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.
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...
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 7:E-41
If there was ever a time of denominational zeal it was at this tragic time. The words of Comenius describe much of this era. Comenius wrote the "ONE THING NEEDFUL." He compares the world to the labyrinth, and shows that the way out is by leaving what is needless, and choosing the one thing needful--Christ. The great number of teachers, he says is the reason of the multitudes of sects, for which we shall soon have no names left. Each church reckons itself as the true one, or at least as the purest, truest part of it...
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...
The revelation that was given to me
60-0210M §28
Now, just one more moment. Now, listen real close. All of us know that the Angel that appeared to Moses, was Christ. It was the Angel of the covenant. You believe that? The Angel of the covenant. He followed Israel in a Pillar of Fire. And then when Jesus was on earth, He said, "Before..." They told Him... They was angry with Him because He said He saw Abraham's day. Jesus said, "Before Abraham was, I AM." That was that same Pillar of Fire that was in the bush, "I AM." Now, He's said, Jesus, "I come from God, and I...