Being morally and spiritually without life, therefore without a relationship with God. This condition, being the result of original sin, brings wrath and judgment and can be changed only by the sovereign, intervening grace of God.
Spiritual deadness is humanity's condition by nature
It is linked to physical death
Genesis 2:17 See also Genesis 3:3, Genesis 3:19; Proverbs 11:19; Ezekiel 18:20–31; John 8:21–24; Romans 1:32, Romans 6:23
but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.”
It is the universal consequence of sin
Ephesians 2:1 See also Genesis 8:21; 1 Chronicles 10:13; Psalm 51:5, Psalm 58:3; Proverbs 21:16; John 6:53; Romans 3:23, Romans 5:12–13, Romans 5:17; Colossians 2:13
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
It is confirmed in the law
Romans 5:20 See also Romans 7:4–12, Romans 8:2–4; Galatians 2:19
The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
It is evidenced in the human mind
Romans 8:6; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:21; Titus 1:15
It is evidenced in the human body
Romans 7:24 See also Romans 6:12–14, Romans 6:16, Romans 8:10; 1 Corinthians 15:50; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Galatians 6:7–8; Ephesians 4:22; 1 Timothy 5:6; James 3:6
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
Spiritual darkness brings judgment
God's judgment is final
Luke 16:26 See also Isaiah 66:24; Matthew 8:12, Matthew 25:30–32; Mark 9:43–49; Luke 13:28; Hebrews 9:27; 1 Peter 1:17
And besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that even those who wish cannot cross from here to you, nor can anyone cross from there to us.’
The second death
Revelation 20:14–15 See also Matthew 25:41; 1 John 5:16–17; Jude 1:12; Revelation 2:11, Revelation 21:8
Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death — the lake of fire. And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Rescue from spiritual deadness is initiated by God
He brings salvation
Ephesians 2:4–5 See also Psalm 103:12; Isaiah 26:19; Ezekiel 37:1–14
But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!
He brings union with the death of Jesus Christ
Romans 6:4 See also Romans 6:5–10; 2 Corinthians 4:10, 2 Corinthians 5:15–17; Galatians 2:19–20, Galatians 5:24, Galatians 6:14; Philippians 3:10; Colossians 2:12
We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.
He brings union with the resurrection of Jesus Christ
Colossians 3:1 See also Romans 5:21, Romans 6:11; Revelation 20:4–5
Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
He brings ultimate physical resurrection
Romans 8:10–11 See also 1 Corinthians 15:42–49
But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.
Concern for those who are spiritually sleepy
Ephesians 5:14 See also Romans 13:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:5–7; Revelation 3:1–2
So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.