Biblical Basics #6-4

Total Depravity

The American Heritage Dictionary defines “depravity” as '1) moral corruption 2) A wicked or perverse act. '

The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Christians at Rome, notes in chapter 3: 9- 20 :

v 9. 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;

v 10. As it is written,There is none righteous, no, not one:

v 11. there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

v 12. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no not one.

v 13. Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

v 14. whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

v 15. their feet are swift to shed innocent blood;

v 16. destruction and misery are in their ways:

v 17. and the way of peace have they not known:

v 18. there is no fear of God before their eyes.

v 19. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

v 20. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Not only is this concept of Sin and Depravity universal (Gen. 6:5), it's complete (the imagination of man's heart was/is evil continually). Jeremiah 17 and verse 9 says “the heart of man is 1) deceitful above all things and 2) desperately wicked; the only question to ask is asked here - “Who can know it?”

The diametric opposition of God's view of Sin and Man's view of Sin is seen in the latter making so little of it while the former makes so much of it!   Man's view trivializes sin, it's an illusion, a sickness or illness, something to be explained away or denied as not being my or anyone's fault.   We talk of “the divine spark”, letting your conscience be your guide, looking within your self and being true to your self, considering that we're all basically good “at heart” as though being better than someone else puts us in a better light and more likely to go to heaven than “that person!”

God's view of Sin is dealt with quite differently; as a “Child of Adam, the first Sinner”, we are all born in Sin and Depravity.   Apart from “the Cuteness Factor” babies and children are really quite selfish, demanding, inconsiderate, and totally self-focused.   Some enter the world “with their dukes up”, red-faced, their little fists flying, ready to take on the world from birth. Others are remarkably compliant, “sneaky”, and well able to get their way with their wiles of good looks, smiles, grins, and all the manipulations of a temptress.

Sin is defined as “missing the mark” (the analogy of an archer shooting at a target), transgressing (going beyond or passing over) the law, the commission or omission of a thought or act (doing or not doing that which is undesirable or desirable).   Paul notes, (Rms. 14:23) ...whatsoever is not of faith is sin with reference to those who are not fully convinced of what they are doing whether from indecision (voting “present”) or from not being “...fully persuaded in his own mind. ” (Rms 14:5b)

Matthew chapter five and verses 17 through 48 recounts “The Sermon on the Mount” and its consequences, Jesus' polemic on the Jewish legal system. He compares anger with murder (v. 21,22), lust for a woman with adultery (v. 27,28), the putting away of a wife for anything versus only for fornication (v. 31,32) and the swearing of oaths and loving your enemies. The difference, those “in Christ” were held to a naturally “impossible” standard, requiring the acceptance of Christ's substitutionary death on the cross, entailed by “being born again”!

Proverbs 22: 6 notes “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. ” 22:15 notes “Foolishness (rebellion) is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. ” These and other verses subsumed in “The Ten Commandments” merely brought the individual to the Standard of Perfection and declared him “Guilty!” Galatians chapter three deals with the limits of the Law, verse 24 notes “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. ” We (as they) become “children of God” through faith in Christ Jesus (v. 26)

The above is sufficient to conclude:

1. Man is universally condemned being born of the first Adam (Gen. 6:5)

2. God and his eternal power are clearly shown and understood by his creation so that man is “without excuse” (Rms. 1:20)

3. But One ever did or could “keep the Ten Commandments” and that One was “the God-man”. (Heb. 9:28, 2 Cor. 5:21)

4. As long as we are in this flesh, we will sin (Rms. 7:13-25)

Some will talk and make doctrine about the idea of “Complete Sanctification”, the idea that we can attain a level of “sinless perfection”, truly a laudable goal. The reality of their lives belies this idea. While we may not reach this level, we can strive for the goal of “sinning less” (Romans 12: 1,2) as the apostle Paul did (Rms. 7:25) Christians are called to walk “after the Spirit” (Rms 8:1) and “not after the flesh” (v. 4).

The “revolutionary” step of Salvation is followed by a process of Sanctification (separation and purification from sin). Paul addresses the concept of “separation from unbelievers” in 2 Cor. 5:11-18. Many take this separation to be principally in the bonds of marriage; the issues of being “yoked”, fellowship, communion, agreement may well extend beyond to any level of “unity”. We would like to “separate” a person's belief system from their position of employment; their “worldview” from their occupation; rarely if ever can one honestly and truly “objective” their behavior. More and more, the verdict is precursor to the thesis, antithesis and process of research; we decide in favor of the end result (as in “global warming”, civil unions, government, etc) and proceed with the experiment as though deciding one has no bearing on the other!

The “Author and Finisher” of the Christian Faith said “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. ” (2 Tim. 3:12) Being “in Christ Jesus” means He will go with/carry us through persecution; not “be our 'Bridge over troubled waters. ”

Bottom Line: we, even the best of us, will always be “a needy people”; praise God, his Strength is made perfect/complete in our weakness, for when we are weak, in him we can be strong”.