Tag: way

“I Believe!”

Yahoshua is
The Way
The Truth
The Life
Torah is
The Way, Path, Instruction
The Truth, Your Word is Truth
The Life, Man shall not live by bread alone BUT by every WORD of Elohim
Yahoshua is Torah
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1)

Yahoshua said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Salvation is found in Messiah alone. We are told, “For by grace you have been saved and not of yourselves, lest anyone boast.” Again in another place it says, “All who call upon the name of Adonai will be saved.” “So what must I do to be saved?” The question was asked, the answer given, “Believe in Adonai Yahoshua and you and your household will be saved.” What does it mean to believe? For when asking Yahoshua for a miracle a man said, “I believe, Adonai, help my unbelief.”

The word translated ‘Believe’ in each of these instances is from the Greek. It is πιστεύω pisteúō, which means: to commit to, to entrust oneself, to place oneself into. It is participatory. You see, it says that “even demons believe and tremble,” believe or to think to be true. If simply believing something to be true was enough then it wouldn’t be contrasted. But it is and thus it requires action on our part. To commit ourselves to Yahoshua. It is what He was stating when He said, “I am the way,” we are to commit to His way. “I am the truth,” we are to commit to His truth. “I am the life,” we are to commit to His lifestyle. In so doing we commit, we entrust ourselves to Him, and we place ourselves into Him, into His Word.

This is the point James was making. He wrote, “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Yahoshua stresses the same point, “Why do you call me Adonai, Adonai, and not do as I say?” When Matthew 5:17 is brought up in a discussion it is often dismissed as irrelevant. People argue it was said before his death and resurrection. There is no disputing when it was said. For relevance, to argue its dismissal, you must then believe nearly everything Yahoshua said is now irrelevant. Here is what Yahoshua said, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law (Torah) or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish them. Instead, I came to fulfill them.” Fulfill by bringing fullness and greater understanding. You can see this to be true by simply reading on in the passage. He continues, “Whoever relaxes even one of the least of these commandments will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever teaches others to do the same will have the same result.” This He said. He affirmed, “With certainty I tell you, not one dot or one tittle will pass away from the Torah.” This will continue “until all is accomplished.” The whole of Scripture to include the millennial reign of Messiah here on earth. We know this because Yahoshua speaks about the Law (Torah) and the Prophets. It is not just the Messianic prophecies of His coming, His death, and His resurrection.

So what are we to do? We are to follow the example set out for us by Yahoshua and His Apostles. We are to follow the instruction of Torah. As stated in earlier posts, we can not follow all of it nor did Israel. This is based on where we are geographically. It also depends on who we are by gender and what we do by occupation. Also, presently, there isn’t a Levitical Priesthood or a Temple, which also eliminates certain instructions found in the Torah. What then can we follow? We can without hesitation follow the Ten Commandments, to include the fourth one. Which says, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. You shall labor for six days and do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your Elohim. On it, you shall not do any work. This includes you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, your livestock, or the sojourner within your gates. In six days, Yahweh made heaven and earth. He also made the sea and all that is in them. Then, Yahweh rested the seventh day. Hence, Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” Honor Elohim’s Feast days as well of which the Sabbath is the first one mentioned. A weekly reminder of our eternal rest in Yahoshua. We can also follow the dietary instructions. These prohibitions have been proven a more healthy way of eating anyway.

These instructions are not cumbersome as some describe them. In fact knowing this argument would arise it was preemptively spoken of in Deuteronomy 30:11. “The commandment I give you today is not too difficult for you. It is not beyond your reach.” In 1 John it is reaffirmed. “For this is the love of Elohim, that we should keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.” So how does one show that they believe? What is the mark of a believer? But by doing what Messiah instructed us to do. “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” We are called to love Elohim and to love our neighbor. A summery of the Ten Commandments but also stand alone commandments of which both are found in the ‘Old Testament.’ Micah mentions what Elohim requires of us. We need to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our Elohim. It has always been about relationship with Yahweh. A personal relationship in which we walk with Him, hand in hand with our creator. His commands are for our advantage and our obedience is a sign of our commitment, it says, “I believe.”

This is the way of the Rabbi,
You are loved,
cj

The Way of the Rabbi — “It is written!”

The Way of the Rabbi — “It is written!”
Luke 6:40 — “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.”

“And Yahoshua, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.” (Matthew 4:1-2) As we read this many will only look at what we will highlight in a minute, however, this statement says a lot. For forty days, Yahoshua fasted and was tempted. We will look at three of them because that is all we get a glimpse of yet, still, i am confident that the response the entire time is the same; “It is written.” You can read the entire account in Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13.

Yahoshua, tired and hungry is tempted by the devil yet again, “If you are the Son of Elohim, command this stone to become bread.” Remember now, Yahoshua has been fasting for forty days. The Scripture says, “He was hungry.” The devil may not be all knowing but he is aware and knowledgable. In that awareness and knowledge of Scripture he will tempt you right where you are with exactly what might work, if you are not equipped to fight him off. The devil knows the Scriptures better than most if not all of humanity, and he knows how to twist it to make his temptation seem even as truth. Yahoshua, who is the Word made flesh was equipped to give the right answer. “Yahoshua answered him, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of Elohim.” The Way of the Rabbi is to confront temptation with Scripture. Yahoshua, here quotes from Deuteronomy 8:3 — “And He humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every WORD that comes from the mouth of YHWH.” As He quotes the later part of this passage, i can’t help but think that in this He was also thinking, that the Father knows of what we need. As later when asked to teach on prayer, Yahoshua says, “give us this day our daily bread.” This is the Way of the Rabbi, to hunger and thirst for righteousness. To search the scriptures daily, to meditate on them day and night. Let’s continue with temptation number two . . .

“Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of Elohim, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command His angels concerning You,’
and
‘On their hands they will bear You up, lest you strike Your foot against a stone.'”

One wouldn’t think of this as being that great a temptation. Unless you take into account all that would befall Yahoshua. When i read this temptation i am reminded of the moment Yahoshua was taken to the cliff to be thrown down by the Pharisee’s. Just after Yahoshua reads from the Prophet Isaiah in the synagogue, “The Spirit of Adonai is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of Adonai’s favor.” After reading this passage He rolled up the scroll and said, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Hearing this those in the synagogue were filled with wrath. They drove Yahoshua out of town to the cliff and were intent on throwing Him over the edge. However, just when you thought His end was near, “But passing through their midst, He went away.” The devil will tempt us to put Elohim to the test, to seek for signs and wonders, yet His promise is to be there for us in our times of trouble. There isn’t a need to test Him but to trust Him. Yahoshua responds to the devil, “Again it is written, You shall not put Adonai your Elohim to the test.” This response comes from Deuteronomy 6:16 the following verse reads, “You shall diligently keep the commandments of YHWH your Elohim, and His testimonies and His statutes, which He has commanded you. And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of YHWH, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land that YHWH swore to give to your fathers.” This is extremely important context! For the Way of the Rabbi is to do the will of the Father, to follow His commandments and statutes. Why? Because, when we live as instructed, we don’t need to worry about such things for He will take care of us. As the lesson found in Luke 4:28-30 reveals, “But passing through their midst, He went away.“

Now the devil attempts to tempt Yahoshua in a way many are tempted today. To submit to him and in so doing gain the riches of this world. “Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And He said to Him, ‘All these I will give You, if you will fall down and worship me.‘” There is an easy road that leads to destruction, this is what the Word tells us and many walk it. Even if the road isn’t easy but full of hardship, people will blame Elohim, yet they are not submitting to His way of life. The devil needn’t worry so much about them for he already has them. But the ones who are trying to walk the Way of the Rabbi are tempted, in this way, to just live free, “do as thou wilt, shall be the whole of the law.” It is the temptation of Messiah here, “don’t worry about all that stuff, just submit to me and it is Yours.” Finally, Yahoshua having had enough of the games says, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship Adonai your Elohim and Him only shall you serve.’ Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to Him.” In Yahoshua’s response He is quoting from Deuteronomy again, 6:13, the fullness of that passage reads; “It is YHWH your Elohim you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by His name you shall swear. You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you, for YHWH your Elohim in your midst is a jealous Elohim, lest the anger of YHWH your Elohim be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.” WOW! We are to “seek first the Kingdom of Elohim and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” We don’t need to submit to the devil and his temptations for we serve a Elohim who knows our needs, our wants and our desires. We are to resist the devil in this way, “IT IS WRITTEN!” and he has no choice but to flee.

However, in order to do this one must be versed in Scripture! You must know what it says, why it says it, and be confident in the promises of Elohim. Paul, who is often mis-interpreted, was a Torah observant follower of Messiah Yahoshua and he told Timothy this . . . “All Scripture is breathed out by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of Elohim may be competent, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16. He goes on in his letter to warn Timothy, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4. We live in a time of itching ears, a time where people are looking to teachers who widen the path, pervert the Word of Elohim, twist it and make a mockery of it. Yet, we are given a more perfect way, the Way of the Rabbi.

“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” Luke 6:40
“If you love Me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” John 15:4
“Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is Truth.” John 17:17

As Yahoshua said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” So is the Torah described. The Torah is known as the Way, the Path, and Instruction. As we have seen above Yahoshua is Truth, and the Torah, the Word, is Truth. He is Life, Yahoshua is life and the Torah is the life, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word of Elohim.” Yahoshua said, “If you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” Yahoshua said, “If you abide in My word you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Not free to sin or live in rebellion to YHWH and His Word but to live free from the penalty of sin and death. For by grace we have been saved and not of works that anyone should boast. Yet, we are still to live in communion and covenant with Elohim by keeping His word. It isn’t too cumbersome, His yoke is easy and His burden is light. We are to love YHWH with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. To abide in Him and in His Word. Yahoshua is His Word, made flesh, He didn’t come to contradict Himself but to reveal and make full the wonders of Elohim the Father.

Let me conclude with this verse, “Why do you call Me ‘Adonai, Adonai,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them . . . when the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” Luke 6:46-49. This is the Way of the Rabbi.

You are loved,
cj

Follow Me (part four)

Follow Me (part four)

Although Jesus said, “Follow Me,” there was one place that He said, they would not go, more specifically, Peter. Not that they wouldn’t all eventually walk that road, in some way-or-other, just that there was still more to be done. Here is the exchange between Peter and Jesus as recorded in John 13:36-38:

“Simon Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, where are you going?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.’ Peter said to him, ‘Lord why can I not follow you now? I would lay down my life for You.’ Jesus answered, ‘Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.'”

Jesus in all of His preparation had not yet completed that work, nor had they! There may come a time when we are called to lay down our lives for the cause of Christ. Yet, we shouldn’t go looking for it. Many times the disciples were arrested, but later escaped because it wasn’t their time. Eventually, each of the disciples came to a point where they followed Jesus, even to death. Some in the same way even, on a cross. All save one, John. He was exiled on the island of Patmos. Whether we give our lives as martyrs or we live a full life, we are called to follow.

There is no one else to follow. There is no other way to go. As we have explored over the past several weeks, to follow means to lay down our lives, figuratively, and quite possibly, literally. There is no question that His will must become our will, “not My will but Your will be done.” (see Matthew 26:39). Although the weight seems heavy, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. Listen to Jesus’ words to His disciples after answering Peter; John 14:1-4:

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.“

We should be comforted in Jesus words to those who Follow Him. Who truly know Him, and seek to do His will. The disciples were confused by Jesus’ words, “And you know the way . . .” to the point that Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” To which Jesus replied; (John 14:5-6)

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

If we follow Jesus, we come to know the way, the truth, and the life. And when this feeble life is over, we will enter the place prepared for us.

You are loved,

cj