Theology for Everybody: Romansنموونە

When we visit a doctor for a checkup, it is common to get a head-to-toe examination. In a spiritual sense, Paul does this very thing in what is perhaps the most comprehensive explanation of total depravity in all Scripture, including quotes from seven Old Testament Scriptures. Paul is clear that sin infects and affects every aspect of our being. Today and tomorrow, I will describe nine aspects of total depravity Paul addresses in Romans 3.

The first aspect of total depravity is nature. “No one is righteous, no, not one” (v. 10). Something you will learn only in the Bible is that evil and sin are not merely what you do but also who you are before Christ. Behavioral modification won’t work. You need a God-given regeneration of your nature. God needs to fundamentally change you at the level of your being. Until things change on the inside, things can’t change on the outside. You need a change in your “want to” before there can be a change in your “how to.”

The second aspect of total depravity is the mind. “No one understands” (v. 11). We have plenty of conjecture, speculation, and philosophy, but we don’t have wisdom or revelation. We even take the mind God gave us and use it to argue against Him rather than agree with Him. This happens in politics and philosophy. It happens in spirituality and religion of all sorts and kinds. God says something, and we use the minds He gave us to argue against Him or even to reverse course and judge Him. Instead of worshipping God, we war against Him.

The third aspect of total depravity is motive. “No one seeks God” (v. 11). Immediately, we’re offended by this, and we object, “I am seeking God!” No, you’re seeking the gifts God gives. God is a giver who gives gifts, but we often seek those gifts instead of seeking Him. “God, I would like it if You healed me. God, I need a job, so please give me one. God, my spouse is driving me crazy, so please fix them.” We want God to answer our prayers and provide for our needs, but we don’t want Him to tell us what to do. We want to be the ones to tell Him what to do.

Some might ask, “But what about seeking?” Well, the good news is God is the one who seeks us. When our first parents, Adam and Eve, sinned, they ran and hid from God. God came seeking them, and it’s been that way in human history ever since. Jesus said, “I came to seek and to save the lost” (see Luke 19:10). The point is God is not lost. We don’t have to go looking for Him. We’re lost, and He’s looking for us. So, if you seek God, then it’s because He sought you first. And this is the wonder of God: He pursues people who are running from Him. That is the apostle Paul’s story. He was absolutely religious and had no relationship with God. He was not seeking God, but Jesus came down and found Him on the road to Damascus.

The fourth aspect of total depravity is the will. “All have turned aside” (v. 12). Jesus Christ says that He is the way (see John 14:6). Before they were called Christians, early believers were also called “the Way.” When we rebel against God, we turn aside from the Way and wander off the path. Our will is not to obey God but to disobey Him.

We need a new nature. We need new minds. We need God to restore our motives. We need God to change our wills. As sinners, we tend to get frustrated when we are sinned against and wonder what is wrong with other people. The truth is, they are thinking the same thing about us. Not only are we hurt by people, but we also hurt people. This means we are all part of the problem in this world, which explains why God had to send Jesus into this world to save us because we are sinners who are all part of the problem. (Continued on Day 74 ...)

Today’s Reflection

If God gave you a spiritual checkup, what would be your diagnosis and prognosis?