Who or what is a follower of The Way. What does the Torah have to do with The Way. And how do they differ from people who call themselves Christian today?
Who Is a Follower of “The Way”?
A follower of The Way is a disciple who seeks to live as Yeshua lived, believe what He taught, obey Yahweh’s commandments, and prepare for the coming Kingdom of Yahweh.
The book of Acts repeatedly described their faith as “the Way.”
“But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the Elohim of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets.”
— Acts 24:14
Other examples include:
- Acts 9:2 — Saul searched for people belonging to “this Way.”
- Acts 19:9 — Some spoke evil of “that Way.”
- Acts 19:23 — A disturbance arose concerning “that Way.”
- Acts 22:4 — Paul said he had persecuted “this Way.”
- Acts 24:22 — Felix had knowledge concerning “that Way.”
“The Way” was not merely the name of an organization. It described a way of believing, worshipping, and living.
Yeshua said:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
— John 14:6
Therefore, a follower of the Way follows Yeshua as the way leading to Yahweh.
The Way Began With Yahweh
“The Way” did not originate in the book of Acts. Scripture had already spoken about the way of Yahweh:
“For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of Yahweh, to do justice and judgment.”
— Genesis 18:19
“Teach me thy way, O Yahweh; I will walk in thy truth.”
— Psalm 86:11
“Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of Yahweh.”
— Psalm 119:1
“Prepare ye the way of Yahweh, make straight in the desert a highway for our Elohim.”
— Isaiah 40:3
Yeshua did not establish a path that opposed His Father. He perfectly demonstrated the way of Yahweh.
What Does the Torah Have to Do With the Way?
The Torah is the first 5 books of the Bible and means instruction, teaching, or direction. It includes Yahweh’s commandments and describes how His people are to live.
The Torah does not replace Yeshua, and Yeshua does not compete with the Torah. Yeshua is the living example of Yahweh’s instructions being practiced perfectly.
Yeshua obeyed the Torah
Yeshua:
- Kept the Sabbath — Luke 4:16
- Observed Passover — Luke 22:15
- Attended the Feast of Tabernacles — John 7:2–14
- Quoted the Torah as authoritative — Matthew 4:4, 7, 10
- Taught obedience to Yahweh’s commandments — Matthew 19:17
- Never committed sin — Hebrews 4:15
Since Scripture defines sin as the transgression of the law, Yeshua’s sinless life means that He never violated Yahweh’s law:
“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”
— 1 John 3:4
Yeshua did not abolish the Torah
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”
— Matthew 5:17
To fulfill does not mean to abolish. Yeshua immediately continued:
“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven.”
— Matthew 5:19
He fulfilled the Torah by obeying it, demonstrating its true meaning, and accomplishing what was written prophetically concerning Him.
Paul continued believing the Torah
Paul’s confession is especially important:
“So worship I the Elohim of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets.”
— Acts 24:14
Paul did not describe the Way as freedom to disregard Yahweh’s commandments. He wrote:
“Do we then make void the law through faith? Yahweh forbid: yea, we establish the law.”
— Romans 3:31
He also said:
“The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.”
— Romans 7:12
The new covenant writes Yahweh’s law upon the heart
The new covenant does not say that Yahweh’s law disappears. It says that the law moves from stone into the minds and hearts of His people:
“I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts.”
— Hebrews 8:10; compare Jeremiah 31:31–33
The difference is not law versus no law. The difference is between commandments merely written externally and those willingly obeyed through an inwardly changed heart.
Obedience Does Not Purchase Salvation
A follower of the Way does not believe that Torah observance earns salvation.
Salvation is Yahweh’s gift, made possible through Yeshua’s sacrifice:
“For by grace are ye saved through faith… not of works, lest any man should boast.”
— Ephesians 2:8–9
But the passage continues:
“For we are his workmanship, created in Messiah Yeshua unto good works, which Yahweh hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
— Ephesians 2:10
Obedience is not the price of salvation. It is the fruit of genuine faith, repentance, and love.
Yeshua said:
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
— John 14:15
John explained:
“For this is the love of Yahweh, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”
— 1 John 5:3
Faith that produces no obedient life is dead faith:
“Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”
— James 2:17
Today, the label “Christian” covers thousands of denominations with widely different teachings. That do not follow Yeshua’s example.
A Torah-observant follower of the Way will generally emphasize the following distinctions:
Follower of the Way | Traditional Christianity |
Calls people back to Yahweh and His instructions | Teach that the Torah was abolished |
Follows Yeshua as a Torah-observant Messiah | Separate Yeshua from His Torah-observant life |
Observes the seventh-day Sabbath | Worships on the pagan Sunday |
Honors Yahweh’s appointed festivals | Observes pagan holidays |
Distinguishes clean and unclean meats | Teaches unclean animals are now food |
Defines sin by Yahweh’s law | Defines sin through denominational teaching |
Emphasizes the coming Kingdom of Yahweh | Teaches going to heaven or hell after death |
Seeks a life of obedience produced by faith | Says belief alone as sufficient regardless of conduct |
Tests traditions by Scripture | Accept traditions of men developed centuries later |
Sees all believers as brethren under Yeshua | Operates through a clergy–laity hierarchy |
Some people today that call themselves Christians keep the Sabbath, value the Old Testament, reject human traditions, and sincerely seek to obey Yeshua. Others may never have been taught these things.
Yeshua’s warning concerned people who confessed His name but did not obey Yahweh:
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
— Matthew 7:21
He concluded:
“Depart from me, ye that work lawlessness.”
— Matthew 7:23
Revelation describes Yahweh’s faithful people in similar language:
“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of Yahweh, and the faith of Yeshua.”
— Revelation 14:12
Notice that Scripture joins the two together:
The commandments of Yahweh + faith in Yeshua.
In Summary
A follower of the Way is someone who:
- Worships Yahweh, the Father
- Accepts Yeshua as Messiah, Savior, Master, and King
- Repents of sin
- Receives salvation through grace and faith
- Follows Yeshua’s example
- Keeps Yahweh’s commandments from the heart
- Studies the Torah and the Prophets alongside the apostolic writings
- Rejects traditions that contradict Scripture
- Loves Yahweh and loves other people
- Proclaims the coming Kingdom of Yahweh
- Continues faithfully until the end
The Torah shows us Yahweh’s way. Yeshua demonstrated that way perfectly. His followers walk in that same direction—not to earn salvation, but because they love and trust the One who saved them.
