Lectures to Professing Christians
Charles G. Finney
Public DomainChristian Classics
Finney's lectures on justification and sanctification.
Chapters 253
- tical Lectures," I hope you did not understand me to mean that the lectures would not be β 5 min
- heart. This always enters into the essence of true faith. When a man's understanding is β 5 min
- ing action. There is no real obedience but the obedience of the heart; love is the fulfilling of β 4 min
- to sin is highly criminal. And it is also true that enlightened Christians see in their sins great β 4 min
- will say, he knows he must die. But I say, while he is in this attitude, he does not actually β 5 min
- 7. See what a vast multitude of professors of religion there are who are deceiving β 4 min
- They feared the Lord, and served their own gods. 2 Kings 17:33. β 5 min
- It is self-evident that if you have not done this, you are not serving God. Suppose a β 4 min
- pocket, should meet a beggar in great distress, and give him six dollars, keeping only one β 5 min
- for the interest and at the will of his employer. Is it true that any man is supremely devoted β 4 min
- as you have made so much money? Did God tell you, when you professed to enter his service, β 5 min
- time in a busy season, and you will see they begin to divide. Some hesitate; some doubt; β 4 min
- 15. Those who are doing but little for God, or who bring but little to pass for β 4 min
- 1. See why so little is accomplished in the world for Jesus Christ. β 4 min
- Sabbath, or give your property for religious objects? You answer, "For the sake of promoting β 3 min
- He that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith; he whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Romans β 5 min
- boldened by it to eat the sacrifices as such, or as an act of worship to the idol, supposing all β 5 min
- "But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably: destroy β 4 min
- I. To show some reasons why a man is criminals for doing that of which he doubts the β 5 min
- question, or his honesty. There is, to lay the least that can be said, sufficient evidence to β 5 min
- 4. It indicates slothfulness and stupidity of mind. β 5 min
- that the disease of intemperance (and intemperance, you know, is in reality a disease of the β 5 min
- be the common food and drink of the country, the support of life to the body, and it answers β 5 min
- After all that has been said on this subject, and all the light that has been thrown upon β 4 min
- 5. Take the case of those indulgences of appetite which are subject of controversy, and β 5 min
- another such party or make one, without doubting its lawfulness. Where can you find a β 4 min
- 10. Intermarriages of Christians with impenitent sinners. β 4 min
- are resolved to indulge in the use of wine and strong beer, and they will not listen to anything β 5 min
- they wish to do it, to gratify themselves, and they had rather run the risk of doing wrong β 2 min
- Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him. Leviticus 19:17. β 4 min
- expostulate earnestly with him, and not suffer him to destroy himself, if we could possibly β 5 min
- 9. By reproving your neighbor who sins, you may save him. β 4 min
- day. No man keeps the law of God, or keeps his conscience clear, who sees sin and does not β 4 min
- feet, and turn upon you in anger besides. It is lawful to let such men go on; and your not β 5 min
- or relative circumstances of the parties, take away the obligation of this duty. Whatever be β 4 min
- Sometimes it can be done best by sending a letter, especially if the person be at a distance. β 5 min
- there are so few speak out, that government despises them, and pays no attention. Thus it β 4 min
- Generally not: for when a person is drunk he is deranged. There may be cases where it β 4 min
- How often do transgressors tell faithful reprovers, they had better mind their own β 4 min
- Who is on the Lord's side? Exodus 32:26. β 4 min
- So these persons who are the true friends of God and man, are ever ready to complain β 4 min
- I will explain myself. There are two kinds of love: one is the love of benevolence. This β 4 min
- you. Whatever appearance of religion you may have, you lack the leading and fundamental β 4 min
- 7. This class of professing Christians are always distressed unless they see the work of β 5 min
- much a matter of form as when the poor popish priest counts over his beads. Such a man β 4 min
- nothing for the conversion of sinners, and floating along on the current of the world, and β 5 min
- is easy to see who they are that are filled with the love of God and of souls, by the judgment β 4 min
- And now, beloved, I asked you before God, have you these characteristics of a child of β 1 min
- Who is on the Lord's side? Exodus 32:26. β 4 min
- 2. Their religious duties are performed as a task, and are not the result of the constraining β 4 min
- the required amount of religious exercises, this satisfies them. Their conscience harasses β 4 min
- himself by this plea: He did not know, he said, why he should be expected to be better than β 4 min
- They lay great stress on the particular emotions which they have from time to time. If β 4 min
- Precisely over against this, you will find the true friends of God and man more afraid β 4 min
- contribution to impart happiness to themselves, instead of laying themselves out to bless β 4 min
- the work to be much troubled with doubts. Their attention is not on that, but on something β 5 min
- to do good, never enjoys any money he expends so well as that which he gives to promote β 5 min
- over, to read the secular news, or the controversy, or something else. The other class, the β 4 min
- But I find I am again obliged to omit the examination of the last class of professors till β 2 min
- For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. John 12:48. β 4 min
- of men. They will not encounter the odium that they must, if they were to give themselves β 4 min
- pharisees hypocrites, and he tells us that except our righteousness shall exceed theirs, we β 4 min
- their acquaintances, or where they are known. But when they get where they are not known, β 5 min
- Many a man who is temperate at home, when he gets to a distance, will toss off his glass β 5 min
- contrary to the interests of the kingdom of Christ, and yet they will not alter. They make it β 5 min
- This is evident from the fact, that they will yield obedience only to those requirements β 5 min
- 13. They will yield to custom what they know to be injurious to the cause of religion, and β 4 min
- favor of it as you please, there is only one way to reach this kind of people, and that is by β 5 min
- and cry "Hosanna, Hosanna!" But observe, they never would follow him an atom farther β 4 min
- face of public sentiment. And they are ready to brand as imprudent, or rash, any man or β 4 min
- you must give yourselves wholly up to Christ. You cannot float along to heaven on the waves β 2 min
- Be not conformed to this world. Romans 12:2. β 3 min
- 1. The first reason why we are not to be conformed to this world in business, is, β 4 min
- 3. These maxims, and the rules by which business is done in the world, are directly β 4 min
- 6. It is this spirit of conformity to the world, that has already eaten out the love β 5 min
- any farther than it can be a means of glorifying God. What do you think would be the effect? β 4 min
- often see professors of religion go to the extreme of the fashion. Nothing will satisfy them β 4 min
- if they will, may innocently follow the fashions: (I deny that it is innocent, but suppose it β 5 min
- not? She does not desire to do it. She will scarcely buy a pair of shoes for her feet; she grudges β 4 min
- of fashion as themselves. They see, and say, "What does their profession amount to, when β 4 min
- ever nominate such a character with any hope of success. But on the present system, where β 4 min
- office as any others? The world must be fools to believe in a change of heart on such evidence. β 4 min
- Christians live as they ought, and the church would shake the world!. If Christians in New β 4 min
- sort of reliance in the things of fashion, and set no value at all on them, but despise and β 4 min
- abhorrence of the world is to follow along in the customs and the fashions of the world! β 4 min
- So may any good thing be abused. But that is no reason why it should not be used, if it β 4 min
- I answer, thirdly, No such result will follow. Directly the reverse of this would be the β 4 min
- living. Of what use is it to convert sinners, and make them such Christians as these? Of what β 3 min
- For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation, not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world worketh β 4 min
- Instead of looking like a thing that is desirable or fascinating, it looks the very opposite, β 4 min
- sin must deserve everlasting punishment from God. He knows that this is a simple matter β 4 min
- Of this you will be just as conscious as you ever were of a change of views and feelings β 5 min
- And here I cannot but remark, that you see why the doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance β 4 min
- by a thousand apologies and excuses, trying to smooth them over, and extenuate their β 4 min
- sin, and when the occasion offered, they returned to it, as the sow that was washed to her β 5 min
- for it or not. Show me such a man, and I tell you he don't need an express command to make β 4 min
- rally them to a revival again. Directly over against this are those churches and individuals β 4 min
- 1. We learn from what has been said, one reason why there is so much spasmodic β 4 min
- 3. Here you see what is the matter with those professing Christians who think it β 4 min
- love, then he falls a prey to temptation, and so he goes into sin. But he does not love it; it is β 4 min
- If you are willing to give up your sins, you can signify it as I have named. But if you still β 1 min
- He that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. Luke 16:10. β 4 min
- III. I am to prove the principle. β 5 min
- is dishonest in small matters, he is not strictly honest at all. Now, here are facts, which to β 5 min
- 6. He may restrain his dishonest propensities from mere self-righteousness, and act β 4 min
- So an individual who will defraud the United States treasury of eighteen cents in postage β 5 min
- a handful at a time. Now the individual that will do that, shows himself to be radically rotten β 5 min
- If, for so little, he would lose sight of his integrity, and do a dishonest act, he is not too good β 4 min
- practicing others, it is certain that it is not because he regards the authority of God, or hates β 5 min
- would bring, or to show their spirit, and to face opposition. There is a natural spirit of ob- β 5 min
- he may be in his greater and more public transactions, he is mean end knavish in little β 1 min
- Examine yourself whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. 2 Corinthians 13:5. β 4 min
- whether he is not himself a sinner, he cannot exhort with that confidence and simplicity, β 4 min
- If men, were shut up in dungeons, where they had no opportunity to act, and no chance β 4 min
- 2. Not by any direct attempt to force the feelings into exercise which are to afford the β 5 min
- awaken feeling, it is impossible not to feel. The mind is so constituted that it cannot but feel. β 5 min
- of sin. There is not a wicked man on earth, that would not condemn and abhor sin, in the β 5 min
- contact with the living reality of a sinner, reason with him, exhort him, find out his cavils, β 4 min
- wander with the fool's eyes, to the ends of the earth. The former is sometimes the case, and β 5 min
- impenitent servant in the kitchen is not spoken to all day, and perhaps not in a month, to β 5 min
- they rejected him, and finally put him to death, with as much cold-hearted cruelty as ever β 5 min
- the Spirit of God. But he will come at it much more effectually by going to the place, and β 5 min
- You may see a class of professors of religion who are always happy, and they are lovely β 4 min
- Behold all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks, walk in the light of your fire and in β 4 min
- modifications of benevolence. An individual who is converted is in this respect like God. I β 5 min
- looks on the happiness of every individual according to its real importance, as far as he is β 4 min
- the favor of God? He may just as well desire the conversion of souls, and labor to promote β 4 min
- They may both love Christians: the true convert because he sees in them the image of β 5 min
- 14. Both may find pleasure in the duties of the closet. The true saint loves his closet, because β 5 min
- or that a Christian is not benevolent like God, but is only seeking his own happiness, and β 5 min
- 4. If you are selfish, your enjoyment in religion will defend mainly on the strength of your β 5 min
- The other purposes to be holy, because he knows that is the only way to be happy. The β 5 min
- Answer. It is right to regard your own happiness according to its relative value. Put it β 5 min
- Objection 2. "Did not Christ regard the joy set before him? And did not Moses also have β 4 min
- Objection 4. "God aims at our happiness, and shall we be more benevolent than God? β 4 min
- 1. We see, from this subject, why it is that professors of religion have such different views β 2 min
- Submit yourselves therefore to God. James 4:7. β 4 min
- Some have supposed that true submission included the idea of being willing to be sinful β 5 min
- having true submission to it. There are two ideas included in genuine submission, to which I β 5 min
- great object. I suppose it to enjoin the duty of aiming at being Holy, and not at our own β 5 min
- quoting and explaining passages to the same point, showing that all pure religion consists β 4 min
- This objection is specious, but not sound. I deny the conclusion altogether. For, β 4 min
- Thus you see, that both the law and the gospel require disinterested benevolence, as the β 5 min
- 5. Finally, it requires submission to the terms of the gospel. The terms of the gospel are β 4 min
- should come to me and ask, "What shall I do to be saved?" and I should tell him, "If you β 4 min
- slander upon God, and charging God with perjury. Every man under the gospel, knows that β 5 min
- Answer. The offer of mercy may be perverted, as every other good thing may be, and β 4 min
- Seeketh not her own. 1 Corinthians 13:5. β 5 min
- Bible, that we are bound to regard our eternal interests as altogether of more consequence β 4 min
- happiness of all other men, and the glory of God. And whether, if we do this, we act according β 5 min
- glory, and the like. What was he seeking? Was it his own personal salvation? No. Was it his β 4 min
- rendered love. "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my β 5 min
- teaches us to regard things according to their real value. And if so, then to aim at and prefer β 5 min
- could be no gratification to that person. He could pass right by him, and see him die. Then β 5 min
- with all thy mind, and with all thy strength, and God and thy neighbor infinitely less than β 4 min
- to do good, they could not but be happy. If they choose happiness as an end, it flies before β 4 min
- VI. Some will ask here, "What! are we to have no regard to our happiness, and if so, how β 5 min
- even for a day or two, full of joy in God, without thinking of his own salvation. You ask him β 4 min
- Knowing that a man is not justified by the work of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed β 5 min
- I will now mention some of the prominent reasons which sinners are in the habit of β 5 min
- intelligent universe will resound with the verdict of "not guilty." If you have not natural β 5 min
- In which of these ways can any one of you be justified? Will you, dare you, take ground β 5 min
- Who among you, then, can be justified by the law? Who has kept it? Who has got a β 4 min
- justification by faith. But it should be borne in mind that Paul was combating the error of β 4 min
- IV. I will now proceed to show the effect of this method of justification; or the β 4 min
- I know when individuals are first broken down under a sense of sin, and their hearts β 5 min
- penting, but that God never changes his mind when once he undertakes the salvation of a β 5 min
- V. I am to show that this is justification by faith. β 5 min
- and they cannot be forgiven until you exercise saving faith. Therefore saving faith must be β 4 min
- the scriptures." Mark that expression, "first of all." It proves that Paul preached that Christ β 4 min
- Do you feel a sense of acceptance with God, of pardoned sin, of communion with God? β 5 min
- in being distrustful and unbelieving. It is important to your growth in grace. One reason β 5 min
- of you? Have you confidence enough in Christ to leave yourself with him, to dispose of your β 1 min
- Do are then make void the law through faith? God forbid; yea, we establish the law. Romans 3:31. β 4 min
- hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, β 4 min
- to the object of getting away from the danger of the penalty, he tries to get up to heaven β 4 min
- While the mind is looking only at the law, it only feels the influence of hope and fear, β 5 min
- in human nature. It exhibits his disinterestedness. The way Satan prevailed against our first β 5 min
- and selfish. He sees that the government understands his motives, and that he is not really β 4 min
- II. It is absurd to think that the offers of the gospel are calculated to beget a β 4 min
- this way. Why is all this? The sinner needs to be driven off from this, and made to see that β 3 min
- The Seventh Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans. β 4 min
- II. I am to show the importance of a right understanding of this passage. β 4 min
- A moral agent is one who possesses understanding, will, and conscience. Conscience is β 4 min
- And so to say, "I could not do so," when they only mean that they would not do it, and, they β 4 min
- 4. When you understand the point to which a person is speaking, you are to understand β 4 min
- to Apollos, for your sakes: that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which β 5 min
- law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? So then, if while her husband liveth, she β 5 min
- "the law is spiritual but I am carnal." This word "carnal" he uses once, and only once, in β 5 min
- but if this is his general character, how does it differ from that of an impenitent sinner? If β 5 min
- of a Christian. He was vindicating the law, and therefore it was necessary for him to take β 5 min
- (2.) Whether he spoke of himself, or of some other person, or merely supposed a case β 4 min
- spirit of prayer, no communion with God, no evidence of adoption. They only refer to the β 1 min
- Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48. β 4 min
- II. I am to show what Christian perfection is; or what is the duty actually required β 5 min
- vation. But no part of the obligation of the law is discharged. The gospel holds those who β 5 min
- There can be no question of this. What is perfection. It is to love the Lord our God with β 5 min
- they are willing to give them up, and after all, are unwilling to give up all sins. When they β 5 min
- they should repent at all, or love him at all, which is not a reason for believing that he wills β 4 min
- blessing intended. It was holiness. So the apostle tells us, in another place, Jesus Christ was β 5 min
- purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." And in Ephesians 5:26, we β 5 min
- is to fill the earth, if it does not show that there is yet to be a universal triumph of the love β 4 min
- reclaimed, and have entirely overcome this physical appetite. I have heard of cases, where β 4 min
- that in this passage referred to, he is speaking of perfect sanctification, but rather of perfect β 4 min
- of the church there have been numbers of Christians who were intelligent and upright, and β 5 min
- the church in her present state. I believe if the whole could come to light, that it would be β 5 min
- God may prefer your continued impenitence, and your damnation, to using any other influ- β 4 min
- to some promises which, if you would only get hold of and appropriate, you would know β 3 min
- Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect Matthew 5:48. β 4 min
- religion held by modern Unitarians, this must be their system. Whether they understand it β 5 min
- 4. Another form of the religion of works is, where individuals perform works to beget β 5 min
- is, that where faith and love are not in exercise, in proportion as persons abound in outward β 5 min
- never really view Christ, under his name Jesus, because he saves his people from their sins. β 4 min
- When men undertake to help themselves out of sin, and feel strong in their own strength β 5 min
- The fact is, Christians do not really believe much that is in the Bible. Now, suppose you β 5 min
- under the teaching of God! The apostle says, "If any man think that he knoweth any thing, β 4 min
- purified, that the leaders of Israel may take hold of Christ for the sanctification of their own β 5 min
- time of salvation. And as long as the Christian is seeking sanctification in the way of works, β 5 min
- no faith in the church. The minister saw that this way of proceeding was ruining the church, β 4 min
- VII. The growth of works in the church is not a certain sign of growth in holiness. β 1 min
- Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Who of God is made unto us β 4 min
- ways, the natural influence of his example would have brought about such a state of things, β 5 min
- that grace (not justice,) has reckoned his righteousness to us. If he had obeyed the law strictly β 5 min
- opinion on it. And if I have any right knowledge respecting its meaning, I am sure I have β 5 min
- These two things, then are contained in the idea of wisdom. 1. As Christ is our repres- β 5 min
- 3. In what sense is Christ made unto us sanctification? β 5 min
- Under this covenant of grace, our own works, or anything that we do, or can do, as β 5 min
- and give up all wisdom of our own, and see how infinitely empty we are of any available β 4 min
- emptiness of the world, of reputation, riches, honor, and pleasure. To expect this first, pre- β 4 min
- the cause, and faith the remedy. If you lay hold on Christ, and keep hold, all the devils in β 1 min
- Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will β 5 min
- being. He knows, by experience, what love is, for he has exercised love towards different β 5 min
- to subdue their rebellious hearts and bring them voluntarily to obey God. This is available β 5 min
- to give us a description of the world he had left. We should understand it according to our β 5 min
- The Bible says, "No man can say that Jesus Christ is Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." Now β 5 min
- The manner in which the Spirit of God does this, is what we can never know in this β 5 min
- you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; β 4 min
- tears and a heart full of joy, she said, "When I loved God, I longed to read the Bible, and I β 5 min
- means for obtaining knowledge. To those who have the opportunity, "faith cometh by β 4 min
- I. You see what is the effect of all other instructions on a congregation where no divine β 4 min
- they are no more fit to teach without divine teaching, than the most ignorant person in the β 5 min
- VII. How little knowledge have the great body of the church respecting the word of God β 4 min
- Love worketh no ill to his neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Romans 13:10. β 4 min
- guided and be governed by it, constantly, in all his actions, without any felt emotion of love β 4 min
- exercises of his love to the general happiness of his kingdom. So it is in man. All that is good β 4 min
- 4. It is not essential to perfect love, that there should be the same degree of the spirit of β 4 min
- V. I am to mention some of the effects of perfect love. β 5 min
- would be no virtue as it respects her husband. If a person loves God, as soon as he knows β 5 min
- but to glorify God. He is willing to live, here or any where else, and suffer and labor a β 5 min
- always a sign of pride. If a person is full of love, it is impossible to make him exercise sinful β 5 min
- neighbor with an unbridled tongue, to injure his neighbor, deceives himself, if he thinks he β 4 min
- How much excitement that passes for religion, has no love. How much zeal has no reli- β 4 min
- Is it not a worthy object? He came to destroy the works of the devil; and this is the way β 3 min
| Author | Charles G. Finney |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Era | Revival |
| Chapters | 253 |
| Formats | Web Book Β· PDF |
| Status | Public Domain |
Public Domain.
