What Does It Mean When Paul Says, "follow Me as I Follow Christ," and How Does That Relate to Following Jesus Directly?
1) Direct Answer
Paul’s words mean: imitate a true, Word‑led life only as it mirrors Jesus Christ. We follow no man as an absolute. Christ is the Head. When a servant of God stays with the Word and the Spirit of Christ, following that example is following Jesus. If he departs from the Word, we do not follow.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). The condition is clear—only as he follows Christ.
- Paul says, “Christ liveth in me” (Galatians 2:20). So the life to imitate is Christ’s life expressed through a yielded vessel.
- “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample” (Philippians 3:17). The pattern is a Word‑walk, not personality.
- Christ is the Head of the church (Ephesians 5:23). We never trade the Head for a man.
- God set ministers for perfecting the saints (Ephesians 4:11‑13). True ministry points us to Christ, not to themselves.
- We “ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). If any voice clashes with Scripture, we stay with God’s Word.
- “Though we, or an angel… preach any other gospel… let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8). No message outranks the Bible.
- “My sheep hear my voice… and they follow me” (John 10:27). We follow Jesus directly by recognizing His Voice in His Word.
- “Try the spirits” (1 John 4:1) and “prove all things” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Everything is tested by Scripture.
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- One Head, one Lord—Jesus Christ. He speaks by His Word and Spirit. He also uses servants as signposts. You follow the signpost only because it points to the destination. If it points off the road, you don’t follow the sign—you stay with the road.
- The Spirit and the Word agree. If a minister magnifies the Word and leads you into obedience to Christ, you’re following Jesus through that example. If he adds to or takes from the Word, you stop right there and hold to the Bible.
4) Reinforcing Statement
Now notice: it’s not following a man; it’s following Christ in the man—as long as it is Christ. Stay with the Word. Christ remains the absolute, and every true servant merely points to Him.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ
63-0717 §69
And then Paul sitting there and seeing the Word and seeing that that was Jesus. Then he raised up his hands and become harnessed to Him! The love of God harnessed him to the Word. He's going to bear my name before the Gentiles. There he went. Moses, I am the God of your fathers, I'm the God of Abraham, Isaac and of Jacob. I remember, I promised them, and the time of the promise is near. And I see the afflictions of my people! I remember my promise! And I have come down to harness you. You know what the Word says. I...
Forsaking all
62-0123 §34
Jesus said, or the Scripture says, "He that loves the world or the things of the world, the love of God is not even in him." That's right. It takes forsaking all. There ... when you were willing to forsake all and follow Him, then "If ye abide in me and my word in you, you can ask what you will, and it will be done for you." But you cannot, knowing that those things are wrong. You know they're wrong. The Bible's against them---card playing, cigarette smoking, drinking, wearing immoral clothes; and then claiming to...
Led by the Spirit of God
56-0723 §85
Now, while we sing softly. I wonder if anyone seeking the Holy Ghost, or penitent sinner want to come to the altar, I stand waiting for you. I can hear my Saviour calling, God bless you, little woman. Bless her heart. Lovely little woman. God bless you, brother. God bless you, sister. God bless you, sister. God bless you, brother, coming down the aisle. That's right. I can hear my Saviour calling, Take Thy cross and follow..... Are you ready to be all seared off? Take the cross and follow Him. Now, listen to this....
Forsaking all
62-0123 §75
What else did Jesus do? He gave, and forsook his own life. He gave his life to save yours and mine. Because that He gave his life... He didn't have to lay it down. He done it willingly. He didn't have to do it, but He done it willingly because He could save you. And now He's the only one that can save you. There's nothing else can save you. I know there's a denomination that says that their church saves you. You're saved by the church. You're saved by Jesus Christ or you're lost. Yes, sir. Nothing you can do---not...
Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ
63-0717 §46
Paul was correctly a prisoner. He wasn't making any wrong statements. He was trained by the Holy Ghost again to wait on the Word! Now, he had been trained one way, but God had trained him another way, now. He was trained by the Holy Spirit to wait upon the Lord. No matter what his ambitions were. Now, I'm going to (I hope) by the Holy Spirit show you something. Now let's just take an instance. One day Paul and Silas, coming down the street in a certain city where he was holding a revival, and a little demon-possess...