“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”
— 1 Corinthians 11:1 (KJV)
At first glance, Paul’s words can sound surprising.
Why would he tell believers to follow him?
Was Paul pointing people to himself?
Not at all.
He was pointing believers to the pattern of truth that the risen Christ had revealed through him.
▪️WHY DID PAUL SAY THIS?
Paul wasn’t seeking personal admiration.
He understood the unique ministry Christ had entrusted to him.
He writes:
“For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office.”
Romans 11:13 (KJV)
Notice that Paul magnified his office, not himself.
Christ appointed him to be the apostle of the Gentiles, and through him revealed the doctrine for the Church, the Body of Christ.
When Paul says,
“Be ye followers of me…”
he is saying,
Follow the doctrine and pattern of life that Christ gave through my ministry.
▪️PROPHECY VS MYSTERY
During Christ’s earthly ministry, God’s prophetic program focused on Israel.
Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24).
But after His resurrection and ascension, the glorified Christ revealed the Mystery to Paul—a truth hidden from previous ages.
That Mystery concerns the formation of the Body of Christ and God’s present Dispensation of Grace.
Paul’s ministry was not a replacement for Christ’s earthly ministry.
It was the continuation of Christ’s heavenly ministry through new revelation for the Church.
▪️ISRAEL VS THE BODY OF CHRIST
Much confusion disappears when we recognize this distinction.
Israel’s program involved:
• An earthly kingdom.
• Covenants.
• Prophetic promises.
The Body of Christ has:
• A heavenly calling.
• Spiritual blessings in Christ.
• A message revealed through Paul.
We honor all Scripture, but we must recognize whom each passage is written to if we are to apply it correctly.
▪️LAW VS GRACE
Religion often places believers back under performance.
Grace points us to our position in Christ.
Paul teaches that we are:
• Justified by faith.
• Complete in Christ.
• Sealed unto the day of redemption.
• Not under the Law, but under Grace.
That is the pattern we are to follow.
Not legalism.
Not religious tradition.
Grace.
▪️THE GOSPEL FOR TODAY
The message Paul preached is wonderfully simple:
“How that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (KJV)
This is the Gospel by which we are saved.
Nothing needs to be added.
Nothing should be taken away.
Christ did it all.
▪️FOLLOW PAUL AS HE FOLLOWED CHRIST
Some ask,
“Shouldn’t we just follow Jesus?”
Absolutely.
But the question is:
How does the risen Lord instruct the Church today?
Paul himself answers:
“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”
To follow Paul is not to replace Christ.
It is to follow Christ’s instructions for the Body of Christ as revealed through His chosen apostle.
That is why Paul’s epistles are foundational for understanding God’s will for believers today.
▪️THE BLESSED CONCLUSION
Paul never asked believers to become “Paul followers.”
He directed them to the heavenly ministry of the risen Christ that had been entrusted to him.
When we rightly divide:
• Israel and the Body of Christ.
• Prophecy and Mystery.
• Law and Grace.
The Scriptures come into beautiful harmony.
The Church grows in grace.
And Christ is exalted exactly as God intended.
So let us gladly follow Paul’s pattern—
because Paul faithfully followed Christ.
