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STEPS TO DISCIPLESHIP
AND MEMBERSHIP IN NCAY
First Principles
If you were to die today, and were to meet Elohim (God), and He should ask you why He should let you into Heaven, what would you say?
If you are not sure, then there are some important facts you need to know:
Fact 1
Heaven (eternal life) is a FREE GIFT based on Elohim's (God's) grace.
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) our Master" (Romans 6:23, NIV).
Heaven cannot be earned or deserved.
"For it is by grace that you have been saved, through emunah (faith) -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of Elohim (God) -- not by works, so that non-one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Grace is the undeserved kindness of God toward man -- it refers to what God wants to give you which you do not deserve.
WHY, THEN, DO SO MANY PEOPLE NOT HAVE THIS GIFT?
Fact 2
Man in himself does not deserve the gift of heaven...
WHY?
Man is a sinner by nature and by choice:
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of Elohim (God)"> (Romans 3:23).
Man is incapable of doing good of his own power according to Elohim's (God's) standards:
"...there is no-one who does good, no, not one" (Romans 3:12).
"For whoever keeps the whole Torah (Law) (of mitzvot/ commandments) and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking it all" (James 2:10).
Man cannot save himself:
"(Elohim/God) saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy" (Titus 3:5).
THE RESULT OF THIS SIN IS FOUND IN FACT 3
Fact 3
There is a penalty for sin.
Elohim (God) is love -- He doesn't want to judge you.
"The Master...is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
BUT
Elohim (God) is also just -- He must judge sin.
"...He does not leave the guilty unpunished..." (Exodus 34:7)
"The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23)
DEATH
is physical death
and also spiritual death (separation from Elohim/God)
Man's basic needs are:
He tries religion, good deeds, materialism, drugs, popularity, entertainment, sex, the occult, etc., to satisfy his needs, BUT THESE DO NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF SIN.
Elohim (God) is love. He has the solution!
FACT 4 TELLS US HOW ELOHIM (GOD) HAS THE ONLY SOLUTION
Fact 4
YAH'SHUA THE MESSIAH (JESUS CHRIST) IS YOUR ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN
Who He is -- the infinite Elohim/God-man:
"In the beginning was the Davar (Word = Jesus Christ), and the Davar (Word) was with Elohim (God), and the Davar (Word) was Elohim (God)...and the Davar (Word) was made flesh, and dwelt among us" (John 1:1,14).
What He did -- He paid the penalty of our sins, and purchased a place in heaven for us:
"...Elohim (God) demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us" (Romans 5:8).
"For Messiah died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to Elohim (God)" (1 Peter 3:18).
"Yah'shua (Jesus) answered, 'I am the Derech (Way) and the Emet (Truth) and the Chayim (Life). No-one comes to the Father except through Me'" (John 14:6).
WHAT MUST YOU DO?
Fact 5
Personal faith in Messiah -- is the answer.
Emunah (Faith) is NOT -- merely mentally believing a fact:
"You believe that there is one Elohim (God). Good! Even the demons believe that -- and shudder" (James 2:19).
Many people agree that Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) lived and died, and some even agree to the fact of His resurrection! But they have not turned from sin, and trusted Him.
EMUNAH (FAITH) is -- turning from your sins and trusting in Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) alone for your eternal salvation!
"Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
"Yet to all those who received (Yah'shua the Messiah/Jesus Christ), to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of Elohim (God)" (John 1:12).
"'Believe in the Master (Lord) Yah'shua (Jesus), and you will be saved...'" (Acts 16:31).
"'Everyone who calls on the Name of the Master Yah'shua (Jesus) will be saved'" (Romans 10:13).
The word SAVED means to be delivered from sin -- from oppression, depression, or a sense of worthlessness, from egotism and self-destruction, from greed and selfishness, from hatred and cruelty, from emptiness and loneliness, from defeat and purposelessness, and all that weighs the soul down and cuts it off from the presence of Elohim (God).
Now the question is:
CAN YOU THINK OF ANY REASON WHY YOU WOULDN'T LIKE TO INVITE MESSIAH INTO YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW?
Here is a suggested prayer that may express the desire of your heart:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the gift of eternal life. I know that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. I believe Yah'shua (Jesus) is the Son of Elohim (God) and that He died for my sins and rose again from the dead. I now put my complete trust in You alone for eternal life. Thank you for delivering me! In Yah'shua's (Jesus's) Name, Amen.
If you have been in bondage to the occult, drugs, sexual abuse, homosexuality, or any other vice, then the following is a suggested prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
I want truly to be Your child, and I want to be completely free. I confess that Yah'shua (Jesus) is Master (Lord), I believe You raised Him from the dead and I confess my need for the new birth and freedom He alone can give. I want this. I renounce {the occult, drugs, sexual obsession, homosexuality, etc.} and all its lifestyle and activity. I renounce all things connected with (the occult, drugs, etc....) that have touched my life recently or have come into my life through my family or friends. I renounce it all, turn from it and ask You to forgive me, free and deliver me from all its consquences. I ask You to fill me with Your Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) and lead me in the way I should go. I count this done, and thank you for it, in the mighty Name of Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) my Master (Lord), Amen.
Pray this prayer now.
How do you know that you have eternal life?
Because Elohim (God) says so! Don't trust your feelings at this stage because the heart of an inexperienced and immature Christian can sometimes be very misleading especially if it is drawing you back to your old life of sin. But believe Elohim's (God's) promise which cannot be broken:
"And this is the testimony: Elohim (God) has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of Elohim (God) so that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:11-13).
Remember, ELOHIM (GOD) DOES NOT LIE. He said:
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: If any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me" (Revelation 3:20, KJV).
If you have taken these words into your heart and have sincerely meant what you have prayed to Elohim (God), you are a NEW CHRISTIAN/BELIEVER. You have begun your new life as a son or daughter of Elohim (God). Having freely accepted and received the salvation of Messiah, you must now grow to maturity in Him by daily trusting in Him and demonstrating your salvation by living His Torah lifestyle - obeying His mitzvot (commandments). Elohim (God) has done His part, and will continue to bless you throughout your life, but there are some other things that you must do right away:
- 1. Make a public confession of your emunah (faith) before others (Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:9-10);
- 2. Be baptised in obedience to Messiah and in testimony to your emunah (faith) (Matthew 28:19-21; Acts 8:35-39; 16:30-34; Romans 6:3-5); and
- 3. Attend a Bible-believing congregation where you can fellowship with other believers and learn the Davar Elohim (Word of God) (Acts 2:41-42; Hebrews 10:24-25).
Making a Public Confession
Accepting Messiah as Saviour (Deliverer) and Master (Lord) of your life entails what Elohim (God) calls "works" or deeds. These are the evidence that we have been saved by emunah (faith):
"Do you want evidence that emunah (faith) without deeds (works) is useless?...As the body without the spirit is dead, so emunah (faith) without deeds (works) is dead" (James 2:20,26 -- read 21-25 also).
A person who has been saved will desire with all his heart to witness to others so that they can be saved also. And he will desire this because of love. Every Christian is a witness:
"Whoever acknowledges Me before men, I will also acknowledge Him before My Father in Heaven" (Matthew 10:32).
"...if you confess (witness) with your mouth, 'Yah'shua (Jesus) is Master (Lord)', and believe in your heart that Elohim (God) raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess (witness) and are saved" (Romans 10:9-10).
This is not a once only confession but an activity that you will do all your life. It is one of the fruits of your salvation in Messiah.
Be Baptised
Whilst being baptised won't save you, it is only of the fruits of salvation, which is the desire to be obedient to Elohim (God) in all things:
"Therefore go and make talmidim (disciples) of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit), and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20).
"'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' They replied, 'Believe in the Master Yah'shua (Jesus), and you will be saved'...then immediately he and all his family were baptised" (Acts 16:30-34).
Baptism should be performed as soon as possible after you have accepted Yah'shua (Jesus) as your personal Saviour.
The word BAPTISE means to BURY or IMMERSE in water. This is a symbol of our death to sin and our raising to new life in Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ).
Baptism by immersion is a mitzvah (commandment) to all Christians (Acts 10:47-48).
"When they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the brethren, What shall we do? Then Peter said to them, Repent and let everyone of you be baptised in the name of Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit). For the promise is to you and your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as Yahweh our Elohim (God) will call. And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, Be saved from this perverse generation. Then those who gladly received his word were baptised; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles" (Acts 2:37-43, New King James Version).
Attend a Congregation
Which congregation or church should I join?
There are many thousands of different churches in the world many of which are not teaching the "apostles' doctrine".
Yah'shua (Jesus) said: "I will build My Assembly (Church)" (Matthew 16:18)
The Bible gives us the keys to identifying a true Assembly (Church) of Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ):
- 1. It will teach the doctrine of salvation as already explained.
- 2. It will in addition teach the following points of identification of Messiah's New Testament Assembly:
- 3. MESSIAH was the "cornerstone" (1 Peter 2:4-6)
- 4. REVELATION was its foundation (Matthew 16:17,18)
- 5. THE PRINCIPLES AND FRUITS OF SALVATION (Hebrews 6:1-2):
- FAITH (Hebrews 11:6)
- REPENTANCE (Mark 1:14-15)
- BAPTISMS (John 3:5)
- LAYING ON OF HANDS FOR
- Blessing of children (Mark 10:14-16)
- Healing of sick (James 5:14-16)
- Ordination to the ministry (Acts 13:2-3)
- Confirmation/Chrism (Acts 8:14-17)
- Other special blessings
- 6. STEWARDSHIP was a way of everyday living (1 Peter 4:10; Matthew 25:14-20)
- 7. LEADERSHIP consisted of:
- Apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers, pastors (Ephesians 4:11), Elders (Acts 14:23), Bishops (1 Timothy 3:1-4), Deacons (Philippians 1:1), Deaconesses (Romans 16:1-2), Prophetesses (Luke 2:36), Preachers (2 Timothy 1:11), etc.
- 8. SPIRITUAL POWER was demonstrated:
- Wisdom, knowledge, faith, miracles, healing, prophecy, discerning of spirits, supernaurally talking in contemporary foreign languages (tongues), interpreting tongues (1 Corinthians 12:1-10), visions and dreams (Acts 2:16-17), etc.
- 9. RESULTS showed in changed lives:
- Love, joy, peace, gentleness, faith, goodness, long-suffering, meekness, temperance, diligence, virtue, charity, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, knowledge (Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Peter 1:5-7), etc.
- 10. THE DAVAR ELOHIM (WORD OF GOD) was its constant guide (Matthew 24:35)
- 11. LOVE OF ELOHIM (GOD) AND FELLOW MAN was its greatest mitzvah (commandment) (Mark 12:29-31); and
- 12. THE DEEPER MYSTERIES were taught to the mature
"Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food ('meat') is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish between good and evil" (Hebrews 5:13-14).
- The authentic Assembly of Yah'shua the Messiah will not only teach the "elementary truths of the Davar Elohim (God's word)" to young believers (Hebrews 5:12) -- the "milk" Gospel -- but will also teach the "solid food" or "meat" Gospel:
"Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Messiah and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in Elohim (God), instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And Elohim (God) permitting, we will do so" (Hebrews 6:1-3).
- There are many churches and assemblies that teach the elementary or "milk" Gospel of Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) -- repentance, faith in Messiah, water baptism by immersion and Spirit baptism (the two baptisms), the laying on of hands, the resurrection and eternal judgment, and they are a very necessary part of the work of Elohim (God). But there is a time when a believer has mastered all these principles of salvation, wants to "go onto maturity", and hungers for a deeper relationship with Yah'shua (Jesus). Paul hints a little of this maturity Gospel in the fifth chapter of his letter to the Hebrew believers.
Click the image above to learn more about the Plan of Salvation
Yahweh-Elohim's Secret Wisdom
Having accepted Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) as your personal Saviour, repented of your sins, been baptised in water and the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit), and learned the elementary doctrine of the faith, and proved yourself faithful in your witness of Christ, you quality yourself for the deeper mysteries of Yahweh's Kingdom:
"'The secret of the kingdom of Elohim (God) has been given to you (talmidim/disciples). But to those on the outside (in the world) everything is said in parables...'" (Mark 4:11).
Those who are born again in Messiah come to understand the secret or mystery of His great love which is utterly incomprehensible to those who have not received Him as their Saviour. (This 'secret wisdom' has nothing to do with occult knowledge). In addition, there is a secret wisdom which God has reserved for the mature in Messiah which the babes, who feed on the Gospel milk, cannot understand:
"We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of Elohim's (God's) secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that Elohim (God) destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understand it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Master of glory. However, as it is written: 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what Elohim (God) has prepared for those who love Him' -- but Elohim (God) has revealed it to us by His Ruach (Spirit). The Ruach (Spirit) searches all things, even the deep things of Elohim (God)..." (1 Corinthians 2:6-10).
Yahweh's secret mystery is rooted in the atonement of Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ), the most important historical event of all time. It is Yahweh's desire to take His talmidim (disciples) into His very Heart, to see and understand His workings so that we, through emunah (faith) in Him, may be perfected (John 17:23, KJV).
Further Resources
1. Lev's Hot Potatoes: Hard Truths for the Remnant
2. How Do I Join ME? Advice for Seekers After Truth
3. The Distant Scene: Learning Patient Waiting in Messiah
The New Covenant Christian Assembly
The New Covenant Assemblies of Yahweh (NCAY) is a fellowship both for those coming to a newness of life in Messiah as well as those regenerated believers who desire to deepen their emunah (faith) in, and commitment to, Yah'shua (Jesus). We administer both the "milk" and the "meat" Besorah (Gospel). We are a community of contemporary nevi'im (prophets) and of revelation and have brought forth over 1,000 modern revelations that illuminate the mystery of our Messiah.
If you have taken the most important step of inviting Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) into your life for the first time, or have renewed your commitment after a period of backsliding, and now desire a group to fellowship with - of if you are already a committed believer and would like to enter deeper into the New Covenant of Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) - then we suggest you take the next steps. We are assuming, if you have access to the internet, that you are already a participant in one of our main online discussion groups. If not, then we recommend you do that right away. Additionally we suggest that you:
Further Resources
1. Conditions for Membership in the Messianic Evangelical Community
2. Fellowship and Membership in NCAY
3. 333: An Introduction to NCAY
4. What We are and Believe in a Nutshell
5. Discovering Your Place in the Local Assembly
6. A Simple Portrait of Messianic Evangelical Life
7. Instructions for Prospective NCAY Representatives in New Mission Fields
8. Organisation of the New Covenant Assemblies of Yahweh
9. Instructions for whole Congregations Seeking Membership in NCAY
10. Funding Policy of Congregations, House Fellowships & Missions
11. Funding Policy for Orphanages and Other Projects Abraod
12. The NCAY Constitution (with doctrinal & organisational summaries)
LISTEN TO THE RUACH (SPIRIT)!
Use your initiative to preach the Good of News of Messiah
where and when you can! You are His witness now.
Highly Recommended Non-NCAY Books For Personal & Group Devotions
1. Thomas à Kempis, Of the Imitation of Christ (1427) - free online
2. Germaine Copeland, Prayers That Avail Much (1977)
Quotations from the Olive Branch
"Give thanks to Elohim (God) in all things, rejoicing in each task which He giveth unto thee...For he who hath a joyful heart filled with praise soweth much Light in himself and shall become a saviour unto many.."
(OB 66:1-2)
"Therefore love one another, even as I have commanded you, not withholding your love, but giving it freely..."
(OB 98:11)
"Study My Word in the Bible that ye may not be confounded by the craftiness of men, discerning the doctrines and knowing the truth"
(OB 109:58)
"I am raising My Assembly (Church) out of the wilderness, as clear as the moon and fair as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners"
(OB 310:124)
"He who is redeemed shineth"
(OB 352:23)
"And then, beloved, when ye have truly repented, and known the cleansing of the blood of the Lamb, ye will be constrained to sing in your soul the Song of Redeeming Love"
(OB 352:129)
Also see the Salvation, Faith and Discipleship pages
This page was created on 25 December 1997
Updated on 7 January 2018
Copyright © 1987-2018 NCAY - All Rights Reserved
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