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What does the Bible say about total depravity?

Answered in 194 sources

The Bible teaches that all humans are born in a state of total depravity, meaning they are completely incapable of saving themselves and are in desperate need of God's grace.

Total depravity refers to the doctrine that every part of humanity has been corrupted by sin, rendering us unable to achieve righteousness on our own. As stated in Romans 3:10-18, there is none righteous, no not one. This depraved state affects our will, emotions, and intellect, leading us away from God and making it impossible for us to seek Him without divine intervention. Just as the earth was 'without form and void' in Genesis 1:2, so too are our hearts at birth: empty of spiritual life and direction. We are born into darkness, and without the sovereign grace of God, we remain in that darkness, incapable of any spiritual good.
Scripture References: Romans 3:10-18, Genesis 1:2, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:12, Psalm 14:3, Jeremiah 17:9, Ephesians 2:1, John 6:44, Romans 3:10-12, Ephesians 2:1-3, Romans 3:10, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:19-20, Psalm 110:3, Genesis 6:5, Isaiah 53:6, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Galatians 2:16, Psalm 53:1-3, Isaiah 1:5-6, Psalm 14, Romans 3, Genesis 6, Psalm 51:4, Ephesians 2:1-5, Psalm 51:5, Isaiah 64:6, Isaiah 1:2-8, Titus 3:1-5, Genesis 2:15-17, Ephesians 2:8-10, Ezekiel 16, Romans 3:10-11, Romans 8:7, Psalm 14:2-3, Isaiah 59:10-11, Romans 3:9-18, 1 Corinthians 1:18, Mark 15:16-20, Mark 7:14-23, Jeremiah 13:23, Ephesians 2:3, Romans 8:6-8, John 3:3, Job 42:5-6, Romans 3:11, Titus 3:3-5, Psalm 36:1-4, John 8:7, Psalm 53, Genesis 2:7-17, Genesis 3:6-24, Psalm 58:3, John 9:13-38, Genesis 3:6-7, Psalm 14:1-3, John 12:37, Ephesians 2:1-4, Romans 3:9-20, Genesis 2:17, Romans 8:7-8, Genesis 3, 1 Corinthians 2:14, Romans 5:18, John 3:19, Judges 3:12-15, Ephesians 2:1-10, Ephesians 2:1-6, John 11, John 3:1-18, Romans 7:18, Isaiah 40:6-8, Romans 3:13-18, Isaiah 51:5, Romans 3:9-12, Colossians 2:13, Ezekiel 16:4, Romans 8:8, Romans 5:6, Isaiah 59, Matthew 15:18-20, Romans 3:9-20; Ephesians 2:1-4, Jeremiah 13:15-27, Jeremiah 2:13, Jeremiah 9:13-15, Ezekiel 37, Ephesians 2:1-9, Genesis 6:5-8, Romans 3:9-24, Psalms 51:5, 2 Samuel 23:5, John 5:5, Proverbs 21:4, Titus 3:2-3, Romans 5:12-14, Isaiah 62:12, Psalm 3:8, Romans 1, Romans 2, Luke 3:7, James 1:15, Genesis 34, Genesis 1:26, Genesis 3:1-7, 2 Timothy 1:9, Ephesians 4:22, Romans 3:10-12; Jeremiah 17:9, Ezekiel 37:1-14, Genesis 6:5-14

Sermons (180)

Depravity
Tommy Robbins · Jan 21, 2007
The Unclean Saved
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Truly Only
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Six Vital Truths
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Romans 8:31-39
Mikal Smith · Dec 14, 2025
Babe In The Field
Kent Clark · Feb 29, 2012
What Shall I Do?
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The Lost Coin
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Six Vital Truths
Frank Tate · Nov 21, 2021
Psalm 36
Todd Nibert · Feb 13, 2022
I Thought
Cody Groover · Sep 18, 2016
Our Foolish Heart
Frank Tate · May 23, 2018
Christ is Lord
Don Fortner · Jun 3, 2018
Unbelief
Jim Byrd · Aug 8, 2018
Give God the Glory
Wayne Boyd · Nov 17, 2024
Dead to God
Kent Clark · Mar 14, 2012
Psalm 14
Rick Warta · Mar 24, 2022
Psalm 14
Todd Nibert · Aug 8, 2021
Utterly Depraved
Tim James · Jul 14, 2024
Total Depravity
Clay Curtis · Sep 30, 2018
What Shall I Do?
Todd Nibert · May 27, 2007
Total Depravity
Mike Baker · May 14, 2020
Matthew (pt47)
John Reeves · Dec 13, 2024
None doeth good
Greg Elmquist · Jan 10, 2018
Tv: T.U.L.I.P
Gabe Stalnaker · Aug 4, 2019
What Shall I Cry?
Frank Tate · Mar 10, 2024
The Leper
Darvin Pruitt · Apr 6, 2008
Christians
Paul Pendleton · Jul 17, 2022
But God...
Bruce Crabtree · Mar 22, 2009
Saved On Purpose
Kent Clark · Sep 6, 2009
Truly Only
Todd Nibert · Oct 11, 2009
But God
Don Fortner · Dec 20, 2015
T.U.L.I.P
Gabe Stalnaker · Jan 20, 2013
A Memorial
Mike McInnis · Nov 13, 2016
T.U.L.I.P
Gabe Stalnaker · Jan 13, 2019
Total Ruin
Clay Curtis · Aug 21, 2011
Drawn By God
Kent Clark · May 13, 2012
The Remnant Seed
Eric Lutter · Nov 7, 2018
Disciples Indeed
Jim Byrd · May 10, 2017
6 Gospel Truths
Frank Tate · Aug 7, 2016
We Know
Frank Tate · Jun 14, 2020
The Memory of God
Fred Evans · Jan 17, 2016
Tulip
Paul Mahan · Nov 29, 2015
No, Not One
Norm Day · Sep 18, 2022

Articles (14)

Total Depravity
Gilbert Beebe · Jul 29, 2004
TULIP
David Eddmenson · Aug 11, 2021
T.U.L.I.P.
Henry Mahan · Sep 11, 2025
Total Depravity
Don Fortner · Jun 7, 2009
Joshua

Joshua

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