If your life is not in jeopardy
for what you believe, you’re probably on the wrong side!
If you don’t believe Genesis 1-11,
how can you possibly believe John 3:16?
“Indeed, all who want to live a godly
life united with the Messiah Yeshua will be persecuted.” (2Tim 3:12)
It is what you actually believe that determines how you walk out your faith,
“but avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, quarrels and fights
about the Torah; because they are worthless and futile.” (Titus 3:9)
Please Note: Absolutely nothing on this website should be taken as anti-Church or anti-Rabbinic. I am not anti-anything or anti-anyone. I am only pro-Torah and pro-Truth (see “Philosophy”), but sometimes the Truth upsets our long-held beliefs. I know it certainly upset mine! For example, see “Why Isn’t My Theology Consistent Throughout the Website?”
Developing a
Systematic Messianic Theology
“The purpose of careful theological formulations is not to put barriers in the way of people who are seeking salvation, but to define clearly the truths upon which genuine [Biblical] faith rests, so that people will not be misled by false doctrines.” [Bowman]
“It must be clearly and unequivocally stated that theology cannot save you. Only faith in Messiah Yeshua can save you. Theology can only give you sound doctrine.” [RLS]
Unless otherwise specified, throughout the Theology section of my website I use the term “Torah” in the wider sense of including the entire body of inspired Scripture: both the Tanakh and the Apostolic Writings. No other so-called “sacred writings” are considered inspired by God or authoritative for the Believe’s walk of faith.
[Explanations of rabbinic citations are HERE]
Statement of Faith of
Messianic Bureau International
Messianic Bureau International ceased operation shortly after the death of its founder and president, Messianic Rabbi Dr. David Hargis (1949-2006).[1]
That we might have unity among us, and that we all speak the same thing as regards the foundation of our faith, and that with integrity we present our witness of Yeshua the Messiah as those who walk in His light, let it be hereby established that Messianic Bureau International holds that...
- All Scripture is given by the Breath/Spirit of Elohim [God], and is to be used for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16.
- Hear, O Israel: YHVH [the L-RD] is our Elohim. He is One YHVH. He alone is YHVH. Deuteronomy 6:4.
- The nature of YHVH is a compound unity expressed in the aspects of Abba [the Father], Yeshua [Salvation, the Son, Messiah] and Ruach HaKodesh [the Holy Spirit/Breath] in this age. Matthew 28:19.
- YHVH and His Word are eternal, that is: He, His Word and His Will has always, and will always, be the same. Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8, Matthew 5:18; 24:35.
- The Shabbat [Sabbath], the seventh day of the week, is the created holy day of YHVH, which He gave to mankind and covenanted with His people as a sign forever. Exodus 31:16, Genesis 2:2-3, Isaiah 58:13-14, Matthew 12:8.
- Yeshua of Natzeret is the Messiah of Israel, the Savior of the world, the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is YHVH who appeared among mankind in the flesh, and now is glorified with all power in Heaven and in Earth, at the right hand of Abba. John 1:12-14.
- Messiah Yeshua is the ultimate and final Passover Lamb required for the removal of sins. He died by execution stake (stagion) on a tree (xulon) and rose from the dead three days afterward. Everyone who repents of their sins, and trusts that Yeshua is the Messiah, who died as our Passover Lamb and rose again, they are forgiven their sins and come into a renewed covenant with YHVH through Him, and therefore become inheritors of all the promises YHVH made with Abraham and Israel. Isaiah 53, Romans 10:9-11, 1 Corinthians 5:7.
- The Brit Chadashah [Renewed Covenant] in Messiah Yeshua brings with it a new creation of the human spirit. The Torah [Law/Teaching] of YHVH is planted inside so that Ruach HaKodesh may indwell there. An external immersion in water (mikveh) is performed to declare that this has taken place. Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 39:29.
- The various enablements (gifts) of Ruach HaKodesh are given with authority to all those who ask YHVH and obey His commandments. The Promise of Abba, an extra enduement of power and boldness for witnessing, is an immersion (spiritual mikveh) by Ruach HaKodesh, as initially was evidenced with speaking in other languages. Each follower should seek to be filled with the various enablements of the Ruach, who gives them as He wishes. Isaiah 28:11-12, Luke 11:13, Acts 1:4-5; 2:4; 5: 32, 1 Cor 12: 1-13, Eph 1:13.
- The people of YHVH are a holy Miqra [Called Out/Ekklesia] congregation, which is not of the world, in order to gather and celebrate Him at His appointed holy Feasts, and to shine as lights of truth in the darkness, and to be a royal priesthood which praises His Name. Exodus 19:6, Leviticus 23, Matthew 16:18, 1 Peter 2:9.
-
The goals of the people
of YHVH are:
- to be followers of Yeshua the Messiah, until we mature into the example He left us. Ephesians 4:13.
- to be holy (separate from the world) as our Abba is holy. Therefore, we are to learn and act on those things which makes us holy in His sight. Leviticus 11:44-45, Ephesians 5:27.
- to be righteous (right decision making) and godly (forgiving) in this world. Titus 2:12.
- to be clean, first in our conscious inner man, and then also in our outward walk accordingly as we grow in the Ruach [Spirit] and understanding of the Word. Psalm 51:10, 1 Thessalonians 4:7.
- to be full of love for one another, thus proving we are Yeshua's disciples; and caring for a lost world, to bring the message of the Good News of Yeshua to the Jew first and also to the Gentiles. John 13:34-35, Romans 1:16.
- The promise of a continually faithful trust in Yeshua, while walking according to the will of Elohim, is resurrection from the dead, eternal life and ruling with Yeshua forever in the place where His Kingdom will rule. He will yet rule in Jerusalem/Zion, and finally in New Jerusalem in the New Creation forever. Revelation 19-22.
- Yeshua will judge all mankind of all acts and words ever committed. He will decide the sentence for punishment, and all those not meeting His standard will be sent away from His presence, into outer darkness and eternal punishment of the sin. Matthew 25:31-46, Revelation 20.
- The final plan for the Israel of G-d is to bring the remnant of the faithful Jewish people, and the remnant of those believers who were formerly Gentiles, but recovered from the world by faith, back together and united into one holy people under one Shepherd, namely Yeshua, the Messiah, thus completing the tearing down of the wall of partition. This is a necessary part of the restoration of all things spoken by the prophets. Hosea 1-2, John 17, Romans 9:26, Ephesians 2, Acts 3:21.
Points of Order
- THE HOLY NAME: The reading or aloud mention of "YHVH" (Yod-Hey-Vav-Hey) is to be spoken as "the I AM" in English or as "Hashem" (the Name) in Hebrew. "Adonai", "the Most High", or "Avinu (Our Father)" may also be substituted as referring to the Holy Name. Messiah said to say "Avinu (Our Father)," so this is to be done in all our fellowship.
- MESSIAH'S NAME: The name of our Messiah was and is Yeshua or Y'shua meaning both "salvation" and "Yah who is salvation" in Hebrew. The term "Yahshua" is not correct Hebrew pronunciation. As a proper honor, He is to be referred to as "Messiah Yeshua," "Yeshua the Messiah" or "Adonai Yeshua" rather than "Yeshua" alone.
- NAME AS AUTHORITY: The idea of '"name" in Hebrew is that of "authority" without referring to the sound of the syllables. Use of a name means use of the authority behind the name. Therefore, it is more important to know by what authority something is done, rather than the spoken syllables. When Messiah said He came in His Father's Name, He was referring to the Father's Authority, not the syllables of the Holy Name.
- THE TORAH: The Torah may refer to either the Five Books of Moses, the entire Tanakh (Hebrew Scriptures) or the whole Bible, depending on usage. The Torah in our usage never refers to the Talmud or parts. We do not consider the Talmud or any other commentary on the Scriptures as the Word of G_d. The Torah is given for our protection, not for our perfection. We do not judge the practice of minor, ambiguous or unlearned parts of Torah, nor do we practice in the Diaspora those parts of Torah which require residence in the land, a theocratic civil government and/or a consecrated Temple on the Mount Moriah.
- THE TALIT: The traditional Talit (white with dark stripes) may be worn by men. Women may wear a Bat Mitzvah type pastel colored Talit that is not mistaken for a man's Talit. Talits may be worn day or night with the blue thread attached to white Tzitzit if available.
1. Mirrored with the permission of MRav Dr. David Hargis, of blessed memory (1949-2006), from the website of the now-defunct Messianic Bureau International (MBI) that was headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia. MBI was founded in March 1994 by the late Dr. David Hargis as an information service to Messianic Judaism and was dissolved not long after his death in December 2006. My first Messianic credentials (MMin) were issued by MBI. [BACK]
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