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.
Convinced and then concerned
62-0521 §4
...el of St. John, the 1st chapter, 35th verse, I want to read down to the 41st verse. And again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; And looked upon Jesus as he walked, he said, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said unto them, What seek ye? And they said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to ... be interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? He said unto them, Come and see. And they came and seen where he...
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 5:E-17
Now we can see His association with the Word. HE IS THE WORD. That is Who He is. THE WORD IN HIS NAME. In John 1:1 where it says "In the beginning was the Word," the root from which we get our translation for 'Word' is 'Logos' which means 'the thought or concept.' It has the double meaning of 'thought' and 'speech.' Now a 'thought expressed' is a 'word', 'or words.' Isn't that wonderful and beautiful? John says the concept of God was expressed in Jesus. And Paul says the very same thing in Hebrews 1:1-3, "God, Who...
Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ
63-0717 §41
And today, as servants of Christ, we become harnessed---hooked up. We can't go anywhere without it being with us---harnessed to the Word! No matter what anyone else says; you're harnessed to it. There is something about it that you just can't get away from it. You've been yoked up with it by the Holy Ghost, has yoked you to the Word. No matter what anyone else says, It's the Word that's always harnessed up with it; put in the yoke with it. To the Word by the Spirit; he was harnessed. He had learned on the backside...
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 7:E-27
Paul was the first messenger and he said in Galatians 1:8 that if any angel, any messenger, any vicar, no matter who he was--if he preached any other gospel than what Paul preached, let him be accursed. Paul knew that after he was gone grievous wolves would come in. He knew that Satan, himself, could appear as an angel of light so how much more his ministers. So he warns that this Gospel would always be the same. Now Paul had baptized in Jesus Name and rebaptized where people had not been so immersed. He set the ch...
Come, follow Me
63-0601 §38
Kids, you each one seem like mine. You each one seem like just my sons and daughters, and in one way you are, see. Spiritually speaking, that's right. The Lord God has put your souls into my care because you come listen to me. You believe me, see. And in one sense of the word you are my sons and daughters. That's right. And always remember, keeping the commandments of God is a great thing. Being raised in a good home is a heritage from God. And to be fine kids with personalities as you have, good. Wonderful to have...