Doctrines of Grace - Week 2 - Total Depravity

The doctrine of Total Depravity is the first acronym in the acrostic TULIP. When we speak of man's depravity, we're talking about man's natural condition apart from any grace given by God. In other words, Depravity speaks of the moral corruption or evil within the human heart or soul. Total refers to the extent of such corruption within fallen man.

The 1689 London Baptist Confession defines Total Depravity this way: " Man, by his fall into a state of sin, has completely lost all ability of will to perform any of the spiritual good which accompanies salvation. As a natural man, he is altogether averse to spiritual good, and dead in sin. He is not able by his own strength to convert himself, or to prepare himself for conversion."

Is Total Depravity taught anywhere in the Word of God? Yes, it is found in many passages, here are just a few:

- "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it." Jer. 17:9
- "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me." Psalm 51:5
- "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

- "There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one. " Romans 3:10-12

See, what we need to realize is that we are all sinners and there is absolutely nothing good in us that can please God. When man was first created, he was created in the image of God and free from sin. But he transgressed (broke) God's law and fell from his original holiness and righteousness. Because of that, all of his posterity inherits a sinful nature, corrupt and wholly opposed to God. This is the doctrine of Original Sin.

"Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned." Romans 5:12

"Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men resulting in condemnation..." Romans 5:18

Not only do these verses speak of original sin but they also speak of the Consequences of sin. From here we can see the chronology of the malady of sin in the human heart.

1) The fall in the Garden of Eden.
2) The corruption of Adam and his posterity.
3) Sin is committed by all human beings due to their sin nature.

"Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest." Eph 2:3

Therefore, we are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners! Just stop and ponder that sentence for a minute.

II) Settling Some Confusing Issues

First, you need to understand that Total Depravity does not mean Utter Depravity. In other words, Total Depravity does not mean that human beings are as bad as they could be, which would be Utter Depravity. There are 3 reasons for this:

1) A person's temperament affects his/her actions.
2) There remains in fallen man a vestige of the "image of God," though it is marred by the fall.
3) The restraining hand of God in providence.

Secondly, Total Depravity does not mean that fallen human beings are not capable of acts of kindness, love, mercy, honor, loyalty, integrity, etc. The problem is that no matter how good man is he always falls short of God's standard - perfect holiness and man's good deeds are like filthy rags to God.

"For all of us become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment..." Isa 64:6

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

The whole person has been infected and corrupted by the power of sin. This is why Jesus said:

"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:44

This is why we need to think about what we say when we say things like, "I made Jesus my Savior today." or "I chose Christ today." etc. My friend you did nothing. Its all about Jesus and what He's done for us. As spiritually dead people, we can do nothing apart from Christ.

Below is a pretty good 5 minute video clip of Mark Driscoll talking about man's sinfulness and Jesus' salvation. Notice as you're watching, he talks about, "you do what you are." when referring to sin. And he's right, it is our very nature to sin. Until next time God bless. Rob