Followers of Yeshua

Menu

Statement of Faith

The Bible

I believe in sola scriptura, that the whole Bible (Tanakh and Brit’Hadashah), although penned by faithful men, is directly inspired by Almighty God, the creator of all things both known and unknown to man. It is God’s word, the method by which He speaks to us in this present day. It is the ultimate, sole authority of truth, it is infallible in nature and it is the foundation on which our faith is based. 2 Timothy 3:16.

Almighty God

There is one Almighty God, His name is derived from the tetragrammaton יהוה (Yod-Hay-Vav-Hay or ‘YHVH’ in Latin). With the Hebrew vowel pointers Sh’ma (e), Cholam (o) and Kamatz (a) the closest translation in English renders the Name to be ‘YeHoVaH’. He is the most supreme power in the universe, there is no other. Yehovah is ONE. Deuteronomy 6:4.

Yeshua (Jesus)

Yeshua (Eng. Jesus, Gr. Iesous) was conceived by Ruach Ha’Kodesh (holy spirit) and born into mankind through a human maiden Miriam (Mary). He was brought up in a faithful Jewish family with his step brothers and sisters.

He commenced his 70-week ministry, being baptised and receiving all authority from his heavenly Father, who sent him to spread the word of the renewed covenant, eventually giving his perfect life as an atonement offering, once and for all time, on the third day he was resurrected and rewarded with the exalted position that had been reserved for him as described at Psalms 110:1. Now he is our glorified Master, King and Kohan Gadol (High Priest).

Holy Spirit (Ruach ha’Kodesh)

The holy spirit is Almighty God’s active force which He directs to accomplish His will. Those who worship Almighty God in spirit and truth are filled with the holy spirit, a method by which Almighty God, through is son Yeshua, can teach and guide them. It is also the means by which Almighty God can call people to Him.

Heaven

The Bible refers to three Heavens:

  • 1 – The area from the earth’s surface to the outer atmosphere. (Psalms 104:12).
  • 2 – From the outer edge of the earth’s atmosphere to the extent of space. (Genesis 1:14, 15).
  • 3 – The spiritual realm, often referred to as “the Heaven of Heaven’s” is the place in which Almighty God Yehovah has His throne, along with the heavenly hosts. This is a place where no human has ascended except Yeshua, who took up the throne reserved for him by his Father 40 days after his resurrection. Although the Bible does refer to people, such as Paul and John going to heaven, they entered the Heavenly realm in visions and not physically. John 3:13; 2 Corinthians 12:1 – 4.

Hell

There are two places mentioned in the Bible that refer to the status of the person after death:

  1. Sheol: The Hebrew word used to describe what can be termed as ‘the common grave of mankind’.
  2. Hades: this is the Greek version of the Hebrew word Sheol and is similar to the Hebrew understanding.

The word “Hell” is derived by incorporating both the Hebrew and Greek Sheol and Hades to form the word. The word does not imply a physical place where people go when they die, rather it is a term used to convey their figurative status, that they are in the common grave of mankind, in other words they have died and are “asleep in death” John 11:11.

There is another place that is mentioned in the Bible and it is one of the most common misunderstandings of scripture that is taught throughout Christendom, this is the place of the “second death” which is called “Gehenna”.
The word “Gehenna” can be found 12 times in the Bible and all in the Brit HaDashah (Greek Scriptures). The definition of Gehenna is the place where the wicked are destroyed after the judgement. This is the “Lake of Fire” mentioned at Revelation 19:20; 20: 10, 14, 15.
The unfortunate souls that are condemned to Gehenna are completely destroyed and, from this end there is no resurrection. They are cast into the eternal fire, a fire that will never be extinguished and they are completely destroyed, not, as most of Christendom are taught that they will suffer eternal torture, they simply die the second death.

Salvation

Mankind cannot earn the right to salvation; the Bible is quite clear on this. To clarify this, at Isaiah 64:6 we read that “…we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness is as filthy rags…”. We will all reap the wages of sin which is death and this is the curse that all humans face however, our heavenly father has provided a way for all people of all nations to escape this final destruction, this is detailed in Romans 6:23. See also Romans 3:21-31.
Salvation is a free gift form our wonderful heavenly father Yehovah through His son Yeshua Ha’Mashiach (Jesus Christ) for those who build their faith on accurate knowledge of His requirements and keep His commandments. In this world of mankind there is no one that can say that “I’m saved”, this is a very dangerous teaching for it lulls the believer into a false sense of security. The Bible makes it clear that no one is “Saved” until their name is written in ink in the lamb’s book of life and that doesn’t happen until after the resurection. Matthew 24:13.

Creation

In the beginning Almighty God Yehovah created the universe and all that is in them, both known and unknown by man in 6 literal days and He ceased creation on the 7th day and rested from His creation work. Genesis 1:1 – 31; John 1:1.
His creation was brought about by His word and accomplished by His Ruach Ha’Kodesh as He spoke ALL things into existence. He created all things perfect.

Satan/Devil

He is the slanderer and accuser of Almighty God and the father of the lie. He was created a beautiful angel and was given a privileged position in heaven however, he let envy and jealousy overpower him, he wanted to be God himself. He is the one that tempted Eve in the garden of Eden, speaking through a serpent he persuaded Eve to disobey Adam and eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and bad. She approached Adam and persuaded him to taste the forbidden fruit. Instead of rebuking her and seeking counsel from Yehovah as to what action should be taken, he took the fruit and ate.
Thus, sin entered the world, for which we are all suffering for Eve disobeyed Adam, but Adam disobeyed Almighty God, in effect, handing Satan the deeds of this world which he sealed with 7 seals to prevent its opening. (See: Revelation 5, 6:1–17 and 8:1–5).

Sin

Sin is the transgression of Yehovah’s righteous laws (Torah). (1John 3:4). Sin is not sorted in the order of severity, if you break any of these laws you commit sin, lying is on the same level as murder.
Through Adam the curse of sin entered the world, from then on, all people inherit that same curse by birth. Romans 5:12.
Sin brings death to all people because we have all sinned and there are no righteous people alive today. Romans 3:10.

Death

When a person dies, they cease to be, in its entirety, the person does not go to Heaven, Purgatory or any other place that can be mentioned. There are two symbiotic parts to a person, physical body and soul, either one cannot survive without the other. The human body was designed to live forever but, due to sin we became subject to sins curse and, around our mid 30’s our cells stop replacing and we start to grow old, this is a direct effect of the disease of sin on the soul. The same thing is true about the soul, if our physical body is fatally wounded or infected, our soul suffers and, at the point of death both die and are figuratively passed into the realm of the common grave of mankind, Sheol/Hades, this is identified in the Bible as the ‘First Death’. Genesis 3:19; Ecclesiastes 9:5; Psalms 146:4; John 11:11 – 14; Ezekiel 18:4; Isaiah 53:12; Ecclesiastes 9:6; Isaiah 26:14.

God’s Law (Torah)

Yehovah’s laws have not been ‘revoked’ as suggested by Christendom, the misunderstanding of Yeshua’s words at Matthew 5:17 do not indicate that the law (written Torah) is now defunct, on the contrary, Yeshua fulfilled the law which does not mean that it is no longer in force and I can assure you that the law of God is just as poignant today as it was when it was given to Moses on Mount Sinai. This is confirmed by the next verse in Matthew’s gospel Matthew 5:18.
After the death of Yeshua the failed Mosaic covenant was updated by the New or more appropriately named Renewed covenant. (Brit ha’Dashah). (Deuteronomy 31:31-33). As this renewed covenant altered the ceremonial requirements of Leviticus requiring the ceremonial animal sacrifices were no longer needed however, the main body of the written Torah did not change, this is borne out by Yeshua’s words where he rounded out all the Torah in the words in Matthew 22:37 – 40. So, to be true followers of Yeshua we must keep the commandments (written Torah)just as our Master Yeshua did. If we don’t have to keep the law then we are identified as “lawless”. Do not be fooled into thinking that the law (written Torah) has been abolished for anyone, this is a ploy of the adversary for it draws you away from Almighty God who spoke the universe into existence.

Science

Rather than disprove the existence of a creator and law giver, the more discoveries that science makes strengthens the fact that there is indeed a designer. For example, to suggest that Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA), this amazing double helix strand of intricately coded information happened by chance is folly to the extreme. Another example would be, what most people (including those who profess to be Christian) call the “laws of nature” … if there is a “law” there must, by definition, be a “law giver”, that “law giver” is no other than the creator of the universe, Yehovah Himself. They are Almighty God’s laws, not some ficticious, God dishonouring “Laws of Nature” which removes Almighty God from the equasion.

It is also a fact that, since mankinds creation, mankind has not actually made anything that did not exist prior to its construction. In all his works mankind has, by the laws given by Yehovah, only modified elements to work in his favour. For example, mankind did not invent electricity, electrons have been present in the universe since creation, science only learned how to harness that existing energy.

Baptism

Baptism is the public declaration that you have repented of your sins and turned from your former self and accepted the new heart of flesh and that you are ready to follow Yeshua in all you do from that point onwards.
The solemn nature of this absolute dedication is the result of the study of Almighty God’s scripture and the gospel message of Yeshua Ha’Mashiach which results in the accurate knowledge of the truth and you accept, with full cognition, what this lifelong dedication means.
The scriptural qualifications for baptism are quite clear, the person must:

  • Hear (Acts 19:5),
  • Believe (Acts 8:13),
  • Repent (Acts 2:28),
  • Receive His word (Acts 2:41)
  • Receive the holy spirit (Acts 10:47)

If any of these criteria are not met, then the person, whether infant, child or adult, is not yet ready for baptism.

True Worship

If we wish to worship Almighty God Yehovah, the creator of the universe, it is of vital importance that we do so in a manner that He approves. This is the primary goal of the Bible, for within the 66 books we find His instructions as to the correct method of worship and what is acceptable to Him. As the Bible is the only source of ultimate, infallible truth, we should, as worshipers of Almighty God, listen to and apply His instructions in our lives, without exception. Any deviation from these instructions is tantamount to the opposition of Almighty God as we are breaking His commandments and sinning against Him.
I firmly believe that the correct path to worshipping Almighty God Yehovah does not originate from any source that was established from the first century onwards, Christendom is not the authorised way to worship Him and gain salvation. Yeshua, when he was conversing with the Samaritan woman (a pagan) he told her that “…salvation is of the Jews” John 4:22, it could not be made any clearer. We all must never forget that, whatever our beliefs are and whatever denomination we follow, all the people in those early formational days were Jews.
We must realise that the Bible does not teach two religions, there is only one way of worship that is acceptable to Almighty God, the Brit ‘Hadasha (New Testament) would not be valid if it were not for the Tanakh (Old Testament).
At their baptism all true believers in Yeshua become Israelites and children of Abraham, thus they avail themselves of the promise given to Abraham, no one can argue otherwise, Jews and former gentiles (pagans) that earnestly follow the Mashiach Yeshua become one together. Zechariah 8:23.
Please think again if you consider yourself saved through the doctrines and catechisms of Christendom, you might be surprised at what the consequences are. Matthew 7:21 – 23.

Unfortunately, until Christendom, Islam and rabbinic Judaism recognise their errors and return to the true Abrahamic faith they will continue to squabble and fight like rebellious youths until the grace period which we now live runs out and it is too late.