In order to correctly understand what Total Depravity is, one should first understand what SIN is - - -
1. SIN AS AN ACT...
Sin is a transgression against or a going contrary to the law of God.
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4
2. SIN AS A STATE...
There are many people who insist that they can see but refuse to see that sin goes far deeper than a simple overt act. Upon reflection we see that
our sinful acts are nothing more than outward expressions stemming from our own inner selves. Therefore, man is not only sinful in conduct, but he exists
in a sinful state as well -- meaning a lack of conformity to God in mind and heart (the inner man). Overt acts of sin occur because of our inward sinfulness.
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
3. SIN AS A PRINCIPLE...
In principle sin is outright rebellion against God. It is refusing to do the will of Him who has every right to demand obedience of US.
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
4. SIN IN ESSENCE...
Therefore, while sin as an act is transgression of God’s law -- as a state it is unlikeness to God -- as a principle it stands opposed to God -- and the essence of it is always selfish and self-centered.
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Sin may be described as a tree of self-will, having two tap roots. One is a "no" to God and His demands. The other is a "yes" to self and self’s interests. No matter what form sin may take, it is always found to have selfishness as its root. Sin may take the forms of avarice, pride, vanity, ambition, sensuality, jealousy, or even love of others -- in which case others are loved because they are conceived of as being in some way connected with or contributing to self.
The sinner may even seek truth, but always for selfish, self-centered and egotistical purposes. He may even give his goods to feed the poor, or even his body to be burned, but only through selfish desire for fleshly gratification or for honor or reward either in the here and now or in the after-life.
Sin as selfishness has four component parts: "(1) Self will, instead of submission; (2) self-seeking, instead of benevolence; (3) self-righteousness, instead of humility and reverence; (4) self-sufficiency, instead of faith".
We see, then, that sin is not merely a result of man’s imperfect development. It is a perversity of the will and disposition. Man will never outgrow it so long as he is of the flesh. Regeneration puts a check upon it; but it does not destroy it. Nor is sin the mere result of the union of the spirit with the body.
The spirit itself is sinful and would be just as sinful out of the body as in the body if left in its natural state. Satan has no body; yet he is supremely sinful. Neither is sin mere finiteness. The elect angels in Heaven are finite; yet they are without sin. Glorified saints will still be finite; yet they will have no sin.
For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Romans 7:18-21, 24
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:2-4
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Romans 8:8-9
Now that we understand what SIN is, let's take a closer look at what "Total Depravity" means --
A. Man is Depraved in Mind. Gen. 6:5.
B. In Heart. Jer. 17:9.
C. In Affections so that He is Averse to God. John 3: 19; Rom. 8:7.
D. In Conscience. Titus 1:15; Heb. 10:22.
E. In Speech. Ps. 58:3; Jer. 8:6; Rom. 3:13.
F. Depraved from Head to Foot. Isa. 1:5,6.
G. Depraved when Born. Ps. 51:5; Ps. 58:3.
A. No Remnant of Good Remains in Man by Nature. Rom. 7: 18.
Total depravity means that sin has permeated every faculty of man’s being just as a drop of poison would permeate every molecule of a glass of water. Sin has warped every faculty in man, and thus it taints his every act, no matter if what he does is "good and godly" (in his own eyes) or downright and premeditated "evil".
Man is utterly lost and in dire need of salvation. Why? Because it's NOT what a man DOES that saves him, but rather WHO he is that saves a man. What he DOES comes under the law -- and doing the law (except it be kept perfectly and in full at all times) will save no one! Who he has become IN Christ comes under Grace. So it all depends on whether or not that man is IN (or out of) Christ by faith that counts for righteousness.
Not only is man unable to save himself from the fires of hell, but he cannot of himself do "good or godly thing" either. For in him, that is, in his self or flesh, dwells no good thing or quality that is worth saving, proving how awesome God is in His Love and Grace to save worthless and depraved sinners as those who believe. We cannot come by salvation naturally. Salvation is A FREE Gift given to those who believe - those who receive power from on high enabling them to live the Christian life - a life pleasing to God! (Romans 5:15-18)
The basis of depravity and spiritual inability lies in the heart. It is deceitful and incurably wicked (Jer. 17:9). Out of the heart are the issues of life (Prov. 4:23). No one can bring a clean thing out of an unclean one (Job 14:4). Hence neither holiness nor faith can proceed from the natural heart. Good things proceed from a good heart and evil things proceed from an evil heart (Matt. 7:17,18; Luke 6:45).
ENTER CHRIST!!! ENTER THE WORD OF GOD!!! When one hears and believes the Gospel / the Word of God, it is then His Word that enters that person and begins to 'grow'. If we allow His word to do its job in us and let it grow, then it will soon become alive and speak to us / to our hearts (see Hebrews 4:12), and soon (if we continue obeying His voice) we will know the truth and the truth will make us free (John 8:32)!
B. Therefore Man by Nature Cannot Subject Himself to the Law of God or Please God. Rom. 8:7, 8.
C. Man is by Nature Spiritually Dead. Rom. 5:12; Col. 2:16; 1 John 3:14.
D. Therefore He Cannot Comprehend Spiritual Things. 1 Cor. 2:14.
E. Hence He Cannot Until Quickened by the Spirit of God, Turn From Sin to God in Godly Penitence and Faith. Jer. 13:23; John 6:44, 65; 12:39, 40.
In order to escape from our old Adamic self-centered life we must receive POWER from on high (i.e. the entry of the risen Christ into our inner man through the Holy Spirit) and become Born Again...
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13
Read verse 13 again! There is nothing a man can do to save himself because Jesus already did all the work necessary before God for that. Man, being totally depraved cannot save himself. For this -miracle- to happen he needs to submit himself to the Lord!
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John 3:5
Bottom Line??? "YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!"
In other words: You must know for yourself something of the love of God, in order to have and to hold Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, keeping and doing what God says in your heart, ever seeking to do the Father's will instead of your own. [This is what it means to believe thus receive POWER to become a son of the living God.]
May God bless you in the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ!
Biff
