Statement of Faith

First Fruits of Zion’s statement of faith represents our commitment to the Word of God and our calling as Jewish and Gentile disciples of Yeshua. First Fruits of Zion is part of the modern Messianic Jewish movement in dialogue with Messianic Jewish theological forums, in good standing with the MJAA (Messianic Jewish Alliance of America), and an endorsed organization of the UMJC (Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations). As such, First Fruits of Zion fully endorses and supports the UMJC statement of faith in addition to our summary below.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11—14)

We believe in one God, as He has revealed Himself in the Scriptures. "Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is One." Our one God has revealed Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Every divine action in the world is accomplished by the Father working through the Son and in the power of the Spirit. This God has revealed Himself in creation and in the history of Israel as transmitted in Scripture. (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; I Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:4-6)

We believe that Yeshua is the Son of God, the Messiah, the Eternal One in whom all the fullness of deity dwells in bodily form, and who is the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us, and whose glory we beheld, the glory of the uniquely begotten Son of God, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-14; Colossians 2:9)

We believe that the Spirit of God comforts, teaches, leads, indwells and empowers all whom God regenerates. (Acts 9:31; 1 John 2:27; John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Timothy 1:7)

We believe that the Bible, both the Tanach (Old Testament) and the Apostolic Scriptures (New Testament), are the only inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

We believe that all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

We believe Yeshua's death and resurrection accomplished the atonement for all who place their faith in him. Whoever trusts in God, in his work alone, is made a new creation in Yeshua, indwelt by the Spirit of God, and is transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of his own Son. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 5, 6)

We believe in justification by faith through the grace of God alone, and not by human efforts. One may not earn, merit, or keep this eternal salvation by his own efforts. A new creation is the work of God alone. (Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 8:29-39)

We believe in the spiritual unity and equality of all believers in Yeshua the Messiah. (Ephesians 2:11-22)

We believe in the continuity of God's covenants with the Jewish people, the physical people of Israel (Jeremiah 31:35-36 and parallel passages). Part of the fulfillment of these covenants is the physical return of the Jewish people to their promised land. (Deuteronomy 30)

We believe that all non-Jewish people who trust in Yeshua are grafted into Israel. While this does not make them Jewish, they are full and equal participants in the covenants of promise. (Ephesians 2:12; Romans 11:11-24; Jeremiah 31:33)

We believe that the Torah is a revelation of the righteousness of God and a description (along with the rest of Scripture) of the lifestyle of the redeemed community. (Matthew 5:17-19; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

We believe in the literal, physical return of Messiah to rule and reign upon the throne of David in Jerusalem. We hold to a premillennial view of his return. (Zechariah 14; Revelation 19-20)