The Reformation:  Its Causes and Its Theology

Lesson 6:  The Theology of the Reformation:  Total Depravity

  By John C. Orlando, Jr.

I. Two Views Compared

A. Non-Reformed - Free-Will/Human Ability: Sin doesn’t control man’s will.  He is sick and near-sighted, but still able, in an unregenerated state to cooperate with God's Spirit unto salvation.  Faith precedes the new birth. Faith is the sinner's gift to God; it is man's contribution to salvation.

B. Reformed - Total Inability: Sin controls every part of man.  He is spiritually dead and blind, and unable to obey, believe, or repent.  He must be made spiritually alive through regeneration before he can savingly believe the Gospel. Faith is not something man contributes to salvation but is itself a part of God's gift of salvation - it is God's gift to the sinner, not the sinner's gift to God.

II.  Proper Understanding of Total Depravity/Inability

            A. It teaches: every aspect of man’s nature has been radically affected by sin.

            B. It doesn’t teach: man is as “evil” as he could possibly be and man can’t make choices.

III.  The Will:  Pre and Post Fall

            A.  Pre-Fall – Man had the ability to will spiritual good involving salvation.

            B.  Post-Fall – Man lost the ability to will any spiritual good involving salvation.

“Moral inability is a result of the Fall…This moral inability or moral bondage is overcome by spiritual rebirth.  Rebirth liberates us from original sin.  Before rebirth we still have a free will but we do not have this liberation from the power of sin…”- Sproul

IV. Quotes from Reformers and Others:

"Command what thou will, and grant what thou dost command."- Augustine

“freewill without God's grace is not free at all, but is the permanent…bond slave of evil.” Luther

“Man cannot ascribe to himself even one single good work apart from God's grace.”- Calvin

“Sin is sovereign till sovereign grace dethrones it.” - Charles Spurgeon

V.  What the Bible Says

Gen 8:21; Ps 51:5; Pr 20:9; Ec 9:3; Jr 13:23; Jr17:9; Mt 7:16-18; Mt12:34; Mk 7:21-23; Jn 3:19, 6:44, 6:63, 65, 8:34, 8:43-44; 15:5; Rom 3:10-12, 5:6, 8:7-8; 1 Cor. 2:14; Gal 5:19-21; Eph 2:1-2; Eph 4:17-19; Col 1:21; 2:13; Titus 1:15; Titus 3:3; 2 Tim. 2:25-26; 2 Pet 2:14; Rev 3:17.       

VI.  Conclusion

            A. Man: Cannot, in his fallen condition, choose Christ.

            B. God: Must take the initiative to save man, and give man the ability to choose Christ.

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