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Man Isn't Totally Depraved
One of the “five points of Calvinism” is Total Depravity, which essentially states that unsaved man’s rebellion against God is total. In other words, the doctrine teaches that an unsaved individual is incapable of obeying God's law on his own. This is where Calvin’s system of beliefs got it wrong.
The churches are full of people who attend church every Sunday. They’ve been baptized. They partake of the Lord’s Supper. They believe Christ is the Savior and read the Bible on a regular basis. They refrain from taking the Lord’s name in vain. They don’t steal or behave in a hateful way toward their fellow man. Yet, not every single one of these individuals is saved. Mankind is capable of following God’s law to a certain degree.
Cain
Cain was a religious person. We read that he followed God’s law to a certain extent:
“And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.” (Genesis 4:3)
Yet, the evidence of the Bible is that Cain was not saved.
Balaam
In Number chapters 22-24 we read the account of Balaam being hired by Balak.
Balaam was a soothsayer hired by Balak to curse the Hebrews:
“Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.” (Joshua 13:22)
“Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.” (Deuteronomy 23:4)
However, Balaam told Balak that he would obey God:
“But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do?” (Numbers 23:26)
In his obedience to God Balaam refused to curse the Hebrews:
“And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.” (Numbers 23:11)
Yet, the evidence of the Bible is that Balaam was not a saved man:
“Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.” (Jude 1:11)
“Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness” (2 Peter 2:15)
Created In His Image
Because man was created in the image of God he can think in terms of grace and mercy. He can love and be kind. He can understand the concepts of patience and justice. Even though man became spiritually dead in the Garden of Eden, the fact that he was created in God’s image remains. This is why mankind wants to be identified with God. Some choose Buddhism. Some choose Islam. Some choose Christianity. Even the pagans who knew nothing about the Bible offered sacrifices in an effort to appease the gods.
When we look at the world we find many unsaved people who are moral. Different factors can have an impact on our behavior. Sometimes it is the environment in which we were raised. Sometimes it is an event that causes us to rethink how we are living. Sometimes it is our genetics. Scientists have determined that some people are genetically more prone to abusing alcohol or being interested in homosexuality or being quick to anger. Likewise, there are those to whom patience and a kind heart come more naturally. There are those who will read the Bible and realize they should be obeying God’s commandments. Now, since they are spiritually dead they do not have God’s Spirit within them helping them to overcome the lusts of the flesh. As such, they will only be able to obey to a certain degree.
God's Law Is Written On Our Hearts
The Bible tells us that God's law is written on the hearts of mankind:
"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them" (Hebrews 10:16)
Intuitively, mankind knows it is wrong to steal, kill, lie, etc. As a result, even a saved individual will obey God's commandments from time to time:
"For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)" (Romans 2:14-15)
"And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst." (John 8:9)
And this is why even someone who has never heard of the Bible is still held accountable for sin.
The point is, man is not totally depraved. However, he cannot get himself saved.
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