Lectures on Systematic Theology
Overview
In his Lectures on Systematic Theology, Finney clarifies his theological views for both his sympathizers and his opponents, and outlines both the substance and the biblical justification for his theology. The first section of his lectures is devoted to Christian morality and ethics, which he uses as the groundwork for his doctrine of the atonement, doctrine of justification, and doctrine of sanctification. He speaks at length of the relationship between morality and holiness, with an emphasis on free will and an optimistic understanding of human moral ability. This volume also contains Finney’s lectures on Calvinism, including lengthy lectures on election, reprobation, perseverance of the saints, and divine sovereignty.
Top Highlights
“Sanctification is another condition of justification. Some theologians have made justification a condition of sanctification instead of making sanctification a condition of justification. But this we shall see is an erroneous view of the subject.” (Page 106)
“Hundreds of years since, when intellectual and moral science was a wilderness, an assembly of divines, as they are called, affecting to cast off popery, undertook to stereotype the theology of the church and to think for all future generations, thus making themselves popes in perpetuum. Every uninspired attempt to frame for the church an authoritative standard of opinion which shall be regarded as an unquestionable exposition of the word of God, is not only impious in itself, but it is also a tacit assumption of the fundamental dogma of Papacy. The assembly of divines did more than to assume the necessity of a pope to give law to the opinions of men; they assumed to create an immortal one or rather to embalm their own creed and preserve it as the pope of all generations.” (Page iii)
“Present evangelical faith implies a state of present sinlessness” (Page 84)
“Faith in Christ is another condition of justification.” (Page 103)
“I have been represented as differing so widely from many who are esteemed orthodox, that it is no more than just that one in my relations should define his position and give to the church the substance of his views, especially if he be reported as not sound in the faith.” (Page v)
- Title: Lectures on Systematic Theology
- Author: Charles Grandison Finney
- Series: Charles Finney Collection
- Publisher: Clark & Austin
- Print Publication Date: 1847
- Logos Release Date: 2011
- Pages: 612
- Era: era:modern
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Theology, doctrinal
- Resource ID: LLS:LECTSTFINNEY
- Resource Type: Systematic Theology
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-01-31T18:49:06Z
Charles G. Finney (1792–1875) was a widely popular evangelist, organizing and preaching at numerous revivals and meetings throughout New England. Finney studied law, but after a dramatic conversion experience at age 29, his plans changed.
Finney became pastor of the Free Presbyterian Chatham Street Chapel and later the Broadway Tabernacle. He traveled and spoke around New England and England and as many as one million people heard Finney preach. Finney often spoke about social issues and was involved with the abolitionist movement. In 1835, Finney was appointed as a professor of theology at Oberlin College and became its president in 1851 where he remained until 1866.
The Charles Finney Collection (6 vols.) includes all of Finney’s lectures on revivals, including his Lectures on Revivals of Religion and two volumes of his sermons, including Sermons on Important Subjects and Sermons on Gospel Themes.