Statement of Faith

We seek to restore the first-century faith of Jesus and his apostles. Through much prayer and study, we hold to the following beliefs.

A quiet moment of reflection with an open Bible and a candle casting warm light.
A quiet moment of reflection with an open Bible and a candle casting warm light.
GOD

There is only one, true God: the Father.
(Deut. 6:4, John 17:3)

His Divine Name is written with four Hebrew consonants: יהוה
In English, these four consonants are rendered as YHVH, and pronounced "Yod" "Hey" "Vav" "Hey".
Any use of all capitals for GOD or LORD in the Bible is a circumlocution for this Divine Name of the Almighty.
In Jewish tradition, it is customary to pronounce a circumlocution such as ADONAI or HASHEM, instead of uttering the actual Divine Name (YHVH with vowels inserted). This is to avoid inadvertent blasphemy of God's Name. We follow this custom in our fellowship.

The Father alone created the universe and everything therein.
(Isaiah 44:24 "I am the LORD who made all things. I alone stretched out the heavens. Who was with me when I made the earth?".)

He is a spirit and has no physical body. He is eternal, without beginning and without end.
(John 1:18 "No one has seen God at any time. The unique son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made Him known.")
(John 4:24 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”)

Note: Usage of the title "god/God"

The title "God/god" is the English translation for theos (Greek) and elohim (Hebrew). The word god/theos/elohim means "mighty one". The Creator, being self-existing and underived, is eminently worthy of bearing the title "mighty one"; Jesus declares that the Father is "the only true God". Some created beings do legitimately bear the title of "god" in that they are mighty ones - but in a derivative sense; e.g. the human King of Israel (Psalm 45), the human Judges of Israel (Psalm 82), and the human Messiah of Israel (Hebrews 1:8).

WORSHIP

YHVH is the only being who may be worshipped as Almighty God.
He is the only being who may legitimately receive "latreuo" (Heb. "abad") worship. (Exodus 20:3-6)

Latreuo (λατρεύω): Refers to service, ministry, or worship, often in a priestly or sacrificial sense. It emphasizes devotion to God through actions, such as obedience or offering one's life (e.g., Romans 12:1).

Proskuneo (προσκυνέω): Primarily means to bow down, prostrate oneself, or "kiss the hand towards" a superior in homage or reverence. It is an act of adoration and submission. Men, angels and God legitimately receive this type of homage in the Bible.

Hebrew Counterparts:
Abad (עָבַד): The Hebrew equivalent of latreuo, meaning to serve, work, or minister to God.
Shachah (שָׁחָה): The Hebrew equivalent of proskuneo, meaning to bow down or prostrate oneself to a superior.

MESSIAH

Messiah is the only mediator between the one true God and mankind. Jesus of Nazareth is this Messiah - the Christ.
(1 Timothy 2:5)

The Messiah is a man, created like other men in every way and tempted in every way that is common to man - yet he did not sin (Hebrews 2:17, 18, 4:15). Because of this obedience, even unto death on the cross, God has highly exalted Jesus, raising him from the dead and making him second in command of the universe, under God the Father.
(1 Corinthians 15:27)

HOLY SPIRIT

This is the extension of God the Father in the universe. The spirit is not a separate person from the Father, but a manifestation of His power. The holy spirit is given to those who obey God.

God gives the gift of His nature to those who repent of their sins and accept the resurrected Jesus as their savior and their king.

The Bible shows us that “the holy spirit” is under God’s authority and direction, which makes sense when we understand it is the gift of His nature that He gives to believers to empower them. Ever since Jesus ascended to the right hand of God, God gives the holy spirit to people by giving it to Jesus who then gives it to people (John 15:26; 16:7; Acts 2:33; Titus 3:6).

The fact that the gift of holy spirit comes from God, but via Jesus Christ, explains why some New Testament verses say God gives it and others say Jesus gives it. The ultimate origin is God, and the immediate origin is Jesus.

THE BIBLE

We believe that the 39 books of the Tanach ("Old Testament") are inspired by God. They are the holy scriptures spoken of by Paul in his letter to Timothy (2 Timothy 3:15, 16), and they are sufficient to guide us to live a godly life. Of supreme authority are the five books of Moses; the Torah.

The 27 Apostolic Writings ("New Testament") are a faithful record of the words and actions of Jesus and his earliest disciples.

These two collections comprise the Bible and have primacy of authority when deciding doctrine.

(More to be added shortly.)