We've Fallen & We Can't Get Up
"Why
should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the
whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the
foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and
bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither
bound up, neither mollified with ointment."
-ISAIAH
1:5-6 [KJV]
I have heard many say over the years that they agree with all but one of the doctrines of grace. Some will have none of unconditional election. Others reject the thought of particular redemption. But these are not the real issue. These things are not the main point at which they rebel. The point at which at they really rebel is the first. They reject the doctrine of total depravity! By nature they resist the clear teaching of the Bible with regards to the real condition of all men. If they believed what God says that they are, they would believe in the necessity of the other points.
I have heard many say over the years that they agree with all but one of the doctrines of grace. Some will have none of unconditional election. Others reject the thought of particular redemption. But these are not the real issue. These things are not the main point at which they rebel. The point at which at they really rebel is the first. They reject the doctrine of total depravity! By nature they resist the clear teaching of the Bible with regards to the real condition of all men. If they believed what God says that they are, they would believe in the necessity of the other points.
If
man is totally depraved, that is, if sin has so permeated his whole
being, polluted every aspect of his person and left him spiritually
dead in trespasses and sin, then salvation can only come by the
God of sovereign, omnipotent grace. God must choose him, Christ must
die as a Substitute in his place and the Holy Spirit must give him
life and faith and preserve him. The Bible says plainly that in
Adam all died. It pictures the state of man which requires
such almighty grace as being one of spiritual paralysis and death.
“You will not come to Me that you might have life.” The
dead cannot give themselves life nor come to Him who is Life! Listen
to Christ in John 6:44: "No man can come to Me, except the
Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the
last day." Again in John 6:65: "And He said,
Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto Me, except it
were given unto him of My Father." The word “can”
has to do with ability.
We
are described by God as “lost, dead, polluted, unrighteous, blind,”
and much more.” But men deny this truth and give men what they call
a “free will.” The truth is, our wills are bound to our fallen
nature. Left to myself, I am only free to be me, a spiritually dead,
God-hating sinner! God must save us, do for us what we cannot do
for ourselves, save us altogether in One outside ourselves, the Lord
Jesus Christ. We must BE saved, rescued, made alive and
given faith in Him who is Life. The glory of God in salvation is that
He has the ability to save us and He has saved a people all by
Himself in Christ. That’s the only way they could be saved! No man
ever knows his condition until God comes to him in sovereign grace
and power and gives him life. Paul said, “I was before a
blasphemer.” When did he learn that? When God brought him to
life! As one made alive by God he then rejoiced in every doctrine of
God’s grace! He thanked God and preached the gospel of God’s free
grace wherein He chose us in Christ, redeemed us by Christ, called us
effectually by the Holy Spirit and keeps us. All to the praise of the
glory of His grace! All fell in Adam but all in Christ He raised up!
-Gospel report by preacher Gary Shepard
Sovereign
Grace Baptist church of Jacksonville, North Carolina USA
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