What We Believe

Messianic Beliefs About Yeshua, the Bible & SalvationWhat We Believe

Our Messianic beliefs are rooted in Scripture, revealing Yeshua (Jesus) as the Messiah and God’s redemptive plan for Israel and the nations.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

The following statement summarizes the core Biblical convictions of I Was Just Thinking Ministries (IWJTM). While not exhaustive, it represents the theological foundation guiding all board members, staff, volunteers, teaching, and ministry activity.

THE BIBLE

We believe the Tanach (Old Covenant) and the B’rit Hadasha (New Covenant) together comprise the complete Word of God.

We affirm that Scripture is:

  • Divinely inspired
  • Infallible and authoritative in its original
  • The final authority in all matters of faith and practice

God has preserved His Word as His eternal standard for all humanity (Deut. 6:4–9; Ps. 119:105; 2 Tim. 3:16–17; Matt. 4:4).

GOD (THE ONE TRUE GOD – אֶחָד / ECHAD)

We believe in the God of Israel as revealed in the Shema:

“Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is One” (Deuteronomy 6:4)

God is Echad (One)—a unified oneness revealed in:

  • The Father (Abba)
  • The Son (Yeshua the Messiah)
  • The Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh)

These three are distinct, yet fully one (Gen. 1:26; Matt. 28:19; John 10:30; 2 Cor. 13:14).

YESHUA THE MESSIAH (JESUS)

We believe Yeshua is:

  • The promised Messiah of Israel
  • The eternal Son of God
  • The Word made flesh (John 1:1, 14)

He was:

  • Born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14)
  • Sinless in life (Heb. 4:15)
  • Crucified as a substitutionary sacrifice
  • Raised bodily from the dead
  • Ascended and seated at the right hand of the Father
  • Coming again in glory

He is:

  • The Lamb of God (John 1:29)
  • Our Passover sacrifice (1 Cor. 5:7)
  • The King of Kings and Lord of Lords

THE HOLY SPIRIT (RUACH HAKODESH)

We believe the Holy Spirit is:

  • Fully God and a divine Person
  • The One who convicts, regenerates, indwells, and empowers believers

He:

  • Guides us into truth (John 16:13)
  • Seals us for redemption (Eph. 1:13)
  • Distributes spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12)
  • Produces godly fruit (Gal. 5:22–23)

SALVATION

We believe:

  • Humanity is fallen and separated from God due to sin (Rom. 3:23)
  • Salvation is a gift of grace, received through faith in Yeshua alone (Eph. 2:8–9)
  • Redemption comes through His atoning sacrifice and resurrection

All who trust in Him are:

  • Forgiven
  • Justified
  • Secure in Him forever (John 10:28–30)

ISRAEL & THE COVENANTS

We believe:

  • God’s covenants with Israel are eternal and irrevocable (Gen. 17:7; Rom. 11:29)
  • The Jewish people remain central to God’s redemptive plan
  • Gentile believers are grafted into Israel, not separate from it (Rom. 11)

THE SABBATH & BIBLICAL FEASTS

We believe:

  • The Sabbath (Shabbat) is established by God from creation (Gen. 2:3; Ex. 20:8)
  • The Biblical Feasts (Leviticus 23) are God’s appointed times (מוֹעֲדִים / mo’edim)

These include:

  • Passover
  • Unleavened Bread
  • Firstfruits
  • Shavuot
  • Trumpets
  • Atonement
  • Tabernacles

We believe these are:

  • Prophetic
  • Christ-centered
  • Still spiritually significant for believers today

THE BODY OF MESSIAH

We believe:

  • All born-again believers are part of the Body (Bride) of Messiah
  • God calls His people to gather for worship, teaching, fellowship, and discipleship

We affirm:

  • Immersion (Baptism), and its proper Biblical contextual understanding
  • Spirit-led community life

HEAVEN, HELL & ETERNITY

We believe:

  • Heaven and Hell are real
  • There will be a bodily resurrection of all people
  • The righteous inherit eternal life
  • The unrighteous face eternal judgment (Rev. 20)

THE SECOND COMING

We believe in the literal, physical return of Yeshua, who will:

  • Judge the nations
  • Establish His Kingdom
  • Fulfill all prophetic promises

KINGDOM LIVING

We believe believers are called to:

  • Live holy, set-apart lives
  • Reflect God’s character in conduct and relationships
  • Be in the world, but not of it (Rom. 12:1–2)

MARRIAGE, FAMILY & IDENTITY

We believe:

  • God created humanity male and female (Gen. 1:27)
  • Marriage is between one man and one woman
  • Sexual intimacy is reserved for covenant marriage

We affirm:

  • The sanctity of life
  • The God-ordained structure of the family
  • The responsibility of parents to disciple their children

LOVE

We believe:

  • We are called to love all people
  • Love does not affirm sin but calls people to truth
  • We must speak truth with compassion and grace (Eph. 4:15)

Messianic Q&A

What is Messianic Judaism?

Messianic Judaism is the belief that:

  • Yeshua (Jesus) is the Messiah of Israel
  • The Bible (both Old and New Covenants) is one unified story
  • Faith in Yeshua does not replace Jewish identity but fulfills it

👉 Biblical basis: John 1:41; Acts 1:6; Romans 11

Do Messianic believers follow the Old Testament?

Yes—but not for salvation.

We believe:

  • Obedience flows from love, not legalism (John 14:15)
  • God’s commandments are still meaningful and instructive (Psalm 119:160)
  • Yeshua did not abolish the LAW/ Torah

Are you saying Christians need to become Jewish?

No, because through faith in Yeshua, all believers are grafted into the commonwealth of Israel and become partakers of the covenants of promise given to Abraham (Romans 11:17–18; Ephesians 2:11–13, 19; Galatians 3:7–9, 29).

Salvation is rooted in God’s covenantal work through Israel, for “salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22), and the Messiah Himself is the promised King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2; John 19:19).

Therefore, believers from all nations are not a separate people but are united in one body, one flock, under one Shepherd (John 10:16; Romans 10:12–13). By faith, all believers in Yeshua become part of the nation of Israel and therefore benefit from the covenant made with Abraham.

Galatians 3:7–9, 14, 29
“Those of faith are sons of Abraham… If you are Messiah’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”

Romans 11:17–18, 23–24
“You, though a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them and now share in the nourishing root…”

Ephesians 2:11–13, 19
“You who once were far off have been brought near… you are no longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizens…”

We believe:

  • Salvation is for world, any one who chooses to belive in Yeshua

Why do you observe the Biblical Feasts?

Because:

  • God commanded them (Lev. 23)
  • They reveal Messiah prophetically
  • Yeshua fulfilled and gives them deeper meaning

👉 Example:
Passover → Yeshua as the Lamb of God (1 Cor. 5:7)

Is this legalism?

No.

Legalism = trying to earn salvation.
Obedience = responding to God’s grace.

1. Obedience Is an Expression of Love for God

  • John 14:15
    “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
  • 1 John 5:3
    “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”

👉 Key Truth: Obedience is not legalism—it is love in action.

2. Obedience Brings Blessing

  • Deuteronomy 28:1–2
    “If you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God… all these blessings shall come upon you.”
  • James 1:22–25
    “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only… the one who does it will be blessed.”

👉 Key Truth: Obedience positions us under God’s blessing.

3. Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice

  • 1 Samuel 15:22
    “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.”

👉 Key Truth: God values obedience over religious activity.

4. Obedience Demonstrates True Faith

  • Romans 1:5
    “The obedience of faith…”
  • Hebrews 5:9
    “He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.”

👉 Key Truth: Genuine faith produces obedience.
“We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19)

5. Obedience Leads to Life

  • Deuteronomy 30:15–16
    “I have set before you life and good… if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God… then you shall live.”
  • Luke 11:28
    “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”

👉 Key Truth: Obedience is tied to life, flourishing, and blessing.

6. Disobedience Brings Consequences

  • Deuteronomy 28:15
    “If you will not obey… all these curses shall come upon you.”
  • 2 Thessalonians 1:8
    “…on those who do not obey the gospel…”

👉 Key Truth: Scripture is clear—obedience matters eternally.

7. The Holy Spirit Empowers Obedience

  • Ezekiel 36:26–27
    “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes…”
  • Romans 8:4
    “…that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us…”

👉 Key Truth: Obedience is Spirit-empowered, not self-produced.

8. Yeshua Modeled Perfect Obedience

  • Philippians 2:8
    “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death…”
  • John 6:38
    “I have come… not to do My own will but the will of Him who sent Me.”

👉 Key Truth: Yeshua is both our example and our enabler.

We believe that obedience to God is not a means of earning salvation, but the evidence of a transformed life. Scripture teaches that obedience flows from love (John 14:15), is empowered by the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 36:27), and leads to blessing and life (Deuteronomy 30:16). Therefore, we pursue joyful obedience as an act of worship and devotion to God.

Do you believe the Church replaced Israel?

No.

We reject Replacement Theology.

We believe:

  • God’s promises to Israel remain
  • Believers are joined to Israel—not replacing it (Rom. 11:1–2)

Why use Hebrew names like Yeshua?

We use both.

“Yeshua” reflects His historical and Jewish identity.
“Jesus” is the English form.

👉 Same Person. Same Messiah.

Yeshua HaMashiach (יֵשׁוּעַ הַמָּשִׁיחַ) → Ἰησοῦς Χριστός → Jesus Christ means: “Salvation—the Anointed One.”

Yeshua → means Salvation

Mashiach → means Anointed One

FINAL AUTHORITY

This statement does not exhaust our beliefs. The Bible alone remains our final authority.

All ministry, teaching, and leadership at IWJTM must align with Scripture.