The Five Points of Calvinism - Part 3 (Total Depravity and Original Sin)

One of the keys to the doctrine of total depravity is the doctrine of original sin. Pelagians have to deny original sin in order to deny total depravity in order to make way for free will. The scripture teaches that we are born in sin and come forth from the womb with sinful hearts ready to sin. It is because we all inherit a sinful nature from Adam that even infants die -- infants who have never had the opportunity to carry out sinful actions. It is because of original sin that there have never been any noble savages anywhere on the planet. It is because of original sin that you don't have to teach children how to be deceptive, sneaky, proud or mean. It is because of original sin that nothing but a new heart and a new nature will avail for salvation. The vast majority of professing Christians do not believe in original sin. That is obvious by the way they speak of their children and the way they evangelize (or rather don't evangelize) their children. Children raised in a Christian home are not exempt from original sin. It is not enough to teach them the right way to behave. Because of original sin, they must be born again, not just born! Their hearts must be radically changed by the power of the Holy Spirit.