The Messiah vs The Christ Part 5

B"H

Bezrat HaShem

Question:

I have went to church my entire life and followed Jesus...

I see what your saying, but are people really going to Hell for following Jesus?

No...

What we are trying to show is that there is a difference between the essence of Yeshua, the historical Pharisaic rabbi within thru and thru in Torah Judaism, and the figure of "Jesus" as commonly understood in mainstream Christianity. While they may appear to be the same person, the ways in which their teachings and essence are conveyed over time have diverged due to significant historical and theological developments.

Through the past two millennia, the Church as a whole has largely adopted a shadow of Yeshua—one that retains some of his essence but has shifted away from his core teachings on Torah observance. This shadow is what we often call "Jesus." With Jesus, as seen through the lens of Pauline thought and Church doctrine, we see a figure that emphasizes grace and salvation but often separates these from the legal and ethical demands of Torah which connects to the images of 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. While this version of Jesus has certainly contributed to the spread of a lower, more accessible form of holiness to the masses, it has also obscured the full picture of Yeshua’s original intent.

This divergence becomes clearer when we examine Isaiah 66:17, which serves as a profound reminder that the Holy Spirit would never direct someone to violate HaShem’s Torah.

The verse condemns those who sanctify themselves in idolatrous practices and eat unclean animals such as swine, reptiles, and mice—acts that are directly against the Torah and Halacha.

In the context of Isaiah, the prophet speaks to a rebellious spirit within the community, one that chooses to embrace practices that defile rather than sanctify. The specific reference to “eating the flesh of the swine, the reptile, and the mouse” points to dietary laws set forth in the Torah and Halacha, which are designed not only to promote physical health but also to cultivate a spiritual mindset aligned with God's holiness.

This imagery is powerful, emphasizing the dangers of deviating from divine instructions. Those who “sanctify and purify themselves” yet participate in such acts are depicted as hypocritical, as they seek to appear righteous while embracing behaviors that are explicitly condemned. The act of entering “the groves” symbolizes a willingness to engage in idolatrous practices, further illustrating the depth of rebellion against HaShem's covenant. The consequences of such choices, as declared by Gd, are dire: “shall one and all come to an end.” This serves as a solemn reminder that straying from holiness leads to destruction, both spiritually and physically.

These actions reflect a rebellious spirit, one that mirrors the break between Yeshua’s commitment to Torah and Halacha and the Church’s later departure from it. Despite the Church's contributions to art, architecture, culture, music, and ethical teachings, the rejection of Torah observance creates a fundamental disconnect between Yeshua's essence and the portrayal of Jesus within Christian theology.

Yet, despite these theological shifts, it is undeniable that the Jesus presented through Pauline doctrine brought a certain light to the world, particularly in ethical teachings that echo the Torah's core principles of love and justice. This version of Jesus allowed the Gentile world to access foundational Jewish moral truths, even if stripped of their full Torah context. Through art, literature, architecture, music, and other media, the Church did spread much goodness, but, at times, this light has been a false one. History bears witness to the devastating effects of this misinterpretation, most notably in the Church's complicity in antisemitic attitudes and actions, which culminated in the Holocaust.

The paradox lies in the fact that while Paul famously promoted the idea that Gentile followers of Jesus did not need to strictly observe the Torah to attain salvation, his teachings have, centuries later, inspired many to revisit the very Torah that he appeared to de-emphasize. In Paul’s writings, particularly in letters like Romans and Galatians, he emphasizes salvation through faith in Jesus rather than through the works of the Torah. This opened the door for a Christianity that saw itself as distinct from Judaism, leading to the development of a faith largely disconnected from Torah observance.

However, in recent times, there has been growing movements, that seeks to embrace Torah and Halachic observance. This development is paradoxical because it essentially reverses Paul’s original departure from Torah. Those who now seek to follow Yeshua seek conversion to Judaism and are being drawn back to the Torah and Halacha, which Paul had once said was no longer necessary for Gentiles to follow.

Thus, the paradox is that the very movement Paul helped create, which distanced itself from the obligations of the Torah and Halacha, has come full circle, with many of its adherents now finding meaning and spiritual depth in Torah Judaism that Paul once downplayed for non-Jews. In essence, someone who once seemed to lead people away from Torah observance has, through historical and theological evolution, indirectly led some back to it.

Hope remains, as Isaiah 66:17 points out, the rebellious spirit can be met with repentance and restoration. Even as the Church has distanced itself from Torah observance, HaShem’s light continues to shine through Yeshua’s original teachings, piercing through the layers of doctrine and revealing the essence of Torah and Halacha to those who seek it. The Holy Spirit, acting as a guide, continually points believers back to the path of holiness, urging them to embrace the ethical and legal dimensions of Torah in their relationship with HaShem.

Ultimately, this distinction between Yeshua and Jesus invites a deeper reflection on what it means to follow the authentic teachings of Yeshua, the rabbi who loved Torah and Judaism and called people to do the same. It challenges his contemporary followers to critically assess whether their understanding of Jesus aligns with the Yeshua of history, whose life and teachings were firmly rooted in Torah and Halacha. In doing so, it offers the possibility of returning to a more holistic and Torah-observant faith, one that reflects the true essence of Yeshua’s message.

So no you don't have to worry about Hell fire, but we have alot of work to do....