A number of individuals have responded in a very derogatory manner toward Reformed theology.
I realize their attitude is a very common one within evangelical Christianity.
Among other things, Reformed theology focuses on the doctrines of grace. The doctrines of grace have been commonly referred to as TULIP.
Total depravity
Unconditional election
Limited Atonement
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance of the Saints
I don't exactly like the labels involved in the TULIP acronym. For example, I prefer the phrase "radical corruption" or "total inability".
The concept is this: man, in his natural state before salvation, is corrupted in all areas of his life due to the Fall. He is spiritually dead, in fact, and requires a spiritual resurrection in order to enter into a relationship with God. Therefore, in his natural state, he is totally helpless to do anything for himself in the real of spiritual life. He cannot cause himself to come to life again. Therefore, God must spiritually resurrect him to new life. This resurrection is called being "born again", or being "born from above".
Ephesians 2:1-10 is probably one of the best explanations of the gospel in this manner.
Ephesians 2:1-10 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
The gist is this: man, in his unsaved state, is spiritually dead and is unable to do anything for himself, just like a corpse laying on a table cannot do anything. Someone in the room might talk, but he wouldn't understand it. God raises the spiritually dead man so he can respond.
However, I don't want to get into the areas covered by the other four points yet. I only want to focus on total depravity or radical corruption.
I would like to present the Reformed definition of total depravity (radical corruption), and the free-willer response to it. Then, I will present Scriptures relating to the Reformed position. Finally, I will make some remarks in conclusion.
I plan on doing this for the other four doctrines of grace as well, in the future.
I am going to start a poll on whether the doctrine of total depravity is biblical. Please note that I"m not really concerned about whether this view is the most popular. Popular doctrines aren't always the true doctrine, and in this case I think some are very offended over the nature of the doctrines of grace, especially with all the anti-Reformed rhetoric that has been propagated within Christianity.
I am also attaching a document that summarizes the Scriptures I will post.
I realize their attitude is a very common one within evangelical Christianity.
Among other things, Reformed theology focuses on the doctrines of grace. The doctrines of grace have been commonly referred to as TULIP.
Total depravity
Unconditional election
Limited Atonement
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance of the Saints
I don't exactly like the labels involved in the TULIP acronym. For example, I prefer the phrase "radical corruption" or "total inability".
The concept is this: man, in his natural state before salvation, is corrupted in all areas of his life due to the Fall. He is spiritually dead, in fact, and requires a spiritual resurrection in order to enter into a relationship with God. Therefore, in his natural state, he is totally helpless to do anything for himself in the real of spiritual life. He cannot cause himself to come to life again. Therefore, God must spiritually resurrect him to new life. This resurrection is called being "born again", or being "born from above".
Ephesians 2:1-10 is probably one of the best explanations of the gospel in this manner.
Ephesians 2:1-10 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
The gist is this: man, in his unsaved state, is spiritually dead and is unable to do anything for himself, just like a corpse laying on a table cannot do anything. Someone in the room might talk, but he wouldn't understand it. God raises the spiritually dead man so he can respond.
However, I don't want to get into the areas covered by the other four points yet. I only want to focus on total depravity or radical corruption.
I would like to present the Reformed definition of total depravity (radical corruption), and the free-willer response to it. Then, I will present Scriptures relating to the Reformed position. Finally, I will make some remarks in conclusion.
I plan on doing this for the other four doctrines of grace as well, in the future.
I am going to start a poll on whether the doctrine of total depravity is biblical. Please note that I"m not really concerned about whether this view is the most popular. Popular doctrines aren't always the true doctrine, and in this case I think some are very offended over the nature of the doctrines of grace, especially with all the anti-Reformed rhetoric that has been propagated within Christianity.
I am also attaching a document that summarizes the Scriptures I will post.
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