Many Evangelicals, especially among Southern Baptist are given the impression by Calvinist teachers that total depravity is synonymous with the fall of man. When in recent years I have come to reject Total depravity, I assumed that I must be moving beyond my previous commitments in the baptist confessions. But I was SHOCKED to find out that Total depravity when Properly defined and understood is not required in the Baptist Faith and Message and other confessions. Evangelicals who understand the Bible doctrine of Iniquity as moral depravity as opposed to Total Depravity are not outside the mainstream.
Waldensian Confessions of Faith, 1120
4. The books above-mentioned teach us: That there is one GOD, almighty, unbounded in wisdom, and infinite in goodness, and who, in His goodness, has made all things. For He created Adam after His own image and likeness. But through the enmity of the Devil, and his own disobedience, Adam fell, sin entered into the world, and we became transgressors in and by Adam.
The Dordrecht Confession of Faith
Adopted April 21, 1632, by a Dutch Mennonite Conference held at Dordrecht, Holland.
II. Of the Fall of Man
We believe and confess, according to the holy Scriptures, that these our first parents, Adam and Eve, did not continue long in this glorious state in which they were created, but that they, seduced by the subtlety and deceit of the serpent, and the envy of the devil, transgressed the high commandment of God and became disobedient to their Creator; through which disobedience sin has come into the world, and death by sin, which has thus passed upon all men, for that all have sinned, and, hence, brought upon themselves the wrath of God, and condemnation; for which reason they were of God driven out of Paradise, or the pleasure garden, to till the earth, in sorrow to eat of it, and to eat their bread in the sweat of their face, till they should return to the earth, from which they were taken; and that they, therefore, through this one sin, became so ruined, separated, and estranged from God, that they, neither through themselves, nor through any of their descendants, nor through angels, nor men, nor any other creature in heaven or on earth, could be raised up, redeemed, or reconciled to God, but would have had to be eternally lost, had not God, in compassion for His creatures, made provision for it, and interposed with His love and mercy.
Gen. 3:6; IV Esd. 3:7; Rom. 5:12, 18; Gen. 3:23; Ps. 49:8; Rev. 5:9; John 3:16
Treatise of the Faith and Practices of the Free Will Baptists
SECTION II: Primitive Man, and His Fall
Our first parents, in their original state, were upright. They naturally preferred and desired to obey their Creator, and had no preference or desire to transgress His will until they were influenced and inclined by the tempter to disobey God's commands. Previous to this, the only tendency of their nature was to do righteousness. In consequence of the first transgression, the state under which the posterity of Adam came into the world is so different from that of Adam that they have not that righteousness and purity which Adam had before the fall; they are not willing to obey God, but are inclined to evil. Hence, none, by virtue of any natural goodness and mere work of their own, can become the children of God, but they are all dependent for salvation upon the redemption effected through the blood of Christ, and upon being created anew unto obedience through the operation of the Spirit; both of which are freely provided for every descendant of Adam.
New Hampshire
Of the Fall of Man We believe that man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker (13); but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state (14); in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners (15), not by constraint, but choice (16); being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil; and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin (17), without defense or excuse (18).
1925 Baptist faith and message
3. THE FALL OF MAN
Man was created by the special act of God, as recorded in Genesis. "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." (Gen 1:27) "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." (Gen 2:7) He was created into a state of holiness under the law of his Maker, but, through the temptation of Satan, he transgressed the command of God and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity inherit a nature corrupt and in bondage to sin, and are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors. "
Abstract of Principles{?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?)
VI. THE FALL OF MAN
God originally created man in His own image, and free from sin; but, through the temptation of Satan, he transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity inherit a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law, are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors."
The preceding confessions that teach the fall of man. Biblically I would call it the doctrine of Iniquity and theologically I would identify it as Moral depravity.
However I do not believe this si the equivalent of total depravity as portrayed here.
Westminster Confession of faith.
WCF [Here we are able to best isolate the offending portion of the doctrine of depravity.
III. They being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputed,(f) and the same death in sin and corrupted nature conveyed, to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation.(g)
(f) Gen. 1:27, 28 & Gen. 2:16, 17 and Acts 17:26 with Rom. 5:12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and I Cor. 15:21, 22, 49. (g) Ps. 51:5; Gen. 5:3; Job 14:4, Job 15:14.
IV. From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good,(h) and wholly inclined to all evil,(i) do proceed all actual transgressions.(k)
(h) Rom. 5:6; Rom. 8:7, Rom. 7:18; Col. 1:21. (i) Gen. 6:5; Gen. 8:21; Rom. 3:10, 11, 12. (k) James 1:14, 15; Eph. 2:2, 3; Matt. 15:19.
VI. Every sin, both original and actual, being a transgression of the righteous law of God, and contrary thereunto,(n) doth, in its own nature, bring guilt upon the sinner;(o) whereby he is bound over to the wrath of God,(p) and curse of the law,(q) and so made subject to death,(r) with all miseries spiritual,(s) temporal,(t) and eternal.(u)
(n) I John 3:4. (o) Rom. 2:15; Rom. 3:9, 19. (p) Ephes. 2:3. (q) Gal. 3:10. (r) Rom. 6:23. (s) Ephes. 4:18. (t) Rom. 8:20; Lam. 3:39. (u) Matt. 25:41, II Thess. 1:9.
Now to be clear as some of this is still acceptable. III "The Guilt of this sin was imputed" then IV. "made opposite to all good.....proceed allactual transgressions" V. "Every sin... original... bring guilt upon...is bound over to the wrath of God.... with all miseries...and eternal."
If we follow this chain to hell we see no opporunity for redemtion of sin which they did not commit.
Here are other examples of total depravity
1689 2nd london Baptist confession
"2. Our first parents, by this sin, fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and we in them whereby death came upon all: all becoming dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body.
3. They being the root, and by God's appointment, standing in the room and stead of all mankind, the guilt of the sin was imputed, and corrupted nature conveyed, to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation, being now conceived in sin, and by nature children of wrath, the servants of sin, the subjects of death, and all other miseries, spiritual, temporal, and eternal, unless the Lord Jesus set them free.
( Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21, 22, 45, 49; Psalms 51:5; Job 14:4; Ephesians 2:3; Romans 6:20 Romans 5:12; Hebrews 2:14, 15; 1 Thessalonians 1:10 )
4. From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions.
( Romans 8:7; Colossians 1:21; James 1:14, 15; Matthew 15:19 )
5. The corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated; and although it be through Christ pardoned and mortified, yet both itself, and the first motions thereof, are truly and properly sin.
( Romans 7:18,23; Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 John 1:8; Romans 7:23-25; Galatians 5:17 )"
Philadelphia Baptist Confession
"
They being the root, and, by God's appointment, standing in the room and stead of all mankind, the guilt of the sin was imputed, and corrupted nature conveyed to all their posterity, descending from them by ordinary generation,6 being now conceived in sin,7 and by nature children of wrath,8 the servants of sin, the subjects of death,9 and all other miseries, spiritual, temporal and eternal, unless the Lord Jesus set them free.10 Heb 2:14-15; 1Th 1:10.
A Reformed Theological Dictionary [Dictionary of Theological Terms:Expanded 3rd edition]
Alan Cairns, The Author of this Dictionary published a strong polemic and also arranged this piece less as a dictionary but more like an encyclopedia. Thus we will look at segments.
Total Depravity means "1. That the inherent corruption extends to every part of man's nature, to all the faculties and powers both body and soul.
2.That there is no spiritual good i.e. good in relation to God, in the sinner at all, but only perversion which deserves God's Wrath"
"Total Inability is the term used to describe the effect of the pollution of sin on man's spiritual powers. Reformed Theologians admit that unregenerate man is able to perform natural and civil good (see common grace) However by nature no man can do anything either to change the bias of his will toward self and sin, or to meet the requirements of God's Holy Law and merit his favor."
Now the Arminian evangelical is not one that holds to total depravity.
"Total depravity is denied by pelagians, Socinians and arminians"
Now, Cairnes also has some interesting notes on "Original Sin"
"Fallen man's natural sinfulness the hereditary depravity and corruption of human nature because of Adam's fall though it inheres the human nature and is propagated by natural generation, it does not arise from anything in man's original natural constitution."
Cairnes then divides up Original sin into the definitions by various camps. Catholic, Calvinist, Lutheran, Pelagian and Arminian. Let us nottice the Arminian position.
"Arminianism is Semi Pelagian in it's position on Original sin. It agrees with Pelagius that sin consists in Acts of the will and that the guilt of Adam's 1st sin is not transmitted to his descendants. It disagrees with Pelagianism in that fallen man is depraved, though not totally and that the pollution of Adam's first sin is transited to His descendants."
Now it is Apparent that Cairnes understands Arminianism as he defines it to accept original sin and reject depravity in a general sense.
Thus the classical understanding here and as evidenced in scripture that total depravity is a doctrine independent of the fall of man. And obviously many Baptists, even Southern baptists are not bound by many of our confessions to hold to it.
This leads to themodernday Bait-in-switch with the pelagian charge. Let's nottice this in the ministry of Charles Finney.
Does this sound like pelagianism?
"3.That men are morally depraved is one of the most notorious facts of human experience, observation and history. Indeed I am not aware that it has ever been doubted, when moral depravity has been understood to consist in selfishness. The moral depravity of the human race is everywhere assumed and declared in the bible. and so universal and notorious is the fact of human selfishness, that should any man practically call it in question--should he, in his business transactions, and in his intercourse with men, assuming the contrary, he would justly subject himself to the charges of insanity. There is not a fact in the world more notorious and undeniable than this. Human moral depravity is as palpably evident as human existence. It is a fact everywhere assumed in all governments, in all the arrangements of society, and it has impressed its image, and within its name, upon every human thing human." pg. 246-247 Finney's Systematic Theology lecture 16 Moral Depravity (1878) Bethany house Publishers 1994
Pelagianism
"By this is intended that the moral depravity of the unregenerate is without any mixture of moral goodness or virtue, that while they remain unregenerate, they never in any instance, nor in any degree exercise true love to God and to man," pg. 248 ibid
"It therefore follows, that while sinners are selfish, or unregenerate, it is impossible for them to put forth a holy volition. They are under the necessity of first changing there hearts , or their choice of an end, before they can put forth any volitions to secure any other than a selfish end. And this is plainly the everywhere assumed philosophy of the Bible." pg. 249Now I am not posting this to say that finney's theology is not worthy of criticism. His emphases on rationalism seems like a natural road to the later liberalism of the school.
But typically, his name has been demonized in hopes of defaming the impact he made upon American Christianity. Nearly 100,000 converts with over 90% faithful unto death.
If you watch this reformed podcast "he White Horse Inn"
https://youtu.be/Q5Gaqa8Cr6Y
You will see Finney is plainly identified as a Pelagian. They had 140yrs to find this edition and 25yrs to find the latest printing.
In the appendix George F. Wright discussed how Charles Hodge did a hit piece on Finney and besides disagreements over his interpretation Hodge refused to deal with the later edition of Finney's Theology and apparently this misrepresentation has been the common understanding ever since.
Yet they give you this image that Finney was a godless emotionalist heretic. If you hear his sermons this is not the case.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k50Vu6TZa20&list=PLCpgggEg1Jgo6wUR02E9LZsAJdDQS8V0H
It is a sad state where professional theologians proclaiming the title "Divines" will slur and slander a minister out of competition.
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