Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Date:         Thu, 19 Nov 1992 09:57:45 CST
From:         Jesse Carnes <NOTJIC@LSUVM.BITNET>
Subject:      "Doctrine of Total Depravity" : Carnes' list

Dear All on Christia ;

I said last week that I would give a group of Reference citations concerning
the Doctrine of "Total Depravity / Total Inability."

Undoubtedly, many people disagree with the above concept.  It states that
"Man is completely Affected in ALL of his faculties of mind and body from
sin imputed to his account from Adam.  He is not ALWAYS completely affected
to the point that ALL men are equally bad, but that all men are totally
touched by sin's influence within all parts of their being.  This is total
depravity." The Total Inabilityidea is that "Man is NO LONGER ABLE to come
to God and choosethe truly good, as pertains to Spiritual things.
Adam was not initially affected so, but after his Fall, he and we have been
reduced to a state where we have a sinful nature and our wills are captive
to the confines of that nature.  Without the divine Intervention of God,
NO man can willingly come to Christ, in and of his own power, because MAN's
will is captive to the inherited sinful nature from Adam.  Romans chap. 5
brings this out clearly, along with Romans 6 and 8.

Now, people CAN be sweet, nice, considerate, kind, but they cannot be what
God REQUIRES of us to be in order to be fit for Heaven ; and that is perfectly
RIGHTEOUS.  The former is relative goodness, the latter is perfect obedience.

That is Total Inability.
Here is a list of Scriptural references for those who are interested.  Even
if many out there may have some problems with what I stated, the SAFE and
honest thing to do ... the "Berean" thing to do is to SEE if what I said is
true or not.  One cannot lose by going to the Scriptures.


A. "As a result of Adam's trangression, men are born in sin and by nature are
spiritually dead ; therefore, if they are to become God's children and enter
His kingdom, they must be born anew of the Spirit."


Genesis 2:16-17
Romans 5:12
Ephesians 2:1-3
Colossians 2:13
Psalm 51:5
Psalm 58:3
John 3:5-7


B.  "As a result of the fall, men are blind and deaf to spiritual truth.
Their minds are darkened by sin ; their hearts are corrupt and evil."


Genesis 6:5
Genesis 8:21
Ecclesiastes9:3
Jeremiah 17:9
Mark 7:21-23
John 3:19
Romans 8:7-8
1 Corintheans 2:14
Ephesians 4:17-19
Ephesians 5:8
Titus 1:15



C.  "Before sinners are born into God's kingdom through the regenerating
power of the Spirit, they are children of the devil and under his control ;
they are slaves to sin."



John 8:44
Ephesians 2:1-2
2 Timothy 2:25-26
1 John 3:10
1 John 5:19
John 8:34
Romans 6:20
Titus 3:3



D.  "The reign of sin is universal ; all men are under its power ;
consequently, none is righteous -- not even one!"


2 Chronicles 6:36
Job 15:14-16
Psalm 130:3
Psalm 143:2
Proverbs 20:9
Ecclesiastes 7:20
Ecclesiastes 7:29
Isaiah 53:6
Isaiah 64:6
Romans 3:9-12
James 3:2,8
1 John 1:8,10




E.  "Men left in their dead state are unable of themselves to repent, to
believe the gospel, or to come to Christ.  They have no power within themselves
to change their natures or to prepare themselves for salvation."



Job 14:4
Jeremiah 13:23
Matthew 7:16-18
Matthew 12:33
John 6:44
John 6:65
Romans 11:35-36
1 Corintheans 2:14
1 Corintheans 4:7
2 Corintheans 3:5



That is the list of references.  Thanks.


Heartily in Christ's love ;

Jesse Carnes
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