Notice what Charles Finney said in 1837 about "free grace" salvation, and later published in his book Lectures to Professing Christians. Finney wrote:
"So far as we can see, salvation by grace, not bestowed in any degree for our own works, is the only possible way of reclaiming [i.e. saving] selfish beings.
Suppose salvation was not altogether gratuitous, but that some degree of good works was taken into the account, and for those good works in part we were justified — just so far as this consideration is in the mind, just so far there is a stimulus to selfishness. You must bring the sinner to see that he is entirely dependent on free grace, and that a full and complete justification is bestowed, on the first act of faith, as a mere gratuity [i.e. something given without claim or demand], and no part of it as an equivalent for any thing he is to do. This alone dissolves the influence of selfishnesss, and secures holy action [cf. Eph. 2:8-10, KJV]."[1]
Unfortunately Finney's broader teachings on the subject appear to be inconsistent with and even contradictory to the message of free grace. But I wanted to draw attention to this one particular statement of his because I find it to be a powerful testimony to the truth of the gospel—a statement that stands on its own truthfulness, apart from Finney's theological departures.
Reference:
[1] Charles G. Finney, Lectures to Professing Christians (Chicago: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1878), p. 317, brackets added.
1 comment:
Just to be clear, Charles Finney was not a proponent of Free Grace Theology as such. The statement I quoted by Finney is what's known as "enemy attestation". (I use the word "enemy" in the sense of the opposing side in a debate.) Dr. Gary Habermas has said that when both sides in a debate agree about something, then that point on which there is agreement is considered to be true.
Post a Comment