Defending Calvinism (T= Total Depravity)

One of the more controversial subjects in modern American evangelicalism is on the debate of Calvinism. Calvinism was simply named after a 16th century French theologian, and one of the greatest Christian theologians in history, John Calvin. Calvin's most notable work is "Institutes of the Christian Religion", published in 1536, with a final edition published in 1559. Calvinism is also known as "Augustinianism", named after St. Augustine, due to its similarity to Calvinism on the sovereignty of God, and predestination. Augustinianism, of course, finds its roots in the teachings of the Apostle Paul. So yes, Calvinism is biblical.

Calvinism is summed up in the acrostic TULIP (Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints). The Five Points of Calvinism are also known as the Doctrine of Grace, and is a summary of the Canons of Dort. In this post on Calvinism, we will defend Total Depravity.

Total Depravity, or Total Inability, is found throughout Scripture. It is found as early as Genesis 6:5, "The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Psalms 14:2-3 says: "The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one."

All of the human race was affected by the fall. Sin would then infect all humans. Every person born would have their mind and their will affected. Our natural disposition is therefore is one that is at war with God.  Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:1-5: "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins  in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,  even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved..." Prior to regeneration, we are dead, and unable to choose God. It is only after God regenerates the sinner that they would have their disposition toward God change.

Total Depravity does not mean we are as bad as we could be. Instead it means that sin has affected every part of us- mind, body, and our will. Man's will is not free, and is in bondage to sin. Martin Luther wrote in "The Bondage of the Will": “I frankly confess that even if it were possible I should not wish to have free choice given to me, or to have anything left in my own hands by which I might strive for salvation.” If left to our own free will, we would not choose God, so thank God he is sovereign over salvation. There would be no one who would voluntarily choose God. In Jeremiah 17:9, it tells us: "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who can understand it?" Here, the heart is a metaphor for our will, so we learn that our will is deceitful and sick. Not exactly the recipe for the "free will" to make a decision and choose God.

Paul teaches us in Romans 3:23 "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." If sin is a result of the fall, and as taught here, all have sinned, then it is logical to assume that the fall had very lasting implications throughout history. We are stained with the curse of sin.

In Mark 7:21-23, Jesus said: "For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” Jesus was teaching his disciples that what goes into the body does not defile a person, but rather it is what comes out of the body, in particular, the heart. Jesus taught what is characteristic of a defiled heart.

In Romans 3: 9-18, Paul references several Old Testament passages when charging that the whole human race is under the curse of sin: "What then? Are we Jews  any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written:

 “None is righteous, no, not one;     

   no one understands;
    no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
    no one does good, not even one.” 

 “Their throat is an open grave;
    they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”   

  “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”

  “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 

     in their paths are ruin and misery, 

     and the way of peace they have not known.” 

    “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

It is clear from Scripture that man is unable to save himself and is dead in his own sin. A dead man can not make himself alive. If left to himself, man would never choose God. Man can only come to God when God removes the heart of stone, and gives them a heart of flesh (Ezekial 36:26). Man is a slave to sin, and can not come to God on his own. As Jonathan Edwards said, "You contribute nothing to your salvation, except the sin that made it necessary."

"Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
    and in sin did my mother conceive me." (Psalm 51:5)