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Congregation of Yahweh, Panama City

Congregation of Yahweh

Panama City, Florida

(Note of clarification: Terms like "we", "us", and "our" are used on this website to refer to many of "us" but not necessarily all who assemble with "us". Use of the word "member" is not intended to imply that there is an official "membership roll", rather it is meant to imply local "members of the Body of Messiah" who meet regularly in our fellowship. We do not have a "religious corporation" or "501c3 tax exempt status").

The Congregation of Yahweh is an independent, loosely associated network of believers who seek the truths contained in Scripture. As such, each of our members may hold some different beliefs. We do not like to classify believers as "Christians", "Protestants", "Jews" or other such labels. These classifications tend to sow seeds of prejudice and hate among people. A true worshipper of Yahweh who seeks to be in covenant with Him regards not any earthly label or praise of man.

Our aim is to promote the opposite, that is understanding and harmony. Our network does not use a system where one member or person is more important or higher ranking than others. We believe that all who come or meet with us are equal. Our aim is to help each other achieve knowledge, understanding, and to have fellowship.

Most of our members do however share some common beliefs. We encourage each person to research the information presented here using the Scriptures and other reputable sources including a standard American English dictionary, a Bible dictionary, a concordance and perhaps a comprehensive encyclopedia. In the following paragraphs, we will present some words that we commonly use and their definitions.

Tetragrammation
The tetragrammation is a group of four ancient Hebrew characters represented in the English language as YHWH. There is some debate among biblical scholars whether this tetragrammation is pronounced Yahweh or something similar. Most who assemble with us pronounce the Father's Name as "Yahweh". We depend on His Spirit to teach us all things. Therefore we walk in the light that is given to us at this time in our learning experience.

YHWH (Yahweh)
The true personal Name of the eternal, all present, all powerful Mighty One who rules the universe and everything within. Where the translators saw the true personal Name, they replaced it with the title, "LORD" (which also just happens to be one of the English translations of the word "Ba'al") in most English translations of Scripture. This deliberate removal of the Creator's Name from scripture and replacing it with a common title of idolatry was supposedly done to keep people from accidently blaspheming His Name. The end result was actually to violate the 3rd command by bringing His Name to naught (vanity). We use the tetragrammaton YHWH, the true exalted personal Name of the Eternal One.

Elohim
Elohim is a uni-plural term meaning "Mighty One(s)", usually referring to a spiritual family revealed as Yahweh the father, and Yahshua (Yahushuah) the Son. "God" is NOT a personal name of the heavenly Father.

YAHSHUA
Messiah's name means "Yah is Salvation" or "Yah's Salvation". The Son of Yahweh is the Salvation of Yahweh.

"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name YAHSHUA: for he shall save his people from their sins." - (Matthew 1:21)

This verse shows us that His Name has a meaning. Other substitute names such as the grecianized/latinized "Iesous" or it's English equivalent "Jesus", have no such meaning contained within it. As a side note, we find it interesting that until about 500 years ago, there was no letter "J" in the English language and there is still no "J" sound in Hebrew or Greek, nor was there in the past.

Yahshua was the prophesied Messiah of the Old Testament who came in the flesh (Acts 2:30, Romans 1:3). He was manifested on this earth in human form as the "Son of Man" to die for the sins of all mankind as the our Saviour. (John 3:16). He was then resurrected and ascended to heaven, from where He shall return to the earth to establish the Kingdom of YHWH on earth (Deut. 18:15; Acts 1:7-11; Acts 2:30-31) Most of us feel that the Greco/Latin/English name of Iesous/Jesus could never possibly have been the name of a Hebrew Messiah who's family spoke Hebrew. We feel any serious study of basic linguistics will bear this out plainly.

MOST of our conregation have a few common beliefs. These beliefs are shown below. On some of these beliefs, we will provide links to other sections of our site and to other places in order to provide further information and documentation.

We believe that the Scripures (Bible) are the divinely inspired words of Yahweh containing His plan of salvation, and the record of His participation in history. It is the foundation of knowlege and guidebook to life. We also believe that the Set-apart (Holy) Spirit is the spiritual extension of Yahweh, Elohim and the awesome mechanism to call His people out from the world system in the name of His Son. It strengthens His people spiritually and converts their minds (Luke 24:29; Rom. 8:9-14). We also believe in immersion (baptism) in water to symbolize the death of our old sinful self after repenting and the beginning of our new life through the acceptance of Yahshua, our Savior (Rom. 6:4-8; Col. 2:12). It is the declaration of our intention to change our sinful nature through the power of the Set-apart Spirit (Acts 2:38). Elohim gives us salvation through unmerited favor (Eph. 2:8).

Our unwavering trust that Elohim does exists and that He will accomplish the things promised (Heb. 11:1-13; James 2:17-18) is called belief, or faith. Although we believe that salvation is granted soley because of unmerited favor through YHWH's love and Yahshua's sacrifice, we also believe the Torah is still valid today. The Torah is also known as the Law or Teachings. The first five books of the Old Testament are known collectively as the Torah. The Laws of Elohim are all given in the Torah. This includes but is not limited to the Ten Commandments and Annual Sabbaths. In the New Testament, when Yahshua mentioned the Law, He was talking about the Torah. He lived by the Law and taught us to follow His example (Matt. 5:17-19; 1 John 2:3-7). We learn in 1 John 3:4, "Whoever commits sin trangresses also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law". We believe that eternal life is partially dependent on our repenting of sin as our Master has declared.

"From that time Yahshua began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." - Matthew 4:17.

"Yahweh is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." - II Peter 3:9.

We believe that Yahweh can accomplish ANYTHING that HE wills. This is GREAT NEWS!

One of our core beliefs is keeping the 7th day of the week as the Sabbath (Gen. 2:20-3). The Gregorian calandar as well the Jewish calandar shows Saturday as the 7th day. This is the day that the Messiah Himself kept as the Sabbath (Luke 4:16). The Apostles also kept the Sabbath. It is observed from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday (Acts 13:44 & 17:2).

We also keep Yahweh's Annual Sabbaths (Appointed Times or Feast Days). The Appointed Times (Feast Days) are found in Leviticus 23. There are seven annual Appointed Times, each of which were given to Moses by Yahweh. Yahshua and the Apostles all observed them. (Shouldn't we?)

Passover (Luke 22:8-11)
Days of Unleavened Bread (Acts 20:6)
Pentecost (Feast of Weeks) (Acts 2:1)
Feast of Trumpets (Lev. 23:24)
Day of Atonement (Acts 27:9)
Feast of Tabernacles (Acts 18:21)
Last Great Day (John 7:37)

Resurrection

The hope of all beliefs and the promise to mankind is the resurrection from the dead. The Scriptures speak of more than one resurrection:

The resurrection of the Messiah (Acts 2:32).

The resurrection of the true believers (firstfruits) at the return of Yahshua when they shall become spirit-composed members of Messiah's body (Romans 12:5; 1 Cor. 15:50-53; James 1:18).

The resurrection back to physical life of all who have ever died not having understood the truth, for their first opportunity for salvation (Dan. 12:2; Luke 10:2; Mark 4:28,29; Rev. 20:4-5).

The resurrection of all those who will refuse to repent (after learning the Truth) and who utterly reject Elohim's Truth, who will eventually be thrown into the lake of fire which is called the second death (Dan. 12:2; Rev. 20:13-14). Exactly what the lake of fire and the second death entails is something we will not know about in fullness until a later time. There are many differing opinions on this matter. However, it is important to realize that the called-out ones who are part of the soon coming resurrection of the "firstfruits" will not even be subject to the second death. Therefore for this reason and others, it is far better to be in the "firstfruits" resurrection.

There is one LAW for the Israelites and the same for the stranger. (Ex. 12:49; Lev 24:22; Is. 56:6; Acts 17:30-31).

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