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Answering A Few Proof-Texts For Total Depravity

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           -There is no denying that Calvinism can be extremely controversial subject matter among professing Christians today. This is true especially of the doctrines of unconditional election and limited atonement. Quite Simply, the purpose of this short article is to answer Calvinists who believe that the texts of Romans 3:10-18 and 1 Corinthians 2:14 substantiate their doctrine of total depravity.

           Romans 3 simply tells us that we cannot merit salvation on the basis of good deeds. We are all unrighteous according to God's Law. The passage from Romans says plainly that the lost cannot please God, but it does not affirm the inability of us accepting or rejecting the gospel. We either choose to serve or rebel against God. We obtain righteousness by His grace through our faith.

           As for 1 Corinthians 2:14, the distinction should not be viewed as saint verses sinner. Rather, the contrast should be drawn between the wisdom of God and the wisdom of man. The "spiritual" person can discern the things of God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, whereas the "natural" man cannot understand the things of God because he tries to do so by means of his mere intellect. This text is speaking of divine inspiration (1 Corinthians 2:13). It is speaking of God revealing the truths of the gospel, which has already been done through the apostles (Ephesians 3:3-5). Divine revelation is powerful enough to convert the lost soul to Christ (John 20:31; 2 Timothy 3:15). Carnal people cannot understand the things of God because they simply do not want to. They refuse. The Apostle Paul's point in 1 Corinthians 2:14 is that a person who uses human wisdom to interpret spiritual truths will only come to view the cross as foolish and consequently die spiritually. In short, this text has nothing to do with Calvinism.


This post first appeared on Rational Christian Discernment, please read the originial post: here

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Answering A Few Proof-Texts For Total Depravity

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