The Totally Depraved Do Not Deserve Eternal Suffering
Response to comment [from a "Christian"]: "The doctrine of Total Depravity obviously impugns the righteousness of God..."
Depravity is
scriptural.
[God's Pattern for Parents by John
MacArthur edited notes] "Good
parents do not allow reprobate
children to get full expression to
the evil desires. We are called to
punish them while there is still
time in childhood to correct them.
We were born with the seed of every
sin deep in our heart. It only takes
time for that sin to express itself.
Children need to be restricted and
restrained. The wicked are estranged
from the womb. They speak lies and
go astray from birth. They have
venom like a serpent (Ps 58:3-4).
They are little snakes when they
come out of the womb--that's total
depravity. That is how we are born.
David said in sin did my mother
conceive me (Ps 51:5). At conception
men are iniquitous. You can bring
children under control but
ultimately you want to see them pass
from darkness to light (Eph 5:8).
Instead of giving into their
deceitful desires you want them to
submit to God. Parents must confront
their children's wickedness. Help
them to understand that God is holy
and that conformity of the divine
standard is what is required of
them. Give them the knowledge of the
law so that they can see their need
for Christ. When saved, the Spirit
will restrain them from evil deeds
and they will be transformed by God.
They aren't born little angels. They
are corrupt sinners who need to
become saints."
Response to comment [from a Christian]: "We are not as wicked as we possibly could be. Radical corruption points to the core sinfulness of our hearts."
Given enough time, sin will express itself (Jer 17:9).
Response to comment [from a Christian]: "God decreed righteousness and gave everyone of Adam race the capability to obey His commands."
God grants men
repentance.
And the servant of the Lord must
not strive; but be gentle unto all
men, apt to teach, patient,
In meekness instructing those that
oppose themselves; if God
peradventure will give them
repentance to the acknowledging of
the truth [2 Tim. 2:24–25].
"Finally, a believer is like a
servant, and he is to be gentle to
all men. It may seem like we have a
contradiction here. The soldier was
to fight, but the servant is not to
fight. Is this a contradiction? No,
it is a paradox. When you are
standing for the truth, you are to
be definite and let people know
where you stand. Don’t be a coward!
Someone has put it this way, "It is
said that silence is golden, but
sometimes it is just yellow!" My
friend, stand for the truth.
However—
"In meekness instructing those that
oppose themselves." If you are
trying to win a person to Christ,
don’t argue with him. If he
disagrees with you, let him disagree
with you. Just keep on giving him
the Word of God." McGee, J. V.
(1991). Thru the Bible commentary:
The Epistles (1 and 2
Timothy/Titus/Philemon) (electronic
ed., Vol. 50, p. 114). Nashville:
Thomas Nelson.
"2 Ti 2:25 those who are in
opposition. Primarily unbelievers
(captive to Satan, v. 26), but also
could include believers deceived by
the "foolish and ignorant" (v. 23)
speculations of the false teachers;
and, possibly, the false teachers
themselves. God … will grant them
repentance. Cf. Acts 11:18; see 2
Cor. 7:9, 10. All true repentance is
produced by God’s sovereign grace
(Eph. 2:7), and without such grace
human effort to change is futile
(cf. Jer. 13:23)." MacArthur, J.,
Jr. (Ed.). (1997). The MacArthur
Study Bible (electronic ed., p.
1878). Nashville, TN: Word Pub.
