Spiritual Death

Spiritual death originated by Adam’s sin (Genesis 2:17, 3:6-7, 5:3; Romans 5:12). It is defined or described as including alienation from God (Ephesians 4:18); being caused by and the result of sin (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1, 2:5; Colossians 2:13); and manifests as a mind focused on and interested in things of the physical worldly existence, which the Bible calls a “carnal mind” or a “fleshly mind” (Romans 8:6). Spiritual death is characterized by unbelief in and unresponsiveness to God (John 3:36); not possessing, not having a relationship with, the Son of God as Lord-God, and as Savior (Romans 10:9-10, 1 John 5:12); not possessing the permanently and continuously indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 9:8); unwillingness to respond to God (Romans 3:10-11); inability to respond to the gospel (1 Corinthians 1:18, 2:14); and commitment to physical pleasure, e.g. experiences of the five physical senses (1 Timothy 5:6). The following are some sample Scriptures referring to people physically alive as being spiritually dead: Matthew 8:22; Luke 9:60; John 5:25, 6:53; Ephesians 5:14; 1 John 3:14.

• Originated by Adam's sin
  • Gen 2.17
  • Gen 3.6-7
  • Gen 5.3
  • Rm 5.12

• Definition / description
  • Is alienation from God, Eph 4.18
  • Is caused by, is the result of sin; Rm 6.23, Eph 2.1, Eph 2.5, Col 2.13
  • Manifests as a carnal, fleshly mind, Rm 8.6
  • Is characterized by
    • Unbelief in and unresponsiveness to God, Jn 3.36, Rm 3.9-18
    • Not possessing the Son (of God, as Lord and Savior (Rm 10.9-10)), 1 Jn 5.12
    • Not possessing the Holy Spirit (Rm 9.8)
    • Unwillingness to respond to God, Rm 3.10-11
    • Inability to respond to the gospel, 1 Cor 1.18, 2.14
    • Commitment to sensual pleasure, 1 Tim 5.6

• Other references speaking of living people as being dead; e.g. spiritually dead, and under God's death-sentence for their sins:
  • 1 Jn 3.14 (NIV), " ... we have passed from death to life ...".
  • Mt 8.22, Lk 9.60 (NIV), Jesus' reference to unbelievers as "dead" ("let the dead bury their own dead")
  • Jn 5.25 (NIV), "I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live."
  • Jn 6.53 (NIV), "Jesus said to them, 'I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.' "
  • Eph 5.14 (NIV), "For it is light that makes everything visible.  This is why it is said, 'Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.' "

God must create a living spirit in a person before that person can respond to the gospel in a way that saves them. This Divine creative act is described several ways including the new birth (Jn 3.3-5), and a new creation (2 Cor 5.17, Gal 6.15). Theologians call this “regeneration.”

Israel is the one nation God promises to, at some time in the future, regenerate all their citizens then living (Rom 11.25-27). Prophesies of God transforming the hearts of Israelites to respond correctly to Him are numerous: Deut 30.6, Isaiah 44.3, Jer 31.33, 32.39, Eze 11.19-20, 37.14, 39.29, Joel 2.28-29, Zech 12.10. This promise was extended to New Testament Jews, in Heb 10.15-17.