I. The doctrine of Total Depravity stated:
As a result of the Fall, man’s nature is wholly corrupted; man is now under a state of wrath and is utterly unable in himself to come to God for salvation.
II. The doctrine opened into its parts
A. Man’s nature is wholly corrupted.
1. The understanding is corrupted: "There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God." (Romans 3:11)
2. The will is corrupted.
a. Unregenerate man is unable to do anything truly good or acceptable in the sight of God.
(1.) "There is none who does good, no, not one." (Romans 3:12)
(2.) "Without faith it is impossible to please Him." (Hebrews 11:6)
b. There is in the unregenerate will an aversion to good.
(1.) "But you are not willing to come to Me thatyou may have life (John 5:40)
(2.) "There is none who seeks after God." (Romans 12:11)
c. There is in the unregenerate will a natural
"proneness to evil."
(1.) "The wicked are estranged from the womb; They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies." (Psalm 58:3)
(2.) "I find then a law, that evil is present with me." (Romans 7:21)
d. There is in the unregenerate will a direct
opposition to God.
(1.) "The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be." (Romans 8:7)
(2.) "You who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works." (Colossians 1:21)
3. The affections are corrupted:
"For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these things within and defile a man." (Mark 7:21-22)
4. The conscience is corrupted:
"To those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled." (Titus 1:15)
5. The body is corrupted:
"Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (Roman 7:24)
B. Man by nature is under a state of wrath:
- "We . . .were by nature children of wrath." (Ephesians 2:3)
- "He who does not believe is condemned already. . . (John 3:18) . . . but the wrath of God abides on him (John 3:36)."
WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THIS WRATH?
1. Man is under the curse of the Law of God: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things are written in the book of the law, to do them." (Galatians 3:10)
2. Man is the subject of God’s anger: "God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day." (Psalm 7:11)
3. Man is despised of God: "You hate all workers of iniquity." (Psalm 5:5)
4. Man despises God and His ways: "The carnal mind is enmity against God." (Romans 8:7)
5. Man is a slave:
a. Of Satan:
"You once walked . . . according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience." (Ephesians 2:2)
b. Of sin:
"You were the slaves of sin." (Romans 6:17)
C. Man is utterly unable in himself to come to God for salvation.
1. Although Christ is offered in the Gospel, man by nature cannot believe in Him.
a. "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him." (John 6:44)
b. "No one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father." (John 6:65)
c. "The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (I Corinthians 2:14)
d. "You have hidden then these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes." (Matthew 11:25)
2. Man cannot work a saving change on himself.
a. "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one!" (Job 14:4)
b. "Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil?" (Jeremiah 13:23)
c. "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins." (Ephesians 2:1)
d. "Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)
3. Natural man resists the operations of the Holy Spirit (God infallibly overcomes this resistance in His elect): "Your people shall be willing in the day of Your power." (Psalms 110:3)