Another verse in which we clearly see that God causes even evil men to do his will,
Joh 11:49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Joh 11:50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. Joh 11:51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; Joh 11:52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
Caiaphas, the high priest, was "holy" only in the sense that he was set apart by the law for the service of God. Here we can see Caiaphas' greedy motive in desiring to have Christ killed, yet at the same time what he spoke was a most wonderful prophetic truth in regard to substitutionary atonement. So we shouldn't think for a minute that Caiaphas spoke this out of some goodness in his heart, instead, this is another great example of God taking something meant for evil and making it for good:
Gen 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
On the topic to total depravity, it is a complex subject and one that has always been easy to misunderstand. For example, you often hear it said that total depravity doesn't mean that everyone is always as bad as they could be (if that weren't the case, then the world would be virtually unlivable). So we don't expect all the unsaved to be going around fighting and killing, but instead they go to work, feed their family, walk the dog, and live like decent moral people. Why? One reason is because this is what the people of God pray for:
1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 1Ti 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
The people of God ask God to make the world a place where the gospel can be made known. If everyone were fighting for their life everyday this would be more difficult. So it must be that God restrains the evil of sinners such that they do not do the most wicked thoughts of their hearts.
We also have to factor in false religion, i.e., the "if I live a good moral life God will accept me". There are many in these false religions who seek entry into heaven by their good works, so they try to mimic the good works of true believers. Thus, they may lead what appear to be very decent moral lives, but one shouldn't be tricked into thinking these people are decent moral people that have some good in them. No, instead, they are seeking salvation on their terms, unwilling to see themselves as polluted sinners, and rejecting God's plan of salvation. This behavior is truly wicked in God's sight, but as far as we can discern these folks seem to be somewhat godly.
We also know God restrains Satan and his kingdom, so that they are not able to destroy the woman,
Rev 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. (As well as Rev 12:12-17)
God protects the woman for 1260 days, nourishing her in the wilderness (Rev 12:14). I think many here are aware Mr Camping recently wrote a booklet on "Gay Pride", where we find that God has removed His restraint upon mankind so that this sinful behavior is widely viewed as a "lifestyle" choice rather than an offense against God and his creation.
Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. Rom 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: Rom 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Rom 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Rom 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Rom 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Notice verse 29 indicates unsaved man is "filled with all unrighteousness", yet at the same time, God does restrain this, so that it appears men are not as bad as they could be. For example, not every unsaved man is a sodomite or murderer, yet God still says they are "filled with all unrighteousness". This I think is reflected in James 2:10,
Jam 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Even the heart that only does one sin is guilty of all. Why? Because a heart that can do one sin is in rebellion against God. It is that one sin that is the evidence of a rebellious heart, and a rebellious heart is one that can and would do every sin if given the chance and not restrained by God.
There are other reasons why people don't do all the evil in their heart, for example, people will do those things that are in their best self interest, and one of the factors they weigh in deciding what evil behavior to do is what will happen to them if they get caught. Most people live under some kind of governmental law, so they can't do certain things without being punished. So most often people will refrain themselves from killing others when they get mad because they don't want to go to jail or be sentenced to the death penalty, but they do so not because they are good people but because they are afraid to get caught and don't want to be punished. So they make a jugdment call, and base their behavioral decisions by what is in their best interest (i.e, do they give up their job, house and family in order to enjoy the pleasure of acting out their rage). I don't consider acting in one's best interest as evidence of a lack of depravity.
Now there is another subject that hasn't been addressed, and that is what it means for God to draw someone to Christ,
Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
I recently read a sermon by Spurgeon in which he said God doesn't drag people to himself kicking and screaming. I don't know about the kicking and screaming part, but the word "draw" used here does mean to drag, as in:
Joh 21:11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
Jam 2:6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
We can imagine Peter tugging a very heavy net to land, and in James how someone might be dragged before a judgment seat against their will. Now I suppose someone could say God draws people to Christ in an instant, but I see it equally possible this could be a process or action that is accomplished over a period of time. Of course, every individual may be different, God might draw one to Himself instantly, and another might be drawn more slowly. I suspect some here might view their own experience as one that took a bit of time. For some the awareness of God and of his salvation plan is gradual, and in that period of time it would be difficult to determine exactly how God works in the individual, changing the will and bringing it in submission to Christ. Some preachers will say God first shows you your need, so that you can see your wretched condition, allowing you to come to a position in which you feel totally destitute, so that when God is pleased to show you the Savior you are overjoyed. I recall one sermon in which the preacher said anyone who has come to Christ without first having seen their wretched condition probably never really has come to Christ. Anyway, it is this period between these two points that is often referred to as the time God is drawing someone to himself. Perhaps God had shown the beggar that Jesus came upon in the gospels that he was an evil wretched man, but he had not yet been made whole by the Savior until Christ came to him.