Beit Tefillah Messianic Congregation

Statement of Doctrinal Positions

  1. scrollThat All Scripture, TaNaKh (Torah, Prophets, Writings) which is completed in the Ketuvei HaShalichim (the Apostolic Writings, commonly known as the New Testament or Brit Hadashah) is given by the Breath/Spirit of Elohim, and is to be used for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness. (II Timothy 3:15-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, II Peter 1:21)
  2. Hear, O Israel: YHVH is Eloheinu, YHVH is ONE. (Deuteronomy/D’varim 6:4 & Isaiah/Yeshayahu 43:10-11). He is the Creator of heaven and earth, of all living beings, and of everything both visible and invisible (Genesis/B’reishit 1:1, Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 11:13). Although He is limitless in power, authority, time, matter, and space, He has chosen, in His infinite wisdom, to reveal His nature to humanity in perceivable and comprehendible manners. Scripture records Elohim revealing Himself in the following manners: as “a smoking furnace and a flaming torch” in His covenant with Avraham between the two halves of the cow and goat; Genesis/B’reishit 15:17), as the form of a man not born of a woman, (when He approached Avraham with the two angels; Genesis/B’reishit 18), as a burning bush (spoke to Moshe; Exodus/Sh’mot 3:2), as the fourth Man in the furnace, (Daniel/Doniyel 3:25), as the promised Messiah being a Man made of flesh and born of a woman (Isaiah/Yeshayahu 7:14, Galatians 4:4). Although there are numerous examples of G-d revealing Himself to humanity in various ways and forms, of those ways and forms, He has chosen to refer to Himself in the following primary contexts: as the Father (HaAv), as the Son (HaBen Y’shua), and as the Ruach HaKodesh (Spirit/Breath of YHVH). What makes these primary contexts important is not only the fact that Elohim used these forms to reveal Himself to humanity, but in doing so, He refers to Himself in these primary contexts as the one and only true and living Elohim.
  3. YHVH and His Word are eternal. That is: He, His Word and His Will has always been, and will always be, the same. (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8 & Matthew 5:18; 24:35)
  4. The Shabbat, the seventh day of the week, is the created holy day of YHVH, which He gave to all of mankind and covenanted with His people as a sign forever. It is a time of commanded rest from our work and a time for a holy convocation. (Exodus/Sh’mot 31:16, Genesis/B’reishit 2:2-3, Isaiah/Yeshayahu 58:13-14, Matthew 12:8 and Hebrews 10:24-27) We observe the weekly Shabbat, from Friday evening / sundown to Saturday evening / sundown. We also observe the seven annual Shabbats, High Holy Days that occur at different times during the Jewish calendar year. (Lev 23)
  5. Rosh Chodesh (Head of the month / New Moon) is observed according to the pattern shown in 1 Samuel/Shmuel. The festival varies from 1 to 2 days depending on the time that the new moon appears in the night sky.
  6. Y’shua of Natzeret is Elohim, the Messiah of Yisrael, the Savior of the world. 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 Avinu (Our Father). (John 1:12-14, Acts 7:55-56 & Hebrews 10:12)
  7. Messiah Y’shua is the ultimate and final sacrifice required for the removal of sins. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life and willingly accepted death by execution stake (stagion) on a tree (xulon); an atoning death, like the death of a sacrificed animal, He was raised from the dead three days and 3 nights afterward. Everyone who believes in Him and acknowledges their sins, declares their repentance and asks for forgiveness trusting that Y’shua’s sacrifice has given them complete access to the Mercy Seat are forgiven their sins and come into a renewed covenant with YHVH through Him. Therefore they become inheritors of all the promises YHVH made with Avraham and Israel. (John 1:29, Isaiah/Yeshayahu 7:14;9:6-7, Matthew 1, Hebrews 4:15; 2:4, Leviticus/Vayikra 17:11, Isaiah/Yeshayahu 53, Psalms/Tehillim 22, Romans 5:6-11, Ephesians 2:8, Matthew 27:50-28:20, Romans 10:9-12 & I Corinthians 5-7)
  8. The Ketuvei HaShalichim [the Apostolic Writings, commonly known as the New Testament] records Y’shua instructing us to “make disciples” by immersing them into living water acknowledging the authority of The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit over their lives. This immersion is the outward sign of the submission of the believer to the teachings of the entire Torah as delineated in the Ketuvei HaShalichim. Messiah Y’shua instructs us concerning a new creation of the human spirit. The Torah of YHVH is planted inside so the Ruach HaKodesh may indwell. The external immersion in living water (tevilah) is performed to declare that this has taken place. (Jeremiah/Yirmeyahu 31:31-34, Ezekiel/Yechezkel 36:26-27; 39:29, Matthew 3:16; 28:18-20 & Acts 2:38)
  9. The various enablement’s or gifts of the Ruach HaKodesh are freely given with authority to all those who ask YHVH and obey His commandments. The Promise of Abba, an extra imbuement of power and boldness for witnessing, is described as an immersion (spiritual tevilah) by the Ruach HaKodesh. Each follower should seek to be filled with the various enablements of the Ruach, who gives them as He wishes. (Joel/Yoel 2:27-29, Isaiah/Yeshayahu 28:11-12, Luke 11:13, Acts 1:4-5; 2:4; 5:32; 10:44-48, I Corinthians 12:1-13 & Ephesians 1:13)
  10. Beit Tefillah Messianic Congregation is a part of the people of YHVH, a holy Miqra Qahal [Called Out/Ekklesia (assembly)] congregation, which is not of this world, in order to gather and celebrate Him at His appointed holy Feasts, to shine as lights of truth in the darkness and to be a royal priesthood which praises His Name by offering spiritual sacrifices. (Leviticus/Vayikra 23, Matthew 16:18)
  11. The goals of the people of YHVH are:
    1. To be followers of Y’shua the Messiah, as we mature into the example He left us and to intimately know Him. (Ephesians 4:13 & Matthew 7:20-27)
    2. To be holy and separate from the world as our Abba is holy. Therefore, we are to learn and do those things which make us holy in His sight. (Leviticus/Vayikra 11:44-45 & Ephesians 5:27)
    3. To be righteous (Torah observant); Godly (showing mercy in this world). (Titus 2:12)
    4. To be spiritually clean, first in our conscious inner man, and 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)
    5. To be full of love for one another, thus proving we are Y’shua’s disciples; and caring for a lost world, to take the message of the Good News of Y’shua to the Jew first and also to the Gentile. (John 13:34-35, Romans 1:16 & 1 John 4:7-8)
  12. The promise of a continually faithful trust in Y’shua, while walking according to the will of YHVH , is resurrection from the dead, eternal life and ruling with Y’shua forever in the place where His Kingdom will rule. He will yet rule in Jerusalem/Zion, and finally in the New Jerusalem in the New Creation forever. (Job 19:25-27, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 & Revelation 19-22)
  13. Y’shua will judge all mankind of every act and word ever committed. He will decide the sentence for punishment, and all those not meeting His standards will be sent away from His presence, into outer darkness and eternal punishment for the sin. (Daniel/Doniyel 12:2, Matthew 25:31-46 & Revelation 20)
  14. 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 Y’shua, the Messiah. This will complete the tearing down of the wall of partition, which is a necessary part of the restoration of all things spoken by the prophets. (Isaiah/Yeshayahu 56:8, Hosea/Hoshea 1-2, John 10:16, Romans 9:26 & Acts 3:21)
  15. Jews according to the flesh (descendants of Abraham through Isaac, whether through the bloodline of the mother or the father) who place their faith in Israel’s Messiah Y’shua have not disowned or separated themselves from their race and Judaic heritage, but remain sons and daughters of Israel. Thus they should celebrate their heritage and traditions. Gentiles who place their faith in Israel’s Messiah Y’shua are also spiritually sons and daughters of Israel and thus also share in this rich and meaningful heritage. (Romans 2:28-29, Acts 21:17-26, Galatians 3:28-29 & Deuteronomy/D’varim 28)
  16. The m’chitza (wall of partition) which in times past separated Jews and Gentiles has been broken down; the enmity between them eradicated by the Messiah Y’shua (Ephesians 2:12-14)
  17. The Renewed Covenant body of Y’shua composed of both Jews and Gentiles who have accepted Israel’s Messiah Y’shua as the promised Redeemer and now they are to worship together in the House of Elohim. (John 10:16, I Corinthians 12:13, & Hebrews 10:25)
  18. It is our prayer that YHVH will bring back the church to an understanding of its Jewish heritage and roots so that both Jew and Gentile may know the spiritual reality of being one in the Messiah Y’shua.

Points of Order

  1. THE HOLY NAMES: The pronunciation of “The Names” written “YHVH”and any other written expression of the Diety found in Scripture is a personal choice based on one’s relationship with Him. Beit Tefillah Messianic Congregation strongly discourages any use of the Names that would make it common or profane. We do not want to be a stumbling block to observant Believers visiting our congregation. in no way do we wish to invade the sanctity of personal, private prayers and we take no position on the use of the Name in such prayers.
  2. MESSIAH’S NAME: The name of our Messiah was and is Y’shua or Yeshua meaning both “salvation” and “Yah who is salvation” in Hebrews. The term “Yahshuah” is not correct Hebrews pronunciation. As a proper honor, He is to be referred to as “Messiah Y’shua,” “Y’shua the Messiah” or “Adoni Y’shua” rather than “Y’shua” alone.
  3. NAME AS AUTHORITY: The idea of ‘”name” in Hebrews 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.
  4. THE TORAH: The Torah may refer to either the Five Books of Moses, the entire Tanakh (Hebrews Scriptures) or the whole Bible, depending on usage. The Torah in our usage never refers to the Talmud but, while we do not consider the Talmud or any other commentary on the Scriptures as the Word of YHVH, we believe that the writings of Oral Tradition, such as the Talmud, the Mishnah, and the Midrash Rabbah, also contain further insight into the character of YHVH and His dealings with His people. We do not practice in the Diaspora those parts of Torah which require residence in the land, a theocratic civil government and/or a consecrated Temple on Mount Moriah.
  5. LEADERSHIP & GENDER: We recognize that Scripture establishes the equality of men and women. Within that equality, Torah has likewise established the separate and distinct roles of men and women. With regards to women in leadership, Beit Tefillah Messianic Congregation believes that elders, speakers and teachers should meet the requirements listed in 1 Timothy 2, 3
  6. THE TALLIT: according to Torah, Numbers/B’midbar 15:37-41 and Deuteronomy/D’varim 22:12 we are commanded to wear the “tzitzit” with “techelet” (blue thread). This is to be done with proper respect and care. We are to wear them to remind us of HIS Torah and our rebellion in the wilderness. They should be worn at all times attached to the four corners of a tallit katan. At Shabbat services and on the moedim, the traditional Tallit should be worn by men. Women may wear a Bat Mitzvah type pastel colored Tallit that is not mistaken for a man’s Tallit.
  7. BIBLICAL FAITH: According to the Scriptures, one must be born into the Kingdom of G-D. Entrance into the Kingdom of G-D is not based on merit (Genesis/B’reishit 15:6; Romans 2-6; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 11:6, 39). Scripture does not define this birth into the Kingdom of G-D as the physical birth that occurs when a mother gives birth to her child. It does, however define this birth as a spiritual birth (John 3:1-6). This spiritual birth is referred to and described by the Jewish Messiah, Y’shua, as Besorat HaGeulah (the Good News of Redemption; Mark 13:10 and 16:15) from G-D to all mankind starting with the Jews and proceeding to the Nations (Romans 1:15-17). As the Scriptures declare in Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, and Luke 24:47 (not an exhaustive list of references), the spiritual birth consists of Teshuvah (repentance), Tevilah (Immersion in living water), and an act by YHVH in which He fills an individual with His Ruach HaKodesh (His Holy Spirit). Following this spiritual birth and entrance into the Kingdom of YHVH, the believer should display a willingness to submit his/her own will to the will of YHVH expressed in commandments in His Torah, which was given by YHVH in the Scriptures John 14:15, 15:10 (Tanakh and Ketuvei HaShalichim).
  8. TORAH FOR ALL: We believe that ALL believers in Y’shua are called to become the body of Mashiach through the keeping of the Torah as led by Ruach HaKadosh.
  9. Beit Tefillah Messianic Congregation believes that Speaking in languages is primarily a gift for the edification of a believer’s private prayer life. When it does occur in a congregation, to be considered valid, it must be accompanied by an interpretation from a second believer. It should not be disruptive or aggressive and should edify the congregation. Loud outbursts are not tolerated.
  10. Beit Tefillah Messianic Congregation teaches that “salvation” is a process, a spiritual gift received when a faith in the blood sacrifice of Y’shua HaMashiach is acknowledged. The blood sacrifice gives the repentant believer access to the Mercy Seat where the believer can receive forgiveness for his sins. (Exodus/Sh’mot 25:17-22 Ephesians 2: 6, 1 Chr. 28:11: Leviticus/Vayikra 16:2, Romans 3:25) The process occurs when the believer acknowledges his sin, declares his repentance from that sin, admits his guilt and sorrow and asks for forgiveness. Beit Tefillah Messianic Congregation believes that tevilah is an important part of walking in a Torah observant lifestyle. It is an outward sign of a spiritual decision. The number of times that a believer uses tevilah is determined by the believer, with counsel, as they determine when the act of tevilah would be required. Mikveh literally means a gathering of water. Tevilah literally means immersion. Beit Tefillah Messianic Congregation believes that there are multiple immersions commanded in Torah.
    • the tevilah that Y’shua commanded when making disciples;
    • the tevilah teshuvah, which Yochanan performed in the wilderness (Matthew 3 :1-12);
    • the tevilah commanded after a period of uncleanness from contact with a corpse;
    • after a woman’s monthly cycle or child birth, nocturnal emissions and sexual intercourse;
    • the tevilah before the observance of the three pilgrimage Feasts;
    • the tevilah for the dead and the tevilah prescribed in Acts 2:38.
  11. Beit Tefillah Messianic Congregation believes that Scripture requires and teaches what is considered proper food for living out a holy lifestyle. Specific types of animals, fish and birds are listed as “kosher” (fit) (Leviticus/Vayikra 11 and Deuteronomy/D’varim 14). Requirements for blood and fat are also listed (Leviticus/Vayikra3:17, 17:11). The animal must be killed and prepared according to the rules of kashrut. We believe that the mixing of the meat of a mammal and dairy products should be avoided.
  12. Pesach – Beit Tefillah Messianic Congregation believes in the restoration of Pesach on the evening of the 14th day of Nissan as shown in the Ketuvei HaShalichim. Exodus/Sh’mot 12; John 13; 14; 15; 16;17;

We meet in the congregant’s homes for Erev Shabbat (Friday evenings) dinners and on Shabbat (Saturday) mornings for a service.

Contact us: phone 717 503-4455

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