Our Statement of Faith
Beit Chesed Messianic Congregation revised in 2012
We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are divinely inspired, verbally and completely inerrant in the original writings and of supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and life. (We recognize the value of traditional Jewish literature, but only where it is supported by or conformable to the Word of God. We regard those writings as in no way binding upon life or faith.)
We believe in one Sovereign God, existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, perfect in holiness, infinite in wisdom, unbounded in power and measureless in love; that God is the source of all creation and that through the immediate exercise of His power all things came into being.
We believe that God the Father is the author of eternal salvation, having loved the world and given His Son for its redemption.
We believe that Y'shua (Jesus the Messiah) was eternally pre-existent and is co-equal with God the Father; that He took on Himself the nature of man through the virgin birth so that He possesses both divine and human natures.
We believe in His sinless life and perfect obedience to the Law; in His atoning death, burial, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, high-priestly intercession and His personal return in power and glory.
We believe that the Holy Spirit is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son; that He was active in the creation of all things and continues to be so in providence; that He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, and that He regenerates, sanctifies, baptizes, indwells, seals, illumines, guides and bestows His gifts upon all believers.
We believe that God created man in His image; that because of the disobedience of our first parents at the Garden of Eden they lost their innocence and both they and their descendants, separated from God, suffer physical and spiritual death and that all human beings, with the exception of Jesus the Messiah, are born sinners and therefore need a savior.
We believe that Y'shua (Jesus the Messiah) died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; that all who believe in Him are justified, not by any works of righteousness they have done, but by His perfect righteousness and atoning blood and that there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. One who has accepted Y'shua's payment and believes He rose bodily from the dead is "born from above" and may know in this life that he or she is going to heaven and cannot loose that salvation which is kept by the power of God.
We believe that the people of Israel are the physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and that the term has been used interchangeably with "the Jews" and "Jewish people" for millennia. The people of Israel exists and will continue to exist because of God's unconditional covenant with Abraham. The land of Israel was also given unconditionally to Israel- although enjoying that land has always been a privilege. The blessing that comes with "blessing Abraham" is also still in effect as is the curse associated with "cursing him". A subset of believing people within Israel known as "the remnant" has always been the case and we are promised that at some time in the future "all Israel will be saved". Israel continues to be a blessing to the world.
We believe that the Church is not a physical building nor has it replaced Israel, but is invisible and described in the Bible in various ways: as a body, as a bride, as a household, and also as a spiritual building or a Holy Temple, Messiah being the Chief Cornerstone. This "building" has stones or bricks, both Jews and Gentiles who acknowledge Jesus as Messiah and Redeemer and is built on the "foundation of the apostles". These members compose one body and share in spiritual promises in Messiah Y'shua. (Ephesians 3:19-22 & 3:6)
We believe that Jesus the Messiah will return personally in order to consummate the prophesied purposes concerning His kingdom.
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved and the everlasting conscious punishment of the lost.
