Last week someone asked me about my faith.
“What’s the difference between the institutional church, and what you call, The Way?”
There are differences that I believe are important to talk about. But we do have one similarity. And it’s a big one!
- Salvation through Messiah
Here is an important truth we can all agree upon – Those who follow The Way (See teaching – The Way) acknowledge the work of Yahusha (Jesus) the Messiah. This is a cornerstone of the institutional church as well.
“For by favor you have been saved, through belief, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of Elohim, it is not by works, so that no one should boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9
We trust in and follow the Messiah. To put it simply, In The Way, we understand that He came to become our High Priest to make atonement for our sins.
Yahusha become a compassionate and trustworthy High Priest (Hebrews 2:17). The Father even prophesied about this in Psalms 110. You and I are unable to raise ourselves to everlasting life. Only the Messiah can provide that salvation.
Also, we both understand that it is “impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin” – Hebrews 10:4. The Levitical priesthood was only a copy (Hebrews 8:5 and Exodus 25:40) of the heavenly priesthood (which is the Malkitsedeq). This became a stumbling block to many of those who remained in the practice of the Pharisees and Sadducees. This was Paul’s former life in Judaism (Galatians 1:13). We can both understand that the Scriptures speak explicitly about our need for Yahusha Messiah!
“Who is the liar, except the one denying that Yahusha is the Messiah? This is THE ANTI-MESSIAH, the one denying the Father and the Son. No one denying the Son has the Father. The one confessing the Son has the Father as well.” – 1 John 2:22-23
One of the Torah commands in Deuteronomy 18 is to follow the Prophet who is likened unto Moses. The Father instructs us to listen to this Prophet and to obey Him, or be cut off (Deuteronomy 18:19). Peter confirms that this Prophet is indeed the Messiah (Acts 3:23). Stephen is our third witness (Acts 7:37). Paul elaborates on this Torah command and reminds us that even natural branches are cut off if they do not obey this Prophet.
“By unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by belief. Do not be arrogant, but fear.” – Romans 11:20
Do we believe in and follow Messiah? Of course! There is only one active priesthood – the Malkitsedeq – and Yahusha is the High Priest of that system. Anyone who does not believe in Yahusha has no High Priest, which is essential for salvation.
But that means more than mere lip service. And herein lies the main difference between the institutional church and The Way.
- Covenant Faithfulness
“If you love Me, you shall guard My commands.” – John 14:15
In Scripture, obedience is never divorced from belief. Covenant faithfulness can be equated with Torah observance. The Torah contains the instructions of the Most High. Do you notice how John equates BELIEF with OBEDIENCE?
“He who BELIEVES in the Son possesses everlasting life, but he who DOES NOT OBEY the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of Elohim remains on him.” – John 3:36
In The Way, we acknowledge the importance of obedience to the Father’s instructions. Yet the Torah (law) is often looked at in a negative light in the institutional church. But Scripture never says that.
What does it mean to be in covenant faithfulness? It means to follow God’s eternal Torah (Psalms 119:142). This would mean the Ten Commandments (including the Sabbath), His eternally commanded Appointed Times, the health-giving dietary instructions, and other right-rulings regarding loving God and loving your neighbor. They all have their origins in the Book of the Covenant, which was agreed upon and blood ratified. These are God’s instructions.
“For I gave you good instruction: Do not forsake my Torah.” – Proverbs 4:2
What does “Torah” mean? It comes from the root word, “Yarah,” which means to shoot an arrow and hit the mark (See teaching – Are You Missing the Mark?). It is merely the behavior and characteristics of the Father, which was exhibited by Yahusha while He was on earth. Do you want to know more about the Torah and what God (and every other writer of Scripture) expects believers to do? Read the following – Are you a Believer? Follow Torah.
Followers of The Way, which included Paul and every other true disciple, kept the Torah. True belief and discipleship will always result in guarding the commandments.
“Here is the endurance of the set-apart ones, here are those guarding the commands of Elohim AND the belief of Yahusha (Jesus).” – Revelation 14:12
The institutional church will tell you obedience to the commandments is legalism. They have maintained a focus on the blood of Yahusha (Jesus) but failed to connect it to obedience. Scripture warns against this.
“Become DOERS OF THE WORD, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” – James 1:22
Are you a doer of the Word? That involves obedience. Have you repented from sin? That involves obedience. Do you guard the commands? Again, obedience.
Covenant faithfulness means guarding what the Father has set apart and walking in His ways.
We can both agree that Yahusha (Jesus) is the Messiah. That’s a wonderful thing. But it is time to depart from our lawlessness (being without Torah) before the Messiah tells us to depart from Him (Matthew 7:23).
Shalom!
FAITH IN MOTION 