Foundational Course 2025: Day 3

Statement of Faith (part 2) & About Beit Ariel (part 3)

The Jewish People (Statement of Faith)

God chose Israel, the Jewish people, and entered into an everlasting covenant with them so they might be the firstfruits of a renewed humanity, who would mediate blessing and restoration to all the nations of the world. In gracious love, God gave to Israel the holy Torah as a covenantal way of life, and the holy Land of Israel as an inheritance and pledge of the blessing of the World to Come. (Gen. 12:1-3; Jer. 31:34-36, 35-37; Rom. 11:28-29)

About Beit Ariel

BA has two leadership bodies:

The Congregational Council (CC, formerly the Organizational Committee or Organizational Management Committee)

Spiritual Leadership (SL)

Congregational Council

Comprises at least five BA members

Including at least one from the Spiritual Leadership

The Spiritual (Congregational) Leader does not have to serve on the CC

Includes a Chairperson, a Secretary, and a Treasurer

The Spiritual Leader may not be appointed as Chairperson

Persons with integrity, moral purity, self-control, be respectable, hospitable and of sound doctrine as described in 1 Timothy 3:2-7 and Titus 1:6-9

Elected by members at the AGM

Bears fiduciary responsibility for the Congregation

Manages organizational affairs, including legal and financial matters

Aims to enable the Spiritual Leadership with the support necessary for its purpose

The CC serves the SL; the SL serves the Congregation; the Congregation serves Cape Town’s society

Strives to reach consensus on decisions

Messiah's Community (Statement of Faith)

Messiah's Community (¶1)

God poured out the Divine Spirit on the community of Yeshua’s followers, so that they might be joined intimately to the Messiah as His Body and become the preliminary representation of the New Covenant fullness promised to Israel. To this early Jewish community God added partners from among the nations, who heard the news of God’s work in Yeshua and responded to the good news with faith. (Isa. 66:20-21; Acts 2:1-21; 10:44-48; 15:8-9; Eph.1:13; 2:11-22)

Messiah's Community (¶2)

Messiah’s community is a single community expressed in diverse forms within the Jewish community and among the nations. All are called to a dedicated life of worship, neighborly service, and public testimony to Yeshua. Unity and love throughout the entire community confirm Yeshua’s role, as the One sent by the Father, and God’s purpose in Messiah for Israel and the Nations. (John 17:20-21; Acts 21:20; Gal. 2:7-8)

Messiah's Community (¶3)

Spiritual life is grounded in godly family units within the relational framework of congregations, whereby persons are to be encouraged, trained, and disciplined. Families in Messianic Jewish congregations should be strengthened and established in their Jewish calling to covenant life. Messianic Jewish congregations are called to connect in Messianic Jewish associations, where they will find mutual enrichment and accountability. (Matt. 18:15-18; Gal. 6:1-2; Rom. 9:1-5; I Cor. 7:17-20)

Spiritual Leadership (About Beit Ariel)

Spiritual Leadership

Comprises the Spiritual Leader (formerly: Congregational Leader), Elders, and Deacons

Must work closely with the Congregational Council

It is the task of the spiritual leaders to keep God's vision for the congregation alive. The primary task of this leadership is to prepare Beit Ariel’s members for works of service, so that the Body of the Messiah may be built up (Eph 4:12). We believe in ministry by the body to the body of believers. Ministry is not the responsibility of the leadership alone.

Spiritual Leader

Activities: The Spiritual Leader

Is responsible for the teaching of the Bible

Must lead or oversee Messianic Jewish liturgical services on Sabbaths and festival days

Must provide the spiritual leadership and direction

Must provide pastoral care

Must build up and equip the congregation for ministry

Must train and develop members capable of continuing his role

Administration: The Spiritual Leader

Is appointed by the Congregational Council

Reports to the Congregational Council

Elders and Deacons

Elders and Deacons

Are appointed as needed by the Spiritual Leadership

Must conform to 1 Timothy 3:1-7 (Elders), 1 Timothy 3:8-13 (Deacons), and Titus 1:5-9, which require their being persons of integrity, moral purity, self-control, be respectable, hospitable and of sound doctrine.

Messianic Jewish Life (Statement of Faith)

Messianic Jewish Life (¶1)

The Torah is God’s gift to Israel. It serves as the constitution of the Jewish people and thus also of the Messianic Jewish community, which comprises Israel’s eschatological [end times] firstfruits. The Torah does not have the same role for Messianic communities from the nations, though it does provide spiritual nourishment as a witness to the Messiah. The Torah also provides universal norms of behavior and practical life teaching for all. The Torah is to be applied anew in every generation, and in this age as is fitting to the New Covenant order. (Matt. 5:17-20; II Tim. 3:16-17; I Cor. 7:17-20)

eschatos: “last things”

Messianic Jewish Life (¶2)

Forgiveness of sins, spiritual renewal, union with Messiah, the empowering and sanctifying presence of the indwelling Ruach Ha Kodesh, and the confident hope of eternal life and a glorious resurrection are now available to all, Jews and Gentiles, who put their faith in Yeshua, the Risen Lord, and in obedience to His word are joined to Him and His Body through immersion and sustained in that union through Messiah’s remembrance meal. Yeshua is the Mediator between God and all creation, and no one can come to the Father except through Him. (Matt. 28:19-20; Lk. 24:46-48; Jn. 14:6; Rom. 6:22, 23; I Cor. 11:23-27)

Members (About Beit Ariel)

As we consider the roles that different people serve in, it should be obvious that all the leaders need to be members. And those leaders need to know who our other members are. It’s not about control, and there’s no extortion. Leaders are as accountable to other members as those members are to leaders; it’s a two-way street.

Requirements

Requirements for Membership

The members of Beit Ariel shall consist of Jews and non-Jews irrespective of race, culture and language, so long as the following criteria are met:

Members must agree with the Statement of Faith of the congregation;

Members must accept our vision to be a characteristically Messianic Jewish congregation with all that this entails;

Members must accept the values and the calling of Beit Ariel as expressed in our Constitution;

Members must commit themselves to the congregation by attending the services, the giving of tithes and offerings, submitting to the authority of the Leadership, and attending General Meetings.

Requirements for Membership cont.

Applicants for membership must attend an orientation course in order to familiarize themselves with the values and the vision of Beit Ariel.

Application for membership in no way guarantees acceptance. Applicants will be introduced to the members, and the applicants’ names disseminated for members’ comments. If no objections are forthcoming within a 2-week period, they may be accepted as members. If objections are raised, the Congregational Council will consider them and decide whether or not to accept the applicant as a member.

Members must be at least eighteen years old to vote.

Occasionally, it is necessary—and biblically mandated—to apply discipline, e.g. if a person is spreading heresy or being divisive. We can do so most effectively to members.

The Congregational Council has the responsibility to exercise discipline over the members of the congregation. All disciplinary actions will be conducted according to the procedures as set out in the Code of Discipline.

Yeshua the Messiah of Israel (Statement of Faith)

Yeshua the Messiah of Israel (¶1)

In the fullness of time, the Divine Son became a human being—Yeshua the Messiah, born of a Jewish virgin, a true and perfect Israelite, a fitting representative and one-man embodiment of the entire nation. He lived as a holy tzaddik, fulfilling without blemish the mitzvot of the Torah. He brings to perfection the human expression of the divine image (Isa. 7:14; John 1:14; Gal. 4:4; Heb. 1:1-4; 4:15)

Yeshua the Messiah of Israel (¶2)

Yeshua died as an atonement for the sins of Israel and of the entire world. He was raised bodily from the dead, as the firstfruits of the resurrection promised to Israel as its glorification. He ascended to heaven and was there enthroned at God’s right hand as Israel’s Messiah, with authority extending to the ends of creation. (Isa. 53:4-6; Ps. 110:1; Matt. 28:18; Mk. 14:61-62; I Cor. 15:3-8; Phil. 2:9-11)

Yeshua the Messiah of Israel (¶3)

Messiah Yeshua will return to Jerusalem in glory at the end of this age, to rule forever on David’s throne. He will effect the restoration of Israel in fullness, raise the dead, save all who belong to Him, judge the wicked not written in the Book of Life who are separated from His presence, and accomplish the final Tikkun Olam [Restoration of the World] in which Israel and the nations will be united under Messiah’s rule forever. This restoration will bring everlasting joy for those who belong to Him. They will live forever in an order of mutual blessing and fellowship with God, in a cosmos perfected beyond description. (Isa. 9:5-6 [Jewish]/6-7 [Christian]; Rom. 8:18-19; Rev. 20:11-15; 21:1-4)

Holy Texts (Statement of Faith)

Holy Texts (¶1)

The writings of Tanakh and Brit Hadasha are divinely inspired and fully trustworthy (true), a gift given by God to His people, provided to impart life and to form, nurture, and guide them in the ways of truth. They are of supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and practice. (II Tim. 3:16, 17; II Pet. 1:19-21)

Holy Texts (¶2)

The Jewish tradition serves as the living link that connects us as contemporary Jews to our biblical past and provides resources needed to develop a Messianic Jewish way of life and thought. Furthermore, the Christian theological tradition offers riches of insight into the revelation of the Messiah and His will, and Messianic Jews need to draw upon this wealth. (2 Thess. 2:15, Rom. 13:7; Jude 3)

Questions on Holy Texts

What are the original languages used to write the Bible, and where (what parts of scripture) are they used?

How should we refer to scripture? What keywords for holy texts are commonly used in Messianic Judaism?

Reflect & Discuss:

How important or valuable is it for us to follow a MJ scripture reading cycle like those on the UMJC? What is the downside (disadvantage) of such cycles? Which of those on the UMJC site do you prefer? https://www.umjc.org/scripture-reading-calendars

What Bible translations are best for us? What factors should be taken into consideration?

How the personal name of God is presented

Accessibility (2nd language and child readers)

Affordability

Translation characteristics [a huge topic!]

MJ tradition (it’s valuable to read the CJB’s front matter)

Accompanying commentary in the MJ tradition