l
We affirm that in order to interpret the inspired Scriptures
correctly, we must use the Old Testament as a basis for our faith.
We must therefore interpret the New Testament through the teachings
of the Old, recognizing complete harmony in the Word, thereby
achieving sound doctrine, John 10:35. In the New Testament we find
that repeated reference is made to the law, the Psalms, and the
prophets: in other words, the Word of Almighty Yahweh, Matt. 4:4;
John 5:39; Luke 24:44-46; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Isaiah 8:16, 20; Acts
17:11. The Old Testament Scriptures saw partial fulfillment in the
accounts that are recorded in the New, while they will find complete
fulfillment in the years that will follow the Second Coming of our
Savior.
2
We affirm that there is one Almighty Heavenly Father
who is above all, and to whom we owe our reverence and worship,
Deut. 6:4, 13; Matt. 4:10; 1 Cor. 8:4-6.
3
We affirm that the Messiah has come in human form as
the man recognized as the Savior in the New Testament Scriptures,
that He pre-existed with the Father, John 16:28-30; Psalm 2; Micah
5:2; John 17:5; Phil. 2:5-8; that He was born of a virgin, Matt.
1:18, 23; Luke 1:26-38; that He lived a sinless life, 1 Peter 2:22;
that through His death upon the tree of Calvary we may have
atonement for our sins, Isaiah 53; Hebrews 9; and that He rose again
the third day, Matt. 12:40; 1 Cor. 15:1-8; to give us a hope of a
resurrection also, Romans 5:6-12; 1 John 5:9-13.
4
We affirm that it is
necessary and most important to our salvation that we accept the
revealed, personal Name of our Heavenly Father YAHWEH and the Name
of His Son, our Savior YAHSHUA the MESSIAH. We affirm also that the
most accurate transliteration of these Names from the Hebrew into
the English is by the spellings employed above, Exodus 3:14-15;
Psalm 68:4; Psalm 83:18; Isaiah 42:8; Isaiah 52:6; Acts 4:12.
5
We affirm that the Holy Spirit is the mighty power from the
Heavenly Father and the Messiah dwelling within us so that we may
have the ability and strength to bring our lives into a state of
perfection pleasing to our Heavenly Father, John 14:15-27. We find
the trinitarian doctrine to be foreign to the inspired Scriptures.
The Holy Spirit is imparted to the obedient believers by the laying
on of hands of the elders of the Assemblies of Yahweh after baptism,
Acts 19:1-6; Acts 8:14-24; 1 Timothy 4:14; Acts 2:38; Acts 5:32.
6
We affirm that as obedient children it is necessary
to keep all the commandments, statutes, and judgments (except the
ritual and animal sacrifice laws) which the Heavenly Father gave to
Israel to make them a separate people, Lev. 20:7-8; Deut. 6:6-9, 25;
Deut. 7:6-11; Matt. 5:17-20; Romans 7:12. It is now possible through
the Holy Spirit to keep these commandments by faith for our
salvation, Eph. 2:8-10; James 2:17-20. We now keep a spiritual
sacrifice rather than animal sacrifices, meal, and drink offerings,
Hebrews 13:15-16; 1 Peter 2:5; Romans 12:1; Phil. 4:18.
7
We affirm that sin is the transgression of the law of Yahweh, Lev.
4:2, 13, 27; 1 John 3:4.
8
We affirm that in order to be free from sin, a person must
accept the shed blood of Yahshua the Messiah as his atonement and
live in submission to the will of our Heavenly Father by keeping His
laws, Micah 6:6-8; 1 John 1:7; 1 John 2:2; Hebrews 10:26-31; Eph.
1:6-7. Yahweh has extended grace (unmerited kindness or mercy) to
all who keep His law, Rom. 3:24. Grace is not license to do as you
please, Jude 4.
9
We affirm that water baptism is a necessary act
following repentance, Acts 2:38; Matt. 3:13-17; that this baptism is
immersion in water, backward, one time, into the Name of Yahshua the
Messiah; Rom. 6:3-6; John 5:43; John 14:26; that this baptism
symbolically indicates an inner cleansing, Romans 6:7-23; 1 Cor.
10:1-10. We also affirm that baptism, except in rare instances, is a
necessary step in receiving the Holy Spirit, 1 Pet. 3:21.
10
We affirm that obedience to the commandments of
Almighty Yahweh includes observing and keeping holy His commanded
observances of Leviticus 23 and Numbers 28-29.
11
We affirm that the weekly
seventh-day Sabbath (commonly called Saturday) is upheld in both Old
and New Testament Scriptures, Exodus 20:8-11; Mark 2:27- 28; Luke
4:16; Hebrews 4:4, 9. The Sabbath is a sign between Yahweh and His
people, Ex. 31:12-17.
12
We affirm that the scriptural months are determined by the visible
new moons, Deut. 16:1. The first day of each month is delineated by
the appearance of the crescent. We find that the Scriptures indicate
further that the law will go forth from Zion in the Millennium,
Isaiah 2:3; the holy days will then be set from Jerusalem, Isaiah
66:23. The scriptural day begins and ends with sunset, Lev. 23:32;
Mark 1:32.
13
We affirm that the Passover Memorial Supper in this New Testament
era is the annual observance of our Savior's death. The Passover
Memorial is to be observed on the evening of the 14th day of the
scriptural month of Abib, soon after sundown, at the commencement of
the day, Exodus 12:3-14; Numbers 28:16; 1 Cor. 5:7-8; 1 Cor. 11:23.
14
The Passover observance utilizes the emblems that are to be partaken
in this New Testament era. The unleavened bread (matzoth) is the
symbol of the broken body of our Savior, 1 Cor. 10:16; Exodus 23:18.
The symbol of our Savior's shed blood is understood to be the fruit
of the vine (Heb. tirosh, 'asis-grape juice), Matt. 26:27-29; Isaiah
65:8-9; Deut. 32:14. We find the Passover day to necessitate the use
of unleavened bread, but it is not a Sabbath of rest, Deut. 16:3-4.
It is the preparation for the feast, the day before the annual
Sabbath, Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54; John 19:31, 42; Exodus 12:18;
Exodus 34:25. Foot washing precedes the taking of the emblems, John
13.
15
We affirm that the Feast of Unleavened Bread is observed from the
15th to the 21st (inclusive) of the month of Abib; during this
period we eat unleavened bread with our meals, Lev. 23:6, while
symbolically cleansing ourselves of everything that corrupts,
meaning false doctrine (teaching) which leads to sin, 1 Cor. 5:6-8;
Matt. 16:12; Mark 8:14-15; Luke 12:1. The first and last days of
this observance are to be kept as holy Sabbaths and convocations for
theworship and praise of our Heavenly Father, Exodus 12:15-20;
Numbers 28:17-25; Acts 20:6-7.
16
We affirm that the Feast of Shavuoth (Pentecost) is to be observed
seven weeks after Passover, beginning our count with the day
following the weekly Sabbath falling on Passover or during the week
of Unleavened Bread, Joshua 5:10-12, NEB. Shavuoth (Feast of Weeks)
is always observed on the first day of the week, Lev. 23:9-21; Acts
2. We find that it was the day of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
upon the New Testament assembly and was also the time when Israel
ratified the covenant law with Yahweh given to Israel at Mt. Sinai.
17
We affirm that we shall observe the Feast of Trumpets
in anticipation of our Savior's return from heaven for His bride,
the assembly, Lev. 23:24-25; Numbers 10:1-10; Numbers 29:1; 1 Thess.
4:16.
18
We affirm that the fast of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is
to be observed as a memorial of our Savior's atonement for us on the
tree of Calvary. This day is to be observed as a strict Sabbath and
fast day, Lev. 23:27-32; Acts 27:9.
19
We affirm that the Feast of Tabernacles is to be
observed in this New Testament era as a preview of the Kingdom of
Yahweh and the Millennium, Lev. 23:34-39; John 7:1-39; Zech.
14:16-21. The Feast of Tabernacles is a feast of seven days, the
first day being a holy convocation, while the eighth day, called the
Last Great Day, is to be observed as a holy convocation also, John
7:37.
20
We affirm that our Savior Yahshua the Messiah will establish the
Kingdom of Yahweh, the Kingdom of the Heavens, on this earth, Ps.
115:16; Prov. 11:31; Matt. 5:5; Rev. 5:10. This Millennial Kingdom
will prevail for 1,000 years and will be set up by Yahshua the
Messiah at His Second Coming. At that time righteousness will be
established as the order of the day, and this earth will be rebuilt
into an Edenic paradise which man lost originally through sin,
Isaiah 11:1-10; Matt. 6:10. After the Millennium, a new heaven and
earth will be brought forth, Isaiah 66:22; Rev. 21:1.
21
We affirm that the Scriptures teach eternal punishment for the
wicked, that this punishment is complete destruction in the lake of
fire (Gehenna), and we disavow an eternal torment in an ever-burning
hell, 2 Thess. 1:7-10; Mall 4:1-3; Psalm 37:20-22; Isaiah 33:12;
Matt. 25:46; Jude 7. We affirm that the Bible teaches the existence
of a literal devil (Satan), Genesis 3:1-15, Isaiah 14:12-20, Zech.
3:1-2, Matt. 4:1-11, 1 Peter 5:8, Rev. 12:9. Satan will be destroyed
at the end of the Millennium, Ezek. 28:18-19, Romans 16:20, Rev.
20:7-10.
22
We affirm that adherence to the law of clean meats in
Lev. 11 and Deut. 14 remains in effect and binding in our era, and
that it is important to our physical health, 2 Cor. 6:16-18.
23
We affirm that the Scriptures teach anointing with
oil in the Name of Yahweh and in the Name of Yahshua the Messiah for
healing of illness. This anointing service should be done by at
least two elders if possible, James 5:13-20; Ex. 15:26.
24
We affirm that in order to
preach this true doctrine of salvation around the world, every
member of the body of the Messiah is obligated by scriptural law to
tithe (10 percent of his increase) to the Assemblies of Yahweh,
Prov. 3:9. These tithes are to be paid to the headquarters treasury
so that no duplication of the ministry shall occur, Mall 3:8-12;
Lev. 27:30-33; Matt. 23:23. The Assemblies of Yahweh teaches also
the second (feast day) tithe, Deut. 14:22-26, and the third (third
year poor fund) tithe, Deut. 14:27-29, Deut. 26:12-17.
| Government in the Assemblies of
Yahweh |
We affirm that the doctrine of the
Scriptures relative to assembly government in the Assemblies of
Yahweh is one of law, order, and rule from the top down. The Messiah
is the Head of the Assemblies of Yahweh. Almighty Yahweh is not the
author of confusion; consequently, everything must be done decently
and in order, 1 Corinthians 14:33, 40.
The government in the Assemblies
of Yahweh shall be constructed as closely as possible to that which
was designed by Almighty Yahweh for Old Testament Israel and
continued by the New Testament Apostles. We find the references to
this government in Exodus 18, Numbers 11, and Ephesians 4:11. The
Holy Scripture reveals that the specific prophetic and apostolic
offices have been filled, although these functions remain in the
offices of evangelist, pastor, and teacher, along with bishop and
deacon, 1 Timothy 3; Titus 1:5-9; Numbers 11:25. Also, the
Scriptures recognize the title minister relative to the office of
Yahweh's chosen elders, Romans 15:16; Hebrews 10:11; Romans 12:7.
Since it is Almighty Yahweh and
Yahshua the Messiah through the Holy Spirit giving leadership
positions in the Assemblies of Yahweh (to forestall internal
politics), the term of each office shall be for life, 1 Corinthians
12:11, 18, 28. Should any elder not remain faithful, or not continue
to qualify according to scriptural requirements and the established
standards, he can be removed for cause.
Ministers of the Assemblies of
Yahweh shall meet all scriptural qualifications, 1 Timothy 3:1-7;
Titus 1:5-9. It will be the policy of the Assemblies of Yahweh to
select able men who are indeed elders in the body of the Messiah,
full of the Holy Spirit of Yahweh, to serve in any official
capacity. In accordance with the established standards, these men
will then be required to attend Obadiah School of the Bible at
headquarters. The Scriptures exclude women from preaching, 1 Timothy
2:11-14; 1 Corinthians 14:34.
Doctrinal matters for all
assemblies shall remain within the confines of the bishop and the
ordained ministers. Should a member have any difficulties with
doctrine, he is required to write a summary of his belief and
present it to the Standing Committee for Doctrinal Review. Doctrinal
decisions must be made by the preaching eldership according to Acts
15, and not in the general congregation. All members of the
Assemblies of Yahweh shall conform to 1 Corinthians 1:10 and
Ephesians 4:1-7, by being in doctrinal unity. The Assemblies of
Yahweh must be maintained as a unified body, following the example
of 2 Thessalonians 3:6-16.
The preaching of sound doctrine
must be maintained; therefore, only ministers who are ordained,
credentialed, or men in training by the Assemblies of Yahweh will be
permitted to preach or to occupy the pulpit for this purpose. The
senior ranking minister worshiping in any congregation of the
Assemblies of Yahweh shall preach the main message at that
particular time. Regular Sabbath services shall have an optional
sermonette and a main sermon, since the Scriptures do not recognize
a Sabbath school.
The government of the local
assemblies shall conform to the pattern of the Scriptures. Every
member shall first be considered as forming a part of the united
Body of believers around the world although worshiping locally in
various areas. If an assembly has grown to adequate numbers, it
should have a pastor, teaching elder, and deacon as its local
governing body. Under the authority of headquarters, the pastor
shall be in charge of the activities of the local congregation. To
assist him in delivering sermonettes and in visiting shall be a
teaching elder. The deacon of the congregation shall be in charge of
the temporal needs of the poor of the congregation. The deacons of
each local assembly shall be under the authority of the central
government as well. The suggestions of the members of the local
congregations will be considered before ordination of deacons (Acts
6). The activities of each individual assembly (including overseeing
the elders), will be scrutinized by the bishop and the ministerial
advisory body as the need arises. The decision of the ordained
ministers shall be final when they arbitrate matters of dispute
between members.
Since the Assemblies of Yahweh
shall be drawn together into a unified effort on a worldwide scale,
the members of the Assemblies of Yahweh shall send their tithes and
offerings directly to headquarters. From the general fund,
disbursement will be made to maintain the local assemblies. Thus,
the tax-exempt status may benefit all assemblies everywhere. This
will also forestall intimidation or duress by withholding funds on
the local level. All Assemblies of Yahweh property entrusted to the
use of various congregations or individuals shall remain the
property of the central organization.
Spiritual Life in the
Assemblies of Yahweh
In the inspired
Scriptures we find a definite picture of the spiritual life which is
to be lived by each member of the Assemblies of Yahweh. We affirm
that the Scriptures teach a life of total obedience to Almighty
Yahweh and to His perfect laws. We affirm that the members of the
Assemblies of Yahweh should be bright and shining examples to the
outside world of the True Worship which we find in the Scriptures.
It should be our aim to live as closely as possible to our Heavenly
Father Yahweh each day. It should be our goal to live a simple life,
abstaining from activities with which this worldly society around us
amuses itself. As ambassadors of a heavenly Kingdom to come, it
should be our desire to exclude ourselves from all involvement in
the political activities of the nations in which we reside. This
abstention includes voting in elections, Deut. 17: 14-15; 1 John
2:15; 2 Cor. 5:20; Matt. 5:14-16; 2 Tim. 2:4; Lev. 26; Deut. 28.
We affirm that the Scriptures
command modesty in dress for both brethren and sisters, 1 Tim.
2:8-10. We find that the Scriptures teach a doctrine of headship in
regard to our positions of authority in the assembly and in the
home, 1 Cor. 11:1-16; 1 Tim. 2:2-15; 1 Peter 3:1-7. Relative to this
teaching of headship, we find that a woman is obligated to have her
head covered for worship and while witnessing. Men's heads shall be
uncovered.
The Scriptures teach a doctrine of
purity of the body, meaning that we will not take into our bodies
any addicting, harmful, or illegal drugs which may cause the body to
lose its sanctified nature, possibly causing the Holy Spirit to
depart from us, 2 Cor. 6:14-18. It should be our objective to live
as healthfully as we can, in order that we may present a witness of
strength to the world and consequently be a more effective witness
for Yahweh.
We affirm that the Scriptures
teach a doctrine of nonviolence toward our fellow men. We are
commanded to live at peace with all men and to follow the "golden
rule" set forth in Matt. 7:12; Lev. 19:17-18; Matt. 22:39. The
example that our Savior Yahshua the Messiah set for us, in which He
left His vengeance in the hands of Almighty Yahweh, the Heavenly
Father, should be followed by all the brethren of the Assemblies of
Yahweh. Our attitude toward all men should be that love will win our
enemies, 1 Peter 2:21-23; 1 Cor. 6:1-11; Matt. 5:33-48.
In accordance with this attitude
which exhibits peace toward all men, we insist that all members of
the Assemblies of Yahweh refrain from military duty of any kind. In
lieu of military service, we recommend that they accept a position
in conservation work or in an institution whose objective is
humanitarian, in accordance with the government laws regulating
alternate service. The ministers of the Assemblies of Yahweh are
charged with responsibility in teaching and assisting the
brotherhood to further this scriptural principle, Exodus 20:13;
Deut. 5:17; Matt. 5:38-48; Luke 6:27-35; Matt. 26:52; John 18:36;
Romans 12:9-21.
It should be the goal of each
member of the Assemblies of Yahweh to establish a home in which a
spirit of love prevails. Each husband and wife in the Messiah should
strive to build a life that will last into eternity. The enlightened
members of the Assemblies of Yahweh will never find solutions to
their marital problems in the divorce courts. The parents will
dutifully teach their children the correct way that leads to eternal
life, Eph. 5:20-33; Eph. 6:1-9; 1 Cor. 7:1-17. Our everyday lives
are the best witness we can present, both to those in the Assemblies
of Yahweh and to those outside in the world, that no reproach shall
be brought upon the Name of the Messiah.
In the Assemblies of Yahweh the
spirit of love should be evident among the brethren. This spirit of
love should be an outgoing concern which manifests itself
spontaneously for each member of the body of the Messiah. Any
differences between brethren shall be settled according to Matthew
18. The accused has the right to face his accuser. No brother shall
take recourse in the worldly courts of law in a disagreement against
his brother in the Messiah, 1 Cor. 6.
The Assemblies of Yahweh teaches
that salvation is freely extended to every member of the human race.
We affirm that the Scriptures teach that every person is welcome in
the family of Yahweh regardless of race. The Assemblies of Yahweh is
to be the house of prayer for all people, Isaiah 56:7. In the
apostolic assembly, Gentiles (ethnic people) were accepted, Acts
8:27-39; Acts 10-11; Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:11. The love of Yahweh
through the sacrifice of Yahshua the Messiah is bestowed upon
whomsoever will come, Rev. 3:20. He has made of one (Adam) every
nation of men who dwell on the whole face of the earth, Acts 17:26.
Every member of the Assemblies of Yahweh shall bear the fruits that
give evidence of this conviction.
Each member of the Assemblies of
Yahweh should find opportunities to witness the truth of the
inspired Scriptures which they hold dear and to seek out others and
bring them to the fold. Every member of the Assemblies of Yahweh
should: work hard to further this organization and to prepare it as
the body of the Messiah that will meet the Savior in the air when He
returns. Each member of the body of the Messiah should endeavor to
fulfill the Scriptures in every way so that he will be a fine
example of the True Worshiper to those in the outside world, so that
others will wish to join the body of the Messiah, 1 Peter 3:15.
Qualifications for Membership in
the Assemblies of Yahweh
The qualifications for membership
in the Assemblies of Yahweh shall be as follows:
Each member in good standing shall
have been baptized into the Name of Yahshua the Messiah. Each member
shall be living a life of total submission to our Heavenly Father
Yahweh and to His royal law, a life which indicates repentance and
conversion. Each member shall be in agreement with this statement of
doctrine and recognize it as a summary of the sound doctrines
proclaimed by the inspired Scriptures.
