Lectures to Professing Christians

Charles Finney (1792-1875) was an American Presbyterian preacher known for his revival services and extemporaneous preaching. His Lectures to Professing Christians contains twenty-five lectures delivered in New York City in 1836 and 1837. Finney spoke on various social and theological issues, but he hinted at the themes of justification and sanctification in nearly every single lecture. The revivalist’s most famous lectures are on Christian perfectionism, the doctrine that Christians can and should live sinless lives of their own free will through Christ. During his lifetime, Finney’s lectures stirred up considerable controversy. His ideas remain controversial even today, as none have sufficiently ended the Calvinism/Arminian debate.

Kathleen O’Bannon

CCEL Staff