New Light in the Old Dominion

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!

I am going to post some excerpts from one of Davies’ sermons. It will give a good sense of his style and his directness. Recently, my friend, Eric Carpenter utilized several texts that are generally quoted as proof texts by the Arminian camp; John 3:16 is one of those texts. Davies’ sermon title from this text is posted above, and his quotes reveal his position on the issue. Enjoy Samuel Davies as he speaks again:

This is from the second paragraph of his sermon; yes, it is one sentence!

“And when I consider I am speaking to an assembly of sinners, guilty, depraved, helpless creatures, and that, if ever you be saved, it will be only through Jesus Christ, in that way which the gospel reveals; when I consider that your everlasting life and happiness turn upon this hinge, namely, the reception you give to this Saviour, and this way of salvation; I say, when I consider these things, I can think of no subject I can more properly choose than to recommend the Lord Jesus to your acceptance, and to explain and inculcate the method of salvation through his mediation; or, in other words, to preach the pure gospel to you; for the gospel, in the proper sense, is nothing else but a revelation of a way of salvation for sinners of Adam’s race.”

Well, not exactly “emergent-ese” but a great example of his eighteenth century eloquence. You should catch the sense of his style and approach to turn the light of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the dark hearts of sinners.

Immediately following the above quote:

“My text furnishes me with the proper materials for my purpose. Let heaven and earth hear it with wonder, joy, and raptures of praise! ‘God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever, or that every one that believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’” {Davies inserted the words in italics.}

His points were:

1. My text implies, that without Christ you are all in a perishing condition:

2. My text implies, that through Jesus Christ a way is opened for your salvation.

3. That the grand pre-requisite to your being saved in this way, is faith in Jesus Christ.

a. Faith pre-supposes a deep sense of our undone, helpless condition.

b. Faith implies the enlightening of the understanding to discover the suitableness of Jesus Christ as a Saviour, and the excellency of the way of salvation through him.

c. The sinner is enabled to embrace this Saviour with all his heart, and to give a voluntary, cheerful consent to this glorious scheme of salvation.

d. Faith in Jesus Christ implies an humble trust or dependence upon him alone for the pardon of sin, acceptance with God, and every blessing.

4. My text implies, that every one, without exception, whatever his former character has been, that is enabled to believe in Jesus Christ, shall certainly be saved.

A final quote towards the end of the message reveals much:

“But before I proceed any farther, I would remove one stumbling-block out of your way. You are apt to object, ‘You teach us that faith is the gift of God, and that we cannot believe of ourselves; why then do you exhort us to it? Or how can we be concerned to endeavour that which it is impossible for us to do?’”

“In answer to this I grant the premises are true; and God forbid I should so much as intimate that faith is the spontaneous growth of corrupt nature, or that you can come to Christ without the Father’s drawing you: but the conclusions you draw from these premises are very erroneous. I exhort and persuade you to believe in Jesus Christ, because it is while such means are used with sinners, and by use of them, that it pleases God to enable them to comply, or to work faith in them. I would therefore use those means which God is pleased to bless for this end. I exhort you to believe in order to set you upon the trial; for it is putting it to trial, and that only, which can fully convince you of your own inability to believe; and till you are convinced of this, you can never expect strength from God.”

His concluding statement is sharp and cutting for sure!

“Many sermons forgotten upon earth are remembered in hell, and haunt the guilty mind for ever. Oh that you would believe, and so prevent this dreadful effect from the present sermon!”

This is why we need to read and learn from the Rev. Samuel Davies! He was young and energetic, but more importantly he was filled with passion for the Lord Jesus Christ, and that passion fueled his life and compelled him in his work in the colony.

Sola Fide!