What is spiritual death? What does it mean to be spiritually dead?

what does the bible say?

Due to the fall of Adam, sin and death entered a previously perfect and pristine world (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12). This death was not merely physical but spiritual as well (Ephesians 2:1). All humankind born after the fall inherited a sin nature and therefore are spiritually dead (Psalms 51:5). To be spiritually dead does not mean to be without the faculties of intellect, affection, or will. Our minds, emotions, and wills still function, but we are separated from God, naturally inclined to live for ourselves (Ephesians 2:1-3). Our sin separates us from God and leads to death; we are naturally “children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:3). However, Christ died for our sins, and those who place their faith in Him become new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17) and are “reconciled to God” (Romans 5:10), made alive in Him.

from the old testament

• Adam and Eve experienced the first spiritual death when they were forced to leave the presence of God (Genesis 3:24). All of humanity inherited sin from Adam.
• From that point forward, human beings are born with wicked hearts, bent toward sin (Jeremiah 7:20).
• David lamented, “there is none who does good, not even one” (Psalm 14:3). To address that sin, God instituted the Mosaic Law, a system of sacrifices to atone for sin (Exodus 29:38-39; Leviticus 16:34). That system foreshadowed Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice for sin.

from the new testament

• The New Testament affirms the sinfulness of all human beings. Everyone has sinned and rebelled against God, failing to measure up to His standards (Romans 3:23).
• Hebrews 10:4 says, “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” Only Christ could permanently pay for our sins and reconcile us to God.
• Paul wrote to the Ephesian believers that they were “dead in the trespasses and sin” (Ephesians 2:1) and “children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:3) before accepting Christ as Savior.
• Romans 5:10 says, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”

implications for today

Sin separates us from God, the source and fountain of spiritual life and light (Ephesians 2:12). The spiritually dead “sit in darkness and in the shadow of death” (Luke 1:79). Because God is holy and sin is offensive to Him, our spiritual death is not an amicable separation but a hostile one (Romans 8:7–8). The Bible describes the spiritually dead as enemies of God (Romans 5:10). The penalty for sin is death (Romans 3:23), so the spiritually dead are cursed and condemned and await God’s wrath (Romans 2:5). They are, in fact, dead men walking. To be spiritually dead means to be insensible to the things of God and ignorant of spiritual realities (1 Corinthians 2:14). A spiritually dead person does not love God and cannot please God (Romans 8:8). In fact, they want to please themselves, not God (Philippians 2:21). They may appear to perform good deeds from an external perspective in that their deeds conform to the letter of the law. However, these deeds do not conform to the spirit of the law because they are not motivated by a desire to please and glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31). The spiritually dead can look beautiful on the outside and inside be filled with death, like whitewashed tombs (Matthew 23:27–28). Thankfully, God has not left us in this state of spiritual death. Because of His great love for us, God sent His only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who is the Resurrection and the Life, into this dark world to die for us (Romans 5:8; John 11:25). Jesus reversed the effects of sin and death. He broke down the wall of separation between us and God and killed the hostility that existed by offering Himself as a peace offering (Ephesians 2:13–19). Jesus cured the curse of the law and death by taking the condemnation we deserved on Himself at Calvary’s cross (Galatians 3:13). In Him we can be “born again” and made alive (John 3:3). Those who receive Christ by faith are no longer condemned (Romans 8:1; John 1:12). He has removed the sting of death through His own death and resurrection, and has promised eternal life to all who believe in Him (1 Corinthians 15:21; 54–57; John 3:16). We who were separated from God can come near to Him. We who were hostile to God can now love Him. We who lived under the condemnation of the law have been freed and empowered to walk in joyful obedience to God. We who were under the curse of death have been given the gift of eternal life to be enjoyed with Christ, who is our life (Colossians 3:4).

Recap

understand

• Human beings are born as sinners by nature and by choice and are spiritually dead.
• Sin separates us from God.
• Only through faith in Christ can we be “born again,” made spiritually alive and reconciled to God.

reflect

• How does understanding spiritual death shape the way you view your life before Christ and your dependence on His grace today?
• Where do you still notice old patterns of self-centered living, and how does being made spiritually alive in Christ change how you respond to them?
• How does knowing you are reconciled to God influence your desires, priorities, and relationship with Him?

engage

• How does the Bible’s description of spiritual death challenge common cultural assumptions about human goodness and self-sufficiency?
• Why is it important to underst and spiritual death when explaining the necessity of Christ’s sacrifice and the meaning of salvation?
• How can the contrast between spiritual death and spiritual life shape the way believers live and witness?