What Messianics Believe

Our family follows Messianic Judaism as our faith.  We are asked many question as to what that means.  Some are pretty intelligent questions, and I love answering those.  Other are, well, let's say...less than intelligent and sometimes downright insulting.  So I thought I'd share with you the basic tenets of our faith and then a few other FAQs about what it means to be Messianic.

We believe:

1. In the One and Only Living G-d (D’varim 6:4) eternally existent in the Aviad (Eternal Father), HaBen (Son), and Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit). He is the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Creator of heaven and earth (B’resheet 1:1, Yesha’yahu 42:5, Yesha’yahu 48:16, Mattityahu 28:19).
2. That Yeshua is Israel’s promised Messiah and the Redeemer of the entire human race. By His life, death and resurrection, He fulfilled the Messianic prophecies of the Tanach related to Messiah’s first coming. Yeshua, the Divine Messiah, is the fullest revelation of G-d to man (Yesha’yahu 7:14, 9:6-7, 49:6, 53:1-12, Tehillim 16:9-11, Messianic Jews 1:3).
3. That G-d made man in His own image and endowed him with a longing for intimate fellowship with G-d (B’resheet 1:26, 2:7, Tehillim 42:1-2).
4. That man’s disobedience to G-d’s revealed will (sin) caused a separation between man and G-d (B’resheet 2:16-17, Yesha’yahu 59:1-2).
5. That the only provision G-d made for reconciling man to Himself was through the atoning work of the Messiah, who died as the kiporah (atonement) for our disobedience and resurrected, manifesting the victory over sin and death (Vayikra 17:11, Yesha’yahu 53:1-12, 2 Corinthians 5:19).
6. That the Bible, both the Tanach and the B’rit Chadasha (New Covenant Scriptures), is the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of G-d, which is man’s only reliable foundation to faith and conduct (B’midbar 12:6-8, Yesha’yahu 8:20, 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
7. That all who repent from sin and trust in G-d’s salvation in Yeshua the Messiah, are born of the Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit of G-d). Trust in the Messiah as the Mediator of the New Covenant makes us true children of G-d (Yirmeyahu 31:31-34, Yechezk’el 36:24-27, Yochanan 1:11-13).
8. That those who are of the Ruach HaKodesh become members of the universal people of G-d, or the Body of Messiah. This one spiritual fellowship includes both Jews and Gentiles as equal members of this body (I Corinthians. 12:12-13, 27, Ephesians. 2:11-18, Yesha’yahu 49:6).
9. In the work and presence of the Ruach HaKodesh in the life of the believer. He brings forth the fruit of righteousness in the life of all followers of the Messiah. The Ruach HaKodesh also gives gifts, orders and leads the local body of believers, enabling the believers to become a community of service and love (Romans 8:1-4, Romans 12, I Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4:11-12).
10. That G-d gave the practices of Torah for moral instruction and as a body of cultural – national practice which would point forward to the Messiah’s work. Torah is valid as a reflection of G-d’s righteous standard and as a means of preserving a distinct nation of Israel. “Fulfillment” by the work of Yeshua does not imply the abrogation of Torah but rather bringing the Torah to its fullest meaning. Righteousness with G-d is based solely upon grace through faith (D’varim 30:11-20, 6:20-25, Tehillim 19:7-14, Mattityahu 5:17-19, Romans 3:23, 27-31, 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9).
11. That the nation Israel is chosen by G-d to be a channel of blessing to all the nations on earth. The return of our people to their land is fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. The day will come when Israel, as a nation, will accept Messiah Yeshua and the Word of G-d shall go forth from Zion saying, “Baruch Haba B’Shem Adonai,” (Blessed is He who comes in the name of the L-RD.)  Messiah will come again to establish His world-wide rule from Jerusalem (B’resheet 2:1-3, Yesha’yahu 11, Z’kharyah 12:10, 13:1, Romans 11:26-29).
12. In the restoration of the Messianic Jewish Community which has been dormant for approximately 17 centuries. The resurrected Messianic Community is an indication of G-d’s faithfulness to His covenant people. The restoration of the Romans 11 “Olive Tree” will provide healing between Jews and Gentiles in the Body of Messiah. (Romans 9-11)
13. In the ministry of reconciliation between Jewish and Gentile members of the Body of Messiah. Our congregation undergirds and supports the Toward Jerusalem Council II initiative.  It is an initiative to repair and heal the breach, between Jewish and Gentile believers in Yeshua, dating from the first centuries of the Church.  Toward Jerusalem Council II (TJCII) is doing so primarily through humility, prayer and repentance. (Acts 15, Acts 21:17-26, Romans 11:29, Romans 11:11-24, 2 Corinthians 5:18-29, Ephesians 2:11-16)
14. In the spiritual unity of all believers in Yeshua, the Messiah. As Jewish followers of Yeshua, we are called to maintain our Jewish Biblical heritage and remain a part of our people Israel and the universal body of believers. This is part of our identity and a witness to the faithfulness of G-d (Acts 21:19-20, Yechezk’el 36:22, Ephesians 2:14, Romans 9:4).

As a congregation, we are determined to live according to the words of Yeshua in Mattityahu 22:37-40:
“He told him, ‘You are to love ADONAI your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.’  This is the greatest and most important mitzvah.  And a second is similar to it, ‘You are to love your neighbor as yourself.’  All of the Torah and the Prophets are dependent on these two mitzvot.” (CJB)