Sunday, September 6, 2015

Add Israel to your Church's Belief Statement, part 3

A Belief Statement typically has headings such as:

Typical Protestant:
  • What We Believe About God
  • What We Believe About Holy Scriptures
  • What We Believe About Man
  • What We Believe About Salvation
  • What We Believe About the Church

The headings from a Messianic Statement Of Faith: (with Israel expanded)
(from International Messianic Jewish Movement):
  • THE SCRIPTURES (IN GENERAL)
  • THE UNITY OF HASHEM
  • YESHUA, THE MESSIAH
  • MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION 
  • ETERNAL LIFE AND THE NEW BIRTH
  • BAPTISM IN THE RUACH HAKODESH (HOLY SPIRIT)
  • SANCTIFICATION
  • THE TORAH
  • THE DECALOGUE
  • ISRA’EL  We believe in HaShem's irrevocable choice of the Jewish People as His Family; the Land of Israel as His special place; the City of Yerushalyim as His royal capital; the family of David as His royal dynasty (Gen. 12:1-3; 13:14-17; 17:9-14; 22:15-18; Ex. 19:5; Deut. 4:5-8; 6:4; 12:5, 11, 21; 14:23, 24; 2 Sam. 7:13, 25-29; 1 Kings 2:45; Ps. 76:1, 2; 102:18-22; Is. 2:1-3; Jer. 31:35-37; Ez. 34:20-24; 37:21-28; Rom. 9:1-13; 11:1-6, 11-29).
  • THE CONGREGATION OF HASHEM
  • THE RESURRECTION
  • THE SPIRIT WORLD

Interestingly, the only time Israel is mentioned in the Lutheran statement is when they say what will not happen:

With the Augsburg Confession (Art. XVII) we reject every type of millennialism, such as:
  • the opinions that Christ will return visibly to this earth a thousand years before the end of the world and establish a dominion of the Church over the world; or 
  • that before the end of the world the Church is to enjoy a season of special prosperity; or 
  • that before a general resurrection on Judgment Day a number of departed Christians or martyrs are to be raised again to reign in glory in this world; or 
  • that before the end of the world a universal conversion of the Jewish nation (of Israel according to the flesh) will take place.


Roman Catholic Church Beliefs and Practices
  • Authority Within the Church
  • Baptism
  • The Bible (and the Books of the Bible)
  • Clergy Selection
  • Forgiveness of Sin
  • Hell
  • Immaculate Conception of Mary
  • Infallibility of the Pope
  • The Lord's Supper (Eucharist - transubstantiation)
  • Mary's Status 
  • Prayer
  • Purgatory
  • Right to Life
  • Sacraments
  • Saints
  • Salvation
  • Salvation (Losing Salvation via Mortal Sin)
  • Statues
  • Visibility of the Church 



Next Post: What I am recommending to add to the Belief statements.

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