Welcome to Tree of Life

We are Torah observant, Holy Spirit filled followers of the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus/The Way). 

We believe and hold fast to the gospel/good news that was delivered to us by the direct apostles and eyewitnesses of Yeshua’s majesty (John 21:24, 2 Peter 1:16); That Messiah died for our sins in perfect accordance with the Hebrew scriptures, was buried, and bodily rose again on the 3rd day as divinely foretold in the Hebrew scriptures (1st Corinthians 15, Luke 24:44, John 20:29). 

We believe Yeshua presented himself to his apostles for 40 days after his death (Acts 1:3), then ascended into heaven where he is currently seated at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3) interceding as high priest for his elect until his enemies are made his footstool (Hebrews 1:13). 

Watch the teaching on "The of the eye witness of Yeshua": https://www.youtube.com/live/-BSl60I9oHQ

The Divinity of Messiah Yeshua:

We believe in the unanimous testimony of the apostles that Yeshua is not just a mere man or prophet but the eternal word & Son of God by whom all things were made whether in heaven or on earth, visible or invisible, thrones or dominions, rulers or principalities (John 1, Colossians 1, Hebrews 1). Therefore, the Son was not created but begotten of the Father by the Holy Spirit through the virgin Mary. He is the word of God made flesh that dwelt among us (Matthew 1:23, Mark 1:3, Luke 8:39, John 1, Philippians 2:5-7, Hebrews 2, James 5:8-10, 2nd Peter 1:1, 1 John 1, Jude 1:5, Revelation 1:17) and those who deny his deity will die in their sins (John 8:23-24).

We believe that the Son of God is a separate person from the Father yet one in unity with him as God (John 10:30, Hebrews 1:9). For in him the fullness of deity dwells bodily (Colossians 2:9).

Watch the teaching on "The Divinity of Messiah":  https://www.youtube.com/live/y3me-W6jips

The Covenants of Israel:

We believe that on the night Yeshua was betrayed he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “this is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me”. In the same way also he took the cup, after supper saying, “This cup is the New Covenant in my blood. Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1st Corinthians 11:23-25) Therefore, when we eat the bread and drink the cup we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 

We believe the New Covenant that Yeshua inaugurated was only made with the House of Israel and with the House of Judah (Hebrews 8:8) but through the blood of the Messiah both Jew & Gentile are grafted together into the same olive tree of Israel with one Torah for all peoples (Numbers 15:15, Ephesians 2, Romans 11). And while we all come from different genealogical backgrounds, in Messiah we are all spiritually Israel (Galatians 3:29, Revelation 12:17).

Watch the teaching on "The Covenants of Israel": https://www.youtube.com/live/bNxlBcUC5iY

Salvation In Yeshua Only:

We believe there is no other name under heaven by which one can be saved but Yeshua/Jesus (Acts 4:12, Matthew 1:21) and that salvation can only be obtained by grace through faith alone in him, not by our own doing or works of the Torah (Ephesians 2, Romans 3:28, Galatians 2:21). We believe that God desires for all people to be saved. He commands all people everywhere to repent but that man alone is spiritually dead in his trespasses and unable to submit to God until God grants him the ability to repent & believe by grace (2 Timothy 2:25, Ephesians 2, Romans 8:7-8, Acts 18:27, 1st Corinthians 2:14, Acts 2:47, Philippians 1:29, Matthew 11:27). We believe that the grace of God instructs us to deny living by the flesh and all lawlessness (Titus 2:12). Therefore, we do not overthrow the Torah by the faith we’ve obtained by grace; on the contrary we uphold the Torah lawfully (Not for justification - Romans 3:31, 1 Timothy 1:8). 

Watch the teaching on "Salvation in Yeshua only": https://www.youtube.com/live/hKpE-dqZaAY?si=WRd-sOLPYsAic_-R

The Sabbath and Resurrection Day:

We believe all New Covenant churches were originally instructed to keep the Sabbath (Matthew 24:20), and possibly commanded to break bread at sunset before dawn in remembrance of the 1st day of the week/Resurrection Day (Acts 20:7) but since this practice is not explicitly commanded in scripture we cannot say with absolute certainty it’s an apostolic command. We can however, show historical respect for how early it was celebrated and maintain unity by not dividing over it. For example: Pliny the Younger - “they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god”, Ignatius of Antioch to the Magnesians longer recension - “And after the observance of the Sabbath, let every friend of Christ keep the Lord's Day as a festival, the resurrection-day, the queen and chief of all the days [of the week].”, The Didache - “But every Lord's day gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure”.

Watch the teaching on "The Sabbath and Resurrection Day":  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdxKU25zqVI&list=PLcbUogHPIOx2-VTN4Mk3PMJd_IZK4Qkew&index=5

Dietary Laws and Feasts of the Lord:

We believe all New Covenant churches were originally instructed to keep Kosher (Acts 15:20, Revelation 18:2), and Biblical Feasts (1st Corinthians 5:7, Acts 27:9). These appointed times were commanded to Israel forever (Exodus 31:16, Exodus 12:14-17, Leviticus 23:10-14, Leviticus 23:15-21 Leviticus 23:27-31) and are a shadow of the Messianic kingdom to come when Yeshua soon returns to rule & reign with us from Israel for 1000 years. Therefore, no one can pass judgment on those who keep them because the body that casts the shadow is Messiah (Colossians 2:16-17, Ezekiel 44:23-24, Ezekiel 46:1, Zechariah 14:16-18, Isaiah 66:22-23). 

Watch the teaching on " Dietary Laws and Feasts of the Lord" :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5kBsbX-g_8&list=PLcbUogHPIOx2-VTN4Mk3PMJd_IZK4Qkew&index=6

Call to Holiness in the Community:

We believe any sexual relations outside of a married man and woman is sin (Leviticus 18, 1 Corinthians 7). In marriage, two become one and what God has joined together let not man separate except on the grounds of sexual immorality (Matthew 19:4-6). We believe those with same sex or trans desires can be set free instead of continuing in the LGBTQ lifestyle when they surrender their life to Yeshua the Messiah by the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:11).

Watch the teaching on " Call to Holiness in the Community": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5ed-QebEZ0&list=PLcbUogHPIOx2-VTN4Mk3PMJd_IZK4Qkew&index=7

Baptism / Mikvah / Full Time Attendance Requirements:

We believe that one should be water baptized only after first making a mature profession of repentant faith (Acts 2:38). And once someone has made a mature profession of faith they are immediately required to be baptized, abstain from all idolatry, sexual immorality, and eating of non kosher meat when joining the congregation (Acts 15:19-21). 

Baptism / Mikvah into the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh):

We believe after becoming a believer through confession (Romans 10:9) and water Baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) that believers should be Baptized in the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh - Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, John 1:33 Acts 1:5, Acts 11:16 & Acts 19:1-6) in order to fully walk in their supernatural gifts. We firmly believe in the continuation of the gifts of the spirit (1st Corinthians 12) along with the 5 fold ministry (Ephesians 4:11-13) still operating today. Helping build up the spiritual gifts is essential (1st Corinthians 12) in equipping the body of the Messiah to accomplish the great commission (Matthew 28:19-20) along with emulating Yeshua who is the end goal of the Torah (Romans 10:4). 

A Holy Convocation (Gathering):

We believe in the importance of not neglecting to meet in person (Hebrews 10:25, Leviticus 23:3). The local congregation plays a very significant role in the life of believers (Matthew 18:17), in the life of families (Titus 2:4), in the life of caring for orphans & widows (James 1:27), and in creating disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). 

Leadership:

We believe the apostles of Yeshua planted churches with a plurality of elders (Acts 14:23, Titus 1:5) that were seasoned in the scriptures and not recent converts alongside the head overseer to help instruct the sheep from scripture alone. These elders also provided wise counsel to the head overseer to prevent a one man show or from falling into error. In this way everything may be established on the evidence of two or three witnesses (1 Timothy 5:19). We believe the scriptures indicate that women can teach (Titus 2:4), prophesy (1st Corinthians 11:5), and take part in leadership in the congregations (1 Timothy 3:11, Romans 16:1) but the head overseer and final decision maker in conflicts must always be a male and husband of only one wife (1 Timothy 3).

The Bible's Supreme Authority Over Any Leadership Or Man-Made Input:

We believe the 66 books of the bible are the sole final authority over the life of every believer and by which God will judge (Matthew 22:31). All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete/equipped for every good work (2nd Timothy 3:16). 

How We may Differ From Other Messianic Congregations

We believe God has brought the Gentiles into the Messianic movement. The existence of many gentiles in the Messianic movement is part of something bigger. We believe God’s restoring Israel — physically in the land of Israel, and spiritually through Messiah — and part of that restoration is turning Jews and gentiles towards God’s commandments and towards God’s Messiah, Yeshua. 

We’re pro-unity. We’ve seen so much division among Messianics and Christians, usually over trivialities. We believe it’s time to move beyond squabbling over smaller theological issues and do the work God has set before us, to grow in Him, and to live righteously according to His commandments as we look ahead to Messiah’s return. To this end, we encourage cross-congregational meetings, groups, and co-sponsored events among the congregations in the Chicago suburbs. We encourage brothers and sisters in Messiah to put aside the nitpicking and theological squabbling that has too often defined us, and turn towards one another as family in Messiah.

We’re Spirit-filled! We believe in the importance of waiting on the Lord during worship, listening for his voice, letting God speak to His people, letting worship be a time of heartfelt thanksgiving to God. Too many Messianic congregations have relegated the move of God’s spirit — the very thing that started the Messianic movement — to the back seat, replaced with more religious tradition and Judaism-emulation. At Tree of Life Tabernacle, those things take a back seat to God’s spirit, and we think that’s the way it ought to be.

The Tree of Life Tabernacle comes from the Scriptures: Ya‘akov (James) broke the silence to reply. “Brothers,” he said, “hear what I have to say. Shim‘on has told in detail what God did when he first began to show his concern for taking from among the gentiles a people to bear his name. And the words of the Prophets are in complete harmony with this for it is written,

“After this, I will return;
 and I will rebuild the fallen tabernacle of David.
 I will rebuild its ruins,
 I will restore it,
 so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
 that is, all the gentiles who have been called by my name,”
 says Adonai, who is doing these things.

 -Acts 15, referencing Amos 9

What Ya’akov HaTzadik (James the Just) saw so long ago — gentiles coming to faith in the God of Israel through Israel’s Messiah — has come into its fullness today as members of every nation and every people have come to Israel’s God through Israel’s Messiah. We are comprised of Jews and Gentiles from all walks of life, of various ages and backgrounds, who call Tree of Life Tabernacle their welcoming home.