What We Believe
Welcome to Kehilat HaMashiach, a virtual worship community serving both Jewish and Gentile believers from Spokane Valley and beyond. We are devoted to proclaiming Messiah Yeshua and exploring the rich, biblical heritage of faith rooted in the Scriptures. We encourage you to seek deeper understanding through the Ruach HaKodesh as you explore what guides our worship and life.
Our Foundation in G-d and Scripture
Man lives by every Word that comes from G-d's mouth (Deut. 8: 3; Matt. 4: 4). G-d had given Israel His Torah and would maintain His covenant relationship to bring them back to Him when they would sin. The Brit Chadasha (the New Testament) became the embodiment of the final act of G-d to accomplish this, while also making a way for the rest of mankind to know Him. In first century Israel, the movement among Jewish people for Yeshua resulted in them coming into a powerful new reality of G-d and His Word.
The Roots of Our Faith and Shared Heritage
In the first century, the earliest followers who inquired into and walked with Yeshua were primarily Jewish. Practices such as the Passover (Pesach) Seder flourished in that era, where both believers and non-believers explored its rich significance and recognized how Yeshua illuminated its sacred meaning. First-century biblical customs were shared and lived out within the community of faith (1 Cor. 11:2; 2 Thess. 2:15). Today, many Gentile believers have become separated from the original Jewish foundations of their faith. While Gentile believers are not expected to change their identity or adopt Jewish cultural customs, rediscovering this biblical heritage enriches the understanding of Messiah's life and teachings.
Understanding the Torah and Walking in Truth
Common misunderstandings can arise when approaching the Torah. Some Gentile believers mistakenly assume they must adopt traditional Jewish dress or covenantal markers such as eighth-day circumcision, which contradicts New Covenant instruction. Conversely, others mistakenly view Torah study as falling under Paul's warning against "coming under the law" (Gal. 5:18). Careful Scripture study clarifies that Gentile followers are not under the Mosaic Covenant, as the Brit Chadasha guides which principles apply, while Jewish believers remain covenantally responsible to G-d in the Torah and as guided by the New Covenant. While not everyone is called to the Messianic movement, all believers are invited to seek the guidance of the Ruach HaKodesh and grow continually in love and faith in Messiah.