Total Depravity (sometimes called Total Hereditary Depravity) is a concept primarily from the teachings of John Calvin which states that man is in a state of total wretchedness. This condition, according to the doctrine, is a result of the fall of Adam. The sin of Adam is passed down from generation to generation even to today. When a child is born, he/she has this condition of sin, and had it even at the moment of conception. There is not one good thing in him and he is bent on sin. He is simply not capable of a good thought or deed in the sight of God.

Can this really be the case? There certainly is Scripture to support the notion that sin was on a rampage after the fall. "Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on earth, and He was grieved in His heart." (Genesis 6:5-6) As a matter of fact, sin was so prevalent at that time that God decided that it was best to just destroy man, "So the Lord said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.'" (Genesis 6:7)

As we move on through history as recorded in the Bible we see occurrence after occurrence of the sin and depravation of man. One only needs to read of the events surrounding the destruction of Sodom, the treatment of Joseph by his brothers and the extreme amount of evil in the kings of Israel after the days of David and Solomon.

But does this mean that all of mankind is so depraved and wicked that even the children are evil and full of sin? If we dwell on the wicked and evil accounts in the Bible we may tend to believe the doctrine of Total Depravity. But the Bible also has a multitude of accounts of righteousness. As a matter of fact, the Lord did not destroy all of mankind during the Flood. "Then the Lord said to Noah, ‘Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.'" (Genesis 7:1)

Were there indeed righteous men in the midst of all of this evil? Consider Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon, Samuel, Isaiah, Daniel, Ruth, Joshua, Nehemiah, Job, the Apostles, Mary - the Mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, John the Baptist, Luke, Stephen, Barnabas, and Timothy. Were these people without sin? Absolutely not! But they were righteous individuals who hardly fit the description of total depravity.

Jesus also makes mention of the righteous on numerous occasions. As examples, consider these passages: "But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." (Matthew 9:13); "But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it." (Matthew 13:16-17)

But what of us today, is there not sin abounding everywhere? There is crime at an all-time magnitude in this country. Our prisons are full and overflowing. The prisons are so full that they are forced to release criminals before they serve a fraction of their sentence just to make room for the "fresh" criminals. Even our "esteemed" politicians are caught in one scandal after another. Attendance in our churches seems to be on a steady decline. Should I dare to mention that even some of our "revered" religious leaders have fallen in the quake of financial and sexual scandal? Doesn't this fit the description of Total Depravity?

Only a fool would deny that sin is everywhere; literally in every city, town and village across America and the world. However, that sin is everywhere and growing more rapidly with each passing day should not surprise us, because Jesus told us it would be so in the last days. This fact does not mean that man is afflicted with Total Hereditary Depravity. It means that the last days are upon us!

The doctrine of Total Hereditary Depravity is simply a false doctrine. There is a multitude of reasons why I believe that it is a false doctrine, and one that true Christians should avoid and deny. Let's consider just a few of the logical reasons why the doctrine of Total Hereditary Depravity is false.

First, if indeed man had fallen to the point of total depravity after the sin of Adam, God would surely have destroyed mankind in the Flood. God sent His Son to the earth to redeem man from the state of sin. If man was truly unredeemable, then the sacrifice of His Son would have been in vain. Jesus said Himself that He came to save the world not to condemn it. He came to save the world from the state of sin, not the state of total depravity. I dare say that there are individuals who certainly appear to be in a state of total depravity, but even they can be saved because they are redeemable. The state of total depravity, by its very nature, MUST preclude any possibility of redemption.

If you and I are in a state of total depravity, then why do we suffer from a guilty conscience when we fall short (sin) of the glory of God? It doesn't even have to be a "serious" sin, just a matter of us not doing as much as we know we are capable of as a Christian. When we really make a blunder, the guilt and depression can last for days, weeks or even months. If we were totally depraved, we would have no since of guilt because we would have no since of right. Total depravity would preclude us from having the knowledge of goodness. Therefore, our sinfulness would not – could not – produce in our total depraved mind any since of guild or remorse for our actions.

If we are totally depraved, why didn't God just tell us so and provide a means of removing us from that state of being? Why does the Bible tell us such things as "choose this day whom you will serve," "arise, and sin no more," and "repent and be baptized every on of you."? Total depravity means that we could not comprehend the meaning of such exhortations as these. If we are totally depraved, then there is no good thing in us. If this were the case, how could we take good and correct actions as these exhortations encourage us to do? They would simply be empty and vain words. God would, in effect, be a liar to encourage us to do that which we are incapable of doing. GOD IS NOT A LIAR!

If the doctrine of total depravity is true, then a new born baby is also depraved. It is even depraved as an unborn child. (Could this doctrine be responsible for the attitudes so prevalent in America and the world today which not only permits the endless slaughter of unborn children, but even encourages it?) Are children really just little evil beings walking around looking for the opportunity to manifest their evil natures? Do you believe this to be true? If it is true, then why did Jesus rebuke His disciples and say to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."(Matthew 19:14) Are we to believe that Jesus Christ would compare heaven to a totally depraved being? Would He compare heaven, a place where there is NO SIN, to a being which is NOTHING BUT SIN? Of course not! It is ludicrous to even suggest the possibility of Jesus doing that.

And finally, just take a look around you. In my home congregation are a multitude of wonderful gracious people of all ages. They are thoughtful, caring, loving and compassionate people. I have an opportunity to visit other congregations regularly and preach, and I find the same kind of people in those congregations. They hardly fit the description of total depravity. These are the people who visit and care for the sick and elderly. They are the ones who are the "unsung" heros of the church because they serve the Lord for the joy of serving not the praises that they can receive from others. They are the ones whom you can depend on when there is a need in your life. They are there to be your friend in the bad times as well as the good. If mankind were totally depraved, these people would be "freaks of nature." There are simply too many of these good people around for that to be the case.

The false doctrine of Total Hereditary Depravity has fostered a multitude of other false doctrines. Some of these false doctrines are: Predestination, Universalism, Eternal Security, Purgatory, Faith Only & Works Only (as plans of salvation), Infant Baptism, Sprinkling & Pouring (as forms of baptism), Baptismal Regeneration, Confirmation, Saint Worship and others.

Man is certainly inclined towards depravity, as the wide-spread belief in these false doctrines indicates. However, man is not in a state of total depravity, but rather in a state of vulnerability. Only through an honest, prayerful study of God's Word can man learn the truths contained in it. It is for this purpose that I started this monograph series, Be Ye Doers Of The Word. It is for this reason that I ask for the prayers of all those who love Christ and strive to follow Him in spirit and truth that these monographs will be true to His Word, and help His people to better understand the Bible.

All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

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