Total Depravity describes the condition of every man by nature as subject to the wrath of God and utterly destitute of any virtue or ability to recover himself into God’s favor. Understanding this doctrine as taught in the Bible will force every child of God to abandon every other refuge and run to Christ as the only hope of their salvation. It is hard medicine for us at first, but it makes the glory of the mercy of God shine so bright that we are so much happier to glory in the Lord than we ever were in our delusions of self-sufficiency.
We believe in man’s impotency to recover himself from the fallen state he is in by nature, by his own free will and ability.
First let’s distinguish between the natural man and the
spiritual man by considering 1 Cor 2:14-15 and Rom 8:5-9. These two passages clearly
make a distinction between someone that has the Spirit of God and those without
(in the flesh, carnal, natural). Jesus says that a man cannot see the kingdom
of God except he is born again, or born of the Spirit, John 3:3-8. This
doctrine addresses the man by nature only, and not the man after he is born of
the Spirit. If you love the Lord and want to abide in him, this doesn’t
describe your current state but proves that it required the life-giving power
of God to change you from your natural state, Eph 1:19. If a mind is enmity
against God, cannot be subject to his law, and finds spiritual things foolish; he
won’t comply with even the easiest conditions because he has no desire for it.
Secondly, our natural condition is described as death. Eph
2:1-3 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according
to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children
of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in
the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the mind; and were by nature
the children of wrath, even as others. I first want to notice that he’s
addressing saints—good people—and saying that we all by nature are no better
than the worst of criminals. This death is obviously not a natural death but a
spiritual death. Since it’s obvious that one who is naturally dead has no
ability to respond to commands or invitations to be raised to natural life, the
conclusion of the teaching here is that there is no ability in man who is
destitute of the Spirit to respond to commands or invitations to be born again.
It has to be the quickening power of the voice of Christ that raised Lazarus
from the dead that raised us from our spiritual death into spiritual life.
Ezekiel 16:1-14 tells a graphic story depicting us (the
adopted children of God) as a helpless baby cast out immediately upon birth by
our natural parents. It’s so easy to see our helplessness in this picture. The
Bible also goes at length to describe every part of us as corrupt. It describes
our eyes, heart, hands, fingers, lips, tongue, feet, thoughts, paths, mouth,
throat, and inward part as very wickedness (Rom 3:18, Jer 17:9, Is 59:3-8, Ps
5:9). Even our righteousness is as filthy rags, Is 64:6. That’s the very best
we have to offer and it’s offensive in the sight of God.
The doctrine of total depravity is taught in the Bible to remove
any basis of boasting in ourselves and to magnify the glory of the love of the
Lord, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom
5:8). If you have experienced the depravity of your nature, then you are like
the Publican in Luke 18:13,14 that would not lift up so much as his eyes unto
heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. So
you likewise have the promise of the Blessed saviour who said: I tell you,
this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one
that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be
exalted.
