ABOUT NETZARI VIRTUAL YAHADIM What Netzari Yahad Is Not What Netzari Yahad Is For the Newcomer Affirmations of Belief Glossary We get many phone calls from those who have seen one of our magnetic car sign asking, "What is the Yahad?" then opinions of the callers what Yahad must be. What is Netzari? The Netzari are the followers of Yahshua, and mentioned numerous times in Scripture. Notable verses include: (1) Isaiah 11:1 Isaiah 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Netzer (Branch) shall grow out of his roots. Our Savior, Yahshua haMoshiach, is the Netzer in our understanding. (2) Matthew (Mattyah) 2:23. "He will be called a Netzari (Nazoraios). We here learn that the Savior was a Netzari. (3) Acts (Ma'asei) 24:5. (Tertullus the Lawyer is speaking to Festus the Governor:) "This man Paul is a troublemaker. ... He is a ringleader of the Netzari (Nazoraion) sect." And here we learn that those who followed Paul were Netzari. But look - (4) Acts (Ma'asei) 11:26. It was at Antioch that the disciples were first called "Christians". Netzari ≠ Christian. Antioch was a pagan city. It was populated by Greeks. "Christian" means "Smeared One." This title was probably not complimentary, but meant as an insult, and is only mentioned as an aside. The Savior and his disciples were Israelites, and spoke the language of Israel. But "Christian" is a Greek word; one that the disciples would never use, though pagan Greeks would. "Christian" is found only three times in the Greek Scriptures. It is not found at all in the Scriptures of the Israelite language. Nazorean, Nazarene, or following the sect of the Nazarenes mentioned in Mattyah (Matthew) 2:23 and . Netzer means "branch" Yeshayahu (Isaiah 11:1). It also means guardian or keeper, as in "keeper of the Torah," the commandments of Father Yahweh. Yahad = a small group of like-minded people who come together to worship Yahweh and study the ancient scriptures objectively, using scripture, biblically-related texts, and secular history. We are especially seeking the living Messiah in both historical context and as a living force in our day. We do this in a round-table fashion. Yahadim is plural for Yahad. Therefore, the best way we can begin is to list WHAT NETZARI YAHAD IS NOT -Not a church, temple, or synagogue, nor related to any of these. Not Messianic, Rabbinical, or Orthodox Judaism: Not adhering nor studying Jewish oral torah / talmud / or kabbalah. Not Christian as defined by Evangelical Christianity, except for the teaching of Christian origins. Not seeking proselytes, members, followers, or contributions. Such will be raised by revelation.
WHAT NETZARI YAHAD IS -A Yahad is a small group of quasi-like-minded people who come together to worship Yahweh and study the ancient scriptures objectively, using the scriptures themselves, ancient bible-related texts, and secular history. We are especially seeking the living Messiah in both historical context and as a living force in our day. We do this in a round-table fashion. WE hope everyone will participate or contribute their own learnings to the topics at hand.
If we were to compare with another group, Netzari Yahadim are probably closest to the Sacred Name Assemblies. We are learning to emulate the teaching and lifestyle of the original Assembly of Yahweh in Jerusalem, which was officiated by the Savior's brothers and sisters.
We only grow in numbers if the Ruach haQodeh (Spirit) calls someone in - that one will require an open mind and a willingness to learn and contribute without dogmatism or doctrinarian spirit.
Presently, the groups now meeting are quite advanced in knowledge and in showing Messianic charity by keeping the commandments of Yahweh.
When there are new people who want to learn Hebraic Roots and Messianic Origins in the style described herein, a new group is usually formed. Most of our meetings are closed to the public. However, anyone may attend the Erev Shabbat service (Friday Evening) in Vero Beach's Tabernacles Ministries River Room. The service and teaching will last a couple hours, but those who attend may come and go as they please.
Do not bring young children. Since we are not a church nor looking to start a congregation, we have no facilities for children. The group meeting is strictly for adults.
Do bring a Scripture. We use "The Scriptures" published by the Institute for Scripture Research. If you do make a commitment to return, you will received one of these. Else, you can check this translation out at www.isr-messianic.org.
Finally, if you are not open to new or different things, or you are a died in the wool churchman, you probably should not come with readiness to share or evangelize the group. But if you want to learn all aspects of scripture and history 'from the beginning,' you should get at least six people together and commit to six meetings to learn the basics. After that, you will be up to speed to join the main groups.
I don't seek to be a Jew, I just seek out what is true. GENERAL AFFIRMATIONS OF FAITH:THE NAZOREAN YAHAD
At the outset, let us say that
we cannot hold to an iron-clad creed. Yahshua IS the Nazorean. We could hardly claim to follow him while rejecting new and reasonable discoveries about his personal history, beliefs, or practices. While Yahshua Messiah is the same yesterday and today and for ever, our understanding of him dare never be the same yesterday and today and for ever. If so, our knowledge of the Beloved must of necessity always be dead and wrong.
As the wise master has suggested, "Let us inscribe our creed in pencil."
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We use new Hebraic technical terms because the meanings of common theological terms have devolved over the last 500 years. Their meanings are no longer congruent with their definitions, or their definitions have been changed to reflect their devolved meanings. We therefore supplement the following Affirmations with the following Glossary.
Almah Marya = the mother of Yahshua the Nazorean. Amein = "this we believe." Anointed One = one appointed by the higher power to an office; in the case of Yahshua, to the office of King David. El Elyon = the most high power. Hell = prison for spirits that have been judged too dangerous to be loosed upon creation. Tartarus. 5th heaven. Nazorean = the name of a sect in Judaism. The Acts of the Apostles identifies both Yahshua and Paul as Nazoreans. Qahal = a gathering place, usually for worship. Qadoshim = those who are set apart from the crowd on account of their high stature in the eyes of YHWH. Ruach haQodesh = the spirit, the set-apart; the most high spiritual being whose personal name is YHWH. Shlichim = those sent out on a mission; apostles. Tzadikim = those set apart from the crowd on account of their dedication to keeping the Torah. Yahad = the gathering of the like-minded into a unity of belief and purpose. Yahshua = a man who lived 6 AD - 35 AD as a teacher of YHWH's precepts. YHWH = the four-letter designation of the Almighty Father's name, usually spelled out as Yahweh.
We hold to the Apostles' Creed as here amended: We believe in YHWH the Father Almighty, the Creator of sky and earth, and in Yahshua the Nazorean, who is the Anointed One, His only Son, our President and Master - a Son of Adam who was conceived of the Ruach haQodesh, born of Almah Marya, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was impaled, died, and was buried. He came back to life. He descended into Hell. He came to the Yahad of his Shlichim and taught them. He ascended into the sky to sit at the right hand of YHWH the Father El Elyon. From the Highest Place He returns to earth to judge the living and the risen dead. We believe in the Ruach haQodesh, in the viability of the qahal of the Qadoshim, the yahad of the Tzadikim, the forgiveness of sins, the total destruction of all that is evil, the rising of the body from death to life, and life from age to age. Amein.
We supplement the Creed with these distinctions: The Scriptures We hold that the consensus Scripture list consists of seventy books, commonly known as
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges,
Ruth, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra,
We may add to these the books unique to the Coptic, Ethiopic, and Eastern Orthodox traditions: Jubilees, 1 Esdras (Ezra), 2 Esdras, 1 Enoch, 2 Enoch, 3 Maccabees, 4 Maccabees.
As well as those of the earliest complete canon: Epistle of Barnabas, Teaching of the Twelve (Didache), The Shepherd of Hermas.
And these revered by the Nazorean movement: Odes of Shalome (Solomon), Psalms of Solomon, Thanksgiving Psalms (DSS).
And the Clementines, which record the acts and beliefs of those on the Way: Epitomes (Recognitions & Homilies) of Clement, 1 Clement, 2 Clement (so-called).
These recordings may be interpreted through the word of the True Nevi (Prophet), True Moreh (Teacher), or dedicated scholar.
The True Names & Titles We believe in the restoration of the true names, "Yahweh" and "Yahshua," in our Scriptures, and in all types of decent conversation. We do not accept pagan substitutes (such as G*d, L*rd, Chr*st, J*hovah) except as teaching devices for the children of Elohim awaiting their revelation (Romans 8:19). We also acknowledge the validity of the earlier forms of the true names: "Yahuweh" and "Yahushua," as well as other, similar forms that attempt to transliterate or phonetically reproduce sacred names and titles from historically reliability sources.
Duality and Trinity We hold that the Sky-Father (Yahweh) and the Son of Enosh (Yahshua the Anointed) are united in their duality. Yahshua-Yahweh was destined to be the ultimate atoning sacrifice for the iniquity of the world, as per the Apostles' Creed above.
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity is probably a reference to ancient pagan tri-unities (such as 2 Kings 4:42 and various other contemporaneous trinitarian mysteries). The Trinity cannot be found as such in the most reliable of ancient Scripture translations. One may readily perceive the Trinity's introduction and popularity by reading through Christian literature of the second and third centuries AD.
Yet we are in total agreement with John Wesley's summary of the doctrine of the Trinity, which is: "I have no concern with it: It is no object of my faith: I believe just so much as God has revealed, and no more. But this he has not revealed; therefore, I believe nothing about it. But would it not be absurd in me to deny the fact, because I do not understand the manner? That is, to reject what God has revealed, because I do not comprehend what he has not revealed?"
Judge, Witness, Example We hold to the conscientious practice of ahava-agape-charity in all human relationships since Yahshua came to save all; thus we detest racism, sexism & anti-Semitism. We prefer to live as aware of the moment as possible - among the evil as judge, among the unbeliever as witness, and among the family as example.
The Sabbath We hold to the validity of the Ten Commandments. We understand the Fourth Commandment to be specific to the seventh day of the week: Friday, sundown to Saturday, sundown. We encourage worship on all other days. However, the seventh-day is sanctified by Yahweh and must be observed in a Scriptural fashion.
Salvation History We learn from the ancients that Salvation History extends seven thousand years, with six thousand having already been accounted for, while the remaining thousand years (our time) gradually revealing the Millennial Reign of YAHWEH SABAOTH, Sar Shalom.
Spiritual Life & Death We hold that humankind is, in the natural, spiritually dead. Each nominal believer in Messiah must seek to be "born from above," born as a spirit-being, born anew, born again, becoming a bona-fide member of the family of elohim / Elohim (dei 'umaV gennhqhnai anwqen), and thus revive the new and right spirit within and thus become potentially complete.
Washing as a Means of Favor We hold to the validity of ritual washing (miqvah / baptismo) in the name of Yahshua-Yahweh. We wash those who cannot speak for themselves, including infants - as practiced by the first Nazoreans and Christians. We understand water washing as a means of supernatural favor through which Yahweh cleanses the candidate from all outward sin, thus accomplishing far more in preserving us for a Destiny than we can possibly accomplish by baptizing as a mere memorial.
Spirit Immersion We hold to the Immersion (or Baptism) in the Holy Spirit as a work of Yahweh's favor separate from new birth and water washing, and that there are many evidences of Spirit Baptism, including zeal, power, tongues, prophecy, supernatural abilities (Mark 16:9ff) and the fruit of charity
Perfection We hold firmly to the teaching of Entire Sanctification and Perfection, in which, through the obedience of a believer and a sovereign act of Yahweh, one may become perfected and complete in charity through the cooperative efforts of the will, the human spirit, and the Spirit of Yahweh.
Spiritual Gifts We hold to the reasoned and measured practice of the the charismata and pneumatikoi, commonly known as 'spiritual' or 'motivational gifts,' within and without the assembly of believers. We are "quiet charismatics," yet powerful in the sacred name of Yahweh.
Communion We hold to the Real Presence of Yahshua in the elements of the Todah Rabbah, commonly known as the Communion or Great Thanksgiving (i.e. the properly consecrated and administered unleavened bread and wine) as plainly set forth in Yahshua's own words (John 6:55), which we affirm to be genuine words. The Communion is an extension of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and may be celebrated as often as we desire; we should naturally desire it often.
Tradition We hold to Wesleyan piety, practice, theology and spirituality in most fundamental matters, as set out in the sermons of John Wesley, the hymns of Charles Wesley, the theological writings of John Fletcher, and other primitive Methodists of the 18th and 19th centuries. These men and women freely used that which they considered the true name (J-h-v-h) and fought antinomianism (lawlessness, community without Torah) wherever they encountered it. We have no doubt were they alive today that they would reject and actively criticize the pagan practices of the contemporary Wesleyans.
Israel We support the sovereignty of the nation of Israel and its geographical boundaries as set in Scripture; we extend the hand of fellowship to the Jewish people (and of all tribes of Israel), especially those who earnestly practice religion, in accordance with the teaching found in Romans 11, that all Israel will be saved.
Restoration & Resurrection We hold to the imminent appearance of Yahshua as high potentate, the restoration of the Hebrew language and the two houses of Israel, the three-class resurrection of the dead, the eventual annihilation of all evil, the millenarian judgment, the immortality of those chosen and set-apart, the rising of those who died while believing, all believers as kohenim, and the Reign of Sky upon Earth.
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NETZARIM VERO / VIRTUAL YAHAD | www.NeVY.us
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