Understanding why we use the Sacred Names Yahweh and Yahshua, and why we worship on the seventh-day Sabbath.
"I am Yahweh: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another."
Isaiah 42:8When we use "Yahweh" and "Yahshua," we are referring to the names of our Heavenly Father and His Son in their original Hebraic form. In many Bibles, the term "LORD" in all capitals translates the original Hebrew name of our Creator, known as the tetragrammaton: YHWH. Over time, and out of reverence, this name was replaced in translations with titles like "LORD" or "GOD." For those in the Sacred Names movement, there is deep significance in calling upon Him by His original name — Yahweh.
Yahshua, known to many as Jesus, has a Hebrew name that incorporates "Yah" — a short form of Yahweh. By using "Yahshua," we recognize and affirm the Messiah's divine connection to the Father. We believe there is power and authenticity in addressing our Savior by His original name, which reflects His Hebrew heritage and His relationship with Yahweh.
Our desire to use these names is about personal conviction — seeking authenticity and connecting deeply with the roots of our faith. We respect all sincere worshippers, knowing our Heavenly Father knows the heart regardless of language used.
The original Hebrew texts of the Bible contain the unique name of our Creator — YHWH. Over time, translations replaced this sacred name with generic titles such as "God" and "Lord." While these titles describe positions of authority, they are not unique to the Elohim of Israel. Many cultures use these same terms.
We desire to address our Creator with the specificity and uniqueness He deserves. Using "Yahweh," we believe we are connecting directly with the name He revealed to His people rather than using titles that could apply to various entities. Similarly, "Yahshua" more closely echoes the name His family and disciples used, and emphasizes His divine relationship with Yahweh the Father.
"And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of El Shaddai, but by my name Yahweh was I not known to them."
Exodus 6:3The Sabbath in the Ten Commandments is explicitly the seventh day (Exodus 20:8-11). Yahweh rested on the seventh day and sanctified it at creation (Genesis 2:2-3). We uphold the pattern set by our Creator.
Throughout biblical history, the Israelites consistently observed the Sabbath on the seventh day. Yahshua Himself observed the Sabbath (Luke 4:16). We align with this longstanding, Scripture-based practice.
Hebrews 4 speaks of a "Sabbath-rest for the people of Yahweh." Observing the physical Sabbath foreshadows the spiritual rest we have in Yahshua and the coming rest in His Kingdom.
By setting apart Saturday as the Sabbath, we make a conscious decision to return to what we believe are the original practices of the early believers — a day of rest, reflection, and rejuvenation in our relationship with Yahweh.
