Every one may have observed that in paroxysms of passion, or ill-humor, the judgment is absolutely disabled; we are incapable of reasoning keenly in the wrong, and very positive. It is not uncommon for persons to be thus blind in cold blood, and some all their lives. Reason never discerns itself, or any thing else truly, till it sees its own impotence. (Thomas Adam, Private Thoughts on Religion)
“The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).
The doctrine of total depravity, while not believed by most and ignored by virtually all others, is a vital doctrine. This doctrine may be taught in a class on systematic theology, but that appears to be the only place it is thought necessary to teach. But how can a person confess sin unless that person confesses that he is a sinner? How can a person confess the depths of sin unless that person confesses that he is depraved in all parts? Unless a person feels and confesses the depths of sin in all parts, then how can a person rest in Christ alone and grace alone for a redemption that reaches into all parts of the soul? If what Adam said above is correct (Reason never discerns itself, or any thing else truly, till it sees its own impotence), then how can a person understand the Gospel until that person gives up all hope of understanding the Gospel in his or her own power of reason?
A.W. Pink wrote a great book on the sinfulness and depravity of man. In that book he makes it clear that he thinks that the teaching of the inability or impotence of man is vital. He spent about 200 pages discussing the depravity of man in general, but then about 130 pages discussing the inability of man. Here is what he said about why he spent so much time on that subject.
It is of the utmost importance that people should clearly understand and be made thoroughly aware of their spiritual impotence, for thus alone is a foundation laid for bringing them to see and feel their imperative need of divine grace for salvation. So long as sinners think they have it in their own power to deliver themselves from their death in trespasses and sins, they will never come to Christ that they might have life, for “the whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” So long as people imagine that they labor under no insuperable inability to comply with the call of the gospel, they never will be conscious of their entire obedience on Him alone who is able to work in them “all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power” (II Thess 1:11). So long as the creature is puffed up with a sense of his own ability to respond to God’s requirements, he will never become a suppliant at the footstool of divine mercy.
If Pink is right that this doctrine of the spiritual impotence of man is of the utmost importance for people to clearly understand and be made thoroughly aware of, and that so that they may understand the Gospel, then we live in a day where the Gospel is not understood by vast numbers within the professing Church. When is the last time you have heard anyone stressing the need for sinners to see that it is not in their own power to deliver themselves from death? Then how can they come to Christ alone for grace alone for life? We want to be nice and be without offensive words and teaching to people today in order to fill the large buildings and give tithes to pay for the large buildings, but that is a far different thing than preaching the truth of the Gospel. Why is it such a calculated plan to avoid teachings such as this in our day and what are the consequences of that? Here is Pink again.
No matter how hotly this doctrine of man’s spiritual impotence is resented by both the profane and the religious world, it must not be withheld through cowardice. Christ, our supreme Exemplar, announced this truth emphatically and constantly…If he is so helpless and hopeless in himself that he cannot turn from sin to holiness, that he cannot please God, that he cannot take one step toward Christ for salvation, is it not a kindness to acquaint him with his spiritual impotence, to shatter his dreams of self-sufficiency, to expose the delusion that he is lord of himself?…It is, then, the reality of the sinner’s helplessness which provides the dark background necessary for the gospel, and just in proportion as we are made aware of our helplessness shall we really value the mercy proffered us in the gospel. On the other hand, while we cherish the delusion that we have power to turn to God at any time, just so long as we shall continue procrastinating and thereby despise the gracious overtures of the gospel.
God Loves... Himself 
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