PREFACE
This “Statement of Faith” is meant only as a basic statement of faith and is not intended to be a “creed” or canon. It is not to be viewed as having the authority of Scripture. This statement is given primarily for these reasons:
- To clarify some issues about which we have been misrepresented.
- To answer the many requests we have received for such a statement.
- To set at ease those who have concerns that we stand for certain apostate theologies.
- To create an understanding of common ground to which our affiliates hold.
Above all our beliefs must be:
Big enough to include all the facts, open enough to be tested, and flexible enough to change.
I. YHWH
We believe that YHWH is Echad (one). We believe that YHWH reveals Himself in the K’numeh or Gaunin of Av/Abba (Father/Daddy), the Memra (Word), and the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit).
II. BIBLE
We believe that the Bible, which includes both the Tanakh [Old Testament] and the Ketuvim Netzarim (New Testament) is the divinely inspired, infallible Word of Elohim in its original Hebrew and Aramaic texts and manuscripts.
III. MESSIAH
We believe that Yeshua HaMashiach has come and with great joy we anticipate his return, and even though he may delay, nevertheless we endeavor to think about his return every day. We believe that the Messiah is the Word made flesh. We believe he was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life in accordance with the Torah, performed miracles, was crucified for the atonement of his people in accordance with the Scriptures, was bodily resurrected on the third day. ascended to heaven and currently sits at the right hand of YHWH. He will return at the end of this age to usher in the Kingdom of Elohim on earth and will rule the world from Jerusalem with his people Israel for one thousand years. We also believe that the Messiah Yeshua is the Torah incarnate. Just as the Torah is the way, the truth and the light, the Messiah is also the way, the truth and the light.
IV. SALVATION
We believe that through the death of Messiah, because of his blood covenant with us, we receive salvation by way of inheritance. This salvation comes by faith through grace alone and is not earned by Torah observance.
V. TORAH
The Torah of Truth the Almighty gave to His people, Israel, through Moshe. He will not exchange it nor discard it for another until heaven and earth pass away. We believe that Torah observance is man’s moral obligation and expression of love to YHWH. The Torah is freedom and not bondage. The Torah is the way, the truth and the light and is for all of our generations forever.
VI. THE ONE FAITH
We believe that there is one faith which was once and for all delivered to the set-apart-ones. We believe that Messiah did not come to create a new religion but to be the Messiah of Judaism, the one faith that was once delivered to the set-apart-ones. We believe that Nazarene Judaism is the only expression of the one true faith. We do not accept any other religion as a non-Jewish cultural expression of the one true faith.
I listened to your talk on the Nazoreans and found it excellent. I have some questions for you.
1. Would you consider the Didache a Nazorean book? Can you say more on this?
2. It now becomes clear why the Ebionites were not invited to Nicaea but what about the Nazoreans? Is there any record of their being invited?
3. Are you aware of the Catholic group in Jerusalem “Ratisbonne” run by the Fathers of Zion?
4, I am interested to look at all your videos–this will take time–to see how you follow the trajectory of the Nazoreans into the present age. I will have to get back to you on this.
5. As a catholic priest for over twenty years and the grandson of two Jews who survived the war in Berlin I am impressed in the way you articulated your Nazorean video. How did their communication break off with the larger church and where did they go after Pella. Perhaps you have spoken on this?
6. I can see that within the milieus you exist you might get a few enemies in that you go after the Ebionites. This would certainly shake things up. would it not?
All the best
Thomas Bluger
Rabbi Trimm, after listening to some more of your YouTube videos I have come to a quandary over one of your basis assumptions. If the Nazoreans at the Jerusalem Temple, after meeting with Paul came to a resolution over gentile Christianity, and if the Didache reinforces the idea that gentile-Christians were not bound in the same way as Jewish-Christians, then that would be all well and good. In other words you gentile Christians do what you want to do and leave us alone. From here–as you most correctly point out–Ignatius of Antioch starts affirming local bishops as the supreme authority within their communities, which would only make sense if they no longer looked to Jerusalem–in that they were now given their freedom according to the Council of Jerusalem as well as the fact that they would come under the Noadic laws, which were minimal. With the later discovered Didache this would be supported, would it not? Can you comment on this and possibly lead me to one of your talks that addresses my concern? This would translate for me into the reality that yes Jerome and Augustine saw the truth and authenticity of Nazorean Christianity while, at the same time for practical reasons, gentile Christianity would have to separate from Nazorean Christianity. In other words, dogma and doctrine yes, practicality in not destabilizing the gentile Christian communities no. Don’t get me wrong, I love your take on the Nazorean community and look forward to watching more of your videos. Intuitively, however, my central focus for criticizing your wonderful work lies here. I have more work to do on this.
Shalom, Thomas
See: Circumcision and Salvation – Understanding Acts 15
http://nazarenespace.com/blog/2024/05/02/statement-of-faith-for-nazarene-judaism/#comment-7873