BESORAH
Institute for Judaic-Christian Studies & Biblical Research
“The vision and mission of the Besorah Institute is to help increase understanding among the members of the Body of Christ (The Church) of their Jewish roots, to train individuals for lay ministry to share the Gospel message with non-believers from a Judaic-Christian perspective, and to add to the literature on Biblical research.”
Our Educational Philosophy Statement
We believe, as 1 Peter 2:9 states, that all believers in Jesus (Yeshua) are ministers for the Kingdom of God and that each has been supernaturally gifted (1 Corinthians 12) and empowered by the Holy Spirit to help fulfill whatever ministry (vocational or lay) he or she has been called to do. It is our responsibility, then, as a religious learning and research institution to encourage students, our co-laborers (1 Corinthians 3: 9, NIV) in Jesus’(Yeshua’s) Great Commission (Matthew 28: 16-20), to grow in their knowledge of the Bible in its original historical and cultural context, to make applications of the Scriptures to life in today’s world, and to help prepare them for whatever ministry they have been divinely inspired to undertake. We also believe it is important to encourage our students to make valuable contributions to the current literature on Biblical research so that others may grow in their knowledge of God as well. All this we do from a Judaic-Christian perspective.
What we believe…
There is only one true, perfect, and holy God, who exists eternally in three persons: God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is Elohim, the creator of the heavens and the earth, and the same God of both the Old (Tanakh) and New (Brit Chadasha) Testaments.
The Old and New Testament Scriptures were God breathed. Together they are a complete continuous story and revelation of His plan and will for the salvation of all mankind. They instruct believers on how to live a holy life in obedience to the will of God.
Jesus (Yeshua) or God incarnate, existed as both God and man when He walked the face of the earth. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary. He dwelt among us, growing up in a Jewish home and following Jewish law and practices throughout his life. He was perfect and without sin. He is our kinsman redeemer and fulfills all of the Old Testament prophecies for the coming Messiah. Jesus (Yeshua) did not come to abolish the law but to bring clear understanding of it.
Jesus (Yeshua) came as a suffering servant. He died on the cross (Roman execution stake) as a sinless (keeping the law perfectly) substitutionary sacrifice for humankind. Jesus (Yeshua) rose from the dead through the power of the Holy Spirit and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father as our great High Priest. He will come again to establish His physical kingdom and bring peace on the earth.
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He like the Father and the Son is divine. He came to indwell, guide, comfort, teach, and empower the believer in Jesus (Yeshua). He also came to convict the world of sin and unrighteousness. In addition, He equips the believers with spiritual gifts for ministry. The fruits of the Spirit should be evident in every believer’s life.
Mankind (male and female) were originally created in the image of God (Elohim). The first humans fell from grace through disobedience, bringing about both physical and spiritual death. As a result, all of humankind is born with a sinful nature, are separated from a relationship with God, and can only be saved and experience a restored relationship with God through the atoning work of Jesus (Yeshua).
It is the will of God that no one perish. Through God’s love and mercy, those who repent from sin and accept Jesus (Yeshua) as Lord and Savior are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive the gift of eternal life, and become the children of God and heirs to His kingdom. They are all ministers who have the law written on their hearts and are dedicated to the service of God and others.
The believer becomes a member of the Church or Body of Christ. Jesus (Yeshua) is the Head of that body, which He has commissioned to go out into the world to be a witness and to preach the Gospel message to all nations, making disciples everywhere.
The Kingdom of God exists now spiritually on the earth. It will come physically when Jesus (Yeshua) returns a second time. Jesus (Yeshua) will come this time as King. His coming is close at hand and will be a personal experience and witnessed by everyone at the same time. It will take place prior to His reign on the earth.
There will be a bodily resurrection of the just/saved and of the unjust/unsaved when Jesus (Yeshua) returns to earth. For the just, there will be a resurrection unto life in heaven; for the unjust, there will be a resurrection unto death and separation from God. The world will be eradicated of all sin and evil, heaven and earth will be renewed, and we will live together with God in peace and harmony for eternity.