A Biblical Perspective on Death and LifeSýnishorn

Being spiritually dead

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked...” (Ephesians 2:1)

As long as a person is moving and breathing, it is clear that this person is alive. And yet this person can be spiritually dead. Indeed, anyone who has not accepted Jesus Christ by faith as his Lord and Savior is “dead in their trespasses and sins.” This expression reflects the hopelessness of our natural condition. The sin of our first ancestor Adam not only caused our physical death but also damaged our relationship with God and enslaved us to Satan, God’s arch-enemy. We were separated from the Light of the world and entangled in darkness. This is such a hopeless condition that it can indeed be compared to death. The worst part is that this condition does not end when we die but proceeds into an eternity of darkness and death.

And yet the Lord has given us a way of escape. This is what verse 4 talks about. When we were spiritually dead, God made us alive with Christ, Paul says. That is true for everyone who accepts God's love and grace. If we repent of our sins and ask Him to save us, we have been “brought from death to life” (Romans 6:13). And this life continues even after we die.

What do you think of the above description of our natural condition? Can you think of synonyms or alternative descriptions?