful trust in Yeshua is resurrection from the dead, eternal life, and ruling with Yeshua forever in the place where His Kingdom will rule. Yeshua will soon rule in Jerusalem, and finally in New Jerusalem in the New Creation forever. (John 5:28-29; Rev. 19-22, especially 20:11-15)

9. The penalty awaiting those who reject Yeshua is eternal separation from HaShem into outer darkness and eternal punishment. (Matt. 25:31-46, Rev. 20)

10. The final Divine Plan for Israel is to bring the remnant of Judah, who are the faithful Jewish people, and the remnant of those who were formally Gentiles (pagans), but who have been recovered from the world by faith, back together and united into one holy nation of Israel under one Shepherd, namely Yeshua, the Messiah. This is a necessary part of the restoration of all things spoken by the prophets. (Ezek. 37, Hosea 1-2, Rom. 9:26, Acts 3:21)

11. The Shabbat [Sabbath], the seventh day of the week, is the created holy day of HaShem (not of Israel), which He gave to mankind and covenanted with His people as a sign forever. (Exod. 31:12-16, Gen. 2:2-3, Isa. 58:13-14, Matt. 12:8) Nowhere in the Apostolic Writings is either the Fourth Commandment (Exod. 20:8-11) or the other nine ever repealed. They are only amplified and explained.

12. The entire Torah of HaShem, both the Tanakh and the Apostolic Writings, is the instruction of a loving and gracious Father to His children. It is the perfect and unchanging law that gives us liberty (Ps. 119:44-45; James 2:24-26). The commandments of HaShem will not disappear until heaven and earth disappear (Matt 5:17-20). HaShem’s people delight in His instruction (Ps. 1:2). The Torah was not given for salvation. It is the loving instruction of how a redeemed people should live. Yeshua kept His Father’s commandments and lived in His love. We are instructed to walk as He walked (1 Jn. 2:3-6). We are to obey HaShem’s commandments and to hold to the testimony of Yeshua (Rev. 12:17).

13. Jewish followers of Yeshua are called to maintain their Jewish Biblical heritage and remain a part of their people Israel and the universal body of believers. This is part of their identity and a witness to the faithfulness of G-d.

14. Non-Jewish Believers in Messiah are grafted into the Jewish olive tree (Romans 11) and both spiritually and legally adopted into the family of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Ya'akov (Abraham ,Isaac, and Jacob). They are therefore equal heirs to and partakers in the unconditional covenants that HaShem made to Israel. They are encouraged to understand and appreciate their roots in Judaism, and accordingly should walk in obedience to the Torah, and are encouraged to support the interests of world Jewry as adopted members of the family of Jacob (Israel).

[Some Messianic groups make a distinction between Jewish and non-Jewish Messianic Believers and say that non-Jewish Messianic Believers are under no obligation to obey Torah, but that they are invited to do so if they felt led by Ruach HaKodesh to do so. This belies the claim that Non-Jewish Believers are actually adopted into Israel, and sets them up as “second-class citizens” of the Commonwealth of Israel. We believe that all members of a family should be held to the same obligations of that family. We also believe that HaShem has one, and only one, Standard of Righteousness by which all of humanity is to be judged.]

Compare the above with the Statement of Faith of the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America and that of the Coalition of Torah Observant Messianic Congregations.