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Total Depravity
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Intro: What do we mean by total depravity? Can this be found in the Word of God and if so, where can it be found? I also want us to ask this question; why is this doctrine so important? I. What do we mean by depravity? A. C. D. Cole, a Baptist of the early Twentieth Century gives this definition. "Total depravity means that man is depraved or corrupted in all the faculties of his being. It is not a question of degree; but of extent. It does not mean that any man is as bad as he may become, or that he is as wicked as the devil. However, the potential evil is about the same in every man." The Bible says "there is no difference for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." If we have not sinned as much as others, it is due to restraining grace and not to anything good in our nature. When Jesus Christ said, "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, and blasphemies. He was not describing any particular heart but the heart of every man. B. John Gill, another Baptist from the 1600's said, "... but also to show the corrupt state and condition of mankind in general: And the words are not always literally expressed, but the sense is attended to, as in this passage; For in the original text of Psalms 14:1, it is, "there is none that doth good"; From whence the apostle rightly infers, "there is none righteous"; For he that does not do good, is not righteous; and therefore if there is none on earth that does good and does not sin, there is none righteous upon earth, "no, not one" single person. The Jews allegorizing that passage in Genesis 19:31, "there is not a man in the earth to come into us", remark {u} on it thus. C. I will try to give my definition as simply as I know how. Total means completely, Depravity means wicked. As a result of this total depravity, man left to himself is wicked and dammed to hell and is without hope. II. Can this doctrine be found and if so where is it found? A. The term cannot be found in the Bible. B. The principle behind it is. C. Much like the word trinity is not in the Bible; but the teaching is. D. The Scriptures; 1. Genesis 5:3 - And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth: 2. Job 15:14 - What is man, that he should be clean? And he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? 3. Job 25:4 - How then can man be justified with God? Or how can he be clean that is born of a woman? 4. Psalms 51:5 - Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 5. Galations 3:22 - But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 6. Genesis 3:6 - And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. Genesis 3:7 - And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; They sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 7. Romans 5:12 - Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. 8. Ephesians 2:1-5 - Makes it very clear that man is dead Spiritually and he must be quickened (made alive). III. The importance of this Doctrine. A. This doctrine is essential to our need for a savior and also the inspiration of Scripture. 1. The essentialness of Jesus in salvation. a. Some things to ponder: If Man is not depraved and he could save himself...then why would Jesus die on the cross for our sins? Then why does the Holy Spirit need to draw him? Then why does the Bible descibe man as dead spiritually? 2. The Inspiration of Scripture. a. If this doctrine is not true, then God is a liar and this Bible we have is a lie. Because time and again we see the Scriptures spell out that man is depraved and in need of the Savior Jesus Christ. |