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The Doctrine of Total Depravity
SUMMARY
Here is
the doctrine of total depravity in a nut
shell.
"Man is bad,
but: he is not that bad,
but: he really is bad."
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That means,
(1) man is a sinner; but
(2) he is not nearly as sinful in actual
practice as he could be. However,
(3) he is really is a totally depraved
sinner in the sight of God.
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TOTAL DEPRAVITY IS NOT
1. Total
depravity does not mean that man is without
a conscience or any sense of right and
wrong.
John 8:9
Romans 2:14,15
2. Total
Depravity does not mean that every sinner is
devoid of all of the qualities that are both
pleasing to men and useful to society when
those qualities are judged only by a human
standard.
3. We are
not saying that every sinner is prone to
every form of sin. Matthew 23:23
4. We are
not saying that every sinner is as intense
as he can be in his sin. Genesis 15:16 ; 2
Timothy 3:13 .
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TOTAL DEPRAVITY IS
1.
Total depravity means that every sinner,
is destitute or without that love to God
which constitutes the fundamental and
all-inclusive demand of God's law.
Matthew 22:35-38
2.
Total Depravity means that every sinner
is guilty of elevating some lower
affection or desire above regard for
God, His Law, and the Gospel. 2 Timothy
3: 4 ; Malachi 1:6
3. That
"something else" that men love is an
idol called "self" or "me." 2 Tim. 3:2 ;
John 3:19
4.
Total Depravity means that every sinner
is possessed with a nature, inherited
from Adam's fall, that is completely
hostile toward God. " Romans 8:7 ; I
John 5:3.
5. By
Total Depravity, we mean that every part
of man's being and nature has been
effected by
sin. Romans 6:17
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RESPONSIBILITY AND ABILITY
A: An
unregenerated sinner may come to Christ for
salvation, but an unregenerated sinner
cannot come to Christ in true repentance and
true faith until he is first born of the
Spirit.
B: Adam is
the only man that ever had a "free will" and
he lost it. .
C. Every
sinner is "free" (is at liberty as a free
moral agent) to obey God's commandments –
but he cannot.
D. No
sinner is "free" (has the moral ability) to
obey God's commandments but he cannot.
E. The
sinner, not God, is responsible for his
spiritual inability
F. Man is
only as free as his own sinful nature
permits – He can sin more and more.
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