The doctrine of total depravity reflects the Reformed viewpoint of original sin. That term—
original sin—is often misunderstood in the popular arena. Some people assume that the term
original sin must refer to the first sin—the original transgression that we’ve all copied in many different ways in our own lives, that is, the first sin of Adam and Eve. But that’s not what
original sin has referred to historically in the church. Rather, the doctrine of original sin defines the consequences to the human race because of that first sin.
Virtually every church historically that has a creed or a confession has agreed that something very serious happened to the human race as a result of the first sin—that first sin resulted in original sin. That is, as a result of the sin of Adam and Eve, the entire human race fell, and our nature as human beings since the fall has been influenced by the power of evil. As David declared in the Old Testament, “Oh, God, I was born in sin, and in sin did my mother conceive me” (
Ps. 51:5). He was not saying that it was sinful for his mother to have borne children; neither was he saying that he had done something evil by being born. Rather, he was acknowledging the human condition of fallenness—that condition that was part of the experience of his parents, a condition that he himself brought into this world. Therefore, original sin has to do with the fallen nature of mankind. The idea is that we are not sinners because we sin, but that we sin because we are sinners.
In the Reformed tradition, total depravity does not mean
utter depravity. We often use the term
total as a synonym for
utter or for
completely, so the notion of total depravity conjures up the idea that every human being is as bad as that person could possibly be. You might think of an archfiend of history such as Adolf Hitler and say there was absolutely no redeeming virtue in the man, but I suspect that he had some affection for his mother. As wicked as Hitler was, we can still conceive of ways in which he could have been even more wicked than he actually was. So the idea of
total in total depravity doesn’t mean that all human beings are as wicked as they can possibly be. It means that the fall was so serious that it affects the whole person. The fallenness that captures and grips our human nature affects our bodies; that’s why we become ill and die. It affects our minds and our thinking; we still have the capacity to think, but the Bible says the mind has become darkened and weakened. The will of man is no longer in its pristine state of moral power. The will, according to the New Testament, is now in bondage. We are enslaved to the evil impulses and desires of our hearts. The body, the mind, the will, the spirit—indeed, the whole person—have been infected by the power of sin.
The doctrine of original sin defines the consequences to the human race because of that first sin.
I like to replace the term
total depravity with my favorite designation, which is
radical corruption. Ironically, the word
radical has its roots in the Latin word for “root,” which is
radix, and it can be translated
root or
core. The term
radical has to do with something that permeates to the core of a thing. It’s not something that is tangential or superficial, lying on the surface. The Reformed view is that the effects of the fall extend or penetrate to the core of our being. Even the English word
core actually comes from the Latin word
cor, which means “heart.” That is, our sin is something that comes from our hearts. In biblical terms, that means it’s from the core or very center of our existence.
So what is required for us to be conformed to the image of Christ is not simply some small adjustments or behavioral modifications, but nothing less than renovation from the inside. We need to be regenerated, to be made over again, to be quickened by the power of the Spirit. The only way in which a person can escape this radical situation is by the Holy Spirit’s changing the core, the heart. However, even that change does not instantly vanquish sin. The complete elimination of sin awaits our glorification in heaven.
Aren't non-believers already in a condemned state and alienated from God? Which is why they need saving?
GeneZ you really need to do your homework and dig into these debates. My suggestion is go to those debates in the Reformation era and read them. Because fallen are doing what they want and desire. There is nothing a fallen man or woman can offer God to find favor. To think there is something a sinner can offer God in exchange for favor is not only lacking insight, but is not Scriptural. But knowing what plight a sinner is in before a Holy God is Scriptural that he/she stands condemned because of sin, correct?
I believe you are mudding the waters and suggesting that people are good, and do have a moral compass. But if you understood the Righteousness of God, then you would be trembling at the thought of it.
