The 2 testimonies in the Gospel

We have 2 very powerful testimonies in the Gospel. You can't follow 1 without following the other.

THE GOSPEL

3/2/20255 min read

There are 2 extremely clear and precise witnesses in the Gospel that must be followed in order to enter into life. By following both we can ensure that we will not fall into deception. They are the Doctrine, Gospel, Words, Testimony of Yahshua and the path that He walked.
John 10:27 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:"
These 2 are 1 in the same and are in no way contrary to each other. There is one person that we must hear and obey and to do so is to follow Him. In fact not only can we ensure that we are following the Truth by following in His footsteps but we can also know who the strangers are that Christ warned about.
John 10:1 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber."
John 10:2 "But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep."
John 10:3 "To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out."
John 10:4 "And when he putteth forth his own sheep, HE GOETH BEFORE THEM, AND THE SHEEP FOLLOW HIM: for they know his voice."
John 10:5 "And a STRANGER will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers."
Hearing/Obeying and following the Messiah are tied together as they are one in the same and cannot be separated. In fact, we can know who is teaching falsehoods by this very concept. If a teacher is claiming to hear and understand the Messiah's teaching while walking in direct disobedience to the path that He walked, their subtle twisting of scripture will become more and more evident to those that choose to follow the path that Messiah walked. It is very difficult to twist the doctrine that Messiah taught (not that this has ever hindered those who choose to do so) but it is even a more difficult thing to try and twist the reality of the path that Yahshua walked into one of disobedience to the Law and the Prophets because in so doing they would render His sacrifice insufficient for the forgiveness of sins.
Years ago the WWJD bracelet and message was very popular and on the surface it appeared to be a positive thing, however, a more exact question would be "What did Yahshua do?". He walked in perfect obedience to the Law and the Prophets, which is the same narrow path that He taught obedience to. Those that teach against this path tend to claim that "No one can keep the law". Which law are they referring to when they make this claim?... Don't eat unclean meats? Peter said he never had eaten anything unclean so it can't be that one. Don't steal?... Keep the Sabbath Holy?... These things may be difficult at times but they are certainly not impossible. It's the enemy of Truth that wants to discourage people from being yoked to that Truth (which he loathes). Note Yahshua's words of encouragement below.
Matt 11:28 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Matt 11:29 "Take MY YOKE upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."
Matt 11:30 "For MY YOKE is easy, and my burden is light."
Contrary to John Bunyan's popular writings, Yahshua clearly states that His burden isn't an overbearing thing that one must rid themselves of but rather His yoke is so easy and His burden so light that He calls it rest. We cannot enter into His rest without first taking His yoke upon ourselves, this is a voluntary act that does require a certain amount of effort to enter into.
Hebrews 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as Elohim did from his.
Hebrews 4:11 LET US LABOUR THEREFORE to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Oddly enough the 4th chapter of Hebrews is used to push a lawless false doctrine that states "Jesus is my Sabbath and therefore I don't keep it". Did Yahshua disobey and teach disobedience? Well then who are the people that make such claims actually yoked to? That is most certainly the voice of a stranger and not of the Master.
Paul chooses a very interesting word that is translated "Follow" in the KJV in the below passage.
1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers (Imitators) of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Paul refers to Himself as not only a follower of Christ but an imitator. Students tend to imitate their teachers, this is sometimes a subconscious act that comes from wanting to be like a teacher that one admires. In the case of the Messiah and His followers this should be a very intentional goal.
Matt 10:24 "The disciple is not above his master teacher, nor the servant above his master."
Matt 10:25 "It is enough for the disciple that he be as his teacher, and the servant as his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?"
Paul calls himself an imitator of Messiah and commands those in the Corinthian assembly to imitate him as he himself imitated the Messiah. He did not say "Imitate me as I forge a new path absent the Messiah's Word and Work". Paul knew as did Peter that Yahshua left His sheep the perfect example to be followed.
1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us AN EXAMPLE, that ye should FOLLOW HIS STEPS:
1 Peter 2:22 WHO DID NOT SIN, NEITHER WAS GUILE FOUND IN HIS MOUTH
1 Peter 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1 Peter 2:25 For YOU WERE as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Peter wrote to the strangers that were scattered throughout the region telling them that they were called to follow in the steps of Yahshua, who is the perfect example. He is the perfect example because He never transgressed the Law of Yahweh and spoke no guile. There are many today that will preach from His perfect Word while teaching a message that is contrary to the perfect example that He left for His sheep to follow. There truly is no reason to be confused by these false doctrines of the world. We know the path because it is the very way that He taught and walked.
John 14:3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
John 14:4 "And whither I go ye know, and THE WAY YOU KNOW."
John 14:5 Thomas saith unto him, Master, we know not whither thou goest; and HOW CAN WE KNOW THE WAY?
John 14:6 Yahshua saith unto him, "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
We need to not follow the many regardless of how holy they appear to be. There is only 1 Gospel and 1 Path that leads to life and we need to make sure that we are listening to and following them.