FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY?
If you read our profiles or listen carefully to our broadcasts here on Just a Word Radio, you will hear us referring to ourselves as followers of the way.
What does this mean?
You will also hear us speaking about when we found “the way.”
What is this way?
CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH ONCE DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS
Well, that was the name given to the first believers in Messiah.
No, they were not called Christians. That religion came after, and we are encouraged to contend for the faith ONCE delivered to the saints. That means we must hold fast to the original faith and not to any alterations made by man.
Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
So in contending for that faith ONCE delivered, we reject the labels placed by man and refer to ourselves according to the faith once delivered to the saints.
THE WAY THEY CALL HERESY
But where is it mentioned that the early saints were followers of the way?
Act 24:14 But this I confess unto thee, that after THE WAY which they call heresy, so worship I the Aluah of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
The way they called heresy then, is the same way they call heresy now. The Jews at the time of Paul called it heresy to keep the law through faith in the Messiah.
Even so today, the Christians (and Jewish) say it is heresy to keep the law through faith in Messiah. Christians even say if you do so, you are fallen from grace. However, they misunderstand Sha’ul’s (Paul’s) writings as they do not understand the scriptures, so they misunderstand to their own destruction:
2Pe 3:15-16 And account that the longsuffering of our Master is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable (in the law) wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
It is this same way that the Apostles and early disciples were persecuted for.
WHO OR WHAT IS THE WAY?
Now where did this way come from?
Joh_14:5-6 Thomas saith unto him, Master, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Yahusha saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
That is where the way came from. By following the Messiah, we walk in the way, the narrow path that leads to life. By following him, we will walk as he walked in obedience to his Father’s laws, through faith:
1Jn 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
MORE EVIDENCE OF THE WAY IN THE BIBLE
Now where else can we see mention of this “Way?” Here is a list of reference verses showing that the faith was indeed called “the way” or “this way” or “that way.”
Act_18:25 This man was instructed in the way of the Master; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Master, knowing only the baptism of John.
2Pe_2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
2Pe_2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
Act_9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Act_22:4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
Act_19:9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
Act_19:23 And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.
Act_24:22 And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW THE WAY?
Being followers of the way is important, as it tells us that it is not following a religion, but a way of life led by us following the Messiah himself.
It is a dynamic way of life, responding to different challenges of life, through obedience to Torah, whilst being led by the Holy Spirit. It is not a static religion nor denomination.
The first followers of Yahusha called themselves “the Way,” a name that echoes Jewish halakha, the “way of life” enshrined in the Torah, as well as the disciples’ belief thatYahusha was “the way” to Aluah the Father.
The earliest community that formed in Jerusalem after Yahusha’s execution was composed of the original disciples and pilgrims who had traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate the holy days. United by the conviction that Jesus’ resurrection was a sign of covenant renewal and the new creation, these Jews marched through the Red Sea of baptism into a radically new way of life, one in which all possessions were held in common, there were no needy persons, and all members were “of one heart and mind.” Source.
Already we are seeing differences between followers of the way and modern Christianity. Back then, they had fellowship in ekklesias, called out, set apart assemblies where the common good of members was priority.
Today, we have Christianity, where the common good is of little or no priority, and the church building and organization, plus the pastor are the priorities.
Plainly there, we see we are already in error for not following the way. All truth matters.
Conclusion
So we go back to the old path, which is the good way and strive to not depart from it. Hence when you see us referring to the Way, you may know where it is coming from. It is the true faith of the Bible, not the false belief through the man made denominational religion of modern Christianity.