We, at Congregation T'Shuvat Yisrael, commit ourselves to the following standards:
We believe the Scriptures are the inspired Word of God, the only infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct (II Timothy 3:15-17 I Thessalonians 2:13 II Peter 1:21).
We believe that there is one God, who revealed Himself eternally as the self-existent "I AM". He exists as Echad in Hebrew, which means as a composite unity: Father, Son and Ruach Ha Kadosh ...or Holy Spirit (D'varim/Deut 6:4 and Mattiyahu/Matthew 28:19). He is the Creator of both the physical and Heavenly universes and all their host (B'resheet/Gen 1 & 2).
We believe in the deity (God made flesh) of the Lord Yeshua (Jesus the Christ is a Greek name translation), the Messiah (John 1:1-14), in His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23), in His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26), in His miracles, in His victorious and atoning death through His shed blood (I Corinthians 15:3), in His bodily resurrection (Matthew 28:6), in His Ascension to the right hand of the Father (Luke 22:69), and in His personal return in power and glory (Mark 13:26). Therefore: It is our privilege to proclaim forgiveness and life through His Name, and to honor Him in all that we do.
We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Ruach Ha Kadosh (Holy Spirit) is absolutely essential (John 3:3) and attained only through the blood of Yeshua (John 14:6).
God sent His Ruach Ha Kadosh to live in us, to make us new creations (II Corinthians 5:17), to write His Torah in our hearts (Colossians 3:3), and to consecrate our daily lives (Romans 6:1-2). Therefore: we seek to yield ourselves to the Ruach Ha Kadosh. We endeavor to discover His gifting and calling in our lives, and to walk by faith as He guides us.
We believe in the resurrection of life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation (Galatians 6: 8, II Thessalonians 1:9-12).
We believe that Yeshua will return to fulfill all God's promises, to judge the living and the dead and to establish the eternal kingdom of the Father (II Timothy 4:1).
We believe in the spiritual unity of all believers in the Lord Yeshua, the Messiah (Colossians 3:11).
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 God (Gen 17:7,13,19 Lev 24:8, Heb 13:20, Luke 2:32). (See Below) Note: "Gentile" believers are not required to become circumcised since it is not a salvational issue (Galatians 6:15). Apart from this, activities include: studying the Torah (1st five books of Bible), the Tanakh (remaining books of 1st Testament or Old Testament), the Brit Chadesha (2nd Testament, New Testament or Renewed Scriptures), keeping the seventh day Sabbath, Biblical Feast Days, Biblical Kashrut, and other Biblical Jewish customs. Therefore: we embrace our Jewish roots, seeking to learn and do that which is good and biblically valid, as taught and practiced by our Jewish ancestors. Yeshua Himself being our Chief Rabbi, as the Scriptures teach. We agree to refrain from judging one another regarding practices where the scriptures allow room for discretion.
We believe that there is a spiritual enemy of God for the spiritually reborn individual, known as the devil, which seeks to deceive and destroy all that belongs to God (Is 14:12-15, I Peter 5:8). Because this enemy is subject to God and has been defeated by Yeshua, we need not fear our counterpart. We need only be aware of our natural man or first birth, so we may resist and combat him (James 4:7) as necessary. Therefore: We covenant together not to allow our first birth or natural man a foothold among us, nor to engage in activities, which encourage this destructive influence.
Note: Scriptures given are just a few of the many that could be given.
Circumcision:
As noted in the Brit Chadesha (2nd Testament), Circumcision is not a salvational issue. In this, there is no requirement put upon the Gentiles to become circumcised to become members of the faith. However, circumcision is a covenant issue among the Jewish people linking them to their land in obedience to God.
Gentiles can be circumcised into this covenant as prescribed in the Torah. By this action, these people become partakers of the Jewish Nation. This concept does not null and void the precept taught by Paul saying that circumcision profits nothing in the Kingdom of God. For it is written that there is neither Greek nor Jew. Consider the following: In the New Jerusalem all Believers will live within its walls. In the Jerusalem of the Millennial Kingdom, Jerusalem is the Capital of the Jewish Nation.
Ratio between Jews and Gentiles within a Congregation:
We recognize the sovereignty of God. He can create a Messianic Congregation of only Gentiles. The idea that so many Jews have to be present to become a Messianic Congregation re-establishes the barriers in which we are endeavoring to tear down. However, this liberty can be abused. If there is a congregation of only Gentiles or only of Jews, we must make inquiry to insure the barrier is not being reinstated within the congregation.
