Our freewill is enslaved by our depravity

The doctrine of total depravity is derived from the Bible’s assertion that something fundamentally changed with humanity’s essential nature as a result of the fall.

Adam as the first federal head of humanity acted as our representative and what he did implicated us all.

As a result, we are born dead in trespasses and sin (Romans 8:7), enslaved by sin and our own corruptions, and our minds are dominated by our flesh, which is hostile to God.

The way Jesus described human depravity is by stating, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44). This highlights our inability to come to God on our own.

Our depravity is exemplified by Lazarus in the tomb. There was nothing that could have been done to bring him back, there was no medicine because he didn’t have any ailments or illnesses. According to the Scriptures, he was dead, and like him, we are also spiritually dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1).

Our ability to choose still allows us to have freedom, but what we “want to” choose has become enslaved by sin. None of us are righteous.

Romans 3:10-12 (NKJV)

As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”