William Green, Jr.
Charles Finney emphasizes the importance of personal experience in repentance and faith, and how it qualifies believers to direct others to Christ.
In his sermon to William Green Jr., Charles Finney emphasizes the importance of personal experience in guiding others to Christ. Finney addresses the struggle of understanding sin and the necessity of true repentance and faith in Jesus for effective ministry. He encourages believers to move beyond mere theoretical knowledge and to rely on their own experiences of grace to lead others. The message highlights the transformative power of faith and the need for clarity in spiritual leadership.
Text
To William Green Jr.
29 May 1837
[MS in Finney Papers # 1235]
Extract in William Green Jr to Finney, 21 June 1837, referring to a letter from Finney dated 29 May 1837:
I was sorry to read the passage in your letter "I cannot remain a blind leader of the blind, I must see clearly how to conduct convicted professors to Christ"&endash; I was in hopes you had got beyond that. I reconed myself dead unto sin & alive unto God, & believed that Xt would keep me henceforth from sin. & since I was able to do that, I don't know that I have felt any condemnation for Sins &endash; yet I do not say I am free from Sin either, but that I am not sensible of it &endash; All the directing to be given to inquirers, according to my view are, repent & believe in Jesus &endash; but one must experience what it is to believe in Jesus, before he can direct others &endash; I feel that the wisdom that is spoken of as necessary to instruct inquirers, is all folly &endash; that any one who knows by experience what repentance & faith is, is qualified to direct inquirers to Xt. &endash;
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Personal Experience
- The Folly of Theoretical Knowledge
- The Role of the Believer
- Believers are qualified to direct others to Christ
- Repentance and faith are the keys to salvation
Key Quotes
“I was sorry to read the passage in your letter 'I cannot remain a blind leader of the blind, I must see clearly how to conduct convicted professors to Christ'” — Charles Finney
“I feel that the wisdom that is spoken of as necessary to instruct inquirers, is all folly” — Charles Finney
“that any one who knows by experience what repentance & faith is, is qualified to direct inquirers to Xt” — Charles Finney
Application Points
- Believers should share their personal experience of repentance and faith with others.
- Theoretical knowledge is not enough to direct inquirers to Christ; one must experience repentance and faith.
- Repentance and faith are the keys to salvation and should be shared with others.