Total Depravity

Man, in his unregenerate state is totally depraved. Some do not believe this; they say that there is some good quality in every man, some good principle that if cultivated, would lead him to be a better man. Let us see what God thinks about It. Hear Him testify of man shortly after the fall, and if this was His opinion then, It must surely be the same now, In that man was not then acquainted (at least outwardly) with all the diabolical plots and wicked practices with which he now is.

But the trouble lies deep within, yea he is morally rotten at the core. Hear it: "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination (purpose and desire) of the thoughts of the heart was only evil continually." - Gen. 6:5. And again, "For the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth."-Gen.8:21.

Hear David's opinion of man, of himself. "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me."-Psa. 51:5. And again, "The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking (acting) Iies."-Psa. 58:3.

Isaiah got a glimpse of man without grace and he declared that the whole man was sick and from the sole of his foot even unto the crown of his head there was no "soundness" in him; but wounds and bruises and putrifying sores, that had not been closed, neither bound up nor molified with ointment.-1sa.1:6.

Jeremiah saw it and exclaimed, "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil."-Jer. 13:23. - Just as utterly impossible for the unregenerate man to please God in all his behavior and live truly good, as it is for an Ethiopian to become a white man, or a leopard to rid himself of his spots.

In Romans 7, Paul describes the unregenerate man trying to satisfy his own conscience and meet the approval of God and in verse 21, he gives the essence of the whole thing and says, "When I would do good, evil is present with me." And again, "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. 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."-Verses 18, 19 and 20.

"Any state of human nature which comes short of that moral perfection and divine image which God bestowed when he created man must be regarded as a fallen state and if so, coming short of that righteousness which the perfect law requires. If then, a want of the Divine image which consists in righteousness and true holiness, constitutes a fallen or depraved state, it is evident that man does not by nature now possess this divine image."

The fact that if it were not for the prayers and lives of God's people and His restraining grace, this world would immediately become a literal hell, proves that the unregenerate man is totally depraved.

But do not sinners do good acts They may as men view things, but not in God's estimation, else they would have no need of the atonement for they would merit (by their own good acts) the favor of God and heaven itself. If they are able to desire or perform good acts, it is wholly due to restraining grace.

Another proof that man is totally depraved, is the fact that notwithstanding all his penance and suffering, all his charitable deeds and good works, it all utterly fails to merit the favor of God. He will not recognize, much less fellowship anything only as be sees the Blood sprinkled thereon. Yes, man is radically wrong, and needs a radical change." His understanding being darkened, his affections alienated, his sensibilities weakened, his desires depraved, and his judgment warped, his will is thereby necessarily enslaved; because invariably as the mind sees and feels, so It will act. Here, then, is an alliance of three great powers in open rebellion against the God of grace and glory, or In the language of another, 'Here is a three-fold cord against heaven and holiness not easily 'broken a blind man, a perverse will, and disorderly, distempered, affections. The mind swelled with conceit says the man should not seek the Divine favor, the will opposed to the will of God says he will not seek it, and the corrupt affections, in full accord with the corrupt will, say he shall not seek it.

"Now it is very evident that there is no power inherent In the finite mind to overcome this confederation. Were the understanding and desires unitedly in favor of good, then they might probably bring the corrupt will Into subjection, and the same is true of a combination of either of the other of the two against the third. But since they are all corrupt and unitedly opposed to the entrance of Divine truth, and in that opposition encouraged and strengthened by devils, and a brood of evil influences, (the hideous offspring of devils,) It is manifest that nothing short of Omnipotence can triumph over these combined powers of darkness, and that nothing less than Omnipotence can detect these subtle streams of evil that circulate everywhere through the spiritual man, poisoning the fountains of life; and when found, that nothing less than Infinity can trace them to their hidden source and change the essential elements of which they are composed. Such, then, being the sinner's condition ,it is manifest that he will never, of his own accord seek communion with God, for his judgment and inclination will necessarily influence his will and control his choice.

"If, then, as has been shown by the foregoing thought, the sinner has neither power nor desire to seek and secure the Divine favor, it is evident that his state of sin and suffering is absolutely fixed, unless the mighty arm of God is reached forth to snatch him from the perilous position. Reason and revelation alike declare that man cannot save himself; for 'it is a faithful saying, and worthy all the acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.' God Himself takes the initial step in the work of salvation.