Total Depravity

Ephesians 2:1-5 Jacob: A Pattern of Salvation by Grace

Pastor Albert N. Martin expounds on the doctrine of Total Depravity, the first of the Five Points of Calvinism, contrasting it with Arminian views. He clarifies common misconceptions, asserting that total depravity means humanity is spiritually dead and incapable of spiritual good, not as bad as possible or unable to do human good. Drawing primarily from Ephesians 2:1-5, Genesis 6:5, Jeremiah 17:9, and Romans 8, Martin argues that only the regenerating grace of the Holy Spirit can make a person spiritually alive. The sermon emphasizes that this doctrine reveals man's true condition, highlights God's sovereignty in salvation, and magnifies the incomprehensible grace of Jesus Christ, who saves us when we are utterly undeserving and unwilling.

2 illustrations in this sermon

Total Depravity vs. Arminianism: An Illustration

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Falling from a Building

Driving home: We believe that when man fell into sin, it was like falling from a tall building. He became spiritually dead. He was neither able nor willing to call for help because he was spiritually lifeless. We believe that there is…

This analogy contrasts Arminian and Reformed views of humanity's fall. Arminians see man as falling from a second-story window, injured but able to call for help. Reformed theology sees man as falling from a tall building, utterly dead and unable to help himself, emphasizing the need for God's complete intervention.

Now how does this position differ, you ask, from that of the Arminians? It can perhaps best be explained by an example. The Arminians compare the unregenerate man to one who falls, say, from a second-story window. He breaks his leg, cracks a few ribs, but is still alive.

11:38 - 11:55 Read in full sermon

Illustrating God's Unmerited Grace

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Two Murderers on Death Row

In this part of the sermon: An illustration of two murderers on death row, one remorseful and one unrepentant, demonstrates the profound difference between grace given to the 'deserving' (Arminian view) and…

This story illustrates the nature of grace. The first murderer is remorseful and seeks clemency, receiving grace. The second is unrepentant and hostile, yet is set free by the judge. This second scenario, Martin argues, represents the greater, unmerited grace of God in saving the utterly undeserving, contrasting with the Arminian view that requires some human 'reason' for grace.

Imagine a young man has been sentenced to die because of a first-degree murder. As he is waiting on death row, he is filled with remorse for his awful deed. He's had a complete change of heart. Never would he consider doing what he once did, taking someone's life in cold blood.

22:09 - 22:26 Read in full sermon

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