Statement of Faith
The following are the core beliefs of Congregation Mayim Chayim based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.
I. The Holy Scriptures
That the Holy Scriptures, consisting of the Tanakh and the later writings commonly known as the Brit Chadasha (Renewed Covenant), is the only infallible and authoritative word of G-D. We recognize its divine inspiration, and accept its teachings as our final authority in all matters of faith and practice (Deut. 6:4-9; Proverbs 3:1-6; Psalms 119:89, 105; Isaiah 48:12-16; Romans 8: 14-17; II Timothy 2:15, 3:16-17).
II. G-d
There is only one G-D (Deut 6:4). He is the Creator of heaven and earth, of all living beings and of everything both visible and invisible (Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:15-17). 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 comprehensible manners. Scripture records G-D revealing Himself in the following manners: as fire (covenant with Avraham between the two halves of the cow; Genesis 15:17), as the form of a man not born of a woman (when He approached Avraham with the two angels; Genesis 18), as a burning bush (spoke to Moshe; Exodus 3:2), as the fourth Man in the furnace (Daniel 3:25), as the promised Messiah being a Man made of flesh and born of an almah (virgin) (Isaiah 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 (Holy Ghost). What makes these primary contexts important is not only the fact that G-D 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 G-D.
III. Mankind
Created in the image of G-D (Genesis 1:26,27)
Through disobedience, man fell from his first state and became separated from G-D (Genesis 2:17; 3:22-24). Therefore, according to the Scriptures, all men are born with a sinful nature (Psalms 14:1-3, 49:7, 53:13; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:9-12 & 23, 5:12).
Man's only hope for redemption (salvation) is through the atonement made by the Messiah (Leviticus 17:11; Isaiah 53; Daniel 9:24-26; I Corinthians 15:22; Hebrews 9:11-14, 28; John 1:12, 3:36), resulting in regeneration by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5), which is the new birth (John 3:3-8). For by grace we are saved through faith, it is a gift of G-D (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Through disobedience, man fell from his first state and became separated from G-D (Genesis 2:17; 3:22-24). Therefore, according to the Scriptures, all men are born with a sinful nature (Psalms 14:1-3, 49:7, 53:13; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:9-12 & 23, 5:12).
Man's only hope for redemption (salvation) is through the atonement made by the Messiah (Leviticus 17:11; Isaiah 53; Daniel 9:24-26; I Corinthians 15:22; Hebrews 9:11-14, 28; John 1:12, 3:36), resulting in regeneration by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5), which is the new birth (John 3:3-8). For by grace we are saved through faith, it is a gift of G-D (Ephesians 2:8-9).
IV. Resurrection and Judgement
We believe in the resurrection of both the redeemed and the lost: the former to everlasting life and the latter to eternal separation from G-D, a state of everlasting punishment (Job 14:14, 19:25-27; Daniel 12:2-3; John 3:36, 11:25-26; Revelation 20:5-6 & 10-15, 21:7-8).
V. The Messiah /The Redeemer (The Scriptures promised two "comings" of the Messiah)
First Coming:
Promised in Daniel 9:24-26. Its purpose was to make an atonement for sin (Daniel 9:24-26; Isaiah 53; Romans 3:21-31; Hebrews 9-10; John 3:16-17).
Second Coming:
Promised coming in the air to receive the believers to Himself (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 14:1-6; I Corinthians 15:51-57).
Messiah's return to the earth.:
The Redeemer shall come to Zion (Isaiah 59:20-21; Zechariah 14:4). Israel's spiritual redemption (Zechariah 12:8-13:1; Romans 11:25-27; Hebrews 9:28; Jeremiah 31:31-40; the New Covenant).
Israel's national restoration is to recover the remnant of His people Israel from the four corners of the earth and restore the Davidic Kingdom (Isaiah 11 - to re-establish the throne and kingdom of David, which will last forever) [Isaiah 9:6-7 (cf. Luke 1:30-33); Jeremiah 23:3-8].
Promised in Daniel 9:24-26. Its purpose was to make an atonement for sin (Daniel 9:24-26; Isaiah 53; Romans 3:21-31; Hebrews 9-10; John 3:16-17).
Second Coming:
Promised coming in the air to receive the believers to Himself (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 14:1-6; I Corinthians 15:51-57).
Messiah's return to the earth.:
The Redeemer shall come to Zion (Isaiah 59:20-21; Zechariah 14:4). Israel's spiritual redemption (Zechariah 12:8-13:1; Romans 11:25-27; Hebrews 9:28; Jeremiah 31:31-40; the New Covenant).
Israel's national restoration is to recover the remnant of His people Israel from the four corners of the earth and restore the Davidic Kingdom (Isaiah 11 - to re-establish the throne and kingdom of David, which will last forever) [Isaiah 9:6-7 (cf. Luke 1:30-33); Jeremiah 23:3-8].
VI. Israel in Prophecy
We believe in G-D's end-time plan for the nation of Israel and for the world. A central part of Messianic Judaism is the belief in the physical and spiritual restoration of Israel, as taught in the Scriptures. The greatest miracle of our day has been the re-establishment or rebirth of the State of Israel according to prophecy (Ezekiel 34:11-31, 36-39: Hosea 3; Amos 9:11-15; Zechariah 12-14; Isaiah 11, 43, 54, 60-62, 66; Romans 11:1-34).
VII. Messianic Judaism
We recognize that Jewish people (physical descendants of Avraham through Isaac and Jacob, whether through the mother's or the father's blood-line) who place their faith in Israel's Messiah, Yeshua, continue to be Jewish according to the Scriptures (Romans 2:28-29). Non-Jews who place their faith in Yeshua, are "grafted into" the Jewish olive tree of faith (Romans 11:17-25) becoming spiritual sons and daughters of Avraham (Galatians 3:28-29).
We observe and celebrate the L-RD's Holy Days given by G-D to Israel, with their fulfillment in and through the Messiah Yeshua. We believe that true "Biblical Judaism", the faith of first century believers, which we seek to practice, acknowledges the continuity of faith in the one true G-D, revealed throughout the Scriptures and ultimately manifested in Yeshua the Messiah. We believe that salvation has always been "by faith", and the works of law, or righteous acts, have never saved anyone (Genesis 15:6; Romans 2-6; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 11:6,39).
We acknowledge that the New Covenant body of believers is composed of both Jews and non-Jews who have received Yeshua the Messiah as the Promised Redeemer. The "middle wall of partition" has been broken down and now we worship the G-D of Israel together (I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 2:13-14).
We observe and celebrate the L-RD's Holy Days given by G-D to Israel, with their fulfillment in and through the Messiah Yeshua. We believe that true "Biblical Judaism", the faith of first century believers, which we seek to practice, acknowledges the continuity of faith in the one true G-D, revealed throughout the Scriptures and ultimately manifested in Yeshua the Messiah. We believe that salvation has always been "by faith", and the works of law, or righteous acts, have never saved anyone (Genesis 15:6; Romans 2-6; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 11:6,39).
We acknowledge that the New Covenant body of believers is composed of both Jews and non-Jews who have received Yeshua the Messiah as the Promised Redeemer. The "middle wall of partition" has been broken down and now we worship the G-D of Israel together (I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 2:13-14).
VIII. Being Born Anew
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 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, Yeshua, as Besurat HaGe'ulah (the Good News; Mark 13:10 and 16:15) from G-D to all mankind starting with the Jews and proceeding to the non-Jews (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 water), and act by G-D in which He fills an individual with His Ruach HaKodesh (His Holy Breath). Following this spiritual birth and entrance into the Kingdom of G-D, the believer should display a willingness to submit his/her own will to the will of G-D expressed in His Commandments, which were given by G-D in the Scriptures (John 14:15, 15:10) (Tanakh and Brit Chadasha).