Our 7^th point of 11 doctrinal statements addresses man’s fundamental state of spiritual disposition; namely, “the total depravity of man through the fall”.

This distinctive is frankly the main point distinguishing true Bible teaching from all other religions across the globe, without exception. As Solomon under inspiration writes, Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

What do we mean man is totally depraved? It means that man’s entire being, in all his faculties – of the mind, heart, will and nature— is in rebellion against God. The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. This does not mean all men everywhere are actively committing murders and thefts at all times; as one Pastor put it, “men are not as bad as they could be; there’s always room for debasement.” Rather, natural man’s obedience to God’s revealed will (i.e., the Bible) is not possible, as he is dead in sins and trespasses, whose imagination … is evil from his youth. In fact, man’s heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, which explains why men love darkness rather than light. There is none that seeketh after God.

Does this place the blame on the Creator? Hardly! By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. After the 6 days of creation ended, God pronounced it all very good. Solomon wrote God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. Man was created with a mutable righteousness, with free-will ability to throw it all away – which is what Adam and Eve did. We’d have done the same thing.