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.
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 8:E-50
He never told them to go into all the world and establish Bible colleges; nor did He tell them to pass out literature. Now those things are fine, but what Jesus told them to do was to PREACH THE GOSPEL--stick with the WORD--and then the signs would follow. The very first introduction we have in the way the Kingdom of God was to be preached was when He sent out the twelve. In Matthew 10:1-8, He commissioned and instructed them on this wise, "And when He had called unto Him His twelve disciples, He gave them power ag...
Leading of the Spirit of God
55-0807E §58
This the lady? How do you do, lady? Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ to be the Son of God? Do you believe me to be His prophet? I say this not for self respect, sister; it's because the Angel of the Lord said to me, "If you'll get the people to believe you." I see a shadow of darkness hanging around the woman. It's death. Yes. You don't come from this country. You're from a city, a big city. It sits on a hill near a river, and there's a city across the other side. Oh, it's Cincinnati, Ohio, is where you're f...
The believer's position in Christ
55-0116A §19
Some of them said, "What did you think of the meeting?" I said, "It was fine." But in my heart I didn't believe in that. So, you know one New Year's night, I was sitting in my own tabernacle and they started playing this song: There's Going To Be A Meeting In The Air. And you know what happened? I done the same thing. So, you see why. So just the things that you said you won't do, you may have to do it sometime. So, I guess Paul said he'd never get down and get in the dust like some of those other people and yell,...
Hebrews, Chapter 7, part 1
57-0915E §23
And God called Abraham to separate himself from all of his kindred, and to walk with Him. Brother, sometimes it means leaving a church. It meant that to Paul; he had to leave his church; meant that to many. Sometimes it means to leave home. Sometimes it means to leave father and mother, and forsake all. I don't mean to say it does every time, but sometimes it does. It means that you've got to take everything between you and God, and walk with Him alone. Oh, that blessed, sweet communion! That fellowship that you ha...
How can I overcome?
63-0825M §111
Now, do you mean it? Now, close your eyes. Where He leads me I will follow, (Now, surrender yourself; mean that now.) Where He leads me I will follow, Where He leads me I will follow, I'll go with Him, with Him, all the way. Where He leads me I (Just sweetly now. Remember, lay yourself there.) Where He leads me ("I lay it here, Lord. I'm going to follow You from now on. I accept it; I believe it.") Where He leads (Remember, your life will testify louder than your mouth. What you live will prove to people more than...