Doctrines of Grace. Part 1. Total Depravity This explanation of the doctrine of total depravity mirrors that of the sixteenth-century French Reformer John Calvin, who, according to J.V. Fesko, believed that though “mankind is completely blind” and that “his ability to reason is useless in matters of salvation,” at the same time, “did not hold that human reason is utterly and totally shut down as a consequence of the fall.”3 And though the doctrine of total depravity does not hold that human beings are as sinful as we are capable of being, nevertheless, the depth of our depravity is still such that our entire being is affected by sin (Gen. 6:5; Rom. 3:23; 5:12). The noted Dutch Reformed theologian Herman Bavinck affirmed that sobering truth, saying, “The new covenant . . . leaves us in no doubt whatsoever about the sinful condition of the human race. The whole gospel is based on this assumption.”4 The Reformed doctrine of total depravity explains why salvation is, and must be, entirely by the grace of God alone. Salvation by grace alone is one of the “five solas” of the Reformed faith: sola gratia (grace alone), sola fide (faith alone), sola Scriptura (Scripture alone), solus Christus (Christ alone), and soli Deo gloria (for the glory of God alone). Salvation from sin is wholly a supernatural work of God in the hearts of sinners (Eph. 2:8–9). As Theologian Louis Berkhof said, “The work of grace includes the entire renewal of man in the image of God and the spiritual transformation of the sinner into a saint.”5 A proper understanding of the Reformed doctrine of total depravity is fundamental to a proper understanding of the gospel and the Christian life, for only the gospel of Jesus Christ provides the solution to the problem of the spiritual vileness that inherently resides in the human heart as a consequence of original sin. The Westminster Confession of Faith declares, Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation; so as, a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto. (WCF 9.3) The doctrine of total depravity is inexorably tied to the gospel, for apart from the bad news of our depravity the gospel is not good news. Article from: www.ligonier.org