The Baptist Bible Hour now comes to you under the direction of Elder LeSaire Bradley, Jr. O for a thousand tongues to sing, my great Redeemer's praise! The praise of my God and King, the triumph of His grace!
This is LeSaire Bradley, Jr. inviting you to stay tuned for another message of God's sovereign grace. Grace is a charming town, harmonious to be here, And with the echo shall resound, And all the saints shall hear. Praise birds, come drive the way, To save rebellious man, And all the saints that praise His way, Wait to the wondrous plan. Praise birds, describe my name, In God's eternal book, The praise that gave me to the Lamb, Who all my sorrows took. Praise all the world, shall crown, Through everlasting days, In days in heaven the top holds stone, And well deserves the praise. Recently, someone asked me about the Tulip Doctrine. It is an acronym representing the doctrines of grace, the T for Total Depravity, U, Unconditional Election, L, Limited Atonement, I, Irresistible Grace, P, Perseverance.
So for the next few weeks, I'll be bringing messages on these topics. We begin today with Total Depravity. Now, when we say that the Bible teaches Total Depravity, we're not claiming that it says that every human being is as bad as they can be. But they're as bad off as they can be. Because when Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, he plunged himself and all of humanity into a state of alienation from God.
But certainly there are those who display their depravity to a greater degree with some of the cruel actions that they take against other people. But the fact is that all men are alienated from God. Adam didn't just stumble, he fell. So man is ruined and is unable to recover himself. That means that he stands in need of God's saving grace that comes through Jesus Christ.
It's been interesting to me when over the past few years I've asked a number of people that if they should die today and come into the presence of God, on what basis would they expect to be admitted to heaven? And 98 percent of the people say something like this. I think I'll be okay. Well, I'm not all that bad.
One lady says, I try to be nice to everybody. I said, well, that's commendable, but that won't take you to heaven. The fact is God is a holy God and demands perfection.
And we all flunked. So we're in desperate need of help and only Jesus Christ can help us. He's the only savior of fallen, ruined sinners. He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life. He that believeth not is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
I began a series of messages today, five messages on the doctrines of grace. The first that we consider is the doctrine of total depravity. The text is Romans 5, 12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. So by the sin of Adam, by his transgression, his violation of the law of God, sin entered the world. There was sin prior to this time because Lucifer fell, a fallen angel. But sin entered the world when Adam transgressed the law of God. And consequently, the result was death. And death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Adam did not die instantly, physically, but he was at that moment separated from God. He no longer could enjoy his communion and fellowship as he had previously done.
And finally, the result was also physical death. This is an important Bible doctrine. If we do not believe it, we don't understand our own need of salvation. Failure to believe this doctrine, and embrace what the scriptures teach about man's fallen state, leads to some of the self-help, self-improvement type of preaching which fails to confront sin and man's sinful, lost, ruined condition.
True gospel preaching is convicting. It brings men face to face with the fact that they have offended a holy God, that they're in a lost, ruined condition. And furthermore, to see their unworthiness, that they deserve nothing but the wrath of God.
So first we will consider the definition of it. As a result of Adam's sin, his blatant disobedience, his violation of God's command, the whole human race is under the curse of sin. Romans chapter 3, verse 10, As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one. Verse 23, For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. All have sinned.
This condition is not limited to just a few people. It's not just those who are blatantly wicked. Not just those individuals like Hitler and others who have risen to power and brought great suffering to multitudes. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Some like to argue that God looked down through time and saw that there were some who would ultimately make the right choice and come to him.
And therefore, made choice of them based on what he saw in them. But let's look at Psalm 14, verse 1, The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt. They have done abominable works.
There is none that doeth good. That statement then we have seen both in the New and the Old Testaments. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God. So if you want to know what God saw when he looked down from heaven, he reveals it. They are all gone aside.
They are all together become filthy. There is none that doeth good. No, not one. Now a person might want to take exception to that and so I just have to believe preacher that there are some good people out there. I really believe that man is basically good. If you give him the right opportunities, put him in the right environment, he is going to do well.
He is just not all that bad. Well, are we going to take your personal opinion or are we going to take what God declares in his word? We must believe what is given us by divine inspiration. God's view of the matter is that all have turned aside to their own way. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. All are born with a fallen sinful nature. It is not something that is just developed as they go along. It is not because they are deprived of certain privileges.
It is not because they are brought up in poverty. The rich, the poor, people of every status, every position in life are all in this same situation. We read Psalm 51 verse 5. Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me. David said I was a sinner from the time of my conception. Psalm 58 verse 3. The wicked are estranged from the womb.
They go astray as soon as they be born speaking lies. A child does not have to be taught to be selfish. It doesn't take long to observe that quality just displays itself so often. We can say that little child is beautiful, that little child is sweet, that little child is precious. We love that little child, yes.
But some are more selfish than others, but all of them to some degree are selfish. You don't have to teach a child to disobey. He very well does that on his own. That's his inclination. He likes to think of excuses for not doing what he was told to do. Sometimes he's very blatant about it, just declares I'm not going to do it. And it becomes the responsibility of the parents to bring him under control and make him realize he's not in charge.
But obviously these sinful qualities begin to display themselves early on. You don't have to teach a child to lie. How many times a little child has asked? Are you the one that broke the vase? Are you the one that did this or that?
Then absolutely not. Not me. Often the fingers pointed at somebody else.
Very seldom does a little fellow just come up and acknowledge it. I did it. I'm the guilty party.
I'm wrong. Our nature is just not inclined that way. So they come forth from the womb speaking lies. Jeremiah 17, 9 says, The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it.
Man is desperately wicked by nature. And it says the heart is deceitful. We do not have an accurate view of our own heart. I've had people say to me a number of times through the years, Well if I know my heart thus and so, well I can tell you right now you don't know it because God says you don't. You may know it to some degree, but the heart is deceitful.
It constantly tries to make excuses. We prefer to feel better about ourselves than is justifiable. The world says the problem today is that man is lacking in self-esteem. Generally speaking, his self-esteem is out the roof. He thinks very highly of himself. Thinks he's better than he is. Thinks that God owes him something.
And consequently is proud and self-righteous. The heart is desperately wicked. Have you ever prayed the prayer that David prayed? Lord, search me, try me, make me to know what's within me. And then God answered that prayer and you saw more than you cared to see. The Lord showed you what was down deep inside.
Suppose every deed, every action of your life was going to be publicly exposed. Every thought of your mind, every desire of your heart, everything that you had wanted to do even though you didn't do it, you desired that you wanted it. Does it not reveal that man's heart is desperately wicked? Who could know it?
Who could understand it? Then we turn to the Gospel of Mark. Reading in the seventh chapter, verse 21.
These are the words of Jesus. For from within out of the heart of men proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile the man.
You see, it's not just an external thing. It's not that somebody just slipped up and did the wrong thing, said the wrong thing momentarily. All this comes from your heart because man is desperately wicked. Put in the right or better to say the wrong set of circumstances, there is no limit to the corruption to which any one of us could sink because our nature is a sinful nature. Man does not become a sinner by committing sins, but he commits sins because he is a sinner by nature. So in way of definition we're saying, as a result of Adam's sin, the whole human race is under the curse. Secondly, all are born with a fallen sinful nature. Thirdly, man is dead in sin. Turn to the book of Ephesians chapter 2. Ephesians chapter 2 verse 1. And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins, for in time past he walked according to the course of this world, according to the print to the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience, among whom also we all had our conversation in times past and the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Here then is a vivid description of our fallen ruined state.
Not very pretty, but that describes what's in us, what we really are. What we are in our fallen nature. Verse 5, even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace you are saved. So he tells us twice in the same passage, we were dead in sin.
And what does that mean to you? James R. White writes, When the scriptures say man is spiritually dead, we are not to understand this to mean that they are spiritually inactive. Men are active in their rebellion, active in their suppression of the truth, active in their sin. Instead, spiritual death refers to alienation from God, the destruction of the positive active desire to do what is right in God's sight. The destruction of the ability to do what is good and holy. So to be dead in sin doesn't mean that the man is not continuing as a sinner. It simply means that from a spiritual standpoint, he is incapable of recovering himself from his fallen state. And so as we look at these points by way of definition, let's also think about what it does not mean.
What it does not mean. Total depravity does not mean that man is incapable of living an upright life according to human standards. Paul said of his life as a Pharisee as touching the law blameless.
And that was no doubt a truthful statement. As far as the technical requirements of the law, Paul was obedient. Nothing could be laid to his charge. But he was not a child of God. He was one chosen of God, but he had not at that point had an experience of grace. But he was living what would have been considered by those associated with him as being an exemplary life. He was not indulging himself in the sins that would be condemned in his society.
He was upright. He was blameless and that's illustrated very well in the lesson Jesus gives concerning the Pharisee and the publican. The Pharisee prays and says, I thank thee that I'm not his other man. I'm not unjust, I'm not an extortioner.
That no doubt was true. Being a part of the Pharisees, his life would have been respectable as men observed it. Say, here's a man that's honorable. He hasn't sunk to the depth that many have reached. He hasn't committed any horrible crime.
This man is upright. So man is able to live a respectable life that others might admire. When we're talking about total depravity, we're not saying that man is incapable of doing any good. A man may be good to his family, kind to his neighbors.
He pays his taxes. He's looked upon as being a good citizen in the community. And so many people at this point make a mistake in judgment regarding it. Because we read of man's fallen condition, read of the corruption of his heart, read that he's dead in trespasses and in sin, they assume that anybody who is doing something that is commendable, worthwhile, contributing something positive to the community, is kind to their family and to neighbors and others about them. This person must surely be born again. This person must indeed be a child of God.
But that's an incorrect assumption to make. That individual who may pay his taxes, be kind to his family, have a family that's respectable in the community, also may be one who gives little thought to God, is not a believer in Jesus Christ, never seeks to honor or please Him. And the Scriptures say that without faith it is impossible to please Him. So all of these things that others might admire and say they are commendable, they are not acceptable in God's sight. They do not recommend this individual as though God is going to approve of all of these moral standards that he is meeting. As a matter of fact, the individual may be active in religion, which would appear to be honorable. So I said, this man is sincere in his religion. He goes to church, might be an individual who has been active in some kind of Christian service. I say, surely this man must be a child of God.
I can see clear evidence of it. He's doing so many wonderful things and he does them in the name of God. So that surely must establish the fact that he is a child of God. Let's look at the words of Jesus in Matthew chapter 7 verse 22. And it will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name, and in Thy name have cast out devils, and in Thy name have done many wonderful works. And the people that did these works thought they were wonderful.
No doubt many who observed them thought they were wonderful. But God didn't. And then while I profess unto them, I never knew you, depart from me ye that work iniquity.
That's sobering, isn't it? To think that a person can go through all of the formalities of religion, claim to be serving God, performing good works in His name. And yet the Lord says, I never knew you. With regard then to this definition, as to what it does not mean, it does not mean that all men are equally bad. Man is as bad off as he can be, but not as bad as he can be. As far as his status before God, it couldn't be any worse. He is an enmity against God.
He turns to his own way. He is a rebel. He is a rebel by nature.
But as far as his day-to-day conduct is concerned, it could be worse. Surely there have been notable characters in history that have brought great havoc and trouble and death to multitudes. They are immediately recognized as being evil individuals. There may be people with whom you are acquainted that have done some horrendous things.
And on the other hand, you know some who are gracious and nice, good neighbors. So there certainly is a difference as to the individual conduct from one person to another. Man is not as bad as he can be in that conduct because 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 13 says, But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. This says, as bad as man is, he can get worse.
And he continues to get worse and goes down the wrong track. Furthermore, what it does not mean, it does not mean that because of his fallen state that he is not accountable. Somebody would like to argue, well because man is dead in sin, then surely God can't hold him accountable. But that's not what scripture reveals. Romans chapter 1 reading verse 18, For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness. That is, they endeavor to suppress it.
They try to hold it down. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them, for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.
God's Word says that man in his fallen state is without excuse. Man may say, well I just don't believe there is a God. That doesn't make God go away.
That doesn't change anything. The fool has said in his heart, there is no God. But God remains on the throne of the universe. And God is the ultimate judge before whom men must stand. Show pity, Lord, O Lord, forgive. Let all repent in reveling.
While there are those who will deny the very existence of God, there are also those who will say, I believe there is a God, but God would never punish anybody. But it is evident as we read the scriptures that the God who hates sin will ultimately punish sinners. When we see this truth of man's fallen state, it brings us to the full realization that salvation must be by God's sovereign grace. And it is through Jesus Christ that this grace is brought to us. I hope that you will write us and until next week at the same time, may the Lord richly bless you all.
The power and glory of thy grace. The Baptist Bible Hour has come to you under the direction of Elder LeSaire Bradley, Jr. Address all mail to the Baptist Bible Hour, Cincinnati, Ohio 45217. That's the Baptist Bible Hour, Cincinnati, Ohio 45217. Let thy pardoning love be found. Should sudden vengeance seize my breath, I must pronounce thee.
