1 Corinthians 11:1-2 Be you followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.… It needs no argument to prove that all men do not follow Christ. Many profess to follow Him, and many boast that they do follow Him, but, oh, how few faithfully follow Christ! Indeed, the grand mistake of the world lies in this — that following Christ consists in mere attendance to a few forms and professions of religion, whereas it is wholly a spiritual service, and can never be taken up by any but spiritual men. Therefore the Scriptures assure us that a follower of Christ is — I. ONE WHO HAS BEEN QUICKENED BY CHRIST. A dead man cannot follow another. A man dead in trespasses and sins must be quickened by the Son of God before he will take one step in the way to heaven. II. ONE WHO HEARTILY LOVES CHRIST. "We love Him, because He first loved us." "The love of God constraineth us." All Christ asks in return for His love is "Follow Me," and the grateful and redeemed spirit says, "Lord, I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest." III. ONE WHO EMBRACES THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST. When quickeing takes place, the soul receives the kingdom of heaven as a little child. "Teach me," says such a spirit, "Thy way, O Lord; I will walk in Thy truth; unite my heart to fear Thy name." It does not take the doctrines of the gospel and throw away the precepts; it does not reserve the precepts and cast away the doctrines, but it takes it as a whole, as the word of Christ, and the directory in the way to heaven. IV. ONE WHO CHEERFULLY WALKS IN THE WAYS OF CHRIST. Religious labour is no drudgery to him. Never has a Christian any melancholy as long as he walks in Christ's paths; it is when he turns out of them that occasions him sadness and pain. V. ONE WHO COPIES THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST. A follower of Christ is not one whose head is filled with well-digested schemes of theology. Christ hath left us an example that we should follow His steps. Following Christ is walking behind Him, putting our feet into the print of His footsteps, and so going on in the way to heaven. He has left His footprints — 1. In His meek and amiable spirit. 2. In heavenly behaviour and conversation. 3. In prayer. 4. In His abounding liberality. 5. In His diligent labours. 6. In His spirit of love. VI. ONE WHO PERSEVERINGLY CONTINUES WITH CHRIST. Some follow Christ from gain, some partially, as long as the truth does not touch their consciences; some in poverty and affliction; but when the sun of prosperity has arisen, when persecution or affliction cometh on account of the truth, then they desert Christ. "But he that endureth to the end shall be saved." (J. Sherman.) Parallel Verses KJV: Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. |
    |