Power From On High

by Charles Grandison Finney

Publisher:

Wordsearch

, 2008

Overview

Power from On High, is a series of sermons by Charles Grandison Finney, many of which were first published in the New York Independent from 1871-74. These sermons are concise, mature, challenging and Biblical. About the Author Born in 1792 in Warren, Connecticut, Charles Grandison Finney was the youngest of fifteen children. The son of farmers, Finney never attended college, but his six foot three inch stature, piercing eyes, musical skill, and leadership abilities gained him recognition in his community. He studied as an apprentice to become a lawyer, but after a dramatic conversion experience and baptism into the Holy Spirit in Adams, New York, he resigned from all of his duties at his law office to attend to the call of God on his life which was to preach the gospel. In December of 1823, he became a licensed minster by the Presbyterian Church, Evans Mills, New York. He moved to New York City in 1832 where he pastored the Chatham Street Chapel, and later founded and pastored the Broadway Tabernacle, known today as Broadway United Church of Christ. Finney's presentation of the gospel message reached thousands and influenced many communities. In addition to becoming a popular Christian evangelist, Finney was involved with the abolitionist movement and frequently denounced slavery from the pulpit. In 1835, he moved to Ohio where he would become a professor and later president of Oberlin College from 1851 – 1866. Finney was a primary influence on the "revival" style of theology which emerged in the 19th century. Finney's theology is difficult to classify, as can be observed in his masterwork, Religious Revivals. In this work, he also states that salvation depends on a person's will to repent and not forced by God on people against their will. However, Finney affirmed salvation by grace through faith alone, not by works or by obedience. Finney also affirmed that works were the evidence of faith. Finney's understanding of the atonement was that it satisfied "public justice" and that it opened up the way for God to pardon people of their sin. This was the so-called New Divinity which was popular at that time period. In this view, Christ's death satisfied public justice rather than retributive justice. As Finney put it, it was not a "commercial transaction." One of the most famous things Finney did was implement public professions of faith where people would come down the isle of the Church to proclaim their faith, and he also set up the opportunity for seekers to be counseled about their faith before making the profession. An uncommon practice at the time, which has been adopted as a standard for many Churches today. In August 1875, Finney died in Oberlin due to a heart ailment.

Product Details

• Title: Power From On High
• Author: Charles Grandison Finney
• Publisher: Wordsearch
• Print Publication Date: 2008
• Logos Release Date: 2020
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subject: Christian living
• Resource ID: LLS:WS_67212BE3C5F845B99F62CA3DDF077107
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2021-10-12T20:21:06Z

About Charles Grandison Finney

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.