Total Depravity

Romans 3:9 - 10, 18 “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; (10.) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (18.) There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

In our study on the Sovereignty of God we now come to the first letter of T.U.L.I.P. which is the “T” and it stands for “Total Depravity”. Please understand these are short articles and I can only cover these subjects in short order, therefore I will leave much unsaid. In most places of worship the thinking is not about a Sovereign God, it is about a sovereign man in total control of his own salvation and in total control of deciding to be saved or not, however this thinking is NOT scriptural in any fashion and contradicts what the scripture has concluded and that is; man is incapable of making that choice in fact the scripture has concluded that mankind and that is all mankind will choose sin over God and that is because we are all “… both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin…” that is we are slaves to sin and “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” John 8:34 the word “servant” means slave in which we cannot escape because we do not want to escape. The natural heart will never desire anything but sin and to remain in sin. The bottom line is that the natural man enjoys sin because it is his nature to enjoy it. We were conceived in iniquity “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Psalms 51:5” we came from our mothers wombs speaking lies “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.” Psalms 58:3 This is all of mankind and its roots go back to our natural father Adam, it is because of his sin and because we are all a product of him that we are born sinners and will remain sinners as long as we live. Adam had no desire to see or be with God after he sinned, he hid himself from God and we too hide ourselves from God from birth. This is our nature to rebel against God rather than to worship a Holy God. This is called “Total Depravity”.

While the scriptures conclude that man (because of sin) will never come to God on his own, it has also concluded that there is hope and that hope is in Jesus Christ. He died because of our sins and therefore we can have what Adam lost in the fall and that is holiness once again. But if man does not desire to come to Christ for salvation then someone must force us to come and that someone is the Holy Spirit. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:14 The Holy Spirit breaks our will for sin and causes us to flee to Christ for salvation. Mankind will never do this on his own because of his love for sin, let us not forget, God said “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” because “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

We will conclude with this, I never said that man does not have a desire to worship God nor did I ever say that man did not want to serve God, but what man does want to do is to do it on their own terms and by their own choice and power and that is totally impossible. God said they would seek to worship Him but not in righteousness. Romans 10:2 - 3 “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. (3.) For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” Mankind cannot worship God on his own terms nor will he ever choose on his own to worship God in holiness because it is against his nature to do so. Therefore man is Totally Depraved!

The Sovereignty of God.

“T.U.L.I.P.” (Introduction)

Our study on the Sovereign Grace of God now brings us to the most hated five letter of the alphabet to ever be studied and it is called by most “The Five Points of Sovereign Grace” some call it “Calvinism” after the pastor that systemized these five point. John Calvin lived 1509 – 1564 and is credited with two great accomplishments (1.) systemizing T.U.L.I.P. and (2.) starting the Presbyterian Church. Calvin was (to my understanding) was never a Baptist but did teach many Baptist doctrine. We do know that Calvin was part of the reformation from Catholicism which did not include the Baptist, however many but not all that exited Catholicism in the years of reformation did believe in the Sovereign Grace of God at one time, in fact if one would go back just one hundred years ago you will find many denominations believing and teaching it in their churches. The Wesley Brother believed it, Charles Spurgeon believed it, John Gill believed it, and Albert Barns believed it, as did most of the old time commentators. If you are a member of a church that does not believe and teach this doctrine chances are your Pastor studies all of these men that did believe and teach it. T.U.L.I.P. is not a new doctrine that the Baptist pulled out of the air as most biblical teaching in churches today are teaching, but rather it has been around since Jesus taught all five point in John 6:32 – 71 and His teaching was rejected then also. John 6:61 “When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?” Because Jesus has just told them “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:44

The five letter that make up T.U.L.I.P. are defined as follows “T” is Total Depravity – “U” is Unconditional Election - “L” is Limited Atonement – “I” is Irresistible Grace – and the “P” is Perseverance of the Saints. These are not new teachings but rather are as old as Jesus is. I know there are a lot of men that will claim these teachings are old and untrue but they are scriptural, which is more than we can say about the teachings being taught in most churches today. Each of the letters has a great lesson to be learned and teaches us so much about the Sovereign Grace of God. So as we look at each letter please take note of all of the scripture references that I give and learn about so much that you very well may not know about today. I understand that the two most rejected and most despised are the “L” Limited Atonement and the “I” Irresistible Grace because they cancel out the Arminian teachings of today of “salvation is all up to you”, “you control your own destiny”, “it is your choice”, which all of these are non-scriptural based making them mans doctrine and not Gods. God never promise to save all mankind and God never promised to love all people, but He did promise to save some and to forever love them that He chose to save before the foundation of the world. Next week we will began our study with “T” - Total Depravity - Everyone is born in a state of corruption as a result of original sin. And - Humankind's entire nature, including its reason, is corrupt or sinful as a result of the fall and that people are therefore completely dependent on God for regeneration. – Mankind will never on their own seek to choose God over sin; neither will they on their own ever seek to decide to be saved. Romans 3:11 - 12 “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. (12.) They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

The Sovereignty of God

“The glorified”
Romans 8:29 - 30 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (30.) Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

We now come to our 5th word in these two verses that describes the Sovereignty of God and that is “glorified”. It is not strange that this word is last because it is actually a future word. We have had five words in this study and they are divided 2 + 2 + 1 two past words foreknow and predestinate are words that tells us what God did before creation; there are two present words called and justified are words that tells us the due time of the two past words; and then the future word glorified which means - to render glorious – so the question is when will the saints of God be glorified, not until they are like Jesus or totally “…conformed to the image of his Son…” verse 29. Salvation while it is complete as far as we are concerned it is not in that we have not been completely glorified. Complete glorification comes with our new bodies at the second coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ. We read in 2 Thessalonians 2:13 “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: (14.) Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ...” The most glorious time for both the Lord Jesus Christ and the saints of God will be when we are all with Jesus in heaven not only in spirit and soul but as a complete trichotomy being in “…the image of his Son…” or as we call it being in our glorified state. All of the saint of God who have died are indeed most happy and are gloriously worshiping God and the Lord Jesus Christ all the time, however they are still lacking something and that is their new glorified body which will take place when the Lord Jesus Christ returns for His beloved church and all other believers that are still living during His return. 1 Corinthians 15:51 - 52 “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (52.) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” Here the Lord is speaking first about the living at His return “…We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed…” to a new and final glorified state, then He speaks about the dead in Christ “…and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” Being raised incorruptible means their bodies because the saved are already with the Lord at His return 2 Corinthians 5:6, 8 “Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (8.) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” However glorious it will be to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord, and I am certain it will be glorious; it will be the more glorious to be present with the Lord in our glorified bodies when salvation is finally fully complete.

There is nothing more wonderful than to be saved, because salvation is of the Lord our God, and all of this God has given to us that are saved even though none of us deserved it at all. However just imagine what a time it will be when all is said and done. When the Lord Jesus Christ returns, the tribulation period is done, the Millennium period is finished, the melting of the earth and the new earth is complete. No more sin, Satan, or evil of any kind, just us rejoicing with God in His kingdom for ever and ever in a complete glorified state, AMEN!

The Sovereignty of God

“The Justified”
Romans 8:30 “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

This week and next week we come to our last two words in this eighth chapter of Romans and today’s word is “justified” which means – to render just, innocent, or righteous. So in reality it means to be saved because that is the only possible way to be rendered just, innocent, or righteous or to be “…conformed to the image of his Son…” verse 29. Now salvation is a simple process for the believer because God said “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” John 3:15. And the believer was also set free of all his sins and at no cost to neither the believer nor any effort on his part because this was all accomplished by God our Saviour before the foundation of the world.

I believe we need to review all of the words we have had thus far to get the proper meaning to the word justified. First, we had the word “For whom he did foreknow…” this word remember means – to know beforehand and that beforehand was before the foundation of the world, this word also includes the word election “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.” 1 Peter 1:2 So God not only foreknew us but with that foreknowledge was the choosing of the elect, those foreknown and chosen were also predestinated (which is was our second word) “…to be conformed to the image of his Son…” or to be saved, Thirdly, those foreknown, elected, and predestinated were also called in due time “…to be conformed to the image of his Son…” and those called (and please notice exactly what God says here) “…them he also justified…”. You did not bring about your own justification but rather it was brought about by God Himself and not only by the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ but by His foreknowledge, choosing, predestinating, and calling of God the Father. People are told today that all you must do is make a decision for Christ, but as you can clearly see that is not possible unless God has chosen and called you to salvation and as we see in Romans 8:14 all that God calls by the Holy Spirit will come to Christ for salvation. Now I know all the scriptures that the religionist use to call one to make a decision for Christ but they are all used alone and out of context which makes them read different than God meant them.

I understand these teachings are hard to understand especially if you are new to them and have only been taught the other side of things, so this is my challenge to you, do a bible search on these words and see what scriptures you come up with. Next study those scriptures and pray that Gods Holy Spirit will show you the true meaning. Next if you ask your Pastor about them make him give you an answer to them do not accept the mumbo jumbo he will attempt to give you about the chosen of God are only the Israelites because that is not acceptable. Next read Ephesians chapter one several times over and study it and then read Romans chapter 9 and also study it. We are going to start Romans chapter nine next Wednesday night in our bible study and all the notes to that chapter as well as chapters 1 – 8 are posted on our churches web site under the “outlines” link please view them and study them and if there is any question about them please email them to me. I do not argue Gods word but I do discuss it. Beloved it is so important that you have a full understanding of how God went about saving your soul from eternal damnation. God chose and justified you, you did not choose Christ and justify yourself. Romans 3:10 - 11 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (11.) There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” They seek after religion, but not God in truth. Romans 10:2 “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.” Knowledge comes from knowing Gods word in detail and truth.

The Sovereignty Grace of God.

“The Called”
Romans 8:30 “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

This week we want to look at the word “called”, who exactly are the called of God. Please let us start by putting this word in context, those that God foreknew He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son and those that He did predestinate, He also called and them He called He also justified. So in context we know for sure that those that God called God did justify them. So the only people who are justified were foreknown, predestinated, and called of God. Therefore this is a fact; all called are saved or will be saved, therefore the thinking of the religionist that all are called of God and it is up to their choosing to accept or reject Christ is mythical. If it is God who justifies then all that are justified have been made accepted by the power of God and through the blood of Christ Jesus. The thought that we somehow choose Christ is mythical because it is a man made fact and not a fact of God or the bible, the fact of God is that all called of God are saved. This better explains so many scriptures in the bible. Let us look at this fact, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14 this does not say “For all are called and all are chosen” it says for many are called (by the gospel) but few are chosen by God to be His justified. This explains two calls, one by man or by the preaching of His word, and the other by God to salvation which also explains Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” If the Holy Spirit and the Church say come then come and he may accept Christ Jesus as his Saviour. By the Spirit calling also explains Romans 8:14 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” For all that are called of God (or led by the Spirit) are saved because God does not fail to accomplish what He chooses to accomplish. This also explains John 3:5 “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Being born of water is the natural birth as explained in verse 6 of John 3, but to be born of the Spirit is to be foreknew, predestinated, called, and justified by the power of God. Now with all this in mind we find an explanation of Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” we are saved by Gods grace through faith or believing in Christ as our sufficient Saviour because it (or salvation) is of God and a glorious gift of God. Now lets look at 1 Peter 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.” We find here that we were chosen (or elected) “…according to the foreknowledge of God the Father…” So those God foreknew He also chose to be saved and those He chose to be saved He pre-determined them to be called and them He called by His Holy Spirit He also justified by “…conformed to the image of his Son” Romans 8:29.

With all of this being said we find that salvation is only accomplished by the power and work of God, it is not the decision of man at all. However many will preach this morning in their pulpits and request that those present make a choice for Christ which is not scriptural nor truth. It is all a myth made up by men of the past because they were unhappy with the progress God was making in saving sinners. I once heard this quote and I have used it many times over “if salvation is mans decision then why do we pray to God for them to be saved, why don’t we pray to the sinner instead, because it is only within the sinners power” So true! So true! Just give it some thought.