Views: 17
Today we shall continue with our 66 statements of belief, based upon selected passages from the 66 books of the Bible. Let us keep in mind the two principles that need to be applied, when taking on the task of articulating one’s belief. Firstly, belief is primarily supposed to be expressed by means of a way of living, not by means of written statements or formulas. The best definitions and impressive descriptions of belief mean absolutely nothing, if our lives are not significantly impacted, and changed, by our acquired knowledge of Yahweh and his Son, Y’shua. And secondly, we should take extreme care to base our belief upon Scriptures alone, and not upon opiniated, manipulative, and doctrinally influenced ideas about Scriptures. To ensure that we keep to this principle, it is best to express our belief by using the very words used in Scriptures, without changing the intent or the context within which these words are found.
If belief is not primarily supposed to be expressed by written statements, why do we bother to formulate these statements of belief, at all? I can think of two reasons: (1) To formulate our belief, using the very language of Scriptures, serves the purpose of shaping and strengthening our own belief, in line with 1 Tim 4:6, which speaks of “being nourished in the words of belief and with good teaching”, and (2) To formulate our belief may also benefit others, because it is a way of complying with 1 Pet 3:15: “But set apart Yahweh Elohim in your hearts, and always be ready to give an answer to everyone asking you a reason concerning the expectation that is in you.” As we have stated before, we shall steer away from formulating our belief in a cold and formal way, but will rather do so in a manner that is PERSONAL and ENGAGING.
Nah 1:7 Yahweh is good, as a stronghold in the day of distress. And He knows those who take refuge in Him. YOUR GOODNESS ALWAYS SHINES BRIGHTLY WHEN I AM IN DISTRESS.
Hab 2:4 He whose being is not upright, is puffed up. But the righteous one shall live by his firmness of belief. I SHALL STAND FIRM IN RIGHTEOUSNESS BECAUSE OF YOUR GIFT OF TRUE LIFE.
Zep 2:3 Seek Yahweh, righteousness and meekness, so that you may be hidden in the day of wrath of Yahweh. I SHALL CONTINUE TO SEEK YOU, O YAHWEH, IN OBEDIENCE AND MEEKNESS.
Hag 1:4 Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your panelled houses, and this House be in ruins? I AM ASHAMED ABOUT CONSTANTLY PUTTING MY OWN INTERESTS ABOVE YOURS.
Zec 2:11 And many nations shall be joined to Yahweh in that day, and they shall become My people. WE HAVE TASTED THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING JOINED TO YOU AND YOUR PEOPLE.
Mal 3:10 Bring the tithes to the storehouse … and I shall open the windows of heavens, pouring out boundless blessing. I KNOW THE BLESSING OF TITHING TOWARDS THE WORK IN YOUR NAME.
Mat 5:17 I did not come to destroy the Torah or the Prophets, but to fulfil them. MY DESIRE IS TO FULFIL YOUR WORDS, IN THE SAME WAY THAT Y’SHUA DID.
Mar 2:27 The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. WE REJOICE IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE MADE THE SHABBAT FOR US, AS A DAY OF REST.
Luk 22:32 I have prayed for you, that your belief should not fail…turn around and strengthen your brothers. WHEN I FAIL, I SHALL FIND MY STRENGTH IN YOU AGAIN, SO I CAN STRENGTHEN OTHERS.
Joh 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. WE THANK YOU FOR SENDING YOUR SON AS THE SHEPHERD WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR US.
Act 1:8 You shall receive power when the Set-apart Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses. OUR WITNESS IS POWERFUL BECAUSE OF YOUR SPIRIT WITHIN US.
Rom 11:17 You, a wild olive tree, have been grafted into the olive tree, sharing its root and fatness. WE ARE PART OF THOSE WHO CAME TO SHARE THE ROOT AND ANOINTING OF YOUR PEOPLE.
1 Cor 15:14 If Messiah has not been raised, then our proclaiming…and your belief are empty. OUR BELIEF IS NOT EMPTY, BECAUSE YOU HAVE RAISED Y’SHUA FROM THE DEAD.
2 Cor 5:7-9 We walk by belief, not by sight…so we make it our aim to be well-pleasing to Him. WE ARE EAGER TO PLEASE YOU, NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT WE SEE, BUT WHAT WE BELIEVE.
Gal 5:6 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any strength, but belief working through love. MY BELIEF IN YOU IS NOT BASED UPON OUTWARD THINGS, BUT ON LOVE PROVEN BY WORKS.
Eph 2:19 You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but…members of the household of Elohim. YOU HAVE CHANGED MY STATUS FROM STRANGER, TO PART OF THE FAMILY.
Php 1:6 He who has begun a good work in you shall perfect it until the day of Messiah. HAVING BEGUN YOUR WORK IN ME, I KNOW THAT YOU WILL NEVER GIVE UP WITH ME.
Col 3:1 Seek the matters which are above, where Messiah is seated at the right hand of Elohim. YOU HAVE GIVEN ME SOMETHING TO FOCUS UPON: Y’SHUA AT YOUR RIGHT HAND SIDE.
1 Th 4:14 Because Y’shua died and rose again, Elohim shall bring with Him those who sleep in Y’shua. OUR HOPE IS IN YOU, WHO WILL CAUSE US TO RISE FROM THE DEAD LIKE Y’SHUA.
2 Th 2:13 Elohim chose you from the beginning to be saved – in set-apartness of Spirit, and belief in the truth. YOU HAVE CHOSEN US TO LIVE WITH A DIFFERENT SPIRIT, BELIEVING IN THE TRUTH.
1 Tim 2:5 There is one Elohim, and one Mediator between Elohim and men, the man Messiah Y’shua. I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE THE ONLY ELOHIM AND THAT Y’SHUA IS THE MESSIAH.
2 Tim 3:16 All Scripture came by the Spirit of Elohim and is profitable for…teaching in righteousness. TO GROW IN BELIEF, I NEED THE VOICE OF YOUR SPIRIT AND THE TEACHING OF YOUR WORD.
Tit 3:5 He saved us according to His compassion, through the washing of rebirth. MY BAPTISM IN Y’SHUA’S NAME IS A SYMBOL OF YOUR COMPASSION IN GRANTING ME REBIRTH.
Phm 1:6 The sharing of your belief has caused greater knowledge of the good news of Y’shua. WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME IN Y’SHUA, IS SOMETHING I WANT TO SHARE WITH OTHERS.**
Heb 12:1-2 Let us run with endurance the race set before us, looking to the Prince and Perfecter of our belief. WE SHALL ENDURE IN THIS RACE OF BELIEF, BY FIXING OUR EYES ON Y’SHUA.
James 1:22 Become doers of the Word, and not hearers only. YOUR WORDS CAN ONLY BE COMPLETE IN MY LIFE, WHEN I CHOOSE TO BECOME A DOER OF THE WORD.
1 Pet 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the unadulterated milk of the Word, in order to grow. REAL GROWTH CANNOT TAKE PLACE, IF I KEEP ON MIXING YOUR WORD WITH OTHER WORDS.
2 Pet 3:9 Yahweh is not slow in regard to the promise, as some may think, but is patient toward us. I HAVE LEARNED THAT YOU OFTEN KEEP US WAITING, THROUGH YOUR LOVE AND PATIENCE.
1 Jn 1:8-9 If we say that we have no sin, we mislead ourselves…if we confess our sins, He is righteous to forgive. I KNOW THE BLEMISH OF MY SIN, AND THE BLESSING OF YOUR FORGIVENESS.
2 Jn 1:6 This is love, that we walk according to His commands. LOVING YOU, AND FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS, CAN NEVER BE SEPARATED FROM WALKING IN YOUR COMMANDMENTS.
3 Jn 1:11 The one who is doing good is of Elohim, but he who is doing evil has not seen Elohim. WHAT I HAVE SEEN OF YOU, INSPIRES ME TO AVOID EVIL, AND PURSUE GOOD WORKS.
Jud 1:21-22 Keep on looking at the compassion of Y’shua…and show compassion to those in doubt. HELP US TO SPREAD OUT THE COMPASSION YOU HAVE TAUGHT US THROUGH Y’SHUA.
Rev 1:8 I am the Beginning and End, says Yahweh, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. THERE IS NO PART OR PERIOD OF MY LIFE, IN WHICH YOU ARE NOT INVOLVED.
** Philemon was one of the leaders among the believers of Colossae and this letter is about his servant, Onesimus, who had previously run away from him (for unknown reasons) and landed up in Rome where Sha’ul was a prisoner, but also instrumental in leading Onesimus to belief in Y’shua. Sha’ul is now asking Philemon to receive Onesimus back, not only as a servant, but as a brother in Messiah. Notice the names of believers that appear both in this letter and Colossians 4:9-17: Onesimus, Aristarchos, Archippos, Epaphras, Marqos, Demas and Luqas.
