04/08/2026
We Follow Yeshua the Messiah of Israel, Not Man-Made Religious Traditions?
Our faith begins not with a denomination, a religious institution, or a tradition developed by men, but with Yeshua the Messiah of Israel. Yeshua came as the promised Messiah within the covenant story of Israel. He taught His disciples to follow the will of the Father and to live according to the Word of God.
Yeshua Himself warned against allowing human tradition to replace God’s commandments:
“You depart from the command of God and hold onto human tradition.”
— Mark 7:8
The issue, therefore, is not whether every tradition is automatically wrong, but whether a tradition overturns, replaces, or contradicts the commandments of Adonai.
Faith in Yeshua Does Not Abolish Torah
Yeshua’s teaching in Matthew 5:17–19 is foundational:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete.”
Whatever interpretation one gives to “complete” or “fulfill,” Yeshua immediately makes clear that His coming does not authorize His disciples to disregard God’s commandments.
He continues by saying that whoever teaches others to disregard even the least of the commandments is called least in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Therefore, following Yeshua cannot mean rejecting the Father’s Torah. Rather, Yeshua teaches us how to understand and live it according to its true purpose.
Yeshua Is the Perfect Example of Torah Obedience
Yeshua did not merely teach Torah—He lived it.
He observed Shabbat, participated in the appointed times, worshiped within the Israelite framework, quoted the Torah as authoritative Scripture, and repeatedly appealed to the commandments of God.
When challenged concerning Shabbat, He did not say that Shabbat had become irrelevant. Instead, He declared:
“For the Son of Man is Lord of Shabbat.”
— Matthew 12:8
The question for His followers, therefore, is not merely, “What religious tradition does my church practice?”
The deeper question is:
“How did Yeshua live, and are we willing to follow Him?”
Shabbat Is Part of Following the Messiah
The fourth commandment says:
“Remember the day, Shabbat, to set it apart for God.”
— Exodus 20:8
Shabbat was established at creation, given to Israel in the Torah, included in the Ten Commandments, and observed by Yeshua.
For us, therefore, Shabbat is not merely a Jewish cultural custom. It is a commandment of Adonai and a sign of our desire to walk according to His Word.
We keep Shabbat not because keeping a day earns salvation, but because we love the One who gave the commandment.
Obedience is the fruit of faith—not the purchase price of salvation.
Faith and Obedience Belong Together
The biblical concept is not:
“We are saved by works instead of faith.”
Nor is it:
“We have faith, therefore God’s commandments no longer matter.”
Rather:
Faith in Yeshua produces faithful obedience to God.
Sha’ul (Paul) himself says:
“Does it follow that we abolish Torah by this trusting and believing? Heaven forbid! On the contrary, we confirm Torah!”
— Romans 3:31, CJB
This is important because Torah obedience is sometimes falsely presented as the opposite of faith. But the New Testament itself repeatedly connects faith, obedience, righteousness, and holiness.
Matthew 7:21–23 Is a Serious Warning
Yeshua’s warning is particularly sobering:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, only those who do what my Father in heaven wants.”
He then speaks about those who performed religious works while being rejected because they practiced lawlessness (anomia).
The lesson is powerful:
Calling Yeshua “Lord” is not enough. Religious activity is not enough. Claiming faith is not enough. Yeshua calls His disciples to do the Father’s will.
This is why our faith must be examined according to the teaching of the Messiah rather than merely according to inherited religious traditions.
We Are Rooted in Israel’s Covenant Story
Romans 9:4–5 reminds us that Israel received:
* the adoption,
* the glory,
* the covenants,
* the giving of the Torah,
* the Temple service,
* the promises,
* the patriarchs,
and from Israel, according to the flesh, came the Messiah.
Therefore, the Messiah did not come to create a religion disconnected from Israel and its Scriptures.
Yeshua is the Messiah of Israel.
The Gospel is the good news concerning Israel’s promised Messiah and the Kingdom of God. Gentiles who put their trust in Him are brought into God’s covenant purposes rather than being given permission to discard the biblical foundation upon which the Messiah Himself stands.
Our Position as Followers of Yeshua
Therefore, we can say:
We are not trying to return to Torah instead of Yeshua.
We follow Torah because we follow Yeshua.
We do not keep Shabbat to replace the Messiah.
We keep Shabbat because the Messiah is Lord of Shabbat.
We do not obey the commandments to purchase salvation.
We obey because we have received God’s grace and desire to walk faithfully with Him.
Our authority is not denominational tradition, church customs, or later religious systems. Our foundation is Adonai’s Word, the Torah and the Prophets, and the testimony and teaching of Yeshua the Messiah and His apostles.
In One Statement
We follow Yeshua, the Hebrew Messiah of Israel. We believe that Yeshua did not come to abolish the Torah of Adonai but to teach us its true meaning and to live it faithfully. Therefore, our faith in Yeshua is expressed through obedience to the Father, including honoring His Shabbat. We reject any human tradition that contradicts or replaces God’s commandments. We seek not merely to call Yeshua “Lord,” but to do the will of the Father, walking in faith, obedience, holiness, and love according to His Word.
Faith in Yeshua.
Obedience to Adonai.
Faithfulness to His Torah.
Honor for Shabbat.
Hope in the coming Kingdom of God.
