How does total depravity play out in a Christian's life. Is a Christian STILL totally depraved? Does God consider a Christian a sinner or a saint?
Well,
total depravity refers to the effects of the fall in the nature of man, that every part is corrupted through sin. But more than that, we cannot do anything truly pleasing to God. We are thoroughly biased against, and disabled and antagonistic toward all that is good, and are naturally inclined toward all that is evil. Now, this isn't to say that we are as evil as we can be, obviously God restrain men and women from the greatest extent of their depravity in sin in varying degrees. However, we are void of all that is good and any desire of that good in the true sense. We have our sinful bias somewhere in everything we do, with every motive. Thus, we cannot come to Christ willingly. By nature, we hate God and want nothing to do with him. We are in bondage to sin, and we are dead in sin and dead to the things of God.
Regarding your question, when God converts a sinner by his grace from out of their natural state of sin, he regenerates them and enlightens their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God. He removes that heart of stone and gives them a heart of flesh, renews their will by his divine power and turns them to good. Yes, there is remaining sin in that person after he is converted, but they are no longer in bondage, they are made a new creation. They begin to desire what is good, what is right. They are new in the spirit, even though the flesh is still dead in sin. The struggle with our regenerated soul and the indwelling corruption remaining in the flesh is the long-life battle of the Christian. After the resurrection, we will have a body that is renewed, glorified, and alive to what is good and right. Until then, the remaining corruption still strives with our sanctifying minds.
God considers that Christian a
saint that still sins.
