Temple Ruach Yisrael's Statement Of Faith

 

 As Temple Ruach Yisrael is a community of Hebrew people who have been drawn together very specifically by a particular religious faith, it is essential that members agree wholeheartedly with the following statement of faith:

 

We affirm the following:

 We believe that the Bible, composed of both the Tanakh (Hebrew Scriptures) and the Brit Ha' Chadashah (the Renewed Covenant) is the only infallible and authoritative Word of God and the source of our faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

 We believe that the Sabbath (Shabbat) begins at sundown on the sixth day(Friday) and ends at sundown on the seventh day (Saturday). We believe that God has commanded us to rest on this day and keep it holy (Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 16:22-36; Exodus 23:10-13; Exodus 31:12-18; Exodus 25:1-19; Leviticus 23:3 & 23)

 We believe the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to be the one and only living and true God, He is Echad, (one) as declared in the Shema found in Deuteronomy 6:4 and Mark 12:29-31. A “united one”, or “compound unity” eternally existent in three Persons as expressed in Isaiah 48:16-17; and Luke 3:22. The Persons being: God the Father, God the Son (Yahshua Ha' Mashiach), and God the Holy Spirit (Ruach Ha' Kodesh) (Proverbs 30:4).

 God is the Creator of the heavens and the earth. He created humanity in the divine image to serve as creation’s priest and ruler. God’s intention for creation involves an order of differentiation, interdependence, and mutual blessing.  (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:15; Eph. 1:4-6)

 Through the exercise of free will, human beings disobeyed God, tarnished the divine image, and abandoned their privileged vocation.  As a result, God’s consummating purpose for creation met with initial frustration, and all relationships within creation became subject to violence and disorder.  (Gen. 4:8; 6:5-7; Rom. 8:20-22)

 God chose Yisrael, the Hebrew people, and entered into an everlasting covenant with them so they might be the first fruits of a renewed humanity, who would mediate blessing and restoration to all the nations of the world.  In gracious love, God gave to Yisrael the holy Torah as a covenantal way of life, and the holy Land of Yisrael as an inheritance and pledge of the blessing of the World to Come.  (Gen. 12:1-3; Jer. 31:34-36, 35-37; Rom. 11:28-29)

 In the fullness of time, the Divine Son became a human being - Yahshua Ha' Mashiach, born of a Hebrew virgin, a true and perfect Yisraelite, a fitting representative and one-man embodiment of the entire nation. He lived as a holy tzaddik, fulfilling without blemish the mitzvot of the Torah. He brings to perfection the human expression of the divine image (Isa. 7:14; John 1:14; Gal. 4:4; Heb. 1:1-4; 4:15)

 Yahshua died as an atonement for the sins of Yisrael and of the entire world.  He was raised bodily from the dead, as the first fruits of the resurrection promised to Yisrael as its glorification.  He ascended to heaven and was there enthroned at God’s right hand as Yisrael’s Messiah (Mashiach) (Mashiach), with authority extending to the ends of creation.  (Isa. 53:4-6; Ps. 110:1; Matt. 28:18; Mk. 14:61-62; I Cor. 15:3-8; Phil. 2-9-11)

God poured out the Divine Ruach on the community of Yahshua’s followers, so that they might be joined intimately to the Messiah (Mashiach) as His Body and become the preliminary representation of the New Covenant fullness promised to Yisrael.  To this early Hebrew community God added partners from among the nations, who heard the news of God’s work in Yahshua and responded to the good news with faith.  (Isa. 66:20-21; Acts 2:1-21; 10:44-48; 15:8-9; Eph.1:13; 2:11-22)

 Messiah (Mashiach)’s community is a single community expressed in diverse forms within the Hebrew community and among the nations. All are called to a dedicated life of worship, neighborly service, and public testimony to Yahshua. Unity and love throughout the entire community confirm Yahshua’s role, as the One sent by the Father, and God’s purpose in Messiah (Mashiach) for Yisrael and the Nations.  (John 17:20-21; Acts 21:20; Gal. 2:7-8)

 Spiritual life is grounded in godly family units within the relational framework of congregations, whereby persons are to be encouraged, trained, and disciplined. Families in Messianic Hebrew congregations should be strengthened and established in their Hebrew calling to covenant life. Messianic Hebrew congregations are called to connect in Messianic Hebrew associations, where they will find mutual enrichment and accountability.  (Matt. 18:15-18; Gal. 6:1-2; Rom. 9:1-5; I Cor.7:17-20)

 The Torah is God’s gift to Yisrael. It serves as the constitution of the Hebrew people and thus also of the Messianic Hebrew community, which comprises Yisrael’s eschatological first fruits.  The Torah does not have the same role for Messianic communities from the nations, though it does provide Spiritual nourishment as a witness to the Messiah (Mashiach). The Torah also provides universal norms of behavior and practical life teaching for all. The Torah is to be applied anew in every generation, and in this age as is fitting to the New Covenant order.  (Matt. 5:17-20; II Tim. 3:16-17; I Cor. 7:17-20)

 Forgiveness of sins, Spiritual renewal, union with Messiah (Mashiach), the empowering and sanctifying presence of the indwelling Ruach Ha Kodesh, and the confident hope of eternal life and a glorious resurrection are now available to all, Hebrews and Gentiles, who put their faith in Yahshua, the Risen Lord, and in obedience to His word are joined to Him and His Body through immersion and sustained in that union through Messiah (Mashiach)’s remembrance meal.  Yahshua is the Mediator between God and all creation, and no one can come to the Father except through Him. (Matt. 28:19-20; Lk. 24:46-48; Jn. 14:6; Rom. 6:22, 23; I Cor. 11:23-27)

 Messiah (Mashiach) Yahshua will return to Jerusalem in glory at the end of this age, to rule forever on David’s throne.  He will affect the restoration of Yisrael in fullness, raise the dead, save all who belong to Him, judge the wicked not written in the Book of Life who are separated from His presence, and accomplish the final Tikkun Olam in which Yisrael and the nations will be united under Messiah (Mashiach)’s rule forever. This restoration will bring everlasting joy for those who belong to Him.  They will live forever in an order of mutual blessing and fellowship with God, in a cosmos perfected beyond description.  (Isa. 9:4-5/5-6; Rom. 8:18-19; Rev. 20:11-15; 21:1-4)

 The writings of Tanakh and Brit Chadashah are divinely inspired and fully trustworthy (true), a gift given by God to His people, provided to impart life and to form, nurture, and guide them in the ways of truth.  They are of supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and practice.  (II Tim. 3:16, 17; II Pet. 1:19-21)

 The Hebrew tradition serves as the living link that connects us as contemporary Hebrews to our biblical past and provides resources needed to develop a Messianic Hebrew way of life and thought.  Furthermore, the Christian theological tradition offers riches of insight into the revelation of the Messiah (Mashiach) and His will, and Messianic Hebrews need to draw upon this wealth.  (I Thess. 2:15, Rom. 13:7; Jude 3)