שמע ישראל ה 'הוא האלוהים שלנו הוא אחד

Shema Yisrael Adonai Elohaynu Adonai Echad
"Hear Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One"

An Introduction to the Way of Y'shua

By Rabbi Yochanan ben Avraham (John of AllFaith) © 11.24.2002 (latest revision 11.17.10)

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם
Shalom aleichem
Welcome and Peace!

In this study you will find a general introduction to the Way of Y'shua.

You may have never heard of this belief system before, at least not by this name, and that's OK! That's why this website was created and why this introductory study was written!

If you've been trying find "biblical religion" but feel like there is always something essential missing (and/or too many things added!), if you've noticed how fundamentally different Nicene Christianity (Christianity based on the Catholic Nicene and "Apostles" Creeds) is from biblical doctrine, if you've been disappointed by the Noahide Movements and found most of the "Messianic" groups to be little more than Nicene Christians concealed beneath a tallit and kippa... then these studies could provide some very useful information for you! That's our only goal here.

Through these studies you will gain a basic understanding of the historic Nazarene Way: The reformed sect of Judaism established by Adon Y'shua the Nazarene (Master Jesus of Nazareth) and his principle talmidim (students).

Please note that this study is a work in progress. It began as a much shorter piece. For this reason some of the urls (web page addresses) are different than the part numbers listed (for instance page /way3.html does not immediately follow /way2.html). This is so my established search engine links will not be disturbed by my updates. The various sections of this study are correct as listed in the texts and associated links. Please ignore the url inconsistencies.

To be sure much of this information will be different from what you have read and heard elsewhere. That doesn't mean it isn't accurate! There is nothing to join here, no dues, no tithes or offerings will every be sought... So relax and try to keep an open mind remembering the words of Paul:

The Complete Jewish Bible (CJB): Acts 17:11 Now the people here were of nobler character than the ones in Thessalonica; they eagerly welcomed the message, checking the Tanakh every day to see if the things Sha'ul [Paul] was saying were true.

If you have any comments or questions about any of these topics I'm here for you. Free free to Contact me.

Bible versions used:

May HaShem ("the Name": the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and Y'shua {Jesus}) bless your desire to learn ever more about the Way of Adonai Elohiym (the LORD our God) and His dear Son Y'shua!

The Way of Y'shua:
The teachings of Cohen Gadol Y'shua the Nazarene:

The Way of Y'shua
Part One: Introduction: Noahides, Jews, Nazarenes and Nicene Christians

God is One: Shema Yisrael Adonai Elohaynu Adonai Echad

Truth is One.

Biblical religion is One.

... But man have we humans caused confusion about this Oneness!

Important terms as used in this study:

  • Hebrews: The physical descendants of Noah's son Shem through the lineage of Eber. Avraham Avinu (our father Avraham) was a Hebrew.
  • Israelites:
    1). All physical descendants of Avraham (Abraham) and Sara through the lineage of Ya'akov (Jacob who was renamed Israel): The Twelve Houses of Israel.
    2). All worshipers of the God of Israel.
  • Jews:
    1) Those Israelites belonging to the Houses of Y'hudah (Judah) and Binyamin (Benjamin), referenced as Jews in the Scriptures for the first time at II Maccabees 2:20. While the term is commonly used for all Israelites, technically "the Jews" are only those of the two houses of Israel (the Southern kingdom of antiquity) not divorced by Adonai (Jeremiah 3:8). According to Rabbinic Judaism anyone whose mother is Jewish is a Jew. According to Karaite Judaism anyone whose father is Jewish is a Jew. All converts to Judaism are also accepted as Jews (as long as their conversion meets the requirements established by the sect in question).
    At the coming of Mashiach the 12 Twelve Houses of Israel (somewhat restructured) will all be restored (Zechariah 8:20-23; Revelation chapter 7). The Ten "Lost Tribes" or Houses are often jointly referred to as Ephraim.
    2). All people who have been "grafted in" to the House of Am Israel (People Israel) by Cohen Gadol (High Priest/Mediator) Y'shua the Nazarene are Jews according to the B'rit Hadashah (Romans 2:26-29; chapter 11). Adon Y'shua did establish a new religion (i.e. Christianity). He created a reform movement within Judaism. Those who have entered into the Way sect of Judaism go by various names and often do not understand these things at all as discussed below.
  • Judaism:
    Biblical Judaism is the largest religion on earth (although the least understood). It is far more diverse that most people realize (including most who identify as Jews). In general usage Judaism is the religion of the Judaites however according to the Tanakh it is also the religion of the whole House of Israel. The whole House of Israel includes, according to the Nazarene and various verses in the Tanakh, all those individuals who have been "grafted in" despite their various doctrinal errors.
    Judaism is the religion of all those who worship Adonai, the God of the Torah.
    In its higher sense therefore Judaism is biblical based religion in all its myriad forms.
    Jewish Publication Society (JPS): Isaiah 56:7 Even them will I bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer; their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be acceptable upon Mine altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.
    Of course the various sects and movements are often exclusionary in what they accept as Judaism and whom they consider Jews. For instance many "Orthodox Jews" dismiss everyone else. The Essenes dismissed all others, including the P'rushim (Pharisees) who became the rabbis of Orthodox Judaism believing they were too lose with the Torah. Many Conservative Jews accept the Orthodox Jews but reject the Reform and/or Reconstructionists. All sects of Rabbinic and Karaite Judaism reject the Nazarene Jews (however defined) and as Christianity arose it outlawed "Judaizing" and declared all Jews to be heretics and the Catholic Church to be the real and only true form of Judaism!
    Oy vey!
    As used here for clarity, "Judaism" means "The religion of those who call themselves Jews." In other words, the common usage.
  • Rabbinic Judaism:
    Emerged gradually after the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash ("House of the Holy," the second Jerusalem Temple). This is the major stream of the Movement and descends largely from the teachings of the P'rushim (Pharisees). Within this stream is all the Orthodox Jewish sects, the Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist sects, Tikkun and most of the other current reform movements. If a person is Jewish today he/she is probably a Rabbinical Jew. Adon Y'shua identified most closely with this stream of Judaism although he was heavily influenced by the "Ultra Orthodox" Essene Brotherhood who view the P'rushim as too liberal. Y'shua's reforms were in many points unique.
  • Orthodox Judaism:
    After 70 CE most Rabbinic Jews were "just Jews." During the years of 1729 – 1786 C.E. Moses Mendelssohn and the Haskalah (or Enlightenment) movement was successfully "modernizing" the Jews and their distinctiveness as a people and Judaism as a religion was being threatened. In response to this trend Orthodox Judaism was born and subsequently developed. The other Rabbinic Jewish movements came later.
  • Karaite Judaism:
    This stream of Judaism is at least as ancient as Rabbinical Judaism and descends from a combination of several different ancient and medieval streams, but comes most directly from the Tz'dukim (Sadducees).
    For more on the various Jewish sects see the Jewish section of AllFaith.com.
  • Noahides/B'nei Noach:
    1). Technically all the inhabitants of the Earth are B'nei Noach, sons of Noah.
    2). More specifically the Ger Tzadikim (Righteous Gentiles), referenced as "foreigners among you" etc. in the Torah -- those Goyim who worship the God of Israel (without converting to Judaism). Noahides embrace the Sheva Mitzvot or Seven Noahide Laws as the basis of their practice. Most Noahides seek to submit to Rabbinical doctrinal interpretation and authority.
  • Nicene Christianity:
    Nicene Christians embrace the central dogmas contained in the Nicene and so-called Apostles' Creed. The vast majority of Christians: Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Protestant etc. belong to this group as I discuss in detail elsewhere.
  • Nazarenes:
    As I use the term:
      Jewish Nazarenes: Jews who embrace Adon Y'shua as their Cohen Gadol (High Priest and Mediator with Adonai) and as their coming Mashiach (Messiah)
      Noahide Nazarenes: This is a term I coined in 1980's to reflect what I believe are the biblical teachings of Adon Y'shua ("Master Jesus"). These are Noahides (Gentiles) who have been grafted into the House of Israel by the Nazarene (Y'shua). These Noahides are no longer "outside the House of Israel" as "foreigners at the Gate." We have been adopted into the House of Israel as full sons and daughters of Adonai. We have become Nazarene Jews. We have not and will never replace the Jews, God forbid! We are members of a Gentile inclusive Jewish movement.

These are the basic categories that exist within the one biblical religion of the Echad Elohiym (the One God). The rest of this study will be looking into the details of what this mean for we Noahide Nazarenes.

If you are like so many other spiritually serious people today you are committed to Adon Y'shua and want to practice biblical religion as he taught but are unclear on how to do that. You see the Pagan influences that exist throughout Nicene Christianity: the loss of Shabbat, the Pagan holidays, the compromising of Adonai's Oneness, you can not abide the common hypocrisy and judgmental spirit so many Christians exude, the greed and money based church services and "ministries," the lukewarm beliefs and practices...

You've considered what is commonly called the Messianic movement inspired by Nicene groups like Jews for Jesus and found them to be so often little more than Nicean Christianity deceptively cloaked in Jewish symbols meant to suggest a clearly missing biblical foundation....

You've considered the Noahide Movements but you miss Y'shua and the Amazing Grace he offers. You find the Noahides are too legalistic and are weary of the frequent generally ill-informed attacks on Y'shua and the Christian faith.

You've considered converting to Judaism but like the various Noahide Movements you'd miss the Amazing Grace offered by Y'shua. You are convinced Adon Y'shua is the one foretold by the Hebrew prophets and so you can not in good conscience consider denying him in order to convert. Its seems like a Catch 22. You find the legalism of the rabbis seems contrary to the freedom and joy described by David and others in the Tanakh (as well as by Y'shua). Perhaps you've discovered that conversion into Orthodox Judaism is entirely too difficult or even impossible for you. If one is married for instance both partners must convert (and be accepted for conversion by the presiding beit din) or the perspective convert must divorce his/her spouse in order to convert! One must agree to keep a fully Kosher household (which even the vast majority of Orthodox Jews don't do) and this is far more difficult than most people suspect. You don't want to convert under false pretenses and you doubt you would be able to follow the laws of Kashrut (and you probably don't understand them any way! What's wrong with cheeseburgers?) You may have found that many rabbis are almost hostile towards potential converts and those who are not are seldom supportive of conversion in most cases....

Many of the modern Jewish movements, especially in the West, are so doctrinally weak or Humanistically compromised that those who are committed to the Torah often find conversion into movements other than the Orthodox (or Karaite) Movements unacceptable and yet these are the most difficult to gain admittance into. And besides, finding an Orthodox Jewish shul can be tough. With the prohibitions on driving on Shabbat even getting there for services is often a daunting task requiring one to rent hotel room etc. Many potential converts to Judaism therefore face the choice of converting into a Jewish movement that essentially rejects the teachings of the Torah -- and still being unaccepted as a Jew by the Orthodox (who only accept Orthodox conversions) -- or not converting at all. Such people sometimes settle for embracing a Noahide path but feel they are not truly connecting with the God of Israel thereby. And those who do convert into Orthodox Judaism often discover they will never be fully accepted by the Jewish community despite the demands of the Torah to the contrary.
There are reasons for all of these points and this is not meant to be overly critical of Jews nor of Judaism, but those Gentiles wishing to practice biblical religion through Orthodox Judaism face many unnecessary and unfortunate obstacles when considering formal conversion. There are a great many Noahides who would seek conversion into Judaism were the rabbinical rules not so unequally applied and intentionally exclusionary.

The Noahide Nazarene Way is a biblically solid alternative. So first, let's be clear that the Noahide Nazarene Way is essential biblical religion not something being added onto it or created whole cloth. It is a way for Noahides to enter the Way of Judaism proclaimed by Y'shua without the Pagan alterations of the Nicolaitan/Nicean Church or the exclusionary restrictions of Rabbinic Judaism. It is, the Way of the Nazarene.

To learn more keep reading!

Our Study of the Way of Y'shua Continues in Part Two

The Way of Adon Y'shua
Thus Say the Prophets
Jewish Studies
Nicene Christian Studies
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