Series on Fundamental Faith 

 INTRODUCTION

As noted previously, this is a series of articles based on the "Articles of Faith" held by the Primitive Baptist churches. These Articles of Faith may vary in their wording from one section of the country to another, but in essence are the same as those proclaimed in the London (England) Confession of Faith in 1644 and the Philadelphia (USA) Confession of Faith, September 25, 1742. These are the items that our forefathers in the faith felt were essential in the belief of the local church. It was never intended that these Articles of Faith should replace the Scriptures, or be considered as superior to the Scriptures. Rather they are an attempt to make a simple statement of the principle doctrines found in the pages of the Bible.

In listing the reason we believe the Bible to be God's inspired word, I have drawn on external evidence to supplement the claims of the Scripture writers themselves. Having proved that the Bible is God's inspired word and the only rule for faith and practice, I have sought no other source to support the remaining articles other than the Bible. What Primitive Baptists believe and practice is based on the Bible. 

            The following is used by permission of: “The Primitive Baptist, The Christian Pathway – Gospel Appeal.”

GOSPEL APPEAL

Established July, 1966

An Earnest Appeal to a

Closer Observance of Gospel Truth

Vol. XLI No. 2 Craigsville, WV August 2006

FUNDAMENTAL FAITH

By Elder Robert “Bob” Glenn Dickerson, Jr.

10-5-1930 to 1-12-14

ARTICLE III: 

 WE BELIEVE IN THE TOTAL DEPRAVITY OF THE ENTIRE HUMAN FAMILY.

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12).

By the doctrine of total depravity or the doctrine of original sin is meant the teaching that when Adam, the first man, fell by transgression, his nature became one of sinfulness, utterly depraved, and thus this nature has been transmitted to every member of the human race, as we are all the descendants of Adam. Every infant born into this world is born with this depraved nature. Our sinfulness stems from the nature we have by birth; not from our environment. The only exception to this in the history of all mankind was our Savior, Jesus Christ, who was not born of natural generation, but of God. Lk. 1:35; I Pet. 1:19; 2:22.

Adam was created good and in the very image of God. Gen. 1:27, 31. He violated the law of God, knowing full well the commandment and the penalty thereof Gen. 2:17; 3:2, 3. As a result of that sin he brought a curse upon the world (Gen. 3:14-19) and the penalty of corporeal death (Gen. 5:5; Rom. 5:12). But the pronouncement of God was "in the DAY that thou eatest thereof, thou shall surely die." Gen. 2:17. And upon the day of his disobedience, Adam  became dead " in trespasses  and sin."(Eph.2:1) and forever removed from the position of fellowship and communion with God (Gen. 3:23-24). God thus indicated for all time that sinful men could never stand in His presence. Psalm 5:4. Adam's nature which was created in innocence then became an unclean, sinful nature. The transgression changed his very being and whereas he had previously known only good, he now possessed only a tendency for evil. (CF Gen. 2:25 & 3:7).

Could unclean Adam possibly produce children that were clean? Job 14:4. This law of God is apparent in nature, and classified as the law of heredity. Here is God's description of all humanity: "There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God . . . there is none that doeth good, no, not one." Romans 3:9-20. See also Gen. 6:5, 12; 8:21; Psa. 39:5, 6; Jer. 17:9; Rom 8:7; Eph. 2:3. This is true of every infant born into this world. Psa. 51:5; Psa. 58:3; Jer. 1:5. (Why would Jeremiah as an unborn infant need sanctification unless the nature of that child was the nature of sin?).

While our natural birth gives us natural life, it does not give us spiritual life — that is, the ability to understand and to live with God. 1 Cor. 2:14. We are BY NATURE dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1-3); that is to say alive naturally, but dead to spiritual things. Adam thus died the day he disobeyed (Gen. 2:17) and all his children were conceived and born after his fall and thus came forth with his fallen nature. Eph. 4:18; Col. 2:13; Jn. 3:6; Gen 3:23, 24; 4:1.

Death is the proof of total depravity. The proof of the truth of the teaching of total depravity is in the fact of death. Rom. 6:23 declares that death is the result of sin. Who dies? Everyone, even infants. (This does not mean that God sends infants to hell; but does mean that their salvation, even as ours, is only by the grace of God). Those who have never heard of the commandments; those who are feeble-minded and insane and thus could not obey them; death passes upon them also. Why: Because of sin. Where there are no outward acts of sins, and yet death reigns, there can be but one answer: there is an inward nature of sin. Rom. 5:12-18; 1 Cor. 15:22.

Thus the whole race of mankind is found to be in sin and the penalty of death is commanded upon all — both natural death and eternal separation from God. There is none good or righteous by their acts or by their nature. Rom. 3:9-23. Were it not for the grace of God in Jesus Christ, every human being would be condemned to hell for eternity. But God has provided salvation for His elect (young and old, sane and insane, near and far) through Jesus Christ, who was man, and yet born without a nature of sin; who never committed any act of sin (1 Pet. 2:22), and thus was able to die for sin and bear the penalty thereof for the children of God (2 Cor. 5:21; Heb 2:14-15).