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 §38
Now what if he said, "Well, I guess that was just a little blow over," and went on. "I'm going to follow my intellects." Now he had to become a prison to something---a prisoner. So, after comparing it and seeing ... knowing that he could write the book of Hebrews in a type. See, three years and a half down there laying in the Word and finding out that the very God that had called him was taking him back and changing all of his intellect---changing all that he ever thought; all that he trained to be; all of his ambi...
Hear ye Him
60-0313 §80
Now, how many of you will join with me with all your heart now and pray now while we pray for these people. It's making me so weak, you're becoming like just a shadow dancing around in front of me. Let's pray just a little bit. You pray with me now. Come, sister. Our heavenly Father, in Jesus' name I pray for our sister that You'll heal her. These signs shall follow them that believe. In the name of Jesus Christ may our brother be healed, Lord, in Jesus' name. Father God, I pray that You'll heal our sister. In Jesu...
Taking sides with Jesus
62-0601 §127
Let's be fortified by the Word of God, by the Spirit of God, by the power of God, and let our light so shine now, that we'll be like Stephen. He stood there, one man alone before that Sanhedrin council of a half million men maybe standing there, every one of them pointing their finger of accusation in his face. When that little fellow walked out there, it said he shined like an angel. I don't mean maybe a light on his face like that; an angel don't have to have a light on him. But an angel is a man ... an angel is...
We would see Jesus
62-0704 §39
Now, after His death, burial, and resurrection. Saul of Tarsus, on his road down to Damascus to arrest the Pentecostal people, on his road down there, what happened? A pillar of fire, a light struck him down. Nobody else saw it. He saw it. It put his eyes out for a season. It was so real to him; when the rest of them standing there, couldn't see a thing; but it was so bright to him, it put his eyes out. And He said, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?" He said, "Who are You, Lord?" Now listen! "I am Jesus. And it...
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever
54-0824 §27
Now, Jesus said, "The things that I do shall you also, even more, for I go to my Father." And then He said, "A little while and the world will see Me no more. (Is that Scripture?) Yet ye shall see Me, for I will be with you, even in you." Is that right? How many know that that's Scripture? Thank you. Then if He has raised from the dead, promised the same works that He did, would follow down to the end of the world---not just for one generation, or one age---"...with you, even in you, to the end of the world." Jesus...