The Almond House Creed
Read Time: 10 Minutes
Introduction to our fellowship
We are a Torah-observant, Messianic Fellowship, based in the UK. What does that mean? It means we observe the Torah which is “YHVH’s instructions”, including the Commandments, the Sabbath⁵ and His Holy (set-apart¹¹) Festivals; all of which are found in the Holy Scriptures. We believe that Yahshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ), our Salvation⁶, is God. We believe that Yahshua became the Word made flesh, died as an atoning sacrifice, rose again on the third day, and then ascended to The Father; providing for us the gift of eternal life.
We believe the Bible is a love³ story between the Creator of the universe and His people; the union of the Bridegroom and His Bride. We understand the Commandments to be wedding vows, and therefore obey them as an expression of our love³ towards our Beloved. We do not observe the Torah in order to be saved but rather because we are saved. We now desire to be obedient to the Covenant⁹, as we believe Yahshua desires a spotless bride without blemish. Saved by grace through faith, we await His return, seeking righteousness by being filled with the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh), and being a light unto the world.
We perform His vows in love³, as without love³ we are nothing but a clanging cymbal. Our Fellowship's creed cites 1 Cor 13 in conjunction with the Sh'ma (Mark 12). We therefore stand firm in our beliefs that the whole Bible is applicable to us today and, as instructed, our foundation is based on the first five books of Moses (Torah).
Part I
8 Key Points
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1. There is one God and His Word
There is one God: YHWH. YHWH and Yahshua are One (Echad). YHWH is the Creator of all things. His Holy Spirit empowers us to walk obediently in His Torah. All Scripture in the Bible is given by inspiration of God and is the infallible truth.
1 John 3:24, Deut 30:11-14, 2 Tim 3:16
2. There is one way to our Father
Yahshua HaMashiach is the only begotten Son of God. He became a man and was without sin⁷. He was sacrificed as the Passover Lamb for our sins⁷. He was resurrected and ascended to the Heavenly Throne Room, where He serves in the Holy of Holies. He is the only way to the Father and to eternal life. By confessing Yahshua as our Saviour and being fully immersed in the waters of baptism in His name, we are able to receive the Holy Spirit and have the opportunity to enter into His Kingdom. We believe He is returning soon with His reward.
1 Tim 2:5, Acts 4:12, John 14:6, John 3:5, Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16-17, Acts 19:1-6, Ephesians 4:4-6, 1 Peter 3:21, Rev 22:12
3. We are Israel
Through the work and teachings of Yahshua, we are counted as Abraham’s seed, grafted into Yah’s covenant⁹, and thus part of the commonwealth of Israel.
Gal 3:29, Eph 2:11-19, Rom 11:17
4. Understanding sin and being forgiven
Sin⁷ is the transgression of The Law (Torah). We all fall short of the glory of God; but through confession and the seeking of forgiveness in Yahshua, we are forgiven of sin⁷. We should therefore no longer continue in our sins⁷, but repent and return to the Covenant⁹.
1 John 3:4, Rom 7:7, 1 John 1, Rom 6:23, Rom 6:1, Heb 10:26, Acts 3:19
5. The Holy Spirit has been given to us
We have been given the Holy Spirit to empower us to walk in God’s ways, to teach us, guide us and convict us. The Fruits of the Spirit are essential for us to share the Gospel effectively to the world. We believe the Gifts of the Spirit are secondary to the Fruits of the Spirit, although all are vital to demonstrate the power of God so that faith is not rested on man’s wisdom.
Eze 36:27, John 14:26, Gal 5:22-23, 1 Corin. 2:4-5, 1 Corin 12:31
6. Worshiping in Spirit and Truth
God Almighty's Torah (Law), given to Israel at Mount Sinai still stands today, as the Law is truth. Not one part of the Law will disappear until heaven and earth pass away. Observing the Law is how we love³ God. We try our utmost to worship Him in spirit and truth as priests, seeking righteousness with the Spirit, whilst observing the Commandments to the best of our ability. Some include: the Biblical dietary laws, Feast Days, the wearing of tassels/tzitziyot.
Ps.119:142, Matt. 5:18, Rom 3:31, 1 John 2:6, John 14:15, Ps. 119:142, John 4:24
7. Love is the weightier matter
The weightier matter of Scripture is love³. The greatest Commandment, according to the Messiah, is the Sh'ma: to hear and obey the Word of God and to love³ God with our all whole essence; with the addition that we must love³ our neighbour as ourselves (Lev 19 and Mark 12). All of the 'Ten Commandments' can fall into one of the two: to love³ God and to love³ your neighbour as yourself. This love³ is best described in 1 Corinthians 13 and in 1 John.
Deut 6:4-9, Lev 19:18, Mark 12:29-30, 1 Cor 13, 1 John
8. Turning from traditions of men
We reject festivals that have pagan origins that follow the traditions of men; such as Christmas, Easter and Sunday being the Sabbath⁵. As written, Satan has changed the times and seasons to try to confuse God’s people, so we study Scripture to synchronise ourselves with God’s calendar, which tells us the true times and seasons. We observe the Sabbaths⁵, including the seven Festivals of God. As the Fourth Commandment instructs us, we hold a set-apart¹¹ assembly¹ on Saturday and a set-apart¹¹ assembly¹ for the Feasts at the appointed times. As written, the observance of the Sabbaths⁵ are a sign between God and His people. We begin to observe the weekly Sabbath once the sun has locally set on Friday, in accordance with the Biblical day, sundown till sundown.
Mark 7:8 Jer 10:1-5, Dan 7:25, 1 Thess 5:1-4, Lev 23, Exodus 20:8, Eze 20:12, 1 John 3:9, Deut 12:4, 30-31
Part II
Our Church Format
We understand believers¹⁰ are individual temples housing The Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19). Our aim is to disciple, teach and empower individuals to become self-sufficient in their walk with God. The 'church¹ format' has one leader¹² who makes final corporate decisions, such as: where to gather on Shabbat, and where to observe the Festivals of Yah. This one leader is surrounded by a council of elders¹ to ensure decisions are Scriptural. Our Almond House church¹ format helps protect the ministry that Yah has given us, safeguarding each other and others wanting to join, being of one accord - not just in the same book but also on the same page.
We follow the single leader¹² format to replicate the Biblical form of leadership:
• Abraham, a sole leader¹² - Gen 12:5
• Moses led Israel, and had seventy elders² who gave counsel - Num 11:16
• God being all-knowing but still having a council - Ps. 82:1
• Yahshua led the seventy appointed followers, including a close twelve - Luke 10:1
• Peter was chosen as the rock/leader¹² of the early Church¹ - Luke 16:18
We do not follow a non-biblical structure of voting/majority vote, but rather pray, fast, midrash and seek the Word to advise whomever God has anointed to lead. We seek to be of one accord on a matter, although submit to the final decision of the anointed leader¹², with the condition that the decision aligns with the Commandments. We understand submitting to leadership is ultimately submitting to God.
Prov 11:14, 1 Tim 5:17, 1 Thess 5:12-13, 1 Peter 5:5
Hebrews 13:17 (BSB)
Obey your leaders¹² and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.
We recognise that our anointed leader¹² is just a man and can make wrong decisions. Therefore we emphasise that Yahshua is the only mediator between God and man. We encourage those who attend to follow the Commandments and to love³ God for what He has done for us.
1 Tim 2:5, 1 John 5:3
The early Church¹ in the Book of Acts was held in an intimate house group setting. Therefore our congregation¹ tries its utmost to follow a similar model and focus on what is only Biblical, endeavouring to not fall into elevating the traditions of men found in Westernised Christianity and the institutionalised Church¹. As Scripture confirms, the traditions of men nullify the Word of God.
Mark 7:8, 13
We edify and support those who attend to walk in their spiritual gifts and calling. Although we have one leader¹² for corporate decisions, individuals also have leadership qualities and a responsibility for their area of ministry. This allows for all to be empowered and to blossom within the body of Christ, with Messiah Yahshua as their King and High Priest.
1 Cor 12, Heb 4:15, Heb 7:17
Glossary
12 Biblical Definitions
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1. The Camp/The Church/The Assembly/Congregation
1a. The 'Camp' refers to multiple believers¹⁰ assembling under the same Biblical truths. 2 Pet 1:13, and 2 Cor 5:1 refer to our bodies as tents; multiple tents create a camp. The Camp also refers to those who seek to be involved in a group of set-apart¹¹ believers¹⁰. The 'Church' was simply the assembly of those who wanted to follow God and His ways. As written, the Church began in the wilderness.
Acts 7:38
1b. The Church in context can also mean the body of believers¹⁰ in Christ, far and wide, who recognise Yahshua/Jesus as their Saviour.
Colossians 1:18
2. Elder/Overseer
One who has spiritual maturity and is not new to faith. An elder is not exclusively one who is older in age; younger people can also come to faith and be new-born spiritually. At Almond House we have recognised elders who carry out the service of the ministry.
Tim 3:1-13, 1 Tim 4:12
3. Love
God’s understanding of love, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
1 Cor 13:4-8, John 14:15
4. Marriage
The consummation of a man and woman who have exchanged wedding vows before God and witnesses. To receive our blessing at Almond House we require a thorough courtship, and a marriage in accordance with the law of the land. As written, we try our utmost to become blameless in our walk to the nations and fellow believers¹⁰. Such a union should be set-apart and the marriage bed should remain undefiled.
Heb 13:4, Gen 2:24, Philippians 2:15
5. Sabbath
Observing the Fourth Commandment: rest from work and neither buying, selling, or making others do so. Observing a sacred assembly¹/gathering on the seventh day, Saturday. We gather together and keep the Biblical Festivals of God set-apart¹¹. We begin to observe the weekly Sabbath once the sun has locally set on Friday, in accordance with the Biblical day, sundown till sundown.
Exodus 31:13, Exodus 20:8-11, Luke 23:54, John 19:31.
6. Salvation
A gift of God; by grace we are saved through faith, and not by ourselves. By acknowledging that we need a saviour and that Yahshua is our Saviour, and the only way to inherit eternal life.
Ephesians 2:8
7. Sin
Transgression of the Law (Torah), God's instruction.
1 John 3:4.
8. Repentance
Turning back to God's Covenant and not repeatedly committing the same sin.
Acts 3:19, Hebrews 10:26
9. Covenant
God’s wedding contract with those who want to be His people by observing His Commandments/His wedding vows.
Gal. 3:29, Ruth 1:16, Rom. 11:17
10. Believer
A person who believes in the death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and sin-atoning blood of Yahshua HaMashiach. Through His blood we are now able to belong to the commonwealth of Israel. A believer puts his faith in God and remains in Covenant.
Eph 2:12
11. Holy/Set-Apart
A separation of God’s sanctity from what is common/profane.
Lev 10:10, Deut 14:2, Eze 22:2
12. Leader/Minister/Deacon
Deacon, from the Greek diakonos, means ‘servant’ or ‘minister’. As written "...whosoever desires to be great among you, let him be your minister" The role of our church's¹ minister/leader is of service in a Godly fashion: teaching, serving and leading the body on final corporate decisions; such as the direction of the Fellowship. Almond House asked Joe to be our Minister and he continues to serve us.
Matt 20:25-28, Eze 44:23, Heb 13:17
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