Total Depravity 28

The Apostle John’s fifth and final book in the New Testament, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, does not shy from the truth of radical depravity. Those who hate God will also hate his disciples. “I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 1:9 ESV).

False teachers will infiltrate the church and reveal their true nature. “I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false” (Revelation 2:2 ESV).

Their behavior belies their testimony. “But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality” (Revelation 2:14 ESV).

They participate in sensuality. “But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality” (Revelation 2:20-21 ESV).

It cannot be disputed that the Scriptures clearly teach the radical depravity of man in all its genres. This is the case in both the Old and New Testaments. But what of the solution to this core problem each sinner faces? Is there a solution? Is there a remedy to sinful man’s radical depravity or is man hopelessly condemned?

We will consider this subject when next we meet. Soli deo Gloria!