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Core beliefs

Does the faith you follow today truly reflect Scripture? When we engage sincerely and honestly with the Word to understand what were the original intentions we are in effect drawing closer to our Mashiach (Messiah), as these are His words. If we force our opinion to get what the text does not say (and some are considered difficult to understand even between the Apostles themselves, 2 Pet. 3:16) we could be erring in Him. We encourage you to always approach it with prayer to the Father in the name of the Son.

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Our core beliefs from an unmodified Scriptural message and context presented here are:

Unmodified Biblical Sacred Names

  1. In Judaism the true name of the Father, Yahweh, is not spoken, but deemed “ineffable.” In the Hebrew Bible its correct vowels (יַהְוֶה) are not displayed with the letters (יהוה), but with the vowels of its Hebrew substitute, Adonai—hence Yehowah (Jehovah). This is a result of tradition. The Father’s unmodified name is: Yahweh.

  2. Additionally, evidence in the Talmud indicates the early Chrestians or Nazarenes had sacred names in their Scriptures (evangels) and internal NT evidence compared to Qumran Essenes shows the NT used the name(s) not substitutes. We do not substitute.

  3. Complimentarily, the earliest Greek manuscripts of the NT display a unique feature scholars called nomina sacra (Latin for sacred names) where the names/titles for the Father and Son are found in a strange abbreviation proving that these are not original to our current texts. All Greek biblical texts have the feature and scholars speculate on it.

  4. Combining the above with the Talmud’s data and others show the unmodified NT manuscripts had Hebrew sacred names in place of the current nomina sacra substitutions. Therefore, we use the unmodified biblical forms spoken by the earliest Chrestians:

    •          Yahweh (Father) (Luke 1:11)

    •          Elohim (Father AND Son) (John 1:1)

    •          Adonai (Son AND Father) (Acts 2:34, 36)

    •          Yahwshua (Son) (Matt. 1:21)

    •          Mashiach (Son) (Acts 2:36)

  5. Further research shows that theos and kurios would not be used religiously by the disciples because of their prior use in paganism, and we believe in giving pure worship to only Yahweh and Yahwshua as the Bible shows (Isa. 42:8, Acts 4:12).

Father's and Son’s Nature

  1. The Father Yahweh is the most powerful Being in the universe, is One Being, and dwells in light unapproachable, and no man has yet seen Him (Deu. 6:4, 1 Tim. 6:16, John 1:18).

  2. The Son was the first to be created of the Father and was created in eternity (Col. 1:15, Rev. 3:14, Mic. 5:1).

  3. The Son is of a different substance and preexisted with an important role as the Word or Messenger of the Father before coming as a Son of man on earth, but represented the Father to men either by the name Yahweh (Gen. 3:8, Gen. 18:1), or by the frequent Hebrew title Elohim (Gen. 1:28). Men often did not perceive that they were not communicating with the Father Himself and hid their face because man cannot see Yahweh and live (Exo. 3:6, Exo. 33:20).

  4. All things were created through the Son in this preexistent role (John 1:3, Heb. 1:2). The term Elohim ultimately indicates the Father's authority. The Father is called Elohim; the Word is called Elohim; and judges are called Elohim, but distinct roles (John 1:1, Psalm 82:1, 6).

  5. The Son's former role was not independent rulership or exercising independent sovereignty, but the last role at the end of the age is, where the Son receives the title formerly applied to Yahweh the Father, Adonai (Phil. 2:11, Ps. 110:1, Acts 2:36). To be clear the Father exalted this Son to receive the honor He receives as Elohim (Isa. 45:23, Isa. 9:5) which worship is authorized by Yahweh Himself (Phil. 2:9). The Son makes clear this distinction as there is knowledge the Father alone has (Matt. 24:36).

  6. Finally, after all time since creation, the Father will be seen by all and dwell with all after the millennial reign of the Son on earth (1,000 years) where the Son Himself is subjected to His Father (Rev. 21:3, 1 Cor. 15:24, 28).

  7. The Holy Spirit is a powerful spirit that comes from Yahweh Elohim and was also sent in the name of Yahwshua (John 14:26) but has a role distinct from the complete roles of Father and the Son (Gen. 1:2, John 15:26).

Law (Torah) and
New Covenant

  1. The entire Scripture hinges on a land being received by a seed, confirmed in classic covenant form (Gen. 15).

  2. The covenants among men or between Yahweh and the fathers were cut with blood, and with a victim and/or a meal (Gen. 15, Gen. 31:46, Exod. 24:11).

  3. The Messiah did not come to do away with the Law (requirements of Sinai covenant) but fulfilled its prophecies of Him as the sacrifice and others (Matt. 5:17) and continued keeping moral commands and teaching this, along with His Jewish and Gentile followers (Acts 2:1, 18:4, 1 Cor. 5:8).

  4. Jeremiah prophesied that Yahweh spoke not of animal sacrifice at first but obedience and that a New Covenant would come and He will be Israel’s Elohim (Jer. 7:22–23, Jer. 31:31), and Isa. 53 says the Messiah would be a sin offering (Isa. 53:10).

  5. The aspect of the Law fulfilled in the death of the Messiah was the sacrificial system, including the Passover sacrifice but also circumcision of males (1 Cor. 5:7, Gal. 5:2–3, 1 Cor. 7:19) as fleshly (bloody) remnants of the old covenant (Heb. 7:18, Heb. 9:10).

  6. Jews at the time of Messiah had years of traditions that developed in the Babylonian exile and were kept meticulously. Many of these are today known as halakah, found primarily in the Mishnah with the Gemara being commentary on the Mishnah. Both together are called the Talmud. These are separate from the approximately 613 commandments of the Torah and these commandments of men are criticized as invalidating Yahweh's commands that was observed by followers of the Way or Nazarenes or Chrestians (Matt. 15, Mark 7). Therefore, Scripture is the primary guide today and not unbiblical (derash) halakoth or traditions of men.

  7. When Gentiles (some formerly pagans, Gal. 4:8) just enter the faith, the initial requirements are not as in Judaism. Some said circumcision was necessary (Acts 15:1), appealing to the ancient Covenant rite and Jewish traditions, as Rambam makes the statement that "circumcision, immersion, and sacrifice" were the means to enter the covenant (Mishneh Torah, Forbidden Intercourse 13:4). Paul connected circumcision to this fleshly system (Gal. 5:3) but said we do not void the Law through faith (Rom. 3:31).

  8. In Acts 15 Jacob (James) instructed Gentile believers entering the faith begin "immediately" by avoiding: fornication, pollution of idols (connected practices), whatever dies of itself (unclean), blood because he was pointing them to the Torah (Law) explaining the "ger" (stranger) are to have with Israel "one law" for both (Lev. 17:8; Lev. 17:10, 12–13; Lev. 17:15; and Lev. 18:26), so that's why Moses has to be read as learning continues (Acts 15:21). The Gentile believers were not seen as "Righteous Gentiles" who keep simply "Noahide" laws. Jacob also never envisioned them abandoning the Sabbath or Feasts (Acts 15:21). The Apostles continued keeping these along with the Gentiles (1 Cor. 5:8; Acts 17:13) not because it is only "required" of Jews but not of Gentiles but because they delighted to do His Will (Heb. 10:9; see also 1 John 3:4, 5:7 and Rev. 12:17), having received justification from past sins against the Law of Elohim (Rom. 3:19).

  9. After Baptism believers keep the New Covenant as the Spirit, with the laying on of the hands, written on our hearts reminds the believers (2 Cor. 3:3), the offering for sins being fulfilled through faith in the blood of the Messiah (Rom. 8:3–4).

Baptism

  1. Baptism follows repentance and accepting the cleansing blood of Yahwshua into your lives (Acts 2:38).

  2. Baptism occurs in the name of the Messiah, Yahwshua (Acts 2:38).

  3. It is a full immersion in water (Acts 8:38).

  4. It is the spiritual process of cleansing in entering the covenant after which the Holy Spirit comes with the laying on of hands (Acts 19:5–6)

Resurrection and Inheritance

  1. Our inheritance is the Kingdom of Yahweh on this earth, the complete realization of the land promised to Abraham our Father (Gen. 12:7, Matt. 5:5, Eph. 5:5).

  2. The Holy Spirit is a down payment of the impending complete transformation of those in Messiah into a spiritual body at the last trumpet when we are transformed (Eph. 1:14).

  3. Those dead in the Messiah are resurrected first at the trumpet’s sound then the living transformed (1 Cor. 15:23, 52).

Israel and Gentiles

  1. The people of Israel is the apple of Yahweh's eyes and are the descendants of Abraham with whom Yahweh cut the Covenant promising an inheritance (Gen. 15).

  2. Israel has historically been created by Yahweh's promise not simply by means of genetic material as with Ishmael and Esau (Gen. 21:9–12, Gen. 25:23). See Rom. 9:8.

  3. Through sin the land (inheritance) could eject Israel (Lev. 18:28) as it ejected its previous inhabitants.

  4. But the goal was always a spiritual, righteous people (Exod. 19:6).

  5. Gentiles inherit with Abraham only through a spiritual process after justification through faith in the Messiah's blood through whom all now inherits in the New Covenant (Rom. 3:22, 30).

  6. The process is a spiritual adoption as sons (Rom. 9:6), where new branches are grafted into the good olive tree (Rom. 11:17).

Worship and Holy Days

  1. The early Chrestians kept the seventh-day Sabbath at sundown and worshipped in the synagogues or at homes or places of prayer (Acts 16:13, Acts 17:2, Luke 4:40). All biblical days begin and end at sundown (Gen. 1:5).

  2. Passover is to be observed on Abib 14 (Lev. 23:4–8), at the beginning of the day at sundown (after Abib 13 ends), as the Messiah instituted the commemoration of the blood of the covenant (John 19:31, Luke 22:20). Note that Judaism at some point began observing the Passover meal on the Abib 15 (end of 14). See Exod. 12:22, 29, 42 and compare Num. 33:3.

  3. The Feast of Unleavened Bread follows Passover day from the Abib 15 to 21.

  4. Pentecost is observed 50 days following the end of the Sabbath (mamacharath hashabbath or morrow of the Sabbath, מִֽמָּחֳרַת֙ הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת) that falls inside the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Lev. 23:15–21)

  5. The Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah) falls on the 1st day of the seventh month (Lev. 23:24, Num. 29:1).

  6. The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is observed on the 10th day of the seventh month (Lev. 23:27).

  7. The Feast of Tabernacles (Succoth) and Last Great Day (Sheminith) is observed from the 15-22 of the seventh month (Lev. 23:33–36).

Sand Dunes

© 2024 by Ekklesia Yahweh.

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