Total Depravity 9

The poetical and wisdom books of the Old Testament often speak concerning man’s depravity. The Book of Job states, “Can mortal man be in the right before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker” (Job 4:17 ESV)? The answer is clearly no. This is reiterated in Job 9:2; 10:4; 25:4-6; & 32:2.

Job also affirms man’s inability to independently change his fallen nature. “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? There is not one” (Job 14:4 ESV). Man’s inner corruption runs deep. “What is man, that he can be pure? Or he who is born of a woman, that he can be righteous? Behold, God puts no trust in his holy ones, and the heavens are not pure in his sight; how much less one who is abominable and corrupt, a man who drinks injustice like water”(Job 15:14-16 ESV).

The Book of Psalms portrays the reality of the sinner’s radical depravity. Pertaining to man’s rebellion towards God the psalmist asks, “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us” (Psalm 2:1-3 ESV).

The words man uses evidence his depravity. “For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man” (Psalm 5:4-6 ESV). “For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue. Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you” (Psalm 5:9-10 ESV).

The thoughts man thinks displays his depravity. “Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies” (Psalm 7:14 ESV).

The way man sees himself indicates his falleness. “Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good. He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil” (Psalm 36:1-4 ESV).

The psalmist explains that man’s depravity begins at conception. “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:3-5 ESV).

The corruption with the soul is the reason for these abominations.

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God. They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good. 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. (Psalm 14:1-3 ESV)

Man is guilty before God. “Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand” (Psalm 130:1-3 ESV)?