Letters    

Answer to Charles Finney (Con't.) 

11. If the atonement is not for all mankind, God is partial.

      Of course He is. A. Physically, all do not have equal eyesight, or length of life, or the same amount of wealth. B. Mentally, all do not possess the same degree of intelligence. C. Spiritually, do all have the same measure of faith (I Corinthians 12:11)? Do all receive the same rewards? Why is it wrong for God to choose Abel, and not Cain? Isaac, and not Ishmael? Jacob, and not Esau? Israel, and not Philistia? Paul, and not Herod? "Can I not do with my own as I will?" Is it wrong for God to make of the same lump a vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?

      When the Scripture says, "God is no respecter of persons, it simply means God is not impressed with a man's credentials, and He cannot be bribed with a man's wealth.

12. If the atonement was not intended for all mankind, sinners in Hell will see and know their salvation was never possible; that there was no atonement made for them; and that God was insincere in offering them salvation.

     There are two parts to Finney's statement. First, Finney errs not knowing the Scriptures, for it is the testimony of the Apostle John that sinners in Hell curse God day without night (See: Revelation 16:9-11; also 14:11). No one ever repented in Hell. The wicked who go there do not wish for salvation. They have no desire for salvation, nor does any man unless God works in him "both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).

     Second, the recurring theme of Finney accusing God of insincerity is again on account of his inability to grasp the fact that the gospel is a two-edged sword: it was never designed to save all who hear the message. It is the means God uses to save them that believe. To them we are the savor of life unto life. They believe because, as Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice and follow me; and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish" (See: John 10:27,28). To everyone else, the "preaching of the cross" is foolishness. To them we are the savor of death unto death (Note again, II Corinthians 2:14-17). This passage makes no sense otherwise.

       Third, the definition of "grace" is "God giving to man what he does not deserve." The definition of "mercy" is "God not giving to man what he does deserve."

13. If the atonement is not for all men, no one can know for whom in particular it was intended, without direct revelation.

       First, a sinner awakened by the gospel does not care for whom the atonement is intended. "The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force" (Matthew 11:12). They go to Heaven because they must go to Heaven. Sinners go to Hell because they are not much concerned to go to Heaven. God has not caused them to will and to do of His good pleasure.

      Second, since we do not know the identity of the elect of God, and since our ministry is to the non-elect as well in order to call them to judgment, we lift up our voice and proclaim the gospel to every creature, and thus fulfill the great commission.

      Third, it is not by direct revelation, but by written revelation that we as believers can see who is chosen and who is not: they who are made willing to do the pleasure of God, to confess and forsake their sins are the elect only. Others could not care less. "He that hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).

      Did not Jesus say, "I lay down my life for the sheep" (John 10:15)? and again, "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am ..." (John 17:24). Either the Father gave these unto the Son, or He did not. But, I will rather trust the Holy Ghost as He spoke by the mouth of John than I will any man uninspired.

14. If the atonement is for none but the elect, no man can know whether he has a right to embrace it until, by a direct revelation, God has made known to him that he is one of the elect.

       First, man is not born with a desire to love God, and to worship Him. Who is it, then, that makes him willing to embrace the gospel? See: Philippians 2:13. Second, none of the non-elect, whether on earth or in Hell, have ever wanted to be saved. They could not care less. Third, sinners who have been quickened, and are in the labor of the new birth, do not stop to wonder who is elected. Last, believers know they are chosen in Him before the foundation of the world: they know it by the witness of the Spirit of God, as well as by the knowledge God reveals in His Word.

15. If the atonement was made only for the elect, no man can by any possibility embrace it without such a revelation.

      This has already been answered 3 times. Finney is correct when he says Satan cannot believe because there is no atonement made for him. Although he does not want to admit it, the non-elect are in the same condition.

      Again, if any sinner is in Hell for whom Christ died, Jesus Christ is a failure. There is no ignoring the fact. Either He is a god who is poor and weak, or He is the Lord of heaven and earth. No man will be in Hell who wants to go to heaven, because the only reason anyone wants to go there is because he has been made willing by the working of the Spirit of God

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