Paul urges believers to follow him because his life is a practical, human pattern of following Christ and carrying the gospel to lost people.
Les Feldick shows that Paul never puts himself in Christ's place — Paul follows Jesus, and believers who follow Paul are following the crucified, risen Lord. Paul was as human as any believer, with the same pains and fears, yet his whole desire was to see lost people saved. Following Paul means adopting that same burning concern for the lost and carrying the Word of truth as Christ's ambassador.
Philippians 3:17 — Paul's direct command to 'be followers together of me' is the basis for Les's explanation of why his example is to be imitated.
1 Corinthians 9:22 — Paul explains his willingness to become all things to all men in order to save the lost, which Les uses to show Paul's motive.
The Bible shows Paul urging believers to imitate his way of life. In Philippians 3:17 Paul writes, "Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample." He does not present himself as a perfect man, but as an ensample — a pattern that believers can follow. In 1 Corinthians 9:22 Paul describes his approach to ministry: "To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." His adaptability to people was for one purpose: to see the lost saved. In 2 Corinthians 5:20 Paul describes the believer's role with these words: "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." Scripture, then, sets Paul and his companions as an example, with the goal of reconciliation that Paul says is carried out through human ambassadors.
Les Feldick points out that Paul's command is often misunderstood. Paul is not asking believers to follow him instead of Jesus. Paul himself is following Jesus, and believers who follow Paul are following Christ — but not the earthly Jesus of the dusty roads of Palestine. They are following the crucified, risen Lord of glory. Les points out that trying to literally follow the earthly Jesus would be impossible for ordinary people, but Paul is an example we can follow because he was just as human as we are. Paul felt the pain of the whip, the cold on the windswept plains, and the constant fear of how he would be received. He went forward anyway. He never backed away from declaring the gospel even when it meant being beaten.
No. Les explains that Paul is following Jesus Christ, and believers who follow Paul are following the crucified, risen Lord of glory — not the Jesus of Nazareth walking the dusty roads of Palestine. Paul's example is a trail that leads to Christ, not a detour from Him. As Les puts it, we are 'right at His heels' when we follow the apostle.
Because Paul was just as human as we are. Les reminds us that Paul hurt when the whip fell, got cold on the windswept plains of Turkey, and lived in constant fear about how he would be received. Yet he did not let that stop him. His example matters because he acted despite fear and weakness — ordinary believers can do the same by God's grace.
Paul's whole desire every place he went was that lost people might be saved. Les says Paul burned until his dying day to get the gospel out to lost people. Paul became all things to all men for the sake of the gospel, identifying with the weak rather than coming down as a spiritual giant. His ministry was marked by the constant thought of lost humanity.
Believers are to attend to the things spoken by Paul, because God has left His Word in the hands of human beings, not angels. As ambassadors for Christ in a foreign environment, believers are to bring people to reconciliation with God. That means being willing to go to lost people even when it is frightening — Paul did not back down because he was afraid of consequences, and neither should believers dilute the truth.
Paul's Burning Desire for the Lost
Les shows that Paul's constant goal everywhere he went was the salvation of lost people, and believers who follow Paul should catch that same burning concern for the masses of lost humanity.
All Things to All Men for the Gospel
Les explains that Paul identified with the weaknesses of others instead of looking down on them — his whole heart was for the sake of the gospel and seeing lost people saved.
Paul Was As Human As We Are
Les emphasizes that Paul's example is followable because Paul felt pain and cold just like us; if he could endure, believers can by God's grace.
Following Paul Means Following Christ
Les clarifies that Paul follows the crucified, risen Lord of glory, and believers following Paul are right at Christ's heels — not trying to physically imitate the earthly Jesus.
Ambassadors for Christ
Les connects Paul's instruction to the believer's role as an ambassador in a foreign world, carrying the gospel because God has entrusted His Word to humans.
Paul's Fear and Perseverance
Les reveals Paul's constant human fear about his reception and the beatings he faced, showing that boldness does not mean fearlessness — it means going forward anyway.
Paul's Fearless Loyalty to the Truth
Les shows Paul refusing to compromise the gospel for the approval of people; he loved everyone but never backed down from declaring the truth.
Paul Writes to Believers Sealed by the Gospel
Les notes Paul always addresses believers who have trusted the gospel of salvation and been sealed with the Holy Spirit — the kind of believer who is expected to follow his example.
Philippians 3:17: Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
Paul explicitly names himself and his companions as an 'ensample' for the Philippian believers.
1 Corinthians 9:22: To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
Paul's own summary of his life's aim: to gain the lost by any faithful means possible.
2 Corinthians 5:20: Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
Paul calls believers ambassadors for Christ, a role Les applies to following Paul's example.
No. Les Feldick explains that Paul is himself following Jesus Christ. When believers follow Paul, they are following the crucified, risen Lord of glory, not the earthly Jesus of Nazareth. Paul is the practical trail that leads believers to Christ.
Les makes it clear Paul was just as human as any believer. He hurt when whipped, felt the cold, and lived with constant fear about how he would be received. But he went forward anyway, refusing to dilute the gospel.
Paul's whole desire wherever he went was that lost people might be saved. He became all things to all men for the sake of the gospel and burned to get the gospel out to lost people.
Following Paul means taking the gospel seriously as an ambassador for Christ. God has entrusted His Word to human beings, and even when the world is hostile or we are afraid, we are to keep speaking truth and trusting God for lost people.
Watch the Teaching: Do Everything for the Glory of God — 1 Corinthians 10:31 Explained