Calvinism:Total Hereditary

Depravity(Inherited Sin)

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Church of England/Episcopalian 1531-

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Presbyterian (1536)

Baptist (1611) RES

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William Tyndale

(1492–1536)• English Scholar• Arguably did more to

distribute Bibles to the masses and spark the reformation movement than any other individual.

John Calvin (1509-1564)• Father of “Calvinism”

though much of this doctrine originated with Augustine (354-430)

The Points of Calvinism: T.U.L.I.P.5 T- Total Hereditary Depravity

U – Unconditional ElectionL – Limited AtonementI – Irresistible GraceP – Perseverance of the Saints

Total Hereditary Depravity Defined

“When Calvinists speak of a man being totally depraved, they mean that man’s nature is corrupt,

perverse and sinful throughout. The adjective ‘total’ does not mean does not mean that each sinner is as

totally or completely corrupt in his actions and thought as it is possible for him to be. Instead, the word ‘total’ is

used to indicate that the WHOLE of man’s being has been affected by sin. The corruption extends to EVERY

PART of man, his body and soul; sin has affected all (the totality) of man’s faculties – his mind, his will, etc.”

– The Five Points of Calvinism, by Steel & Thomas, Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co. pg. 25

Total Hereditary Depravity Defined

“Man’s depravity, as a result of the fall, is total. He does not possess free will because he is bound to

Satan who takes man captive at his will. All men are born into this world spiritually dead in trespasses

and sins so that their dead human spirits are irresistibly drawn to the god of the dead. Man is

depraved in the sense that he is dead, blind, deaf, unteachable in the things of God and ruled by

Satan through his perverse heart and corrupt soul.” – TULIP, The Five Points of Calvinism in the Light

of Scripture by Duane Edward Spencer, pg. 67

Total Hereditary Depravity Defined

“Man did not come from the hands of his Creator In this depraved, corrupt condition. God made Adam upright; there was no evil

whatsoever in his nature. Originally, Adam’s will was free from the dominion of sin; he was under no natural compulsion to do evil, but through his fall he brought spiritual death upon himself and all his

posterity. He thereby plunged himself and the entire race into spiritual ruin and lost for himself and his descendants the ability to make right choices in a spiritual realm. His descendants are still free to choose –

every man makes choices throughout his life –but inasmuch as Adam’s offspring are born with sinful natures, they do not have the ABILITY to choose spiritual good over evil. Consequently, mans will is no longer free (i.e. free from the dominion of sin) as Adam’s will was free before the fall. Instead, men’s will, as the result of inherited depravity, is in

bondage to his sinful nature.” – The Five Points of Calvinism, by Steel & Thomas, Presbyterian and

Reformed Publishing Co. pg. 25

If we are not sinless at birth…

1. He was born in the flesh (Gal. 4:4) the same as all mankind (Heb. 2:14).

2. “…in all things He had to be made like His brethren…” (Heb. 2:17)

3. He was made “…in the likeness of men…” (Phil. 2:7)4. If total hereditary depravity were true, how could it be

said that Christ was sinless (2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15; 1 Pet. 2:22)?

5. If Christ is not a sinless sacrifice, then there can be no forgiveness of our sins!

If we are not sinless at birth…

1. He was born in the flesh (Gal. 4:4) the same as all mankind (Heb. 2:14).

2. “…in all things He had to be made like His brethren…” (Heb. 2:17)

3. He was made “…in the likeness of men…” (Phil. 2:7)4. If total hereditary depravity were true, how could it be

said that Christ was sinless (2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15; 1 Pet. 2:22)?

5. If Christ is not a sinless sacrifice, then there can be no forgiveness of our sins!

If we inherit sins because we are Adam’s posterity, then why don’t the children of

Christians inherit a sinless nature?

• Christians are cleansed of their sins after their conversion during baptism:• Ananias commanded Paul to “…be baptized, and wash away your

sins…” (Ac. 22:16)• “…the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 Jn.

1:7)

• So a Christian is one who has been cleansed from all sin.

If we inherit sins because we are Adam’s posterity, then why don’t the children of

Christians inherit a sinless nature?

• If a person, prior to being a Christian, passes the depraved nature onto their children because they themselves are depraved, what about Christians who are cleansed from ALL SIN? Wouldn’t their children inherit a sinless nature? If not where do they inherit the sinful nature from?

Children Are Born Without Sin

(Ezekiel 18:20) "The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be

upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. (NKJV)

Children Are Born Without Sin

(2 Sam. 12:23)“…I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me."

Children Are Born Without Sin

(Matthew 18:3) and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are

converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. (NKJV)

Children Are Born Without Sin

(Matthew 19:14) But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me,

and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." (NKJV)

Each Person is Accountable For Their Own Actions

(Isaiah 7:16) "For before the Child

shall know to refuse the evil and choose the

good, the land that you dread will be forsaken by both her kings. (NKJV)

Each Person is Accountable For Their Own Actions

(Revelation 20:13) The sea gave up the

dead who were in it, and Death and Hades

delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each

one according to his works. (NKJV)

Each Person is Accountable For Their Own Actions

(2 Corinthians 5:10) For we must all appear

before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things

done in the body, according to what he

has done, whether good or bad. (NKJV)

Each Person is Accountable For Their Own Actions

(Romans 14:12) So then each of us shall give account of himself

to God. (NKJV)

Each Person is Accountable For Their Own Actions

(Galatians 6:5) For each one shall bear his own load. (NKJV)

Each Person is Accountable For Their Own Actions

(John 15:22-24) "If I had not come and

spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they

have no excuse for their sin. "He who hates Me hates My

Father also. "If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now

they have seen and also hated both Me and My

Father. (NKJV)

Each Person is Accountable For Their Own Actions

(Matthew 23:37) "O Jerusalem,

Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are

sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks

under her wings, but you were not willing! (NKJV)