Acts 11:26 The Disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Samuel Davies was first and foremost a follower of Christ, a Christian. His allegiance and love were first and foremost to the Lord. In this sermon, {title of this post} he spoke of the importance of the name Christian. Here are some selected quotes:

“The name of Christian was not the first by which the followers of Christ were distinguished. Their enemies called them Galileans, Nazarenes, and other names of contempt: and among themselves they were called Saints, from their holiness; Disciples, from their learning their religion from Christ as their teacher; Believers, from their believing in Him as the Messiah; and Brethren, from their mutual love and their relation to God and each other. But after some time they were first distinguished by the name of Christians. This they first received in Antioch, a heathen city, a city infamous for all manner of vice and debauchery.”

Davies followed up the history with the central theme of his message, what does it mean to be called a Christian?

“We, in particular, call ourselves Christians, and should take it ill to be denied the honour of that distinction. But do we not know what it is to be Christian indeed? That is, to be in reality what we are in name: certainly it is time for us to consider the matter; and it is my present design that we should do so.”

Focusing his attention upon the divisions within the faith, Davies lays out his argument that the name of Christian is above all other distinctions:

“We have Lutherans, Calvinists, Arminians, Zwinglians, Churchmen, Presbyterians, Independents, Baptists, and a long list of names which I cannot now enumerate. To be a Christian is not enough now-a-days, but a man must also be something more and better; that is he must be a strenuous bigot to this or that particular church. But where is the reason or propriety of this? I may indeed believe the same things which Luther or Calvin believed: but I do not believe them on the authority of Luther or Calvin, but upon the sole authority of Jesus Christ, and therefore I should not call myself by their name, as one of their disciples, but by the name of Christ, whom alone I acknowledge as the Author of my religion, and my only Master and Lord.”

and further, with more energy and emphasis:

“A Christian! A Christian! let that be your highest distinction; let that be the name which you labour to deserve. God forbid that my ministry should be the occasion of diverting your attention to any thing else”

“But if you would know the truth at once, if you would be fully informed by one that best knows what religion I am of, I will tell you (with Mr. Baxter,) ‘I am a Christian, a mere Christian; of no other religion: my church is the Christian church.” The Bible! The Bible! is my religion; and if I am a dissenter, I dissent only from modes and forms of religion which I cannot find in my Bible,”

The following points of definition are made:

1. To be a Christian is to be like to Christ, from whom the name is taken:

2. To be a Christian, is to depart from iniquity.

3. To be a Christian is to deny yourselves and take up the cross and follow Christ.

4. A Christian is a devout worshiper of the God of heaven.

And a final and full warning!

“Therefore, if you will not renounce iniquity, renounce the Christian name: for you cannot consistently retain both.”

Solus Christus!