River of Praise Greeneville, TN

1. We believe that the Bible, both the Tanakh (Old Testament) and Ketuvei HaShalichim [the Apostolic Writings, commonly known as the New Testament or the B'rit Chadashah] is the only inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God. (II Timothy 3:16-17) 1

2. We believe in one God, as He has revealed Himself in the Scriptures. "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One." Deuteronomy 6:4 2 (We believe that the intended meaning of this word "one" as found in Hebrew אֶחָֽד (echad), means a "composite unity.") He alone is ADONAI (Deuteronomy 6:4 & Isaiah 43:10-11). 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 comprehendible manners. Scripture records God 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 a woman (Isaiah 7:14, Galatians 4:4). Although there are numerous examples of God 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 Spirit/Breath). What makes these primary contexts important is not only the fact that God 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 God.

3. We believe that Yeshua is the Son of God, the Messiah, the Eternal One in Whom all the fullness of deity dwells in bodily form, and who is the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us, and whose glory we beheld, the glory of the uniquely begotten Son of God, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-14; Colossians 2:9 3)

4. We believe that the Spirit of God comforts, teaches, leads, indwells and empowers all whom God regenerates.

5. We believe that all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) 4

6. We believe that Yeshua's death and resurrection accomplished the atonement for all who would place their faith in Him. Whoever trusts in God, in His work alone, is made a new creation in Messiah, indwelt by the Spirit of God, and is transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His own Son. (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 5, 6)

7. We believe salvation is by faith through the grace of God alone, and not by human efforts. One may not earn, merit, or keep this eternal salvation by his own efforts. A new creation is the work of God alone. (Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 8:29-39) We believe in the spiritual unity and equality of all believers in Messiah Yeshua. (Ephesians 2:11-22)

8. We believe in the spiritual unity and equality of all believers in Messiah Yeshua. (Ephesians 2:11-12) We believe that those who accept the atoning work of Yeshua become members of the universal people of God, Part of the Body of Messiah. This one spiritual fellowship includes both Jew and Gentile, who by their acceptance then become members of the commonwealth of Israel as adopted sons and daughters of the Promise (Romans 8:16-17; Ephesians 2:11-14: 5:30-32; I Corinthians 12:12-13). Both Jews and Gentiles in Messiah are equal members of the Body if Yeshua, but that this body of adopted sons and daughters does not replace physical Israel in God's plans and purposes (Romans 3:1-2; 29-31).

9. We believe in the continuity of God's covenants with the physical people of Israel according to (Jeremiah 31:35-36). Part of the fulfillment of these covenants is the physical return of the people of Israel to their Promised Land (Deuteronomy chapter 30). We believe that those Jews, according to the flesh, who place their faith in Israel's Messiah have not disowned, or separated themselves from their Jewish race and heritage, but remain sons and daughters of Israel (I Corinthians 7:17-20) according to the flesh, and part of the Body of Messiah according to the Spirit. We believe that Jews who accept Yeshua as their Messiah do not step outside of Biblical Judaism. Jews do not convert to another religion when they accept Yeshua's Atonement. Thus should celebrate their heritage and traditions.

10. We believe that all non-Jewish people who trust in Yeshua are grafted into Israel, granting them the privilege of following the Torah (God's Teachings), having had it written it upon their hearts as participants of the New Covenant. (Romans 11:11-24; Jeremiah 31:33) Gentiles who place their faith in Israel's Messiah Yeshua 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 28)

11. We believe that the Torah (first five books of the Bible) is a revelation of the righteousness of God and the description (along with the rest of the Scripture) of the lifestyle of the redeemed community. (Matthew 5:17-19; II Timothy 3:16-17) We believe that fulfillment of the Law by Yeshua does not negate the Law (Matthew 5:18) but that the keeping of Biblical Law (a great distinction exists between Biblical and Rabbinical Law) is valid as God gave the practices of Torah for moral instruction as well as for cultural-national practice which pointed forward to Messiah's work. We believe that the Torah is valid as a reflection of God's righteous standards and as a means of preserving Israel as a distinct nation. Therefore, the keeping and practice of the Torah by believers in the Body of Messiah is a natural expression of their heritage. We stress, however, that the keeping of the Law does not justify man to God or help earn salvation. Righteousness with God is solely by grace through faith in Yeshua's Atonement (Deuteronomy 6:20-25). We consider the Torah to be the gift of God to all His children (Jew and non-Jew alike), being God's eternal and unchanging revelation and instructions in righteousness.

12. We believe that the Ketuvei HaShalichim [the Apostolic Writings, commonly known as the New Testament or the B'rit Chadashah] does not replace or supersede the Tanakh but that the Tanakh and the Ketuvei HaShalichim are one book completing God's revealed Word to man by fulfillment of the Promise (Galatians 3:19).

13. We believe in the literal, physical return of Messiah to rule and reign upon the throne of David in Jerusalem. We hold to the pre-millennial view of His return. (Zechariah 14; Revelation 19-20)

14.We believe that the nation of Israel is chosen by God to be a channel of blessing to all the nations of the earth. The return of the Jewish people to the land is in fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. The day will come when Israel as a nation will accept the Messiah Yeshua. Then Yeshua will come again to establish His worldwide rule from Jerusalem. Then the Word of the Lord will go forth from Zion and all nations will gaze on Him with joy (Genesis 12:1-3; Isaiah 1:1-4 ; chapter 11; Zechariah 12:10 ; 13:1; Romans chapter 11).

15. We recognize that Jewish people (physical descendants of Abraham 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 Rom. 2:28-29). Gentiles who place their faith in Yeshua, are "grafted into" the Jewish olive tree of faith (Rom. 11:17-25) becoming spiritual sons and daughters of Abraham (Gal. 3:28-29).

16. We observe and celebrate the Biblical Holy Days given by God 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 God, revealed throughout the Scriptures, and ultimately manifested in God's Son, Yeshua the Messiah. We believe that salvation has always been "by faith," and that works of law, or righteous acts, have never saved anyone (Gen.15:6 ; Rom. 2-6 ; Eph. 2:8-9 ; Heb. 11:6, 39).

17. We acknowledge that the New Covenant body of believers is composed of both Jews and Gentiles who have received Yeshua the Messiah as the Promised Redeemer. The "middle wall of partition" has been broken down and now we worship the God of Israel together (I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 2:13-14).

18. We believe in the resurrection of both the wicked and the righteous. Those who have trusted in Yeshua will be resurrected unto life and those who died without having believed in Yeshua will experience the eternal wrath of God. (Romans 1:18ff; I Corinthians 15; Revelation 20-21)