What does Paul tell the Corinthians to be in 1 Corinthians 4?
Paul beseeches the Corinthians to be followers of Jesus Christ. He had brought them the gospel—that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again for justification—and now he urges them to follow Christ, not through mandated baptism or mandated actions, but simply by believing.
Les explains that in 1 Corinthians 4, Paul, who had brought the gospel to the Corinthians, beseeches them to be followers of Jesus Christ. Les points out that the gospel Paul preached was simply that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again for our justification. There was nothing in it concerning a mandated baptism, no mandated joining something, no mandated doing something—it is just simply believing it. Les notes that this instruction to be followers of Christ makes some people angry, but it is exactly what Paul says. He also emphasizes that this gospel still has tremendous power to bring people out of spiritual darkness, as seen in testimonies from listeners.
Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.