Spiritually Dead or Alive?

Spiritually alive or dead – At the point of salvation a person’s spirit becomes alive. This means that there connection to God is restored. Please view the below video below of continue with the study below the video.

The Spiritual Death of Mankind

Other Passages that indicate that Mankind before Salvation is Spiritually Dead

Christians are Made Spiritually Alive – Born Again

Christians are Made Spiritually Alive – Risen with Christ (First Resurrection)

Christians are Made Spiritually Alive – A New Spirit

Christians are Made Spiritually Alive – A New Man

Christians are Made Spiritually Alive – A New Creation

Christians are Made Spiritually Alive – A New Heart

Christians are a ‘New Spiritual Man’

 

The Spiritual Death of Mankind

 

An important building block for understanding the nature of man is what happens to a person as a result of sin.  We find the account of this in Genesis:

And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

(Gen 2:15-17)

 

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

(Gen 3:1-7)

 

In Gen 2:17, we find that God told Adam that in the day that he would eat of the forbidden fruit, he would surely die.  In this verse, the literal Hebrew words for ‘surely die’ is the typical use of doubling the word die: muth, muth (see similar structure in Gen 20:7, Num 26:65, 1 Sam 14:39, etc.).  In other words, God provided extra emphasis to Adam that he would surely die in the day that he would eat of the fruit.  Interestingly, the serpent (Satan) used the same emphasis in Gen 3:4, but in the negative saying ye shall not surely die.  Rather, if they ate the fruit their eyes would be opened and they will be as gods, knowing good and evil.  The result of Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit was indeed that their eyes were opened and they knew they were naked (in need of covering for their sin).

The death that Adam and Eve died that day was a spiritual death.  Their bodies did not die that day, nor did their souls die that day.  They were still living creatures, but they died spiritually.  We also find in Ro 5:12-21 further discussion regarding the results of the sin of Adam being passed on to his progeny (all mankind) because ultimately all sin:

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Rom 5:12-21)

 

Moreover, not only did Adam and Eve spiritually die the day they ate of the forbidden fruit, but they also will physically die.  They were also promised that they would also physically die and return to the dust (Gen 3:19).  More than that, we find in the Bible that the soul that sins will also surely die (Eze 18:4, 20-24).  More on that later.

 

Other Passages that indicate that Mankind before Salvation is Spiritually Dead

 

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

(Eph 2:1-5)

 

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

(Col 2:13)

 

Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

(Eph 4:18)

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

(Eph 5:14)

 

But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

(Mat 8:22)

 

But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

(1Ti 5:6)

 

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

(1Jn 3:14)

 

For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

(Joh 5:21)

 

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry…It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

(Luk 15:24-32)

 

Christians are Made Spiritually Alive – Born Again

 

• Christians are made Spiritually Alive (Born Again / Risen)
  • Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…that which is born of the Spirit is spirit – John 3:3-8
  • Being born again…of incorruptible seed, by the Word of God – 1 Pet 1:21-23
  • Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…(1Pe 1:3)
  • Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Tit 3:5)
  • Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (Jas 1:18)
  • If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. (1Jn 2:29)
  • Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (1Jn 3:9, see also 1 John 5:18)
  • Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (1Jn 4:7)
  • Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. (1Jn 5:1)
  • For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. (1Jn 5:4)

 

Christians are Made Spiritually Alive – Risen with Christ (First Resurrection)

 

• Christians are made Spiritually Alive (Born Again / Risen)
  • Made alive with Christ (by grace ye are saved) – Eph 2:5
  • Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. (Col 2:12)
  • Risen with Christ – Col 3:1
  • Renewed in the spirit of your mind – Eph 4:23
  • Raised to walk in newness of life – Ro 6:4-6
  • Arise from the dead – Eph 5:14
  • Raised/Resurrected ‑ Rev 20:4‑6, Ro 6:4‑11,7:6, Gal 6:15, Eph 4:21‑25, 5:14, Eph 2:1,5,6, 2:10,15, Col 2:11‑13, 3:1, Phil 3:10‑14, 2 Cor 4:10‑11, Ro 8:11, John 14:19, Ez 37:1‑14, 1 Pet 3:21, Lk 2:34, Ro 5:10, James 5:15

 

Christians are Made Spiritually Alive – A New Spirit

 

• Renewed in the spirit of your mind – Eph 4:23
• …Renew a right spirit within me – Ps 51:10
• God puts a new spirit in a person – Eze 11:19, Eze 18:31, Eze 36:26
• Serve in newness of spirit, not in the oldness of the letter – Ro 7:6
• The Work of the Holy Spirit:
  • Christians are in the Spirit – if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His…the Spirit is life – Ro 8:9-10
  • But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Rom 8:11)
  • Holy Spirit leads His people…bears witness with our spirit – Ro 8:14-16
• And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Rom 8:23, see also Rom 16:5, 1 Cor 16:15)
  • These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. (Rev 14:4)

 

Christians are Made Spiritually Alive – A New Man

 

Old man crucified with Christ – Ro 6:6

Put off…the old man, which is corrupt due to deceitful lusts and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness – Ep 4:22-24

…you have put off the old man with his deeds and put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge… – Col 3:9-10

 

Christians are Made Spiritually Alive – A New Creation

 

• …henceforth we know no man after the flesh…Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2Co 5:16-17)
• Neither circumcision or uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creature – Gal 6:15
• For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them – Eph 2:10
• New wine in new bottles – Mat 9:16-17

 

Christians are Made Spiritually Alive – A New Heart

 

• Stony heart removed, given a heart of flesh – Eze 11:19, Eze 36:26
• New heart – Eze 18:31
• God will write His law on His people’s hearts – Heb 8:10, 10:16
• Create within me a clean heart…Ps 51:10

 

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

(Joh 1:12-13)

 

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

(1Pe 2:2)

 

For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

(Joh 5:21-25)

 

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

(Joh 11:25-26, see also context of John 11 involving the raising of dead Lazarus))

 

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

(Rom 8:5-9)

 

But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

(Rev 20:5-6)

 

The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.

(Eze 37:1-14)

 

 

Christians are a ‘New Spiritual Man’

 

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

(2Co 5:17)

 

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

(Eph 4:22-24)

 

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Rom 6:1-11)

 

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

(Eph 2:15)

 

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

(2Co 4:16)