Death, spiritual

A condition in this life of alienation from God because of sin. It leads ultimately to the “second death”, the permanent separation of unbelievers from God.

Spiritual death means alienation from God in this life

Ephesians 2:1–3; Colossians 1:21 See also Matthew 8:22; Romans 6:23; Colossians 2:13

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience. All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.

Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds.

Spiritual death is a result of Adam's sin

Romans 5:15–16 See also Romans 5:12

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many! Again, the gift is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment that followed one sin brought condemnation, but the gift that followed many trespasses brought justification.

Symptoms of spiritual death

Spiritual ignorance

Matthew 4:16; Isaiah 9:2; Luke 1:79; Ephesians 5:8

A mind controlled by the sinful nature

Romans 8:5–8 See also Proverbs 8:36, Proverbs 14:12, Proverbs 16:25, Proverbs 21:16; Ephesians 4:18

Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God.

Unbelief

John 3:36; 1 John 5:12

Living in sinful pleasures

Luke 15:13; 1 Timothy 5:6

Acting in ways that lead to death

Hebrews 6:1, Hebrews 9:14

Spiritual death leads ultimately to the ``second death''

Revelation 2:11, Revelation 20:6, Revelation 20:14, Revelation 21:8

A church may be spiritually dead

Revelation 3:1

“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of the One who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation for being alive, yet you are dead.

Deliverance from spiritual death is only through Jesus Christ

Ephesians 2:4–5 See also Ezekiel 37:1–14; Luke 15:24, Luke 15:32; John 5:24–25; Romans 6:3–4, Romans 6:13

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!