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| The Doctrines Of Grace |
| Exposition of the Total Depravity Of Man |
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| Pages Home Depravity Of Man Unconditional Election Limited Atonement Irresistible Grace Perserverance Of The Saints Links Historic Baptist Doctrine God's Truth Is Absolute |
| TOTAL DEPRAVITY Originally Published by THE NEW TESTAMENT BAPTIST CHURCH 4828 Vine Street Cincinnati 17, Ohio |
| Today, I am beginning a series of messages on "The Doctrines of Grace." Of course there is hardly a time that I stand in the pulpit but what I make reference to one or all of these doctrines; but, it shall be my purpose in these messages to deal with those truths as though my listeners had no knowledge of them whatever. And yet, I am not just trying to prove a doctrine; for though I could convince you that everything I say is so, if you are not taught by the Spirit of God you can have no spiritual understanding of them.
What we call the five basic doctrines of God's sovereign grace are these: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints. Notice that if you take the first letter from each of these statements you have the letters, T-U-L-I-P, the word Tulip. That may help you to remember them. Those who ascribe to these five doctrines are called Calvinist. Mr. Calvin did not invent the doctrines, nor was he the first to preach them; for they have been preached by the true followers of Christ down through the ages, but in the study of Theology this system of truth has become known as Calvinism and so we do not object to the term. When I tell you that I am Calvinistic in doctrine, it is just a quick way of telling you that I believe in the doctrines of God's sovereign grace. Those who hold the opposition position saying that man is not totally depraved, and that election is conditioned on man's choice etc., are called Arminians. And so when I use these terms it is simply to state briefly what a person believes as to how God saves sinners. Our first message in this series is on, "Total Depravity." The text is Genesis 6:5, "And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." That describes every member of the human race, "every thought of their heart is evil." God views them in this awful condition, and thus they are justly condemned and ready to perish. I feel that it will be profitable before we enter into this message to read from the Philadelphia Confession of Faith. Sometimes those of us who preach the doctrines of grace are charged with preaching something new. But a look at this old Confession of Faith will immediately show that the Baptists of centuries past believed these truths. This Confession was adopted in Philadelphia in the year 1742, and had been adopted by Baptists in London, England in 1689. On the subject of the depravity of man it says: "Our first parents, by this sin, fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and we in them whereby death came upon all; all becoming dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body. They being the root, and by God's appointment standing in the room and stead of all mankind, the guilt of the sin was imputed, and corrupted nature conveyed, to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generations, being now conceived in sin, and by nature children of wrath, the servants of sin, the subjects of death, and all other miseries, spiritual, temporal, and eternal, unless the Lord Jesus set them free. From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions." So we see that when I preach the doctrine of Total Depravity, I am preaching what Baptists believed in 1689; and I, shall proceed now to show you that I am preaching what is taught in the Word of God. Let us first consider, WHAT IS MEANT BY DEPRAVITY People sometimes get disturbed when they find that the term "Total Depravity" is not used in the Bible. But using this term is just an easy way to speak of this doctrine which is clearly taught in the Scriptures. For an example of this, we use the word "Trinity" to express what we believe about God though the word itself is not in the Bible. Thus since many of you may not be familiar with this term, I want to explain what we mean by total depravity. The word depraved means corrupt. And so when we say we believe in total depravity, we mean that men by nature are totally corrupt. Jeremiah chapter 13 and verse 23 declares this to be true. "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil." We know that it is utterly impossible for a black man by an act of his will to change the color of his skin, or a leopard to remove his spots. And just as these things are impossibilities, there is no way for man who is accustomed to do evil (that is he is corrupt by nature) to change and do good. Then in Matthew 7:18 Christ said, "A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." Since then man is corrupt by nature, he cannot bring forth one good fruit. Furthermore, when we say that men are depraved; we mean they are completely incapacitated in the spiritual realm. Man is described as being dead in sin and thus he has no ability whatever to perform anything acceptable to God. "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." (Eph. 2:1.) My, isn't that plain? But you know I've actually heard people argue about how dead the sinner is. If I were to tell you that a certain man is dead, would you ask how dead is he? Why certainly not. When you here a man is dead only one thought enters your mind, he is completely dead, without even a spark of life in him. And that's just how dead the sinner is--he is completely helpless. You have heard preachers say, "All right sinner, take the first step and God will meet you half way." But the sinner can't even take the first step toward salvation because he is dead in sin. Christ made this very clear when He said in John 6:44, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." And then by total depravity, we mean that since man is filled with wickedness and is devoid of spiritual life, he has no desire for God or His holiness. "There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God," says Romans 3:11. Sometimes men get scared of Hell and may for a time show some interest in religion; but, no man ever desires to be delivered from sin apart from the effectual work of the Spirit in his heart. We read from John's Gospel chapter 3 and verse 19, "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." Men not only lack a desire for the person of Christ, but they even flee from the light of His gospel lest their corrupt nature be exposed. I trust that you understand now what we mean by total depravity, and that brings us to consider, WHAT PROOF WE HAVE OF MAN'S DEPRAVITY First we see that man is depraved by birth. Romans 5:12 says, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Adam stood as the head and representative of the human race. Yet he was not merely our representative by divine appointment, but by organic union; for, all the human race was in the loins of Adam. And so by birth we partake of the corrupt, fallen nature of Adam; having then a part in his sin. All who stood in Adam, all who have Adam's nature, are partakers in Adam's sin. This verse declares that death passed upon all men for all sinned (that is, they sinned in Adam). In Psalms 51:5 we read, "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." And in Psalms 58:3, "The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies." Some have the idea that a child must be 12 years of age before he is a sinner, but the Word of God says they are shapen in iniquity, conceived in sin, and go from the womb speaking lies. The other day I was riding down the road with one of my deacons and we passed a barn lot where there were several little pigs, probably not more than a few weeks old. I said, "What are those animals over there?" and my deacon said, "Why they are pigs." I laughed and said, "Why you don't mean they are pigs already, they look too young to be pigs." The brother answered, "They are just as much pigs now as they ever will be." Sure they were pigs no matter how small they were, because they were born with a "pig" nature. And a child doesn't have to be twelve or even six years to be a sinner, he is born with a sinful nature. Surely then it is evident that men are depraved by birth. Secondly let us see that the will of man is depraved. Man likes to boast of having a free will, but his will is corrupt. He can will to do evil but not good, his will can take him down but not up. We could say that Niagara falls is free, but it is only free to go down for that is its nature. The Falls could not reverse its course and run upward for it is the nature of water to seek a lower level. Man's free-will cannot cure him of the toothache, or mend a broken limb; yet he vainly imagines that he can cure his soul. Can darkness create light? Can filth produce purity? Can corruption transform itself into holiness? Neither can man by an act of his will save his soul. This is plainly stated in Ephesians 2:2, "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:..." The sinner's will is dominated by Satan, he is fulfilling the desires of the flesh, and is by nature a child of wrath. Next we learn that man is depraved in mind, heart, and affection. "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." (Rom. 8:7,8.) Yes, the mind is corrupt and is in no way subject to the law of God. The mind is better satisfied to study out evil than it is to think of God. The heart is described as being "deceitful" above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jer. 17:9.) The sinner loves what he ought to hate and hates what he ought to love. Though his heart is desperately wicked, it is so deceitful that he is led to believe it is good. You have heard people speak of a man who is a drunkard, a man who starves his children and beats his wife, and say, "But he has a good heart." No, the trouble with the man is, his heart is "no count," it is depraved. Then we turn to the first chapter of Romans. Here we find such a vivid description of the man's corrupt affections, it ought to cause everyone of us to shudder when we realize this is a description of our own nature. I wish we could read the whole chapter, but let us begin with verse 28, "...they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." We do not mean that all men have committed all of these sins, but that these are all in our nature and that we are capable of them. One sin may exclude another, as a man filled with pride might be thus prohibited from adultery, or a man who is a drunkard could have no room to be filled with pride. But all these sins are in the heart of man, his affections are set on them, and it is only by God's restraining grace that each one has not been enacted. In the fourth place let us note that man's depraved nature is expressed in his every deed. "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one." (Psalms 14:1-3.) Every act of sin is but an expression of his inward corruption. He is filthy, undone, vile, and abominable in the sight of God. In fact , oh sinner, if the throne of God were within your reach, and you knew, it would not be safe one hour. That's right . Every sinner would thrust a knife into the heart of God if he could. Oh how wicked is man! Surely he deserves nothing but a place in Hell. Now let us look at Romans, chapter three, verse 10, "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes." I pray that the Spirit shall convince any doubting heart that man is totally depraved. Surely this fact is so clearly taught in the Word of God that there need to be no dispute about it. Next consider, WHAT THEN IS TO BE LEARNED FROM THESE FACTS First let it be learned that there is nothing good in man by nature. All his righteousness is as filthy rags. All his boasted works stand for naught before the Holy One. The question is then asked, "How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman? Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight. How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?" (Job 25:4-6.) Oh sinner man, be not so foolish as to think that there is something good in your nature, for you are as a worm--a wiggling maggot--before God. Secondly, learn that man is dead and blind and thus cannot comprehend spiritual things. Christ says He quickens whom He will, and the need of quickening reveals that one is dead. Paul writes that the gospel is hid to them that are lost for Satan has them blinded and again he says, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor. 2:14.) No man ever understands the gospel, or any other spiritual truth until the eyes of his understanding are opened by the Spirit of God and he is instructed by that great Teacher. Thirdly, let it be learned that salvation could not possibly be founded on works or any movement of the human will. Romans 9:16 proclaims this fact, "So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy." Today men are preaching that God tries to save all men, that the Holy Spirit moves upon all in the same manner, and that the final decision rests with the sinner. If this be true then salvation is of him that willeth, but God says it is of Him that showeth mercy. Man says that character determines destiny; but, God says it is not of him that runneth or works, but that salvation is of the Lord. Our will is depraved, our nature is corrupt, our deeds are evil; "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)." (Eph. 2:4-5.) Let us also learn that regeneration is an absolute necessity if any live spiritually. "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.) "Being born again not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible...," says 1 Peter 1:22. Man is incapable of doing anything pleasing to God until he is regenerated. The sinner cannot translate himself into the kingdom of God, he cannot call himself from darkness into light, and neither can he produce the new birth in his soul. This is the work of God and this is essential if any live spiritually. Fifthly, and finally, let it be learned that there is no hope for any man apart from the sovereign grace which is given in Christ. If a man ever gets straight on this doctrine of depravity then he will have to believe the other doctrines of Calvinism. If he ever sees the condition of man he will have to believe that salvation is of the Lord. You see man is dead in sin, he has not the desire nor the power to come to Christ for deliverance. The sinner has no ability to turn from evil and do good, for that would be against his nature. His nature is corrupt, his heart is wicked, his will is depraved, and every act is out of harmony with the will of God. Thus if any sinner is ever saved it must be by God's sovereign mercy, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. And praise God, that is our hope. Our hope is in Christ. "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." (Rom. 5:10.) Those awakened by the Spirit are brought to admit that these descriptions fit them. Sinner friend, if you feel that today I have spoken of your condition, that you are the worst sinner out of Hell, and if you are brought to admit that before God it is evidence of a work of grace in your heart. And if you see that you can only be pardoned through the blood of Christ and you are brought to rest in Him, you can know that He has granted you the graces of repentance and faith. We pray that the Lord may thus save souls this day for the glory of His name. |