TITLE: Calvinism: Total Depravity
TEXT: Jeremiah 13:23
PROPOSITION: Man is not born totally depraved and unable to be saved.
QUESTION: Why?
KEY WORD: Illustrations
Explain – total depravity
“The doctrine understands the Bible to teach that, as a consequence of the the Fall of man, every person born into the world is morally corrupt, enslaved to sin and is, apart from the grace of God, utterly unable to choose to follow God or choose to turn to Christ in faith for salvation.” From http://www.theopedia.com/Total_depravity
Teaches that our salvation is TOTALLY dependent on God. Man can do nothing to choose salvation, have faith, or obey any command of God.
Illustration – man bound and gagged in burning building
Theirs – A man is bound, gagged and chained to the floor of a burning building. He can do nothing to save himself. Man outside rushes in and saves him. This man can not say that he saved himself.
Forgotten view – There are two men in the burning building. Only one is saved and the the other was chosen to die in the fire.
IF man is not able to do anything (seek help, call out, believe, repent) THEN:
Why the commands to believe?
Repent? Confess? Be baptized?
Scene of the final judgment
All mankind are around the judgment seat. Saved to the right (sheep), lost to the left (goats).
Saved – Come inherit heaven.
Lost – Wicked, unbelieving, did not repent, did not obey the gospel
Why are we lost? - You are depraved, child of devil.
Why are they saved? - I chose to save them, change them, convert them
Jeremiah 13:23
We can not change our skin or a leopard his spots.
They say – We are helpless to do anything for our salvation. Just wait for God.
Response – Is the leopard supposed to change his spots, or man the color of his skin? No.
Implied – Man is not responsible for changing his way. That responsibility is Gods.
Response – read verse 22 and verses following.
Why has this come upon me? (22)
God's answer – Forgotten me, trusted in falsehood
Adapted from material on this website: http://www.wbcoc.org/