Reformed doctrine of predestination - Boettner - IV - Chapter 10

Required reading
Reformed Doctrine of Predestination by Loraine Boettner (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example). Begin Section Two by reading Chapter 10.

My summary
In Chapter Ten Boettner deals with the first of the five points of Calvinism, Total Inability (Depravity).

Firstly he states the doctrine by quoting from the Westminster Confession.

Secondly Boettner shows the extent and effect of Total Inability: 'the nature of fallen men...is such that they cannot perform a single act with right motives toward God.'

Thirdly we see that all the virtues of man are unsatisfactory to God: 'It matters not how good the works may be in themselves, for so long as the doer of them is out of harmony with God, none of his works are spiritually acceptable.'

Fourthly Boettner teaches that the fall of man was an historical event: 'Adam was as real as Christ, the fall as real as the atonement'.

Fifthly it is made clear that humans regularly have representatives condition their lives and so it is not unreasonable that Adam represented all men when he fell in sin.

Finally Boettner concludes that the 'Total Inability' of man shows both the goodness and severity of God.

What grabbed me
Excellent chapter. 

I thought it was particularly good how Boettner showed that 'Total Inability' does not mean man is depraved as they could be: 'This doctrine of Total Inability, which declares that men are dead in sin, does not mean that all men are equally bad, nor that any man is as bad as he could be, nor that any one in entirely destitute of virtue, nor that human nature is evil In Itself, nor that man's spirit is inactive, and much less does it mean that the body is dead. What it does mean is that since the fall man rests under the curse of sin, that he is actuated by wrong principles, and that he is wholly unable to love God or to do anything meriting salvation. His corruption is extensive but not necessarily intensive.'

We see many noble acts in non-Christians which are good acts in themselves - by common grace man is not as evil as he could be.  But we must remember that these morally right acts do not win favour with God.

Next week's reading
Begin Chapter 11 by reading the first four points (1.Statement of Doctrine; 2. Proof from Scripture; 3. Proof from Reason; 4. Faith and good works are the fruits and proof, not the basis of election).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.