Church
Beth Simcha Messianic Congregation
Messianic Judaism & Hebrew Roots (family root) · Riverside: a neutral profile of what this congregation describes about its beliefs.
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Public details for this congregation.
TraditionMessianic Judaism & Hebrew Roots (family root)About →
Sourcing statusTradition default
Beliefs on file781 positions
Statement of faithNot on file
Where they stand
Each position below is labelled by how it was sourced, so you can weigh it for yourself.
VerifiedConfirmed by the church
From their statement of faithEstimated, not verified
Tradition defaultEstimated, not verified
Showing 84 of 781 positions across 18 topics. Expand any topic to see the rest.
God & the Trinity51 positions
- Analogical LanguageAffirmsTradition defaultHuman language about God is analogical: true but never capturing God univocally as it captures creatures.Estimated, not verified
- Apophatic PriorityAffirmsTradition defaultWhat God is in himself is ultimately beyond human comprehension, so negative ("God is not...") statements are more reliable than positive ones.Estimated, not verified
Christ64 positions
- Assumed Fallen Human NatureStrongly rejectsTradition defaultChrist assumed a fully fallen human nature (subject to the effects of the Fall) in order to heal it from within.Estimated, not verified
- Assumed Unfallen Human NatureStrongly affirmsTradition defaultChrist assumed an unfallen, sinless human nature, untouched by original sin/corruption.Estimated, not verified
Sin & the fall40 positions
- Adams Sin Brought Physical DeathStrongly affirmsTradition defaultPhysical death entered the human race as a consequence of Adam's sin; humans were not originally subject to death.Estimated, not verified
- All Sin Deserves Death EquallyStrongly affirmsTradition defaultEvery sin, however small, deserves God's condemnation/death: there is no class of sin that does not by nature merit it.Estimated, not verified
Salvation43 positions
- Active Obedience ImputedStrongly affirmsTradition defaultChrist's lifelong law-keeping (his "active obedience"), not only his death, is imputed to the believer as their positive righteousness.Estimated, not verified
- Assurance Grounded In Christ AloneStrongly affirmsTradition defaultAssurance rests on Christ's finished work and God's promise, not on the believer's own works or sacramental performance.Estimated, not verified
The Holy Spirit42 positions
- Assurance Is Normal For BelieversStrongly affirmsTradition defaultSettled assurance of salvation is normal and to be expected for genuine believers in this life.Estimated, not verified
- Blasphemy Against Spirit UnforgivableStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThere is a specific sin against the Holy Spirit that is unforgivable.Estimated, not verified
The Church38 positions
- Baptism Is The Entry Into The ChurchStrongly affirmsTradition defaultBaptism is the rite of entry/incorporation into the visible church.Estimated, not verified
- Bishop Of Rome Has Universal PrimacyStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe bishop of Rome (the pope) holds a divinely instituted primacy of jurisdiction over the whole church.Estimated, not verified
Sacraments & ordinances36 positions
- Anointing Sick Is A SacramentRejectsTradition defaultAnointing of the sick with oil is a sacrament conveying grace, healing, and forgiveness to the seriously ill.Estimated, not verified
- Baptism Mode Immersion RequiredAffirmsTradition defaultValid baptism requires full immersion of the body in water.Estimated, not verified
Worship & liturgy32 positions
- Bowing And ProstrationStrongly rejectsTradition defaultBowing, prostration, or full physical reverence before the altar, icons, or sacrament is fitting in worship.Estimated, not verified
- Communion Only SeasonallyStrongly rejectsTradition defaultCommunion seasons (a few solemn observances a year with extensive preparation) are the fitting pattern.Estimated, not verified
Last things27 positions
- A Literal Mark Of The Beast Is ComingAffirmsTradition defaultA literal future "mark of the beast" will be imposed as a condition of economic participation.Estimated, not verified
- Apocalyptic Prophecy Read Literally FuturisticallyStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe prophecies of Daniel and Revelation should be read primarily as literal predictions of still-future events.Estimated, not verified
Scripture45 positions
- Authority Holy Tradition OrthodoxStrongly rejectsTradition defaultScripture is rightly read only within Holy Tradition: the Fathers, councils, liturgy, and consensus of the Church.Estimated, not verified
- Authority Magisterium InterpretsStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe authentic interpretation of Scripture is entrusted to the Church's living teaching office (Magisterium), whose judgments bind the faithful.Estimated, not verified
Revelation, creation & science31 positions
- Adam Special Creation From DustStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe first human was specially and directly created by God from the dust, not biologically descended from earlier hominins.Estimated, not verified
- Angels Created BeingsStrongly affirmsTradition defaultAngels and other spiritual beings are part of God's created order, made by God.Estimated, not verified
Life & bioethics57 positions
- Abortion Gravely Wrong In PrincipleStrongly affirmsTradition defaultDeliberately ending a pregnancy by killing the unborn is in itself a grave moral wrong.Estimated, not verified
- Abortion Permitted To Save Mothers LifeAffirmsTradition defaultAbortion is morally permissible when continuing the pregnancy would directly threaten the mother's life.Estimated, not verified
Sexuality & marriage43 positions
- Abortifacient Contraception WrongStrongly affirmsTradition defaultContraceptive methods that may act after fertilization (potential abortifacients) are morally wrong even if other contraception is permitted.Estimated, not verified
- Annulment Recognizes Invalid MarriageRejectsTradition defaultSome unions that appeared to be marriages were never valid marriages, and the church can rightly declare them null (annulment).Estimated, not verified
Society & politics41 positions
- Active Nonviolent Resistance ObligatoryAffirmsTradition defaultChristians should actively resist injustice through nonviolent means (protest, civil disobedience, noncooperation), not merely abstain from violence.Estimated, not verified
- Capitalism Intrinsically UnjustRejectsTradition defaultCapitalism as a system is intrinsically exploitative and stands under God's judgment; Christian faithfulness requires working to replace it.Estimated, not verified
Angelology Demonology42 positions
- Angelic Fall Caused By PrideStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe angels fell primarily through pride: refusing subjection to God / seeking to exalt themselves.Estimated, not verified
- Angelic Fall Predates Human FallAffirmsTradition defaultThe angelic rebellion occurred before the fall of humanity, and the serpent's temptation issued from an already-fallen angel.Estimated, not verified
Anthropology40 positions
- Body Essential To PersonStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe body is essential to being a complete human person, not an accidental or dispensable container for the soul.Estimated, not verified
- Body GoodStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe material human body is intrinsically good as created by God.Estimated, not verified
Covenant Law Israel50 positions
- Abrahamic Covenant Foundational And OngoingStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Abrahamic covenant is foundational and its promises remain operative for the people of God today.Estimated, not verified
- Baptism Replaces Circumcision Covenant SignRejectsTradition defaultBaptism is the New Covenant counterpart to circumcision, marking entrance into the covenant community.Estimated, not verified
- Believers No Longer Under Laws CondemnationStrongly affirmsTradition defaultBelievers are entirely free from the law's condemning function but remain under its directing function.Estimated, not verified
- Ceremonial Law Fulfilled And AbrogatedRejectsTradition defaultThe ceremonial/cultic laws (sacrifices, dietary rules, festivals, purity codes) are fulfilled in Christ and no longer binding.Estimated, not verified
- Christians Obligated To Keep DecalogueAffirmsTradition defaultChristians are positively obligated to keep the Ten Commandments as a covenant rule.Estimated, not verified
- Church Is True Israel SupersessionStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe church is the true and continuing Israel, having inherited the covenant promises so that ethnic/national Israel has no distinct remaining covenant role.Estimated, not verified
- Civil Government Should Enforce Mosaic LawStrongly rejectsTradition defaultCivil governments today are obligated to enforce the moral and judicial laws of Moses, including their penal sanctions.Estimated, not verified
- Civil Judicial Laws Expired With IsraelStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe civil/judicial laws of Israel expired with the Old Testament nation and do not bind modern states except as their general equity informs justice.Estimated, not verified
- Continuity Default Unless RevokedStrongly affirmsTradition defaultOld Testament commands remain binding unless the New Testament clearly revokes or modifies them.Estimated, not verified
- Covenant Of Redemption Pactum SalutisNo firm positionTradition defaultBefore creation, the persons of the Trinity entered an eternal covenant of redemption (pactum salutis) in which the Son agreed to redeem the elect.Estimated, not verified
- Covenant Signs Discontinued No Physical SignRejectsTradition defaultThe New Covenant community is constituted by faith alone with no required physical entrance sign tied to covenant membership of households.Estimated, not verified
- Cultural Transformation Christianize SocietyRejectsTradition defaultThe church's mission includes progressively bringing every sphere of society under the lordship of Christ and biblical law.Estimated, not verified
- Dietary Food Laws No Longer BindingRejectsTradition defaultThe Old Testament clean/unclean food laws are no longer binding, and all foods are permitted.Estimated, not verified
- Discontinuity Default Unless RepeatedStrongly rejectsTradition defaultOld Testament commands are NOT binding on Christians unless they are repeated or affirmed in the New Testament.Estimated, not verified
- Dual Covenant Jews Saved Apart From ChristStrongly rejectsTradition defaultJewish people remain in a valid saving covenant through the Mosaic/Abrahamic covenant and need not come to faith in Jesus to be saved.Estimated, not verified
- Feasts Festivals Still To Be KeptStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe biblical festivals (Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles, etc.) should still be observed by believers.Estimated, not verified
- Fourth Commandment Morally PerpetualAffirmsTradition defaultThe Sabbath commandment is part of the perpetual moral law, requiring a weekly day of rest and worship for all believers.Estimated, not verified
- Full Torah Observance For BelieversStrongly affirmsTradition defaultFollowers of Jesus, at least those of Jewish background, should continue to observe the full Torah (dietary law, festivals, Sabbath, circumcision).Estimated, not verified
- Future Mass Conversion Of Ethnic IsraelStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThere will be a future large-scale turning of ethnic Israel to Christ before the end ("all Israel will be saved").Estimated, not verified
- Gentile Believers Free From TorahNo firm positionTradition defaultGentile believers were never placed under the Mosaic law and are free from its specific obligations.Estimated, not verified
- Grace Frees From All Law KeepingStrongly rejectsTradition defaultBecause salvation is entirely by grace, the Christian is under no law and obedience to commands plays no necessary role in the believer's life.Estimated, not verified
- Land Promise Literal To Ethnic IsraelAffirmsTradition defaultThe Old Testament land promises will be fulfilled literally to ethnic Israel in a specific territory.Estimated, not verified
- Land Promise Typological Fulfilled In ChristRejectsTradition defaultThe land promises are typological, fulfilled and expanded in Christ and ultimately in the new creation / whole renewed earth, rather than a parcel of Middle Eastern territory.Estimated, not verified
- Law And Gospel Both In Both TestamentsStrongly affirmsTradition defaultBoth law and gospel are present throughout both Testaments, not confined to Old (law) and New (gospel) respectively.Estimated, not verified
- Law And Grace Are Opposing PrinciplesRejectsTradition defaultLaw and grace function as fundamentally opposing principles, such that the age of law and the age of grace operate under different governing arrangements.Estimated, not verified
- Law Of Christ Replaces Mosaic NormRejectsTradition defaultThe believer's rule of life is the "law of Christ" (the ethical teaching of Jesus and the apostles), which is the proper standard rather than the Mosaic code.Estimated, not verified
- Levitical Sacrifices Permanently EndedStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Levitical sacrificial system has been permanently ended and fulfilled by the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ.Estimated, not verified
- Modern State Of Israel Prophetic SignificanceStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe 1948 founding of the modern State of Israel has direct biblical-prophetic significance as a fulfillment of restoration promises.Estimated, not verified
- Moral Law Summarized In Decalogue PerpetualStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe moral law, summarized in the Ten Commandments, is perpetually binding on all people in all eras.Estimated, not verified
- Mosaic Covenant Was Gracious AdministrationStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Mosaic covenant was itself a gracious administration of the one covenant of grace, not a covenant of works for life.Estimated, not verified
- Mosaic Law As Unit AbrogatedStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe Mosaic law, taken as a single covenantal package, has been entirely abrogated for Christians, who are not "under the law" in any of its parts as Mosaic legislation.Estimated, not verified
- Natural Law Universally BindingStrongly affirmsTradition defaultA natural moral law, knowable by reason and binding on all people, underlies and confirms the moral content of God's revealed law.Estimated, not verified
- New Covenant Already InauguratedAffirmsTradition defaultThe New Covenant prophesied by Jeremiah has already been inaugurated by Christ and is in force for the church now.Estimated, not verified
- New Covenant Theology Christ As New LawgiverRejectsTradition defaultChrist is the new lawgiver whose teaching (the "law of Christ") replaces the Mosaic law as the believer's direct rule of life, rather than merely re-applying it.Estimated, not verified
- Noahic Covenant Basis For Common GraceStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe Noahic covenant grounds God's ongoing preservation of creation and a sphere of common grace/common order for all humanity.Estimated, not verified
- Obedience Necessary Evidence Of FaithStrongly affirmsTradition defaultOngoing obedience to God's commands is the necessary evidence and fruit of genuine saving faith.Estimated, not verified
- One People Of God With RemnantAffirmsTradition defaultThere is one people of God across the ages; believing Israel and believing Gentiles form a single olive tree, with a believing Jewish remnant rather than two separate peoples.Estimated, not verified
- Ot God And Nt God Same ContinuityStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe God and Scriptures of the Old Testament are fully continuous and authoritative for Christians, not a lower or superseded revelation to be set aside.Estimated, not verified
- Pedagogical First Use Civic RestraintStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe law serves a civil/political use to restrain evil and preserve order in society generally, apart from salvation.Estimated, not verified
- Permanent Distinction Israel And ChurchLeans toward affirmingTradition defaultIsrael and the church are two distinct peoples of God with distinct programs and promises that are never merged.Estimated, not verified
- Physical Circumcision Still RequiredLeans toward affirmingTradition defaultPhysical circumcision remains a required covenant obligation for the people of God (or at least for Jewish believers).Estimated, not verified
- Progressive Unfolding Of One PlanStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe biblical covenants (Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New) progressively reveal and advance one connected divine plan that culminates in Christ.Estimated, not verified
- Restoration Of National Israel KingdomStrongly affirmsTradition defaultGod will yet restore national Israel and fulfill the kingdom promises to her in a literal, future earthly form.Estimated, not verified
- Sabbath Abrogated No Special DayRejectsTradition defaultThe Sabbath as a binding command has been abrogated, and no particular day is now divinely required, though the church may freely gather on the Lord's Day.Estimated, not verified
- Sabbath Transferred To Lords Day SundayStrongly rejectsTradition defaultThe Sabbath obligation has been transferred to the first day of the week (the Lord's Day / Sunday) in commemoration of the resurrection.Estimated, not verified
- Seventh Day Saturday Still BindingAffirmsTradition defaultThe seventh-day (Saturday) Sabbath remains the divinely appointed day of rest and was never legitimately changed to Sunday.Estimated, not verified
- Sharp Law Gospel DistinctionRejectsTradition defaultRightly dividing law from gospel (law as God's demand that condemns, gospel as God's gift that saves) is the central key to reading Scripture correctly.Estimated, not verified
- Third Use Normative Guide For BelieversStrongly affirmsTradition defaultThe law has a positive "third use" as the normative guide for the grateful obedience of justified believers.Estimated, not verified
- Threefold Division Moral Civil CeremonialRejectsTradition defaultThe Mosaic law is rightly divided into moral, civil (judicial), and ceremonial categories, which have different applicability today.Estimated, not verified
- Two Kingdoms Church And Civil DistinctStrongly affirmsTradition defaultGod governs through two distinct kingdoms: the spiritual (church/gospel) and the civil (state/law/reason), which should not be collapsed into one another.Estimated, not verified
Mariology Saints59 positions
- All Believers Are SaintsStrongly affirmsTradition default"Saints" in the New Testament sense means all believers, not a special canonized class.Estimated, not verified
- Altar Relics Required Or ProperStrongly rejectsTradition defaultIt is fitting (or required) that altars contain the relics of saints.Estimated, not verified
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