Total Depravity

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

PennEd

Senior Member
Apr 22, 2013
13,584
9,103
113
Nay, I have posted enough scriptures over the correct position that people are not born sinful nor with a sin propensity and also where their sin comes from which is that they learn sin from the world and take the world's side over God.
Neigh!
You've posted nary a one.

The passage from Ezekiel IN NO WAY suggests that ANYBODY is without sin.

BTW, were you ever on this site before under a different name?
You sounding mighty familiar.
 

SonJudgment

Well-known member
Jun 25, 2024
695
368
63
Neigh!
You've posted nary a one.

The passage from Ezekiel IN NO WAY suggests that ANYBODY is without sin.

BTW, were you ever on this site before under a different name?
You sounding mighty familiar.
I never said anyone is without sin. I said that no one is born sinful nor born with a propensity to sin which is the premises of the OP. Again sin is learned, and it is learned from the world and by giving into the world and choosing the world over God. Therefore the correct option is option 1. Option 2 and option 3 would be to fault God because it would be saying that God made people to be born sinful or with a propensity to sin. Ezekiel 18 directly addresses the false doctrine of Total Depravity.
 

PennEd

Senior Member
Apr 22, 2013
13,584
9,103
113
I never said anyone is without sin. I said that no one is born sinful nor born with a propensity to sin which is the premises of the OP. Again sin is learned, and it is learned from the world and by giving into the world and choosing the world over God. Therefore the correct option is option 1. Option 2 and option 3 would be to fault God because it would be saying that God made people to be born sinful or with a propensity to sin. Ezekiel 18 directly addresses the false doctrine of Total Depravity.
Neigh again! To basically everything you have said here.

Why did you not answer whether you were here under a different name?
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,834
13,558
113
It also seems amiss to read into the motives of old testament persons that they were knowingly with faith prefiguring Christ's death and resurrection, when we are specifically told that they did not understand what the actions and events God had them select and record and curate were supposed to reveal about God's plan. These things they recorded for our benefit who came after Christ.
because we specifically know they did not understand the things they prophesied, we know the motives of the humans in recording the scriptures are immaterial - it is what God intends that matters, and the scriptures themselves say that the scriptures are the testimony of Christ - of God pitching His tent among men and dwelling with them, of Who He is and the salvation He has wrought.

so the primary purpose of scripture is never what its human authors intended: it is always what the Spirit Who inspired and Authored it intends, and that is testimony of Christ.

therefore a way we can know if we understand rightly a passage is if the Christology of our understanding is correct.

hence, find Christ in Genesis 4
 

TMS

Senior Member
Mar 21, 2015
3,923
1,257
113
Australia
Well again it's the world not the people. The people will commit sin because they give into the world. They choose the world over God and this is why they sin
They choose self over God. They choose the carnal flesh over God.

Two commandments of Love ....
Love God with all your heart and Love your neighbour as yourself.

If we love self more then God or self more then our neighbour, = sin.

The world is full of temptation and sin but that is not an excuse for sin.

Sin is a choice. If we had hearts like Angels and were not corrupted we would find it much easier to choose God over self. The flesh is connected with this world. The flesh vs the spirit, heaven vs this world...

Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

1Pe 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

1Jn 2:15-16
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Our flesh longs for the lusts of this world but we can choose.
 

TMS

Senior Member
Mar 21, 2015
3,923
1,257
113
Australia
But you don't have any verse that says no one other than Christ can do any good. You are just making the claim and assuming that your making the claim proves no unregenerate person can do any good. Where's the scripture that says what you are asserting
All good comes from God.
Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Jas 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Good fruits come from above.

None are good,
Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Luk 18:19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
Rom 3:9-12
9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
 

Evmur

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2021
5,219
2,618
113
London
christianchat.com
It is not possible for bulls and goats and sheep to take away sins. It is a consequence of our coming to God with repentance and faith that God casts our sins away from us as far s the east is from the west.
You saying Moses and the prophets did not offer burnt sacrifice for sin?

Where will you bring this repentance? you'll never reach God by trying to sneak around the cross.
 

Evmur

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2021
5,219
2,618
113
London
christianchat.com
Wow.

Ecclesiastes 7:20
Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.

Romans 3:10
as it is written,
“There is none righteous, not even one;

Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Mark 10:18
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.


Please show a single verse that says "we are born good and without sin".
you are only right
 

TMS

Senior Member
Mar 21, 2015
3,923
1,257
113
Australia
I see. You haven't taken any time or care in noting and applying the context of your cited verse to the cited verse.
Do you think none of the verses apply to you... are you too good, too righteous?

When we see our sinful state we seek help.

Mat 9:12-13
12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Luk 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Even Isaiah come to realize that his righteousness was as filthy rages

The needy receive help
But those that are well and good don't ask for help because they have no need.

Jas 1:14-15
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Because I realize how weak and poor I am. I go to God for strength.

2Co 12:9-10
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
 

Evmur

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2021
5,219
2,618
113
London
christianchat.com
You are reading New Testament revelation back into the Old tTestament, which is fair enough in terms of drawing out edifying typology. But we should not be ascribing to Old Testament characters ideas originating in New Testament revelation regarding God's secret plan of the cross and only brought to light to the church in Christ after the plan had been carried out.

I agree with your typological inferences. I disagree that they account for Cain's and Abel's actions. I don't think God puppeteered Cain and Abel to behave as they did in order to create a picture of spiritual truths.

I think God selected from among freely performed actions, those actions that fit spiritual truths, and had those recorded for the benefit of generations that would follow.
... for generations to follow ... but you do not follow for you seem not regard Abel's blood sacrifice.
 

Evmur

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2021
5,219
2,618
113
London
christianchat.com
Total depravity... the first point that calvanists believe.

Please prove from the word the difference and which is correct,
Between....
We are born without sin, sinless.

We are born with sinful tendency but not sin.

We are born as one that has already sinned.
fact is human babies are born dead ... they have to made to breathe,
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,834
13,558
113
God curated the gathering together into the sacred scriptures some of that history. The Old Testament believers did not understand exactly what they were recording that pointed to the promised Seed of the Woman, because those details were being recorded for the instruction of those who would come after Christ. So, it seems amiss to attribute to old testament characters motivations that rely on them having revelations reserved by God for new testament saints.
it is the intention of God, not the intention of mankind, that matters.

Psalms 94:11​
The LORD knows the thoughts of man,
That they [are] futile.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,834
13,558
113
I don't think God puppeteered Cain and Abel to behave as they did in order to create a picture of spiritual truths.
whether God indeed turns the hearts of men where He wills like water ((as scripture says)) or not,
the account of Cain and Abel would not be recorded in Genesis if it did not testify of Christ. all their lives are undocumented except for this. why?
because the Bible isn't about them. it's about God.

this is what Christ Himself says scripture is: testimony of Him.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,834
13,558
113
I am not disagreeing that there is a relationship between what is recorded in Gen 3 and what is recorded in Genesis four, in terms of the events out of Cains and Abel's entire multi=century-long lives God chose to memorialise in scripture. I disagree that Cain and Abel had any awareness that these particular events typified spiritual truths that would be read into their actions millennia later. Nor fdo I agree that these events were necessarily engineered by God in order to have material to add to the Bible that would convey these particular spiritual truths that would be discerned in them through the lens of Christ millennia later. Such an interpretation of the text issues IMO from a presupposition of exhaustive divine predeterminism, which is a presupposition I personally do not begin with.

don't you at least agree though, that what is recorded vs. what is not recorded in scripture, is by God's design? for His purpose?
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,834
13,558
113
Was God instructing Cain to seek salvation by works?
not if what they were doing was commemorating salvation by mercy ;)

i think they had done this for dozens of years, and that Cain had always accepted a sheep from Abel before that day. that Abel, the family shepherd, had been providing a lamb for each of them. that Cain did not wish to be dependent on his shepherd anymore.

so he is infuriated that God tells him to go back to the shepherd and receive the free gift he offers, and instead he kills him.

his countenance falls when he learns he is not good enough on his own merit, that he needs a shepherd - and he responds with vanity and wrath.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,834
13,558
113
It is not possible for bulls and goats and sheep to take away sins. It is a consequence of our coming to God withrepentance and faith that God casts our sins away from us as far s the east is from the west.
then they were a typology - a shadow, not the substance :)
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
3,474
455
83
then they were a typology - a shadow, not the substance :)
Yes, they were possibly included for their topological potential. But they were not engineered by God in order that He could use them as types. They were events He selected for inclusion in scripture because they had the outward appearance of being types. The events may have outwardly fit with the Christian truth about Christ to be revealed, but the participants may not have have been doing what they did for the motives implicit in those Christian truths.
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
3,474
455
83
not if what they were doing was commemorating salvation by mercy ;)

i think they had done this for dozens of years, and that Cain had always accepted a sheep from Abel before that day. that Abel, the family shepherd, had been providing a lamb for each of them. that Cain did not wish to be dependent on his shepherd anymore.

so he is infuriated that God tells him to go back to the shepherd and receive the free gift he offers, and instead he kills him.

his countenance falls when he learns he is not good enough on his own merit, that he needs a shepherd - and he responds with vanity and wrath.
That is one possible way to fill in the gaps. And it has merit.

But there is no reason to assume Adam and Eve considered God's response to their sin and the consequent shame as salvation. Salvation from what? Maybe if, before their eyes, God had slain the sheep to provide their covering, and told them,
"This could have been you," they would understand what physical death would have been like for them, had it been inflicted immediately. But we are not told that God slew a sheep and fast precesses the hide to make the garments; nor whether he sheared the sheep and spun and wove a garments. We are not told that they had any concept of eternal damnation and the medieval nightmares of hell that many have about it today. They did know their own shame and fear and alienation from God that had resulted from their distrust and transgression. And they knew that wearing the garment assuaged the shame of their nakedness when with people other than their spouse. were around.

We can read back into the narrative, types that fit our undertanding of Christian doctrine, and these will resonate with others who fined the types matching their own doctrine. But there is no guarantee that the types we are reading back into the old testament are what God intended us to see. Some pretty far out doctrines can be "proven" from the ingenious use of typology, such as the sinlessnes of Mary, the immaculate conception.
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
3,474
455
83
whether God indeed turns the hearts of men where He wills like water ((as scripture says)) or not,
the account of Cain and Abel would not be recorded in Genesis if it did not testify of Christ. all their lives are undocumented except for this. why?
because the Bible isn't about them. it's about God.

this is what Christ Himself says scripture is: testimony of Him.
The Proverb can also be understood as "The heart of the king is a stream in the hand of the LORD, He turns [His hand] where He wills."

I agree with you that God recorded the episode of Cain and Abel because it also reveals some truth about Christ. But it also reveals information about mankind and sin and the devil, and provides us with warnings and exhortations.