On Total Depravity

The following is a draft that I wrote many months ago for The Baptist Gadfly Blog but decided to publish it here as a follow up to the last couple entries for my series on "Redemption." Reading this posting will reveal why I thought this draft was appropriate here at this time. I have not had time to finish this writing, but post it here any way.

Born Slaves to Sin - Doulas

There are various words for "servant" or "slave" in N.T., such as doulos, diakonos, pais, oiketēs, therapōn, which speak of different kinds of servants/slaves.

"Doulos" denotes one who is born into slavery. We are born into slavery, slaves to sin from birth. Also, we are born into slavery to Christ and righteousness by the second birth. But, not only are we born into sin's slavery, but we love our servitude. In the O.T., a slave who loved his master could choose to remain in that slavery.

"If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him. If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself. And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever." (Ex. 21: 2-6)

What does it mean to be a slave to sin? It means that we have been (1) born into slavery and (2) that sin is our master. It also means (3) that we love our master and choose to remain in its service.

The word depraved comes to us from the Latin language by medium of the French (Desk Standard Dictionary, Funk and Wagnalls). De means thoroughly; pravus, crooked.

I prefer the term "total inability" to that of "total depravity" to describe the corrupt moral condition of sinners. Man is totally depraved. This does not mean that he is as bad as he can be, but it means that the leaven of morally corrupted nature has infected his entire being, and controls all his faculties. Jesus was an expert on the subject of man's depravity.

"And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man." (John 2: 25)

The idea here is that Jesus knew the depraved state of man. What is "in" man is the leaven of corruption, a nature and disposition that is opposed to God and righteousness. When we talk about man in his fallen condition, we are talking about something that is internal in man, not what is merely external to him in his environment.

Man has a sensuous appetite that demands gratification, and a will and disposition which clings to its own carnal interests and asserts control. Man naturally is concupiscent, that is, he ardently desires what is opposed to God and righteousness.

"The flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh." (Gal. 5: 16)

Here we find again the word "flesh" (sarx), which denotes the sinful nature. What does it do? It lusts against the spirit. It despises what is godly and divine. It is opposed to God and righteousness just as the spirit and the spiritual nature is opposed to the flesh or evil nature.

"Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 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." (Romans 7: 17, 18)

Something evil dwells in man. Jesus knew it, as we have shown. What is that evil? Paul here calls it by two names, (1) "sin," and (2) "flesh." Both these terms denote the sinful nature, the depraved passions. He has also called it "lust" or sinful desire, upon which I will expand shortly.

Even in Paul the sinful nature was present. That is, it is present even in those who have been made partakers of the divine nature. When one is saved, or born again, he receives the divine nature, is made in the likeness and image of God. But, his old fallen depraved nature is not eradicated, for it remains even in those who are saved. The born again child of God has a dual nature, both a fallen and a renewed divine nature. This topic has been explored by writers when they have discoursed upon human nature in its fourfold state, i.e., its state in innocence, in Adam, before the fall, its state in sin after the fall, its state in the regenerate soul, and its state in glory.

IN the Westminster Confession the doctrine of Total Inability is stated as follows: —

“Man, by his fall Into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation; so as a natural man, being altogether averse from good, and dead in sin, is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto.”

Total depravity does not mean that we are as bad, behaviorally speaking, as we could be. Men are not as intensively evil as possible, but are as extensively evil as possible. Think of drops of poison or ink placed into a cup of water. The poison/ink permeates the entire solution.

Scripture Passages

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (I Cor. 2: 9)

"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." (I Cor. 2: 14)

The "man" under consideration in these verses is the Adam man, the depraved man, the man outside of Christ, the man who is in a lost and condemned state. The "natural" man is the man without the Spirit of God, the man as he is found in nature. In Jude this is made clear.

"These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit." (Jude 19) The word translated "sensual" here is the same Greek word translated "natural" in I Cor. 2: 14. He is the man who does not have the Spirit of Christ, one who is not a spiritual man, one who is governed by the fallen depraved nature, and not one governed by the divine nature or the Spirit of Christ.

Notice how the depravity and inability of the natural man effects his faculties, or the members of his nature and being. His eyes cannot see, his ears cannot hear, and his heart cannot perceive the "things of the Spirit." We might also include, in accordance with scripture representations, his hands, feet, mouth, etc., being unable to work righteousness. I will enlarge upon this.

"Neither yield ye your members (faculties) as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members (faculties) as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members (faculties) servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members (faculties) servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." (Romans 6: 13-22)

Clearly, in these verses, "members" refers to the faculties of the soul, to the various parts of man's being and constitution. "Members" would include man's eyes, ears, feet, hands, heart, etc. They refer to man's "senses," to his ability to see and understand, to hear, walk, and speak spiritually, and in a way pleasing to God.

The only time the word "senses" is used in scripture is in this passage.

"But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Hebrews 5: 14)

The Greek word for "senses" is "aisthētērion" and means (Strong) - 1) faculty of the mind for perceiving, understanding, judging. This would include the "will," of which I will speak more extensively shortly.

Depraved man has not the ability to "discern" good from evil in relation to God and salvation. They call evil good, and good they call evil, and put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. (Isa. 5: 20) Man has no "feeling" for God in his depraved state.

"Who being past (beyond) feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." (Ephesians 4: 19)

"Being past feeling" is from a single Greek word - "apalgeō" and means - "to cease to feel pain or grief," or "to become callous, insensible to pain, apathetic." This is because man is said to be spiritually "dead." He has a conscience that is also insensible and callous, or dead. He is unable to feel right spiritually.

"Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron." (I Tim. 4: 2) A conscience that is seared or cauterized is a conscience that is dead and insensible to feeling. They lack the kind of conviction that inevitably produces genuine repentance.

"That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us..." (Acts 17: 27)

"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." (John 6: 44)

Man lacks power because of sin. He is impotent. This includes will power, the power to choose or to will. Left to himself, he will remain aloof from God. He cannot initiate his own salvation. He cannot initiate his own deliverance. He cannot change his own will, his own heart, or his own mind, nor his own nature. He cannot, on his own initiative, make himself love what he hates, or to hate what he loves.

"And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father." (vs. 65)

What does it mean to "come to Christ"? How does one "come to Christ"? Certainly the coming is not physical. It is not a movement of the body, not what is spatial. Rather, it is a movement of the will, the heart, or the mind, with the affections. In this chapter, coming to Christ is synonymous with believing in Christ. Thus, we may translate the verse thusly - "no one can believe on me" except the Father draws or gives such.

"For they that are after the flesh do mind (and choose) the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 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." (Romans 8: 5-8)

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11: 6)

"And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin." (Romans 14: 23)

"The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men." (Proverbs 24: 9)

"An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin." (Proverbs 21: 4)

"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." (Eph. 2: 1)

Spiritual Death

What is death? What does it mean to be dead to God and righteousness?

"Wherein in time past ye walked (by choice) 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: Among whom also we all had our conversation (by choice) in times past in the lusts of our flesh (sinful nature), fulfilling (by choice) the desires of the flesh (sinful nature) and of the mind (or will); and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." (2: 2, 3)

Death involves not only absence of feeling and sensitivity, but also both alienation and separation. It involves the idea of severance, of being "cut off."

"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (James 2: 26)

"But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." (Isaiah 59: 2)

"Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart." (Eph. 4: 18)

"And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works..." (Col. 1: 21)

God is life, so to be separated and cut off from him is to be dead. God is light, so to be separated and cut off from him is to be in darkness. God is love, so to be separated from him is to dwell in hate, to be possessed by hate.

The doctrine of depravity (hamartiology) directly affects the doctrine of salvation (soteriology). If we underdstand how the nature of man is bent towards sin and in love with his state of alienation from God, directing and controlling his will, then it will be easy to understand how salvation must begin with an act of God, in the verses cited, described as God "drawing" one to himself. But, more on this later.

Man is declared to be "impotent," or "without strength." (Rom. 5: 16) "Without strength" is from the single Greek word "asthenēs." Strong says this word means "weak, infirm, feeble."

AV — weak 12, sick 6, weakness 2, weaker 1, weak things 1, impotent 1, more feeble 1, without strength 1

"What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 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." (Romans 3: 9-18)

"Under sin" means under its lordship, as a slave. It means under its power and influence. Paul, in Romans 5, speaks of sin and death "reigning."

"No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." (Matthew 11:27)

“Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the Devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do.” (John 8: 43, 44)

"To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it." (Jeremiah 6: 10)

"Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see." (Isaiah 42: 18)

"This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." (Ephesians 4: 17-19)

"Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." (Matt. 7: 17, 18)

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15: 5)

"For vain men would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt." (Job 11: 12)

"Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil." (Jeremiah 13: 23)

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it?" (Jer. 17:9)

"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee." (Proverbs 23: 7)

"But he said unto them, All [men] cannot receive this saying, save [they] to whom it is given." (Matt. 19: 11)

And again, “The word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God.” (I Cor. 1:18)

"Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." (II Timothy 3: 7)

"Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children." (II Peter 2: 14)

The Bent of the Will

"And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." (John 5: 40)

Man's "will not" is his "cannot," and vice versa. This is why the scriptures deny that it is the will of man that saves him.

"Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe." (Luke 22: 16)

"He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1: 11-13)

"So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy." (Romans 9: 16)

"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Philippians 2: 13)

"John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven." (John 3: 27)

"Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and [that] no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." (I Cor. 12: 3)

"And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power..." (Eph. 1: 19)

"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." (II Peter 1: 3)

"God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins." (Acts 5:31)

"When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life." (Acts 11:18)

"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should...to believe in him." (Philippians 1:29)

"When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed." (Acts 18:27)

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God." (II Cor. 3: 5)

Sufficiency (hikanotēs), according to Strong, means "ability or competency to do a thing."

"And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." (II Tim. 2: 24-26)

"One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul." (Acts 16:14)

"For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?" (1 Corinthians 4:7)

The depravity (death) of the faculties or members

1. Blind in his eyes (vision) wherein he cannot see or understand spiritual things

2. Deaf in his ears wherein he cannot hear or perceive spiritual things

3. Lame in that he cannot walk in a way so as to please God

4. Paralyzed (impotent) so that he cannot do

5. Dumb so that he cannot speak or confess what is right concerning God and Christ

What Depraved Man Lacks (what he is "without" - Rom. 1)

1. Without godliness (God likeness)
2. Without righteousness
3. Without excuse
4. Without understanding
5. Without cleanliness (purity)
6. Without honor (that comes from God)
7. Without honorable passions
8. Without judgment (discernment)
9. Without humility and meekness
10. Without obedience or faithfulness (loyalty)
11. Without natural affection
12. Without mercy and compassion
13. Without softness of heart
14. Without willingness to please God (stubborn or obstinate)

Romans 1, like other passages, gives us a list of sins that result from man's depravity.

1. Unrighteousness (adikia) - The word is the opposite of justice. It is the evil man who robs all of their rights. Since he is focused on himself, he disregards the rights of others.

2. Fornication (porneia) - all aspects of sexual immorality or what is against the laws given by God to regulate it.

3. Wickedness (poneria) - The desire to harm another person, to deliberately corrupt or inflict injury.

4. Coveteousness (pleonexia) - A simple definition is greed, though not limited to money. It literally means “to have more.” It is the lust to get and possess that allows a person to trample over others to obtain what they seek.

5. Malice (kakia) - A defect or badness in character. It is the opposite of goodness or excellence.

6. Murder (phonou) - Not just the physical act, but also the intent of the heart - Matthew 15:19-20

7. Strife (eris) - Quarreling, discord, contention typically resulting from a desire for prestige.

8. Guile (dolou) - It refers to the bait used for fishing and means trickery, deception, craftiness or treachery.

9. Evil dispositions (kakoetheias) - The word literally means ill-natured. This is the attitude that tends to put the worse connotation on the actions of others.

10. Whisperers (psithuristas) - This is the gossip or the talebearer. This is the coward who defames another behind his back.

11. Slanderers (katalalous) - A defamer, someone who maligns another’s character. Where a whisper does it in hidden fashion, the slander does it openly.

12. Haters of God (theostugeis) - God represents restrictions on behavior and the hater of God wants to do as he pleases. A godless world is preferable to such people. Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - II Timothy 3:4.

13. Insolent (hubristas) - It describes a man who is so proud he is willing to defy God. He is confident in his own power. It also describes a man who is wantonly cruel and insulting. A violent man who finds delight in hurting others.

14. Proud (huperephanous) - Literally “I appear above.” In other words, a person trumpets himself above other people.

15. Boasting (alazonas) - Refers to wandering salesman saying boastful, but false, things about his wares. An imposter, a charlatan, or a braggart. Thus it is the attitude of pretending to have what you do not to gain an advantage.

16. Inventors of evil things (epheuretas kakon) - This is related to “malice” above, but here the person does not just turn toward evil, he seeks out new sins. Old sins are no longer thrilling, so he seeks out new thrills in new sins.

17. Disobedient to parents (goneusin apeitheis) - Contrary to the command to honor your parents, this rebels against his parents rules. It literally means a person unable to be persuaded by his parents. Someone who is stubborn and inflexible.

18. Without understanding (asunetous)- Literally “unintelligent”, stupid, foolish.

19. Treacherous (asunthetous) - Literally, “covenant breaking,” without faith, unable to be relied upon or trusted.

20. Without natural affection (astrogous) - Being without the natural love between parents and their children.

21. Irreconcilable (aspondous) [Not in all manuscripts]- Not willing to make peace or come to an understanding.

22. Unmerciful (aneleemonas)- Without pity or compassion, cruel