Par 3 teaches the doctrine of total inability:
“Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation; so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able by his own strength to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto.”
Though the Confession affirms free will, it affirms the kind of free will that is compatible with the idea that this free will is incapable of any spiritual good. Perhaps this seems paradoxical to you, but it is clearly the case.
I. Its Definition
Total inability must be defined and distinguished from total depravity.
Total Depravity is the corruption of every faculty or ability of man.
Confession (6:2) “wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body.”
Total Inability is the inability to will anything spiritually good.
Confession (6:4) “we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil.”
Confession (9:3) “Man…hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation … And … is not able by his own strength to convert himself or to prepare himself thereunto.”
II. Its Defense
1st Scriptural Proof: The Scripture asserts that men in their natural condition are enslaved, dead, and blind.
Romans 6:16 … you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? …. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
John 8:32 … the truth will make you free.” …. 34 … everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.
Ephesians 2:1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins …
2 Corinthians 4:4 … the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see …
John 3:3 … unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
2nd Scriptural Proof: The Scripture asserts plainly and explicitly that man has lost the ability to please God, to do God’s will, or perceive and receive the things of God.
Romans 7:18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh …
Romans 8:7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,
1 Corinthians 2:14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them.
3rd Scriptural Proof: No man ever wills to receive Christ or come to God apart from God’s drawing.
John 5:40 and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.
John 6:37 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me .… 39 “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.
John 6:44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.
John 6:65 And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”
4th Scriptural Proof: The will of man is not the source or determining factor in the application of salvation.
James 1:18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.
Romans 9:16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy….18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
5th Scriptural Proof: Repentance and faith, those crucial duties laid on the sinner in the gospel, are the gift of God.
Acts 5:31 … a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
Acts 11:18 … “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”
2 Timothy 2:25 … if perhaps God may grant them repentance … 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
Philippians 1:29 For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake … to believe in Him …
Eph. 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
The Scripture proof for the doctrine of total inability is indisputable.
Dr. Sam Waldron is the Academic Dean of CBTS and professor of Systematic Theology. He is also one of the pastors of Grace Reformed Baptist Church in Owensboro, KY. Dr. Waldron received a B.A. from Cornerstone University, an M.Div. from Trinity Ministerial Academy, a Th.M. from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. From 1977 to 2001 he was a pastor of the Reformed Baptist Church of Grand Rapids, MI. Dr. Waldron is the author of numerous books including A Modern Exposition of the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, The End Times Made Simple, Baptist Roots in America, To Be Continued?, and MacArthur’s Millennial Manifesto: A Friendly Response.
