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Congregational Covenant

We, the members of The Way of Salvation Messianic Congregation, have been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of Yahweh, to receive Yeshua Messiah, Jesus Christ as our Savior.


We, the members, covenant to live as a community of believers who follow Yeshua, the Messiah.


We pledge to love and support one another, to pray for one another, and to hold one another accountable in our walk of faith.


We covenant to:


1.Pursue a life of holiness and godliness, seeking to live according to the teachings of the Torah and the example of Yeshua the Messiah.

Scripture Reference: Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:15-16; 1 John 2:6.


2.Build and maintain loving relationships with one another, showing kindness, forgiveness, and understanding in our interactions with each other.

Scripture Reference: John 13:34-35; Ephesians 4:2-3; Colossians 3:12-14.


3.Support and care for one anotherin practical ways, sharing our resources and meeting each other's needs as we are able.

Scripture Reference: Acts 2:44-45; Galatians 6:2; James 2:15-17.


4.Commit to regular attendance at worship services and participation in the life of the congregation, seeking to grow in our faith through study, fellowship, and prayer.

Scripture Reference: Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 2:42-47; Colossians 3:16-17.


5.Submit to the authority of the congregation's leaders, respecting their decisions and seeking their guidance in matters of spiritual growth and congregational life.

Scripture Reference: Hebrews 13:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; Titus 1:5-9.


6.Pursue evangelism and outreach, seeking to share the good news of Yeshua the Messiah with those who do not know Him and to invite them into the fellowship of believers.

Scripture Reference: Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 1 Peter 3:15.


7.Speak the truth in love, being mindful of our words and actions towards one another, and working to promote unity and harmony within the congregation.

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 4:15-16; Colossians 4:6; Proverbs 15:1.


8.Seek to live a life of humility, acknowledging our weaknesses and shortcomings, and being open to correction and growth.

Scripture Reference: Philippians 2:3-4; James 4:6; Proverbs 27:6.


9.Make every effort to resolve conflicts in a spirit of love and reconciliation, seeking to maintain the unity of the congregation and restore broken relationships.

Scripture Reference: Matthew 18:15-17; Ephesians 4:2-3; Colossians 3:13-14.


10.Honor Yeshua the Messiah as the head of the congregation, submitting to His lordship and seeking to obey His commands in all areas of our lives.

Scripture Reference: Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23-24; John 14:15.


As members of The Way of Salvation Messianic Congregation, we commit to living out this covenant in our daily lives, relying on the grace and strength of Yeshua, the Messiah, to help us fulfill these promises. We do this for the glory of God and the advancement of His kingdom.


We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other ministry, fellowship, or household of faith, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of Yahweh’s Word.


We covenant to uphold these commitments with the help of the Holy Spirit, knowing that as we work together in love and faith, we will grow in our relationship with Yeshua and become a stronger witness to the world around us.

Covenant in the Hebrew Bible

In the Hebrew Bible, the covenant (Hebrew: berit) is the formal agreement between Yahweh and the people of Israel and Judah, in which each agrees to a set of obligations toward the other. The language and understanding of covenant is based on ancient Near Eastern treaties between nations.


The Bible understands covenant from two different perspectives. The unconditional or eternal covenant (Hebrew berit ‛olam) between Yahweh and Israel/Judah presumes that the covenant can never be broken, although it does allow for divine judgment.

The conditional covenant means that the covenant might be broken if the people fail to comply with the divine will; but even conditional formulations of the covenant, such as Deuteronomy 28-30 presume that the covenant will be restored when Israel repents. Both understandings refer to the same covenant between Yahweh and Israel, but individual texts portray this covenant from different perspectives.

The eternal covenant with Abraham (Gen 15, Gen 17) defines Yahweh’s relationship with the ancestors of Israel. Yahweh promises to serve as Abraham’s god, to make him a great nation, and to provide him and his descendants with the land of Israel. Abraham in turn promises to worship Yahweh alone and to observe Yahweh’s rules, including circumcision as the sign of the eternal covenant (Gen 17). This covenant is handed down to Abraham’s son Isaac and his grandson Jacob (Israel).


David’s eternal covenant is similar to Abraham’s, especially because it includes an eternal promise of sons ruling in Jerusalem over the land of Israel (2Sam 7). But the dynasty of David ruled for only four centuries, until the Babylonian exile in 586 B.C.E. (2Kgs 25). The Babylonian exile and the end of the house of David led many biblical authors to view the covenant as conditional. Consequently, many texts state that David’s sons will rule forever only if they observe the obligations of Yahweh’s covenant (1Kgs 2:4-5, 1Kgs 9:1-9; Ps 89, Ps 132).


The Sinai covenant narrative (Exodus 19-Numbers 10), which relates the covenant between Yahweh and all Israel, presents detailed civil and religious law collections meant to ensure a holy and just society in the land of Israel. Sabbath observance (Exodus 31:12-17) is called an eternal covenant between Yahweh and Israel, based on the Sabbath’s role as the foundation of all creation (Gen 1:1-2:3). Num 25 defines the eternal covenant granted to Phineas, grandson of Aaron, which enables his descendants to serve as priests at the Jerusalem temple.


Both Exodus–Numbers and Deuteronomy recognize the possible conditional nature of the covenant, noting that the nation will suffer punishment and exile should the people not observe Yahweh’s will. Lev 26 and Deut 28-30 contain lengthy blessings and curses to define the rewards of observance and the consequences of failure to observe the covenant, but both texts maintain that the people will be restored when they repent. Jer 31:31-34 presumes that the covenant has been broken, but proposes a new covenant based on the same observance of divine Torah or instruction.


The prophets likewise explain foreign invasion and exile as the result of the people’s failure to fulfill their obligations to Yahweh (for example, Hos 4; Amos 2:6-16). They view Israel’s restoration or return to the land following exile as a result of Israel’s repentance (Hos 14; Amos 3-5; Jer. 7) or of Yahweh’s commitment to observe the eternal covenant (Isa 40-55; Jer. 33; Ezek. 33-48).

Marvin A. Sweeney, "Covenant in the Hebrew Bible", n.p. [cited 16 Apr 2020]. Online: http://www.bibleodyssey.org/en/passages/related-articles/covenant-in-the-hebrew-bible

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