Basic Bible Doctrine (Part 07) - Total Depravity (Part 2)

For a paperback book in outline form which addresses over 150 difficult verses that Arminians use against Sovereign Grace, check out: Problem Texts for Sovereign Grace: Rooting Arminianism Out of Every Verse. iii. They don't seek after God (Rom 3:11). a. The wicked will not seek after God, nor do they think about God (Psa 10:4). 1) They do not seek God because they do not mind the things of the Spirit, but rather the things of the flesh (Rom 8:5). 2) Mind - v. 1. a. trans. To put (one) in mind of something; to remind. b. To bring (an object) to one's mind. b. The wicked in Psa 10:4 are men in general apart from grace (Psa 10:4 c/w Psa 10:7 c/w Rom 3:14 c/w Rom 3:9). c. They won't seek God because of their pride (Psa 10:4). d. God hates pride and the proud (Pro 6:16-17; Pro 8:13; Pro 16:5). e. Abomination - 1. The feeling or state of mind of combined disgust and hatred; abhorrence, detestation, loathing. f. The natural man with a carnal (Of or pertaining to the flesh or body; bodily, corporeal.) mind is at enmity with God and therefore hates Him (Rom 8:7). g. Enmity - 1. The disposition or the feelings characteristic of an enemy; ill-will, hatred. h. Men are natural enemies of God (Rom 5:10). iv. They do no good (Rom 3:12). a. No men do good by nature (Ecc 7:20). b. The can't do good; it's not in their nature (Jer 13:23). v. They don't fear God (Rom 3:18). a. They don't fear God because they are wicked (Psa 36:1; Ecc 8:13). b. They don't fear God because they have not been changed (Psa 55:19). c. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding (Pro 1:7; 9:10; Job 28:28). d. It would follow then that the natural man would have no knowledge or understanding of God. vi. They are by nature absolutely evil. a. Their throat is an open grave (Rom 3:13; Mat 23:27). b. The speak deceitfully (Rom 3:13). c. Their words are poison (Rom 3:13; Mat 23:33). d. Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness (Rom 3:14). e. They are murderers (Rom 3:15). f. They cause destruction and misery (Rom 3:16). g. They know not peace (Rom 3:17; Isa 57:21). C. The only reason why all of the unregenerate sinners in the world (most of the population) do not act like this continually is because God restrains their wrath (Psa 76:10). D. The only reason why God's elect children are not like this is because of God's mercy, kindness and grace by which He saved us from it (Tit 3:3-7) (but that is the topic of the next study). 6. Men by nature, being totally depraved sinners, are worthless. A. At our best we are vanity (That which is vain, futile, or worthless; that which is of no value or profit.) (Psa 39:5). B. God considers all nations of men as nothing (Isa 40:17). i. God even considers all nations of men as less than nothing (Isa 40:17). ii. Imagine a scale that was balanced with nothing on each side and then God puts the entire human race on one side of the scale and it goes UP! 7. God, on the other hand, is holy (Isa 6:3; Isa 57:15) and separate from sinners (Heb 7:26). A. God can't dwell with evil and wickedness (Psa 5:4). B. God can't even behold evil or look on iniquity (Hab 1:13). C. Our iniquities have separated us from God (Isa 59:2). D. We are as an unclean thing (Isa 64:6). E. We are worms before God, in whose sight even the stars aren't pure (Job 25:4-6). 8. Men are therefore hated of God. A. God hates sin (Psa 45:6-7). B. God also hates sinners in their natural state (Psa 5:5; Psa 11:5). i. God broadly hates sinners, but he also gets very specific (Pro 6:16-19). ii. God even hates specific sinners (Rom 9:13). C. Given the description of men in their natural state of wickedness, filth, and hatred and animosity toward God, and the absolute holiness of God, it is clear why God would hate men by nature. 9. Given this sordid description of man under sin who hates God and will not seek Him and cannot hear, understand, nor believe the gospel; how in the world is that man going to be reconciled to God? 10. The answer can be summed up with one word: grace.