Man`s Total Inability
Many a man has come before me in exposition of the doctrine of total depravity. In such a way that in my limited and finite knowledge, I feel as though I can add no more to the argument yet I am compelled to write of its truths and of the evidences by which scripture gives absolute support to the truth it proclaims. I will attempt to base my support of the doctrine on scripture keeping in mind that I have been influenced greatly through the teachings of men throughout history to the present by which my mind has been shaped. I would conclude nonetheless, that scripture has had the greatest influence upon my mind coupled with the Spirits affirmation of the Word of God.
I believe the doctrine of Total Depravity to hold an essential position in our understanding of the gospel rightly. Do I mean essential with the respect to salvation hinging upon it? The answer is no to that. However essential with respect to our understanding of the sovereignty and holiness of God. Within the context of this doctrine exists the right understanding of the magnitude of an infinitely holy God who cannot look at sin and will punish eternally all men for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. I aim to substantiate the depths at which sin has tainted and touched every element of our being and therefore prohibiting us to see clearly the glory and majesty of God. We are in a state of total depravity, meaning that no does good and no one can seek after God. The proofs for this exist within the frame work of scripture. Let me begin with the book of Romans.
Many a man has come before me in exposition of the doctrine of total depravity. In such a way that in my limited and finite knowledge, I feel as though I can add no more to the argument yet I am compelled to write of its truths and of the evidences by which scripture gives absolute support to the truth it proclaims. I will attempt to base my support of the doctrine on scripture keeping in mind that I have been influenced greatly through the teachings of men throughout history to the present by which my mind has been shaped. I would conclude nonetheless, that scripture has had the greatest influence upon my mind coupled with the Spirits affirmation of the Word of God.
I believe the doctrine of Total Depravity to hold an essential position in our understanding of the gospel rightly. Do I mean essential with the respect to salvation hinging upon it? The answer is no to that. However essential with respect to our understanding of the sovereignty and holiness of God. Within the context of this doctrine exists the right understanding of the magnitude of an infinitely holy God who cannot look at sin and will punish eternally all men for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. I aim to substantiate the depths at which sin has tainted and touched every element of our being and therefore prohibiting us to see clearly the glory and majesty of God. We are in a state of total depravity, meaning that no does good and no one can seek after God. The proofs for this exist within the frame work of scripture. Let me begin with the book of Romans.
Romans 3:9-12
9. What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10. as it is written:
"None is righteous, no, not one;
11. no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good, not even one."
9. What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10. as it is written:
"None is righteous, no, not one;
11. no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good, not even one."
Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? These scriptures attest to the fallen nature of man. This is not how man was created. Man, created in the image of God, had the ability to chose between good and evil, right and wrong as Francis Turretin points out, "Therefore man alone was the cause of his evil. He willingly sinned and freely and of his own accord without any compulsion or external force transgressed the command of God, though he was furnished with such strength and helps that he might easily have avoided sin, if he had wished. This spontaneity, neither providence removes(which brings on the infallibility of the event, but does not change the condition of nature), nor the temptation of Satan (which, however vigorously plied, could have effected nothing had it not been willingly admitted by man himself; and which he could with ease have resisted, if he had wished).
This is taking a big step over federal headship and one I choose to defend at another time, however, that being said, Man is constituted a sinner by his relationship with Adam.
1 Corinthians 2:14
14. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
I am satisfied in the overwhelming evidence of this doctrine. I have not even scratched the surface of scriptures accounts of this state of man however I believe the point is well affirmed in scripture. Mans fall from purity has tainted the whole human race. All of mankind is guilty of sin against God and will be judged according to their sin.
Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!...There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.(Romans 7:24,25a, 8:1) Praise Jesus!
This is taking a big step over federal headship and one I choose to defend at another time, however, that being said, Man is constituted a sinner by his relationship with Adam.
Psalm 51:5
5. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
5. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
The argument here is whether David is referring to his mother or to himself which I affirm the latter. Not disputing of course the sin of his mother yet confirming that David, through the imputed sin of Adam, was brought into life a sinner. Scripture affirms this again with this text;
Psalm 58:3
3. The wicked are estranged from the womb;
they go astray from birth, speaking lies.
3. The wicked are estranged from the womb;
they go astray from birth, speaking lies.
Paul then goes on to affirm this yet again in his letter to the Romans;
Therefore let it be said that man is not a sinner because he sins, but moreover man sins because he is a sinner. We know from scripture that the wages of sin is death(Romans 6:23) and in Adam all sin and all die.The proof of mans spiritual death in sins lies in the following scriptures:
Romans 5:18-19
18. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men,
so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.
19. For as by one mans disobedience the many were made sinners, so by one mans obedience the many will be made righteous.
18. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men,
so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.
19. For as by one mans disobedience the many were made sinners, so by one mans obedience the many will be made righteous.
Therefore let it be said that man is not a sinner because he sins, but moreover man sins because he is a sinner. We know from scripture that the wages of sin is death(Romans 6:23) and in Adam all sin and all die.The proof of mans spiritual death in sins lies in the following scriptures:
Gen.2:16-17
16. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17. but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
Ephesians 2:1-3
1. and you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2.in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-3. among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Colossians 2:13
13. and you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses.
16. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17. but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
Ephesians 2:1-3
1. and you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2.in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-3. among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Colossians 2:13
13. and you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses.
So far we have shown the nature of man, the imputation of sin from Adam to all and the wages of sin which is death. As a result of these conditions it is then stated that due to mans condition(death), He cannot do anything to bring himself to God. He is deaf, dumb and blind due to the stain of sin, this is stated in the following scriptures:
John 6:65
And He said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.
Romans 3:10-12
And He said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.
Romans 3:10-12
10. as it is written:
"None is righteous, no, not one;
11. no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good, not even one."
"None is righteous, no, not one;
11. no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good, not even one."
1 Corinthians 2:14
14. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
I am satisfied in the overwhelming evidence of this doctrine. I have not even scratched the surface of scriptures accounts of this state of man however I believe the point is well affirmed in scripture. Mans fall from purity has tainted the whole human race. All of mankind is guilty of sin against God and will be judged according to their sin.
Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!...There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.(Romans 7:24,25a, 8:1) Praise Jesus!
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on Sunday, July 27, 2008
at 7:55 AM
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Mans Total Inability
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