The entrance of evil into the domain of God is admittedly a deep mystery, nevertheless sufficient is revealed in the Scriptures to prevent our forming erroneous views thereon. For instance, it is flatly contrary to the Word of Truth to entertain the notion that either the fall of Satan and his angels or that of [...]
Total Depravity
Total Depravity is probably the most misunderstood tenet of Calvinism. When Calvinists speak of humans as "totally depraved," they are making an extensive, rather than an intensive statement. The effect of the fall upon man is that sin has extended to every part of his personality -- his thinking, his emotions, and his will. Not necessarily that he is intensely sinful, but that sin has extended to his entire being. The unregenerate (unsaved) man is dead in his sins (Romans 5:12). Without the power of the Holy Spirit, the natural man is blind and deaf to the message of the gospel (Mark 4:11f). This is why Total Depravity has also been called "Total Inability." The man without a knowledge of God will never come to this knowledge without God's making him alive through Christ (Ephesians 2:1-5). - by Jonathan Barlow
Recommended Reading on Total Depravity
The Doctrine of Human Depravity: Its Remedy by Arthur W. Pink
Perhaps some of our younger and more impatient readers are inclined to demur: ‘Why devote a separate chapter to this? We already know all about it: the remedy for ruined man is to be found in God’s salvation.’ But that is a very superficial view to take, and a wrongful one too; for the greatest [...]
The Doctrine of Human Depravity: Its Corollaries by Arthur W. Pink
In the introductory chapter of this book we intimated that we should endeavour to show that our present subject is one of immense doctrinal importance and of great practical value. In view of all that has been advanced in our subsequent discussions, that fact should be clearly apparent. The teaching of Scripture thereon supplies us [...]
The Doctrine of Human Depravity: Its Evidences by Arthur W. Pink
After the ground we have already covered, it might be thought there was no need for us to devote a separate section to the furnishing of proof that man is a fallen and depraved creature, one who has departed far from his Maker and rightful Lord. Though the Word of God needs no confirming by [...]
The Doctrine of Human Depravity: Its Ramifications by Arthur W. Pink
While endeavouring to present a complete picture of fallen man as he is depicted by the Divine pencil in the Scriptures, it is very difficult to avoid a measure of overlapping as we turn from one aspect or feature of the same to another, or to prevent a certain amount of repetition when devoting a [...]
The Doctrine of Human Depravity: Its Extent by Arthur W. Pink
Neither the scientist, the philosopher, nor the psychologist can correctly diagnose the fatal malady which has seized upon all mankind, and still less is any of them able to gauge the full extent thereof. For a right and true knowledge of the latter, as much as of the former, we are shut up to what [...]
The Doctrine of Human Depravity: Its Enormity by Arthur W. Pink
The theology of the last century has failed lamentably at two essential points, namely its teaching concerning God and its teaching concerning fallen man. As an Australian writer recently expressed it, ‘On the one hand, they have ‘tot ascended high enough . . . on the other hand, they do not descend low enough.’ God [...]
The Doctrine of Human Depravity: Its Nature by Arthur W. Pink
In our last chapter we showed how Scripture casts light upon the great moral problem of how an inherently corrupt nature originates in each child from the beginning of its existence without its Creator being the Author of sin. David declared, ‘Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me’ [...]
The Doctrine of Human Depravity: Its Transmission by Arthur W. Pink
In introducing this aspect of our subject we cannot do better than set before the reader what A. A. Hodge pointed out are ‘the self-evident moral principles which must ever be certainly presupposed in every inquiry into the dealings of God with His responsible creatures. God cannot be the Author of sin. We must not [...]
The Doctrine of Human Depravity: Its Consequences by Arthur W. Pink
The key which opens to us the mystery of human depravity is to be found in a right understanding of the relations which God appointed between the first man and his posterity. As the grand truth of redemption cannot be rightly and intelligently apprehended until we perceive the federal connection which God ordained between the [...]
The Doctrine of Human Depravity: Its Imputation by Arthur W. Pink
We are now to consider the bearing which Adam’s sin had upon his posterity, and the different effects which it entailed and produced — though the latter will come before us in another chapter (D.V.), wherein we shall treat more specifically with the consequences of the Fall. What we are here to examine particularly requires [...]
The Doctrine of Human Depravity: Its Origin by Arthur W. PinkThe Doctrine of Human Depravity: Its Origin by Arthur W. Pink
That something is radically wrong with the world of mankind requires no laboured argument to demonstrate. That such has been the case in all generations is plain from the annals of history. This is only another way of saying that something is radically wrong with man himself, for the world is but the aggregate of [...]
The Doctrine of Human Depravity: Introduction by Arthur W. Pink
This book is likely to meet with a decidedly mixed reception. Some of our readers will probably be very disappointed when they see the title, deeming the subject quite unattractive and unedifying. If so, they are to be pitied, and we would fain cherish the hope that God may bless these contents unto them. Medicine [...]
The Five Points of Calvinism – Part 1 by R. L. Dabney
Introduction: Historically, this title is of little accuracy or worth; I use it to denote certain points of doctrine, because custom has made it familiar. Early in the seventeenth century the Presbyterian Church of Holland, whose doctrinal confession is the same in substance with ours, was much troubled by a species of new-school minority, headed [...]
An Examination of the Five Points of Calvinism – Part I: Total Depravity by Brian Schwertley
Introduction The modern era is a time of great theological ignorance, indifference, and declension. Most of the denominations and churches which are generally referred to as conservative, Bible-believing and evangelical have in the past few hundred years succumbed to Arminian1 or semi-Pelagian interpretations of the doctrine of salvation. The doctrines of sovereign grace which have [...]
Total Depravity by Loraine Boettner
1. STATEMENT OF THE DOCTRINE 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, [...]
The Sinfulness of Man’s Natural State by Thomas Boston
DOCTRINE: MAN’S NATURE IS NOW WHOLLY CORRUPTED I shall confirm the doctrine of the corruption of nature. I shall hold the glass to your eyes, wherein you may see your sinful nature; which, though God takes particular notice of it, many quite overlook. Here we shall consult the Word of God, and men’s experience and [...]
The Deceitfulness of the Heart by David Black
‘The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.’ Jeremiah 17:9. True and faithful is the testimony of God. Men may amuse themselves and their fellow creatures with empty, high sounding descriptions of the dignity of human nature, and the all-sufficient powers of man; but every humble, every truly enlightened mind, will see and [...]
Man’s Utter Inability to Rescue Himself by Thomas Boston
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him. John 6. We have now had a view of the total corruption of man’s nature, and that load of wrath which lies on [...]
Presbyterian Doctrine of Total Depravity by Thomas M. Gregory
Though written many decades ago, the following quotation is an admirable expression of the continuing concern of Reformed thinkers for the doctrine of total depravity. If the church and the ministry of the present day need any one thing more than another, it is profound views of sin; and if the current theology of the [...]
Little Innocents? by Sinclair Ferguson
Last thing at night, when our children were small, I often secretly watched them as they slept: there they lay, breathing rhythmically, almost imperceptibly, relaxed, at ease, enjoying ‘the sleep of innocence.’ But man – perhaps especially a father – looks on the outward appearance (1 Sam. 16:7). What of the heart on which God [...]
