As one might guess from the preceding discussion, both men also essentially rejected orthodoxy when it came to the doctrine of salvation. Pelagius, understanding that Christ counteracted Adams's bad example, saw Christ as the good example for man to follow. Finney opted for the Governmental Theory of the atonement, which says that through Christ's death, God was showing man that He was serious about judging sin. Thus, for neither man was the atonement a literal payment of a debt. Salvation then, for both men, essentially becomes a human work.
Election is quieted with foreknowledge.
After stating that the Holy Spirit, being only an external influence, is not necessary for salvation, Pelagius defined grace as simply man's ability to choose. Regeneration, then, is not in any way a constitutional change within man. Grace, for Finney, is also man's God-given ability, but there is also a necessary external influence of the Holy Spirit in the conversion experience as well. Even so, Finney asserts that man saves himself, making works the true method of salvation. Looking at the comparison of the two systems, one can see that, though there are differences, the similarities are more substantial.