While Rome's view of conversion required the infused grace of God for righteousness to develop, for Finney it was only a matter of persuasion. By rejecting the doctrine of original sin and total depravity, Finney negated the necessity for the imputation of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. In fact, the long-term influence of Finney has been far greater upon Baptists than upon Presbyterians. His influence can not be escaped. Ignorance of the doctrine of justification is not the exception but is the norm.
Multitudes claim to be born-again but few are aware of the central teaching of the Christian faith.
Here the full-orbed mercy and grace of God comes into its own. But, alas, we live in a time almost like that of Luther's. I think it can be safely said that without at least a rudimentary knowledge of the basic principle involved in this doctrine, no person will ever see heaven. It is not strange that Evangelicals would be willing to sign a document claiming agreement with Roman Catholics over the doctrine of justification by grace through faith. For the most part, the truth about the total corruption of human nature and the proclamation of the pure doctrine of justification has been lost within a major portion of Evangelicalism.