THANKS FOR GOSPEL VICTORY

SERMON BY CHARLES FINNEY

"I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord." --Romans vii:25

"Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord." --1 Cor. xv:57

In both these passages Paul gives thanks for deliverance from a sinning and sinful state.

To bring this subject fully before us, I remark,

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ON BELIEVING WITH THE HEART

SERMON BY CHARLES FINNEY

"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness." -- Romans 10:10

The subject brought to view in this passage requires of us, that we should,

I. Distinguish carefully between intellectual and heart faith.

There are several different states of mind which are currently called faith, this term being obviously used in various senses. So, also, is the term heart used in various senses, and indeed, there are but few terms which are not used with some variety of signification. Hence, it becomes very important to discriminate.

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The Elder Brother

Romans 8:1-2 (NAS)
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

My childhood memories swarm with dozens of stories I was not a part of—adventures from my three older brothers. Of all the stories they shared, one in particular stands out.

As I understand it, my brothers were nine-, seven- and five-years-old. Our father just bought a new Ford. On a crisp fall afternoon Freddy, the youngest of the three, just could not resist the urge to scribbled on the shiny new surface of Dad’s car with a rock. While the others watched in terror, the deed was accomplished. Once the vandalism started, Ronnie could not help but join in the fun. Not wanting to be involved, Wayne—the eldest—ran inside. An hour later, Dad came home to find the damage.

Our father managed to control himself and ask who had defiled his vehicle. No one answered. “I know it’s one of you. I’m very disappointed in whoever did this. One of you is going to fess up. Who is going to step forward?”

Not a sound, only the birds chirping outs ide.

“All right then, all three of you will get spanked.”

“Wait!” Wayne cried. He stepped forward. “I’m sorry, Daddy.”

The other boys looked on in disbelief. He was taking the fall for them.

Wayne peeked at his little brothers as he was lead to his sentence. Unable to return the glance, they stared forward, and shuffled outside. Looking at the ground from the steps on the front porch, they listened to the wails of their elder brother. If before today they had not understood the message of the Cross, surely they did now. The sacrifice of the innocent one saved the guilty.




Lord help us never forget the price our elder brother Jesus paid to save us from our sentence. We were the guilty who have been pardoned because of what His sacrifice.

By Tez Brooks

THE RATIONALITY OF FAITH

SERMON BY CHARLES FINNEY

"He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God." --Romans iv.20.

These words were spoken of Abraham, as you will see by reading the connexion in which they are found. Faith is the heart's confidence in God. This is faith in its generic form; its specific form relates to particular things--belief in the promises, in Christ, in the doctrines of the Bible, and in all the various assertions that God makes in his word. This specific form of faith differs from faith in its generic or simple form, which implies a general confidence in the existence, attributes, and character of God. The mind's resting in these things is faith; that is faith in its simple form. Mark, faith in God is not a mere assent to these things, nor a mere intellectual conviction that they are true; but faith is the heart, and the mind, and the will, resting in this truth--that God is, that he possesses certain attributes, and a certain character. Faith in its specific form is the belief of the heart in certain declarations of God, a belief in his wisdom and goodness; in his assertions respecting Christ, and in all those things which he has said and promised. There are a great many specific forms in which faith developes itself--but the root of it is heart confidence in God himself.

In speaking from the words which I have chosen for my text this morning, I purpose to notice--

I. SOME THINGS IN THE WORD OF GOD WHICH ARE EXCEEDINGLY CALCULATED TO TRY THE FAITH OF FINITE MINDS.

II. SHOW HOW FAITH DISPOSES OF THESE THINGS; AND THAT TRUE FAITH IS NOT SUBDUED AND OVERCOME BY A CONSIDERATION OF THESE THINGS.

III. I SHALL SHOW THE GREAT OBJECT OF THESE TRIALS OF FAITH

IV. PROFESSORS THAT STUMBLE OR STAGGER AT THESE THINGS LOSE THE BLESSING CONSEQUENT UPON THEM, AS A NATURAL NECESSITY.

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Giving God What He Paid For

Romans 12: 1 – 2 (NIV)
Living Sacrifices
1)Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual (reasonable) act of worship. 2)Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.


I don’t know about you, but whenever I’ve read this passage in the past, I have wondered exactly what it means to offer my body as a living sacrifice because this is my reasonable act of worship. I didn’t understand the ‘reasonable’ part or the ‘spiritual act of worship’ part, until my pastor described it in terms I could understand. It is reasonable to expect to receive what has been paid for. I don’t purchase a new pair of shoes, and then leave them in the store.

As an employer, I expect my employees to earn their wages. That is why I pay them. If I hire a contractor to do a specific job, I expect him/her to complete it, and to give me what I’ve paid for. When I purchase an item, no matter the cost, I expect to get my money’s worth. Is that not reasonable?

God bought and paid for me with the blood of His only Son. He owns me. Is he getting His money’s worth? He invested the life of His only son. What am I doing for Him on a daily basis? There is nothing I can do in this world to repay Him, but the strange thing is, He doesn’t want repayment, God wants me and my service. Does He have it?

Now that I understand this concept, and my mind has been renewed with this understanding, I can do what God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will is in my life.


Dear Father, Thank You for your great sacrifice for me. Help me to understand how you would use me today. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

By Marianne, Canada

THE WRATH OF GOD

SERMON BY CHARLES FINNEY

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness." Romans 1:18

The following context shows that in these words the apostle has his eye especially on those who, not having a written revelation from God, might yet know him in his works of nature. Paul's view is that God's invisible attributes become apparent to the human mind, ever since the creation of our world--being revealed by the things he has made. In and by means of these works, we may learn his eternal power and his real Divinity. Hence all men have some means of knowing the great truths that pertain to God, our infinite Creator. And hence God may, with the utmost propriety, hold men responsible for accepting this truth reverently, and rendering to their Creator the homage due. For withholding this, they are utterly without excuse.

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Has Someone Cheated You?

Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. Romans 12:19 (NASB)

How difficult it is to leave unjust matters in the Lord's hands! A few years ago my mother appointed a close relative to oversee my part of her estate. I felt angry about her choice, knowing that this person was doubleminded. Yet I felt the need to respect her by agreeing to sign the necessary papers making this person my trustee. My inheritance has been reduced by the greed of compromising and discriminatory relatives whose lives are not focused on the Lord. I have been dependent on this family in the past as a money source, but God is doing a new work. Twice the Lord has intervened and provided me with financial income outside of my blood family through some blesed and unique circumstances. Dear friend, if you are living a righteous life, God will not be thwarted by your oppressors from blessing you! Stand aside, pray and give God room to work in the offender's life. Only the Lord administers perfect justice to bring Godly sorrow for past wrongdoings. Besides, you will miss seeing the amazing creative power of God that pulls actions out of the invisible to bring blessing into your life. You will lose the opportunity to worship and thank Him with an awestruck heart for what He has done. The chance to tell others of His great work will pass you by, and you will forfeit an enormous amount of joy, walking with Him during this time of trial.

Lord, we lose so much by letting unfair treatment burn in our bosoms. Grant us a forgiving heart, longsuffering patience and peace as we wait for you to bring justice into our hurtful situation. Great things await us as we wait for you!

By Merilee (Washington, USA)