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| Constitution of Kehilat Yisrael Adopted January 2005 Preamble - page 3 |
We believe that HaSatan is also an angel, a cherub of the highest rank, that he sinned through the
pride of self-will, and thereby became the author of sin and the cause of the fall of man. he is the
open and declared enemy of both G-d and man, and with his fallen angels (demons) is in a state of
present and open warfare against G-d and His saints. Some of the demons are presently being
held captive "in chains" in Sheol. They will all be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire, which was
created specifically for HaSatan and his demons.
Section 6 - Concerning Man
We believe that man was originally created in the image of g-d, by G-d's own hand and not by any
process of evolution or natural selection, and was given the authority and ability to exercise
dominion over the created world. Adam chose to disobey G-d, and because of this, all of his
descendants, and all of his entire dominion fell under G-d's curse. Sin, sickness, and death
entered the world; man became alienated from G-d and inherited a sin nature, is totally depraved,
possess no spark of divine life, and, of himself, is utterly helpless to remedy his lost condition apart
from the grace of G-d.
Section 7 - Concerning Sin
The word "sin" is a term that means "to miss the mark." Since the "target" is the perfect example
set by Yeshua, the very nature of G-d Himself - then we believe that anything that falls short for that
goal misses the mark and is, by the broadest sense of its definition, "sin."
We believe that there are two classifications of sin:
1. Original (imputed) sin, that sin nature which every human inherits from his/her father Adam, and
2. Personal sin, the individual choices each person makes to either willfully or ignorantly disobey
G-d.
We believe that all men/women are totally depraved, without personal merit, and completely unable
to save themselves.
We believe that the penalty for sin is separation from fellowship, which takes on or more of three
forms:
(1) Separation from g-d (spiritual death);
(2) Separation from the visible Body of Mashiach through discipline and "excommunication" (which
is to be practiced by the elders of the local congregation solely for the sake of maintaining the purity
of the Body of Mashiach and for producing the repentance and eventual restoration of the sinning
brother or sister), and
(3) Separation from this earth and from the physical body through physical death. We believe that
the physical illness and death of all earthly creatures is the direct result of Adam's sin, and that
some physical illness and death is the result of personal sin.
Section 8 - Concerning Salvation
We believe that salvation is a free gift of G-d brought to sinful man by the unconditional grace of
G-d and received solely by personal faith in the completed redemptive work of Adonai Yshua
HaMashiach. We believe salvation comes by faith in the Person and completed work of Yeshua.
We believe that it is the privilege of Believers in Mashiach to rejoice in the assurance of their
salvation and their freedom from "bondage" to Torah through the testimony of G-d's Word which,
however, clearly forbids the use of that liberty as an occasion to sin. Though free from "bondage"
to legalism, we believe that every person is yet accountable to the standard of righteousness that
G-d has defined in His Torah. We believe that no man has ever been, or will be saved or counted
as righteous through observance of or obedience to Torah, but only through faith in Him who is the
Giver of Torah.
We believe that at the moment of salvation, each person is literally trasformed into a "new creation"
which the Bible refers to as a "holy person" (2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15) that is, a person who has been
"set apart" (sanctified) by G-d to be His precious possession and to serve His specific purpose.
We believe that sanctification occurs in three stages in a believer's life: positional sanctification,
progressive sanctification, and ultimate sanctification. We believe that all Believers in Mashiach
should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and L-rd, and that
separation from all religious apostasy and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations is
commanded by G-d. We believe that the Torah is the Standard of righteousness by which each
Believer is to conduct his/her life.
Section 9 - Concerning the Migra
We believe that there is only one true and universal Migra, which is the Body and Bridge of Yeshua
HaMashiach, and that it is a spiritual organism, of which Yeshua is the Head, and that it is made up
of all the redeemed (born-gain) persons of all ages.
We believe that the establishment and continuity of local congregations (also called assemblies,
synagogues, or churches) is clearly taught and defined in the B'rit Chadasha, that the members of
this one spiritual Body are directed by Yeshua to associate themselves together in local
congregations, and that these congregations should willingly cooperate with each other for
presentation and propagation of the true Faith.
We believe the autonomy of the local congregation, composed solely of true Believers in Mashiach,
free from any external authority or control, with the right to be totally free from the interference of any
hierarchy of individuals or organizations outside of that local congregation.
We believe that each local congregation, through its Elders and their interpretation and application
of the Scriptures, is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation with other
congregations, as well as being the sole judge of all matters of membership, policy, discipline,
benevolence, and government (remembering that no Scripture is a matter of one's own
interpretation without the illumination of Ruach HaKodesh).
Section 10 - Concerning Authority in the Mirgra
We believe that the one and only supreme authority for the Migra is Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach,
and that the order, discipline, and worship are appointed through His sovereignty. We believe the
Bible to be the literal Word of G-d and the only true source of His revelation for His body, we hold
the Bible, and the Bible only, to be the ultimate and final source of authority for all matters of faith,
practice, and polity.
We believe that the Biblically - designated shepherds serving immediately under Yeshua and
directly over the congregation is called an Elder, overseer, or Pastor. The term elder refers to the
spiritual maturity and position within the family of G-d. Overseer refers to the responsibility and G-d
ordained authority to rule benevolently over the family of G-d, and Pastor refers to the responsibility
to lead, guide, feed, protect, and care for the well being of the children of G-d, to whom Yeshua
refers to as His "sheep." We believe that Elders are called, ordained, and specially equipped by
G-d for His ministry, and that they are spiritual gifts given by G-d to the Migra. We accept the
ancient tradition of referring to Elders of Jewish ancestry as "Rabbi" and attribute no greater
distinction to that title than to the title of Elder or Pastor.
Section 11 - Concerning Leadership in the Migra
We believe in the continuance of the functions fulfilled by Elders in Ephesians 4:11 namely:
* Appostles - Elders that are concerned with the planting overseeing and governmental desgn of
the local church, these elders whom G-d has called travel from place to place as G-d's "sent ones"
and serve as missionaries;
* Prophets - Elders whose role is to stand in the council of G-d and then be an oracle or
spokesman for Him, bringing the purposes of G-d into sharp focus;
* Evangelist - Elders who have been called to present the Gospel (the death, burial, resurrection,
ascension, and bodily return of Yeshua HaMashiach) to the unsaved; and
* Pastor/Teachers - Elders who shepherd and care for the believers of a local assembly by the
preaching and teaching of the Word of G-d, to establish a firm foundation in which the disciple is to
grow.
pride of self-will, and thereby became the author of sin and the cause of the fall of man. he is the
open and declared enemy of both G-d and man, and with his fallen angels (demons) is in a state of
present and open warfare against G-d and His saints. Some of the demons are presently being
held captive "in chains" in Sheol. They will all be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire, which was
created specifically for HaSatan and his demons.
Section 6 - Concerning Man
We believe that man was originally created in the image of g-d, by G-d's own hand and not by any
process of evolution or natural selection, and was given the authority and ability to exercise
dominion over the created world. Adam chose to disobey G-d, and because of this, all of his
descendants, and all of his entire dominion fell under G-d's curse. Sin, sickness, and death
entered the world; man became alienated from G-d and inherited a sin nature, is totally depraved,
possess no spark of divine life, and, of himself, is utterly helpless to remedy his lost condition apart
from the grace of G-d.
Section 7 - Concerning Sin
The word "sin" is a term that means "to miss the mark." Since the "target" is the perfect example
set by Yeshua, the very nature of G-d Himself - then we believe that anything that falls short for that
goal misses the mark and is, by the broadest sense of its definition, "sin."
We believe that there are two classifications of sin:
1. Original (imputed) sin, that sin nature which every human inherits from his/her father Adam, and
2. Personal sin, the individual choices each person makes to either willfully or ignorantly disobey
G-d.
We believe that all men/women are totally depraved, without personal merit, and completely unable
to save themselves.
We believe that the penalty for sin is separation from fellowship, which takes on or more of three
forms:
(1) Separation from g-d (spiritual death);
(2) Separation from the visible Body of Mashiach through discipline and "excommunication" (which
is to be practiced by the elders of the local congregation solely for the sake of maintaining the purity
of the Body of Mashiach and for producing the repentance and eventual restoration of the sinning
brother or sister), and
(3) Separation from this earth and from the physical body through physical death. We believe that
the physical illness and death of all earthly creatures is the direct result of Adam's sin, and that
some physical illness and death is the result of personal sin.
Section 8 - Concerning Salvation
We believe that salvation is a free gift of G-d brought to sinful man by the unconditional grace of
G-d and received solely by personal faith in the completed redemptive work of Adonai Yshua
HaMashiach. We believe salvation comes by faith in the Person and completed work of Yeshua.
We believe that it is the privilege of Believers in Mashiach to rejoice in the assurance of their
salvation and their freedom from "bondage" to Torah through the testimony of G-d's Word which,
however, clearly forbids the use of that liberty as an occasion to sin. Though free from "bondage"
to legalism, we believe that every person is yet accountable to the standard of righteousness that
G-d has defined in His Torah. We believe that no man has ever been, or will be saved or counted
as righteous through observance of or obedience to Torah, but only through faith in Him who is the
Giver of Torah.
We believe that at the moment of salvation, each person is literally trasformed into a "new creation"
which the Bible refers to as a "holy person" (2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15) that is, a person who has been
"set apart" (sanctified) by G-d to be His precious possession and to serve His specific purpose.
We believe that sanctification occurs in three stages in a believer's life: positional sanctification,
progressive sanctification, and ultimate sanctification. We believe that all Believers in Mashiach
should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and L-rd, and that
separation from all religious apostasy and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations is
commanded by G-d. We believe that the Torah is the Standard of righteousness by which each
Believer is to conduct his/her life.
Section 9 - Concerning the Migra
We believe that there is only one true and universal Migra, which is the Body and Bridge of Yeshua
HaMashiach, and that it is a spiritual organism, of which Yeshua is the Head, and that it is made up
of all the redeemed (born-gain) persons of all ages.
We believe that the establishment and continuity of local congregations (also called assemblies,
synagogues, or churches) is clearly taught and defined in the B'rit Chadasha, that the members of
this one spiritual Body are directed by Yeshua to associate themselves together in local
congregations, and that these congregations should willingly cooperate with each other for
presentation and propagation of the true Faith.
We believe the autonomy of the local congregation, composed solely of true Believers in Mashiach,
free from any external authority or control, with the right to be totally free from the interference of any
hierarchy of individuals or organizations outside of that local congregation.
We believe that each local congregation, through its Elders and their interpretation and application
of the Scriptures, is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation with other
congregations, as well as being the sole judge of all matters of membership, policy, discipline,
benevolence, and government (remembering that no Scripture is a matter of one's own
interpretation without the illumination of Ruach HaKodesh).
Section 10 - Concerning Authority in the Mirgra
We believe that the one and only supreme authority for the Migra is Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach,
and that the order, discipline, and worship are appointed through His sovereignty. We believe the
Bible to be the literal Word of G-d and the only true source of His revelation for His body, we hold
the Bible, and the Bible only, to be the ultimate and final source of authority for all matters of faith,
practice, and polity.
We believe that the Biblically - designated shepherds serving immediately under Yeshua and
directly over the congregation is called an Elder, overseer, or Pastor. The term elder refers to the
spiritual maturity and position within the family of G-d. Overseer refers to the responsibility and G-d
ordained authority to rule benevolently over the family of G-d, and Pastor refers to the responsibility
to lead, guide, feed, protect, and care for the well being of the children of G-d, to whom Yeshua
refers to as His "sheep." We believe that Elders are called, ordained, and specially equipped by
G-d for His ministry, and that they are spiritual gifts given by G-d to the Migra. We accept the
ancient tradition of referring to Elders of Jewish ancestry as "Rabbi" and attribute no greater
distinction to that title than to the title of Elder or Pastor.
Section 11 - Concerning Leadership in the Migra
We believe in the continuance of the functions fulfilled by Elders in Ephesians 4:11 namely:
* Appostles - Elders that are concerned with the planting overseeing and governmental desgn of
the local church, these elders whom G-d has called travel from place to place as G-d's "sent ones"
and serve as missionaries;
* Prophets - Elders whose role is to stand in the council of G-d and then be an oracle or
spokesman for Him, bringing the purposes of G-d into sharp focus;
* Evangelist - Elders who have been called to present the Gospel (the death, burial, resurrection,
ascension, and bodily return of Yeshua HaMashiach) to the unsaved; and
* Pastor/Teachers - Elders who shepherd and care for the believers of a local assembly by the
preaching and teaching of the Word of G-d, to establish a firm foundation in which the disciple is to
grow.
Ministry of Gates of Praise Ministries, Inc.
Copyright Gates of Praise Ministries 2007
Copyright Gates of Praise Ministries 2007
