Phil Johnson continues his neglected Biblical doctrine of the total depravity of man over at Pyromaniacs. You see, unless one comprehends this Biblical truth they are likely to have a flawed understanding of the genuine Gospel of Jesus Christ and of the amazing grace of God which leads to so great a salvation for all those who believe.

The truth is this is what is at the heart of the man-centered techniques practiced by the Church Growth Movement, which is itself central to post-evangelicalism and the emerging church. Johnson begins:

Every member of Adam’s race is born utterly depraved—fallen, alienated from God, and in bondage to evil. In Romans 6, Paul calls it slavery to sin. He furthermore says in Romans 6:20 that people who are slaves of sin are utterly devoid of true righteousness. All in such a state of sin and unbelief are God’s enemies (Romans 5:8, 10). They are “alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds” (Colossians 1:21).

Totally.

Human depravity is “total” in the same sense death is total. You can’t be partly dead. You can be really, really sick or critically injured and on life support, but you’re either dead or alive. There are no degrees of death.

In fact, when Scripture describes human depravity, it’s usually with the language of spiritual death.

You can read Johnson’s entire post here.

See also:

UNREGENERATE MAN HAS A FREE WILL…

A DIFFERENT GOSPEL IN THE EMERGING CHURCH AND THE NEW EVANGELICALISM?

MAN-CENTERED GOSPEL VS. GOD-CENTERED GOSPEL

AS IT CONCERNS FREE WILL OR THE BONDAGE OF THE WILL