Congregation Beit Mashiach

Our Approach to Scripture…

 The thesis of the Scriptures is the Promise of a Messiah who would open a ‘new and living’ way (Hebrews 10:20), for mankind, into the presence of Adonai.  This truth was first hinted at in Genesis 3:15 and is gradually expounded and unfolded through out the Torah, Nevi’im (Prophets), Kethuvim (Writings) and the Brit Hadashah (Apostolic Writings).  This gradual process of expounding and unfolding of this truth we refer to as the progressive revelatory nature of Scripture.  This ‘Promise’ is the theme which gives Scripture continuity from the pages of Genesis through Revelation and is seen in its fullness in the person and work of Messiah, who is Yeshua of Nazareth.

We Affirm with Perfect Faith:

1.  We believe that the Bible, from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation, is the only divinely inspired, authoritative and eternal Word of God (Deuteronomy 29:29; II Timothy 3:16, 17; II Peter 1:20, 21).  Our approach to Scripture is from the perspective of the unity of revelation and its progressive revelatory nature (*Please refer to the      explanation below) (Psalm 102:27; Luke 24:44-49; Ephesians 1:9, 10; Hebrews 13:8).

 2.  We believe that there is one God, eternally existent and that He is Echad, that is, a composite unity who revealed Himself to man as: The Father, Son and Holy Spirit  (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:6; Zechariah 14:9; I Corinthians 8:4).

 3.  We believe in the deity of Yeshua (Jesus) of Nazareth, who came to earth in human form, as the promised Messiah for Israel and the Redeemer of all mankind.  It is with great expectation that we await His soon return and the establishment of His Kingdom. (Matthew 16:16; John 8:58; Ephesians 1:7; I Corinthians 15:3, 4; II Corinthians 5:21; I Thessalonians 1:9, 10; Revelation 22:12, 13). 

 4.  We believe that God created mankind in His own image and endowed humanity with a longing for intimate fellowship and communion with God (Genesis 1:26, 27; 2:7; Psalm 42:1, 2).

 5.   We believe sin, disobedience to Torah (God’s revealed will), destroyed this intimate fellowship and communion between God and humanity (Genesis 3:8).  Adam’s act of disobedience in the Garden of Eden resulted in humanity as a whole inheriting a sinful nature from birth requiring humanity’s redemption from the wages of sin (Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:22-24; 6:23).  This redemption can only be experienced through faith in the atoning work of Yeshua the Messiah (John 3:16; Romans 1:16, 17; 3:30; 10:9, 10; I Corinthians 15:3, 4; Galatians 3:10-14).

 6.  We believe all who repent (turn from disobedience) and believe in Yeshua the Messiah are born again of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) and receive eternal life  (John 3:3-16, 36; I John 5:12).  Scripture commands all those who believe to be baptized (mikvahed), that is immersed in water as an outward identification with Messiah and His community (Matthew 3:13-17; 28:18-20; Acts 2:38-41; Romans 6:2-7) 

7.  We believe that Messiah’s work of atonement in His death is to be memorialized on a regular basis by partaking of the Lord’s Table (Communion) as commanded in Scripture (Matthew 26;26-29; Mark 14:22-25;  Luke 22:15-20; I Corinthians 10:16; 11:23-26).  The matzah (unleavened bread) and cup (grape juice) symbolize His broken body and shed blood which are to be a reminder that Messiah our Passover Lamb died for us (Genesis 14:18-20; Isaiah 53:2-5; I Corinthians 5:7)  

8.  We believe that subsequent to salvation there is an immersion (baptism) of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) as Yeshua promised (Matthew 3:11; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8; 2:38).  Whereby, the believer obtains spiritual empowerment to fulfill the Great Commission (Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-41; 9:17-19).

 9.  We believe that Scripture teaches and encourages the practice of the spiritual gifts (I Corinthians 12:31; 14:1, 12, 39, 40), which are manifest as a result of the immersion of the Ruach HaKodesh.  (I Corinthians 12-14; Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:11-13)  These gifts are for the purpose of edifying the body of believers to bring the body to maturity in the Messiah. (I Corinthians 12:7; 14:12; I Peter 4:10). 

 10.  We believe in the reality of the One New Man in Messiah through His completed work of atonement.  This means that both Jews and Gentiles in Messiah are fellow citizens of the commonwealth of Israel and full members of the household of faith (Isaiah 56:8; John 10:14-16; 11:52; Acts 10:34-36; Romans 11:11-24; Ephesians 2:11-22).  The covenants of promise now become the inheritance of all who belong to the community of faith in Adonai, both the natural (Jew) and engrafted branches (Gentile) of the Olive Tree (Romans 11:17).

 11.  We believe as a Torah observant community that those who have placed their trust in Adonai are called as a holy congregation to gather and celebrate Him on His appointed Feasts Days (Exodus 19:5, 6; 31:12-17; Leviticus 23: I Peter 2:5, 9).  This holy (separated) people are called to live according to the values and morals of the Scriptures, thus reflecting the person of Messiah, becoming the light and the salt of the world. (Leviticus 18:24-30; Matthew 5:13-16; Romans 12:1, 2; II Corinthians 6:14-7:1; I Peter 1:13-16).

 12. We believe as a Torah observant community that the entire corpus of Scripture is applicable to our daily living and faith expression.  Only those passages that require residency in the land of Israel, a theocratic civil government and the Temple are not practiced in our present faith walk (Deuteronomy 29:29; Luke 24:44; Acts 17:11; I Corinthians 10:1-13; I Timothy 3:16).  Although we honour the Jewish roots and heritage of our Biblical faith we do not endorse nor promote a Rabbinic Jewish lifestyle for those in Messiah.       

 13. We believe and actively support the Biblical calling and Prophetic mandate of the Jewish people as outlined within the Scriptures. (Genesis 12:1-3; Isaiah 49:22, 23; 60:9, 10; Jeremiah 16:14-16).  To this very day the Jewish people remain Adonai’s “chosen people” (Zechariah 2:8) who has yet to fulfill their God-ordained calling and mandate. (Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 11:29; Hebrews 6:13-18).  Our affirmation of this chosenness will be expressed by support of the Jewish community locally, nationally and of Israel as a nation in various ways (Matthew 25:31-46; Romans 15:27).