Constitution
Adopted February 1, 1997
Preamble
Whereas we hold the Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible or so-called “Old Testament”) and the Ketuvei HaShalichim (Apostolic Writings or Apostolic Scriptures, so-called “B'rit Chadasha,” “Renewed Covenant,” or “New Testament”) of the (so-called) “Protestant Canon,” to be the inerrant written Word of HaShem[GN] in their original autographs; and
Whereas we believe the Bible as we have now received it to be without any material deviation from those original autographs in matters of doctrine, faith, and conduct; and
Whereas we therefore accept the Bible as our final authority in all things; and
Whereas the Bible requires that all things be done decently and in order; and
Whereas the Bible requires that we submit to the authority of those whom HaShem has appointed to govern us, so long as they do not require us to be disobedient to HaShem’s Own higher authority; and
Whereas those whom HaShem has appointed to govern us require that we adopt a formal governing document which contains certain provisions of man’s law; and
Whereas the Bible requires that we do nothing to offend our brethren of the true and precious Faith; and
Whereas those brethren likewise expect that we adopt a formal governing document in accordance with our accepted tenets;
Therefore we do hereby declare and establish this Constitution to which we voluntarily submit ourselves.
ARTICLE I
Name and Purpose
Section 1: Name
This local manifestation of the Body of Mashiach[1] meeting together as an independent congregation of believers shall be known as as Benéi HaMelech (Children of the King) Messianic Fellowship, and shall be duly licensed as a “church” (for legal and tax purposes) by the state in which the main offices of this ministry may reside.
Section 2: Purpose
Thisfellowship exists solely for the glory of HaShem, the God of the Bible, the God of Avraham, Yitz'chak, and Ya'akov Whose Name is too sacred to be pronounced, and for the fulfillment of our divinely-ordained responsibilities (a) toward Him, (b) toward our families, (c) toward others within the universal Body of Mashiach (“the Miqra”)[2] which is the Body and Bride of Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach,[3] (d) toward those who are outside of the Body of Mashiach (“the Lost”), and (e) toward HaShem’s chosen nation of Israel and her people.
A. Our Responsibility
We view those responsibilities to be as follows:
1. Our Responsibility Toward HaShem
We agree with the Westminster Shorter Catechism that “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” We accomplish this responsibility toward HaShem primarily by loving Him. When we truly love Him above all else, we will give Him our unquestioning obedience in all things. Our love and obedience will then glorify Him.
When one of the Scribes asked Yeshua HaMashiach, “Which mitzvah[4] is the greatest (most important) of all?” Mashiach answered, “The greatest is, ‘Hear, Yisra'el, the Lord our God, the Lord is one: you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first mitzvah. The second is like this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other mitzvah greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31).[5]
Anyone who does not love HaShem as Mashiach commanded is under the divine curse of HaShem. “If anyone does not love the Lord, a curse on him! Marana, ta! [Our Lord, come!]” (1Cor. 16:22).
The Bible says that Yeshua HaMashiach became obedient to the Torah so that the Goyim[6] would glorify HaShem. “For I say that the Messiah became a servant of the Jewish people in order to show God’s truthfulness by making good His promises to the Patriarchs, and in order to show His mercy by causing the Gentiles to glorify God — as it is written in the Tanakh, ‘Because of this I will acknowledge you among the Gentiles and sing praise to your name.’” (Rom. 15:8-9).
The Bible says that because He has bought us out of bondage to sin, we live to glorify Him: “The fact is, you don't belong to yourselves; for you were bought at a price. So use your bodies to glorify God.” (1Cor. 6:19-20).
Yeshua said that if we love Him we will obey Him (John 3:36; 14:23-24), and the Apostolic Writings confirm that we are to obey Him (Acts 5:29, 32; Rom. 2:8; 6:16; 2Thess. 1:8; 3:14; Heb. 5:9; 1 Pet. 1:2; 4:17). This glorifies HaShem (Rom. 15:6).
The Bible says that we have become the Bride of Mashiach and that we will reign with Him forever (Rev. 19:6-9; 21:1-22:7).
Yeshua clearly says that we have an obligation to observe all the mitzvot (commandments) of Torah that we possibly can, and that we are to teach others to do likewise (Matt. 5:17-20). We clearly understand that it is not possible for us to observe all the mitzvot because many of them refer only to life within Eretz Yisrael, and some refer only to the Temple, which does not exist in our time. Neither are we responsible for observing those mitzvot which are particular to certain classes of individuals other than ourselves.
2. Our Responsibility Toward Our Family
Because HaShem created the family millennia before He created His Miqra, we believe that our responsibility toward our family comes second only to our responsibility toward HaShem. Yeshua set this model before us in that, as He hung dying on His cross[19] at Calvary, He committed the care of His mother into the hands of the Beloved Talmid.[7] HaShem’s Torah, which our Lord declared is unchangeable, provides for strong family bonds and responsibilities. Our Lord taught that the man who fails to care for his family is worse than an infidel.
Concerning relationships within the Family, our Lord taught that Mashiach is the head of the husband and the husband is to be subject to Mashiach. He also taught that the husband is the head of the wife and the wife is to be subject to her husband (Eph. 5:22-33; Col. 3:18; 1Pet. 3:1-6; Titus 2:5). The Bible teaches that the husband is to love his wife “just as Mashiach also loved the Miqra and gave Himself up for her,” and to treat her gently, “as a weaker vessel” (Eph. 5:22-33; Col. 3:19; 1Pet. 3:7). The Bible also teaches that a husband and wife are to ”become one flesh” (Eph. 5:31).
The Bible teaches that children are to be obedient to their parents and honor them (Col. 3:20; Eph. 6:1-3). Fathers are not to exasperate their children or provoke them to anger “but [are to] bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Col. 3:21; Eph. 6:4). Parents are to instruct their children in the laws of HaShem “that they should put their confidence in HaShem, and not forget the works of HaShem, but keep His commandments.” Parents are also to teach their children the praises of the Lord, not just His judgments (Ps. 78:1-8; Deut. 4:10; 6:4-9; 11:18-21).
We therefore commit that in all the teachings and functions of this congregation, we will keep the family foremost, that our families will be built on the sure foundation, which is Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach and His Word.
3. Our Responsibility Toward the Body of Mashiach
When speaking about the greatest of all mitzvot (commandments), Yeshua said, “The second is like this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other mitzvah greater than these.” (Mark 12:31). Yeshua also said, “This is my mitzvah, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you. … I command these things to you, that you may love one another.” (John 15:12-17). We are commanded to fervently love each other (1Pet. 1:22; 4:8-9; 1John 3:11,23; 4:7-12; 2John 1:5).
This kind of love means placing others’ well-being before our own (Rom. 12:10; Phil. 2:3,4; 1Thess. 3:11-13; 5:15).
We are to meet one another’s needs (Rom. 12:13; 2 Cor. 9:12-14). We are to obey our spiritual leaders and submit to their authority over us (Heb. 13:17). We are to be devoted to one another (Rom. 12:10-13). We are to “ursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another” (Rom. 14:19-20). We are to “be of the same mind with one another according to Mashiach Yeshua” (Rom. 15:6) and to accept one another (Rom. 15:7). We are to admonish one another (Rom. 15:14; Col. 3:16).
We are to give honor to one another (1Cor. 12:24-26; 1Thess. 5:13). We are to “show forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of Ruach HaKodesh[8] in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1-6). We are to lay aside all falsehood and speak truth to each other (Eph. 4:25; Col. 3:9). We are to be kind and tenderhearted to each other (Eph. 4:32). We are to forgive each other as HaShem in Mashiach forgave us (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:12-15).
We are to submit to each other (Eph. 5:18-21). We are to comfort one another (1Thess. 4:17-18). We are to encourage one another (1Thess. 5:11; Heb. 3:13; 10:25). We are to build each other up (1Thess. 5:11). We are to live in peace with each other (1Thess. 5:13). We are to “stimulate one another to love and good deeds” (Heb. 10:24). We are to confess our sins to one another and pray for one another (James 5:16). We are to serve each other (1 Pet. 4:10). We are to act humbly toward each other (1Pet. 5:5-6). We are to have fellowship with each other (1John 1:7; Heb. 10:25).
We are not to judge one or to put obstacles or stumbling blocks in each other’s way (Rom. 14:13). There are to be no divisions among us (1Cor. 12:25). We are not to “bite” one another (Gal 5:13-16). We are not to become boastful, challenge one another, or envy one another (Gal. 5:26). We are not to repay evil with evil (1Thess. 5:15). We are not to forsake our own assembling together (Heb. 10:25). We are not to complain or speak against each other (James 4:11; 5:9).
4. Our Responsibility Toward the Lost
At His ascension, Mashiach gave His Shliachim[9] the following Commission: “Going, therefore, make talmidim of all the goyim, immersing them in the name of Abba,[10] and of HaBen,[11] and of Ruach HaKodesh,[12] teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you …” (Matt. 28:19-20, literal). He also told them, “But you will receive power when Ruach HaKodesh has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Yerushalayim,[13] in all Yehudah[14] and Shomron,[15] and to the uttermost parts of the earth.” (Acts 1:8). We believe that commission, in its primary application, was given directly to the Shliachim and that they literally fulfilled that commission prior to their deaths before the end of the first century.
However, we believe that the principles of our Lord’s instructions are clear, and that those principles apply to the local assembly today. They require us, as ambassadors for Mashiach, to carry on the ministry of reconciliation (2Cor. 5:18-21) by taking every opportunity to present the Gospel (Good News) of Yeshua HaMashiach and His Kingdom to a lost and dying world.
Grammatically, the imperative (the mitzvah or command) is to “make talmidim” (students who follow the teaching they are given and strive to become like their teacher). “Going,” “immersing,” and “teaching” are all participles, which means that they are how we are to make talmidim. The Lord’s command to His Miqra is clear: we are make talmidim wherever we can. And we are to make talmidim by going, immersing, and teaching.
A talmid (plural, talmidim) is one who sits under the teaching of another, and who strives to become like the teacher. As we lead the lost to Mashiach for salvation, we are to lead them to a local assembly of believers for their growth and nurturing in the Word of HaShem. If we fail in this area, we may possibly have made a convert, but we have failed to make a talmid.
b. We are to Make Talmidim by Going
There is no provision for us to wait for the lost to come to us. We are proactively to seek ways and opportunities to present the Gospel of HaShem’s Grace to the lost. We are to “Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled” (Luke 14:23). The “Lord’s house” is not the building in which the local assembly meets, but rather it is the family of HaShem that is in mind (John 14:2).
c. We are to Make Talmidim by Immersing
Those whom we lead to a relationship with Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach, we are to make talmidim. One of the first steps of becoming a talmid is obedience to the Lord’s instruction that talmidim are to be made by being immersed. As the lost are won to Yeshua, it is our responsibility to make talmidim of them by immersing them.
d. We are to Make Talmidim by Teaching
We are then commanded to be teaching them all those things that were taught by our Lord and by His Shliachim. We know this instruction as “the Apostles’ Doctrine” or the “Doctrine of the Shliachim” which has been given “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Mashiach; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of HaShem, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Mashiach” (Eph. 4:11-13).
5. Our Responsibility Toward Israel
We believe that Israel has been elected by HaShem out of all of the families of man to be His chosen people, to serve as an example to the world of His love, compassion, providence, and righteous judgment. Moreover, HaShem chose Avraham and his descendants to be the human family from which His own Son, Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach (the LORD Jesus Christ) would be born after the flesh, to be Israel’s Messiah and our Redeemer.
We believe that, although many individual Israelites immediately received the Good News of Mashiach and became His talmidim, corporate Israel (that is, the political nation of Israel, not the Jewish people - see Acts 21:20 which clearly states that tens of thousands of Israelites had accepted Yeshua as the Messiah) fell from her exalted position among the nations of the world because of her repeated idolatry and the rejection of Mashiach by Israel’s governmental leaders when He first appeared. Therefore, HaShem allowed the destruction of the Temple and the dispersion of political Israel throughout the nations of the world, and allowed Eretz Yisra'el (the Land of Israel) to be overrun by the Gentile nations (the Goyim) for a period of time known as “the time of the Goyim.” This was a temporary exile from which HaShem promised to call forth His people at the end “the time of the Goyim.” We believe that the establishment of the modern State of Israel in 1948 marked the end “the time of the Goyim,” and that He is now returning His People to their Land, from which they will never again be exiled.
We believe that HaShem has made numerous unilateral, unconditional, and eternally irrevocable covenants with the household of Abraham, many of which have not yet been fulfilled, and that because of His unchangeable nature He is faithful to fulfill all His promises. We therefore accept as self-evident that HaShem is not yet finished with His chosen race. They will again live corporately in fellowship with and obedience to Him, and in peace and safety within the geographical boundaries of their ancestral home, Eretz Yisra'el, under the Kingship of His Messiah Yeshua. We specifically and categorically reject as heretical the dogma known as “Replacement Theology” which teaches that “the Church” has replaced Israel in HaShem’s plan, and that Israel has been “set aside” — even temporarily — in favor of the Gentiles.
We believe that the Miqra, the Body of Mashiach, properly understood, is thoroughly Jewish. Mashiach and all His Talmidim were Torah-observant Jews who worshipped in the Temple and in the synagogues throughout Eretz Yisrael[16] and the Diaspora.[17] The Bible, including the Tanakh and the Apostolic Writings, is a thoroughly Jewish book, written by Jews, about Jews, to a Jewish audience. Yeshua told the Samaritan woman that salvation is from the Jews (John 4:22), and Rav Sha'ul wrote that “the Good News of Messiah,” is the power of HaShem for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Yehudi [Jews] first, and also for the Yevanit [Greeks, or Gentiles]” (Romans 1:16).
Further, while there were some non-Jewish believers in the first century, we believe that the clear historical record is that the Miqra was predominately, if not almost exclusively, Jewish for the first hundred years after the Resurrection of Yeshua HaMashiach. It was not until the Bar Kokhba rebellion in approximately 132 that Jewish Believers in Mashiach separated themselves from the synagogue, and then only because the chief Rabbi declared that Bar Kokhba, and not Yeshua, was the Mashiach. Until the time of Emperor Constantine there was never a question of “how does a Jew become a follower of Messiah?” The question was, rather, “how is it possible for a Gentile believer to become a follower of the Jewish Messiah without first becoming a Jew?”
We believe, therefore, that the true nature of the Miqra, HaShem’s “Called-Out Ones,” now known as the Body of Mashiach (erroneously and ignorantly called “the church”), is as it has ever been since the call of the nation out of the land of Egyptian bondage, to be the faithful remnant of Israel, and that for a non-Jew to be a part of that Body he/she must be adopted into the family of Israel. “ADONAI-Tzva’ot says, ‘When that time comes, ten men will take hold — speaking all the languages of the nations — will grab hold of the cloak [literally, take hold of the tzitziot (fringes) of the tallit (prayer shawl)] of a Jew and say, “We want to go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.”’” (Zechariah 8:23)
We believe that Gentile Believers in Mashiach are heirs to salvation and to the wonderful promises of HaShem only because HaShem has seen fit to adopt them into Abraham’s family, Israel, who alone are the rightful heirs of those covenants (Romans 11). Those who are Gentile Believers in Mashiach therefore own an un-payable debt of gratitude to those who are the sons of Avraham after the flesh, and we owe it to Israel and to our Lord Yeshua to do all within our power to lovingly lead those who do not know their Messiah into faith in, and obedience to, Him, thus to resume their rightful place as the “Light to the Nations.”
Additionally, when Mashiach returns to establish His earthly kingdom, all nations of the earth will be judged by the way they have treated corporate Israel (Matt. 25:31-46). Therefore, even more do we have an obligation to treat Israel righteously, for they are the brethren of our own dear Lord Yeshua, and it is the Gentiles who have been adopted into their family.
B. Our Activities
This congregation shall “continually devote [our]selves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread (table fellowship, communal meals) and to prayer” (Acts 2:42), both by assembling ourselves together regularly for corporate worship and study of the Sacred Text, and by meeting together in small family groups for devotion and fellowship from time to time and in such places as the Lord may direct.
Under the authority of Ephesians 4:11, Acts 14:23, Acts 20:17, Acts 21:1,18, and Titus 1:5, we shall also license and commission (ordain) spiritually qualified men who have been ordained by HaShem to serve as Elders of His Miqra. These are men who have been specifically called by Him into ministry as Apostles (Traveling Elders, or Missionaries), Prophets (Preaching Elders), Evangelists (“Gospelizing” Elders), and Pastor/Teachers (Shepherding Elders). We shall also commission and support spiritually qualified men and women who have been called by HaShem to any mission field, whether at home or in any foreign nation, to faithfully proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of Yeshua HaMashiach to the Lost. We shall also educate Believers in Mashiach in any manner consistent with the requirements of Holy Scripture, and maintain missionary activities in the United States and any foreign country. We shall also engage in any other ministry that we may decide to pursue in obedience to the will of HaShem.
C. Mission Statement
It shall therefore be the mission of this ministry to:
a. Faithfully proclaim, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile, that Yeshua of Natzeret is Melech HaMashiach (Israel’s King Messiah) and the Redeemer of Israel and of the world.
b. Encourage and facilitate Jewish Believers in Messiah to retain their traditional ethnic distinctives (their “Jewishness”), and to educate non-Jewish Believers in Messiah about their spiritual heritage in Judaism, encouraging (though not compelling) them to return to their Hebraic roots, so that both Jew and Gentile may know the spiritual reality of being one in the Messiah.
c. Provide a Biblical Jewish context for Messianic faith and life in which Jewish and non-Jewish Believers in Messiah may worship together, as the Shliachim taught the Messianic Believers of the first century, and as we believe worship will take place in the Messianic Kingdom.
d. Teach the Word of HaShem in such a way that all Believers, both Jewish and non-Jewish, might be enlightened, encouraged, and equipped to live and model a Biblically Torah-observant lifestyle.
e. Fully support, in whatever way Ruach HaKodesh may lead, the reunification Jew and Gentile into a unified Body of Messiah, to support and further the return of Israel in fullness to her Covenant Land and to her rightful place as HaShem’s “light to the world,” and the establishment of HaMashiach’s Kingdom on earth.
Section 3. Taxpayer Status
The following statement is required by law to be included in the governing document of any organization that seeks to be granted tax-exempt status on religious grounds.
“In accordance with the laws of the United States of America, this congregation is organized as a ‘church’ and/or synagogue exclusively for charitable, religious, and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Revenue Law), including, for such purposes, the establishment and maintaining of Jewish and/or Christian worship, the building and maintaining of places of worship and ancillary facilities including, but not limited to, parsonages, schools, chapels, radio and television stations, rescue missions, print shops, day care centers, camps, nursing homes, and cemeteries, and any other ministries that the congregation may be led by HaShem to establish, and for the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code and whose purposes are in harmony with the herein stated purposes of this congregation.
“No part of the net earnings of this congregation shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the congregation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in the purpose clauses hereof.
“No substantial part of the activities of the congregation shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the congregation shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.
“Notwithstanding any other provision of this document, the congregation shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
“Upon the dissolution of the congregation, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, providing such purposes are in harmony with the herein stated purposes of this congregation. Upon dissolution of the congregation by the ‘Translation/Rapture of the Bride of Mashiach,’ its assets shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of the congregation is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.
“In the event that any future change in the law, or in the judicial or legislative interpretation thereof, requires that this congregation forego, curtail, or refrain from any of its stated purposes, or from any other purpose which the Lord may direct, in order to maintain its tax-exempt status, this congregation shall voluntarily relinquish any claim to tax exemption and this Constitution shall be amended in such a manner that our responsibilities to Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach shall not in any way be compromised.”
Notes: (These notes are for explanation only, and are not considered part of our Constitution.)
1. מָשִׁ֣יחַ (Mashiach) is the Hebrew word for “anointed.” The English form of this word is “Messiah” and the Greek form of the same word is “Christus,” or “Christ.” Israel anointed three classes of people: prophets, priests, and kings. As Messiah serves His people as their Prophet, Priest, and King, He is HaMashiach, The Anointed One. [BACK]
2. מִקְרָא (Miqra) is the Hebrew word for “convocation” or “sacred assembly,” suggesting to be called out for that convocation or assembly, hence also “called out.” The Greek word for this assembly is ἐκκλησία (ekklesia), which is mistranslated in the English New Testament as “church.” Beyond the human traditions of the Gentile translators, there is absolutely no grammatical support of any kind for translating ekklesia as “church.” [BACK]
3. אֲדֹנָ֗י (Adonai) is Hebrew for “my Lord” or “my master” and is used both as a title for one’s master and as a title of respect (“sir”). יְשׁוּעָה (Yeshua) is His given, or proper, name, and is the Hebrew word for “salvation.” HaMashiach is Hebrew for “the Messiah” (note 1, above). Nobody who knew Him in the flesh ever called Him “Jesus” or “Jesus Christ.” By tradition, Jewish people use Adonai in place of the Sacred Name יְהוָה֙ (YHVH or ADONAI). [BACK]
4. מִצְוָה (mitzvah) is Hebrew for “command,” “commandment,” “precept,” or by inference “good work.” [BACK]
5. All Scripture references in this Constitution are quoted from the Complete Jewish Bible or New American Standard Version of the Bible. [BACK]
6. גּוֹי (goy) (plural, goyim) is Hebrew for “nations,” usually used for anyone who is not an Israelite, therefore “Gentiles.” [BACK]
7. תלמיד (talmid) (plural, talmidim) is Hebrew for “scholar” or “disciple”, one who learns, specifically one who learns “at the feet of” another and who strives to become like the teacher. [BACK]
8. רוּחַ (ruach) is Hebrew for “wind,” “breath,” “mind,” or “spirit,” and often refers to the Spirit of God. Ruach HaKodesh is Hebrew for “the Holy Spirit.” [BACK]
9. שליח (shliach, pl. shliachim) is Hebrew for “one sent forth” or “emissary,” and signifies a person who is sent forth as a representative with the full authority of the one doing the sending. The Greek equivalent is ἀπόστολος (apostolos) from which we get the word “Apostle.” In the State of Israel, their foreign ambassadors are called Shliachim. [BACK]
10. אבּ (ab) is Hebrew for Father. The diminuative or familiar form is אבּא (abba), which we might translate as Dad or Daddy. [BACK]
11. בּן (ben) is Hebrew for “son”; HaBen is “the Son.” [BACK]
12. רוּחַ (ruach) is Hebrew for “wind,” “breath,” “mind,” or “spirit,” and often refers to the Spirit of God. Ruach HaKodesh is Hebrew for “the Holy Spirit.” [BACK]
13. יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם (Yerushalayim) is Jerusalem, “foundation of peace.” [BACK]
14. יְהוּדָ֑ה (Yehudah, praised) is “Judah.” [BACK]
15. שֹׁמְרוֹן (Shomron) is “Samaria.” [BACK]
16. יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶרֶץ (Eretz Yisrael) “the Land of Israel.” [BACK]
17. The Diaspora, or dispersion, refers to all Israelites (descendants of Avraham, Yitz’chak, and Ya'akov) living outside of Eretz Yisrael. [BACK]
18. Paraphrased from Boardman, cited in Great Doctrines of the Bible, by William Evans. Chicago: Moody Press, 1912, 1949, p. 28. [BACK]
19. Within Messianic Judaism there is considerable debate as to the form of the instrument upon which Yeshua was executed. The Greek word is σταυρός (stauros), which may be either a simple upright stake or any of a number of different forms of a cross. We happen to believe that the instrument was in the form of the traditional Roman cross with a cross-beam, but we view this as a matter or opinion rather than of doctrine. We find no fault with those who prefer the term “execution stake” as less offensive to Jewish persons. [BACK]
20. Some have objected to our use of the term “commonwealth” assuming it refers to the current political government or nation of Israel. The Oxford Dictionary defines “commonwealth” as “independent state or community; a community of shared interests in a non-political field; archaic the general good.” This is the sense in which the use of the term is intended. See “Commonwealth of Israel.” [BACK]
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ANXIOUSLY WATCHING FOR MASHIACH’S RETURN,
SPEEDILY AND IN OUR DAY. MARANA, TA!
