What is "spiritually dead?"

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
D

Depleted

Guest
#41
People are spiritually dead when they don't feed their spirit and faith with His Word. Even Christians can still be spiritually dead as long as they're still lost in the world.
God bless.
So it's up to us to make ourselves alive and then keep ourselves alive?

Where does God fit in?
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#42
Romans 7:9 and who is arguing......
Given past history, we do! lol

That's why I started there, so you know it's not like usual.

And now that I read Romans 7, we might be starting now. (Or, I don't get what Paul is talking about totally.)

In Paul's lifetime, when wasn't the commandment there?
 
N

NoNameMcgee

Guest
#43
What does spiritually dead mean to you? What does it look like? What are the spiritually dead doing spiritually?
what does it mean?
dead.... spiritually

anything before or without this
_________
Ezekiel 36:26
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
_________
Romans 8:10
If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness


what does it look like?

usually like the reprobate
or the self righteous
or anything between without faith in Him


what are they doing spiritually?

uhhhhh

id guess nothing unless it is possible to decay further
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#44
Spiritual death is a separation.

Physical death is separation of the soul from the body. At the end, the spirit will be given a new body, for the believer a body from of sin, for the non believer, a body which will suffer in hell

Spiritual death is separation from God. The separation is like a barrier placed between God and man, the barrier must be broken for the relationship to be restored.

Being born again is to have this barrier removed. The barrier of course is sin, to be more precise, the penalty of sin, which is death,. This this spiritual barrier can not be removed until that penalty is fulfilled (this is called justification vis redemption) and once that barrier is removed, A persons relationship with god is restored.
Oh boy! You just stepped in big hornet's nest. lol

I do not get dichotomy or trichotomy. My mind is bouncing around like a hyperactive mouse on caffeine when it comes to body, soul, spirit.

So, here goes.

If death is separation of body and soul, than how is it neither body or soul survives physical death? How is it spirit gets the new body, but not soul? What happened to the soul? Where did the spirit get involved in this?

And if you're thinking soul and spirit are the same thing, (which I doubt you are, but just covering how my mind zips on this), then what was spiritually dead? Were we walking around with nothing but body before? (And, if Post Human comes along, he might start singing, "I ain't got no body." lol)

And, ha! Betcha thought I'd go all Calvinist on you over that one. Sorry. Really get stuck on dichotomy and dichotomy so badly, little else gets through once that hornet's nest is disturbed.

 

bluto

Senior Member
Aug 4, 2016
2,109
534
113
#45
Do you believe anyone is spiritually dead? If you do, then what does that mean?

And, if you don't, then what do you believe instead?

I'm not asking this time because I don't know. And I might even get into preaching my prove-a-point, however, this is more about if we can agree there is such a thing. And if we do, then is there a difference between "spiritually dead," and "spiritually alive?"

Because, in my mind that's something like asking "What's the difference between being pregnant and partially pregnant?" In both cases, you either are or aren't. There is no middle ground!

So, again what is "spiritually dead?"
Let me put this another way or in another perspective. The first two answers were right on target and so were some of the others even though I did not read every post in this thread. I want you to please look at this from King David's perspective at Psalm 5:5, "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me."

In other words, everyone of us started out as "spiritually" dead or separated from God due to our sin nature when we were born. So, how does one come to be unspiritually dead? :eek:

IN GOD THE SON,
bluto
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#46
Here are some words from Jesus on the subject:

John 8:

39 Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.



And in Romans 1, we read about those who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. When the truth is revealed to them, they restrain the truth. From there, downward spiral as they step further and further away from God. And there are several steps. God holds them for a certain time, but eventually He has to let them go.

The process starts with suppressing the truth in unrighteousness (Rom 1:18) which results in not glorifying God, being unthankful, empty imaginings, foolish heart being darkened (Rom 1:21).

After a while, God gives them up to uncleanness (Rom 1:24).

After a while, God gives them up to vile affections (Rom 1:26).

After a while, God gives them over to a reprobate mind (Rom 1:28).

The process starts and ends with people rejecting God and God having to let go bit by bit until they become just as Rom 1:28-32 describes.


For those who turn to God and who do not restrain the truth in unrighteousness, God works in their lives to bring them closer and closer to Him. And one day, God is going to finish the work in His people. And then they shall know even as also they are known (1 Cor 13:12) ... then they shall be like Him (the Lord Jesus Christ) for they shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2).


Note to self: This is post 36. If you're dumb enough to go to the last thing you posted (again), go back to post 36 and read it. And think on it. And think on it again, because right now you're thinking dinner, fruit compost, and laundry. NOT what you're supposed to be thinking.

To everyone else: I will return when I have a chance to think better than I'm thinking right now.
 
Mar 23, 2016
7,021
1,673
113
#47
(Sneaky, sneaky. I copy-pasted GotQuestions so we can see what they said.)

I'm the one who has the audacity to disagree with some of what Got says. In the first couple of paragraphs they made it sound like death wasn't death, it was dying. Sort of like Adam got cancer, was told it would kill him, but if he stopped smoking and drinking alcohol it would take longer to die. Instead he drank and smoked. So, he chose to die in quicker amount of time.

Not buying it. I really do think it separated us from God. But death is death, not merely dying. Something was killed there. I think we all agree it's called "spirit." (I could be wrong. I also thought we'd all agree on what spiritual death meant in the first place. lol)

Actually, what is stated at Got Questions is:

"And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’” The phrase “you shall surely die” could be literally translated “dying you shall die.” This signifies a continuous state of death that began with spiritual death, continues throughout life as a gradual degradation of the body, and culminates in physical death. The immediate spiritual death resulted in Adam’s separation from God."​

My take on the whole thing is that Adam was created in the image of God, his body was formed from the dust of the ground, and when God breathed into his nostrils, Adam became a living soul (Gen 1:26-27; 2:7).

I believe when Adam sinned the image of God, in which Adam was created, died. Adam/Eve knew something drastic had happened because they covered themselves, they hid from God. They were naked before the fall and they were not ashamed (Gen 2:25). Why cover themselves now? They communed with God before the fall. Why hide from Him now?




Depleted said:
What died? Did it die for all of us? And, if it died, how is it some got it again? Or did anyone get it again? (That last part was after I started wondering if the spirit in me is really me or really the Holy Spirit in me.)

I do agree with you that regeneration happened in OT as well as NT though.
According to Gen 5:3, all of Adam's progeny are born in the likeness and image of Adam in his fallen state.

In our day and time, when a person becomes born again, that part which was formerly dead due to Adam's sin, is made alive. At that point, the believer becomes a child of God. And God starts working in the life of His child ... cleaning him/her up, removing those parts which are detrimental, chastening, perfecting, strengthening. Sometimes we don't want to let go of that which God removes, and so (just like a garden) we become overgrown with weeds (care and concerns of this world). Thanks be to God, Who remembers that we are dust and so continues to carefully watch over us and work within us, bit by bit.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,776
113
#48
Acts 10:44While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

I don't see anyone repent here. Yet, they were SEALED with God's Holy Spirit.
While you may not see it here you can be sure that repentance and faith were evident to God. You won't see that word in other instances of salvation in Scripture either, but that does NOT mean that it is absent. It simply means that it has not been mentioned. The bottom line is what is clearly stated in Scripture (Acts 17:30):

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.

It could not be stated more emphatically and clearly than that. And there are many other Scriptures which say the same thing differently.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,776
113
#50
If death is separation of body and soul, than how is it neither body or soul survives physical death? How is it spirit gets the new body, but not soul? What happened to the soul? Where did the spirit get involved in this?
The body decays and is turned to dust, but the soul and spirit of those who are in Christ go to be with Him in Heaven, whereas those who are not in Christ go to Hades. The spirit is an integral but distinct part of the soul, so if only "spirit" is mentioned, it implies both soul and spirit.
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,402
113
#51
Given past history, we do! lol

That's why I started there, so you know it's not like usual.

And now that I read Romans 7, we might be starting now. (Or, I don't get what Paul is talking about totally.)

In Paul's lifetime, when wasn't the commandment there?
As a child it is clear that a child is safe under the blood until the "age that one becomes accountable" <--such cases come to mind like David and his weel old child that died for his sin...he said I will go to him and see him again....I personally believe in the age of accountability...my view...Paul was safe under the bllod as an innocent child, he became aware of sin and died spiritually....
 
Jan 25, 2018
673
10
0
#52
Is "spiritually dead" in the bible?

Dead - no life, no functions
Spiritually - being aware, able to make decisions, to pray, to express

Without being aware or able to make decisions are we not just dead, brain dead?

For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God
1 cor 2:9

It appears our thoughts are linked to our spirit and being alive.
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,212
2,547
113
#53
To be spiritually dead is like many others have said what we are before salvation to be spiritually alive is what happens when we are saved. The phrase I once was dead but now I'm alive pretty much says it all. Technically we are zombies now lets get us some brains :p
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,212
2,547
113
#54
People are spiritually dead when they don't feed their spirit and faith with His Word. Even Christians can still be spiritually dead as long as they're still lost in the world.
God bless.
I believe you are speaking of spiritually starved not dead
 

FlyingDove

Senior Member
Dec 27, 2017
1,267
432
83
#55
While you may not see it here you can be sure that repentance and faith were evident to God.
I'll post the scripture again:

Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

(No repentance, No circumcision, No Mosaic Law keeping)

45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

(These Gentiles received the Holy Spirit, through FAITH alone)

Context here Gentiles too:

Acts 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.


(NOTE: Repentance isn't a requirement for salvation. Repentance is a result of one's faith. God grants/gives us the ability to repent & to turn from ungodly/dead works. It's this granted God given repentance that leads to Godly works. A result/fruit that proceeds from of one's faith)

Romans 16:26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, ""so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience"" ""that comes from faith""

(NOTE: Gentiles are brought to repentance/obedience/godly living thru Faith)

Romans 1:5 """Through him we received grace""" & apostleship """to call all the Gentiles to the obedience""" """that comes from faith""" for his name’s sake.

(NOTE: Faith leads to obedience)

For Gentiles, repentance come's after and is a result of Faith.
 
O

OtherWay210

Guest
#56
It can either mean, dead to truth, that leads to the state of the soul being considered dead .
not having eternal life . Happens because people do not know the truth . 2Th 2:12
for whatever reason, its not understood, or past time Christians have deceived them . That being Christs first warning In matthew 24.

During the Tribulation of Antichrist, if someone does not have truth, the gospel armor during the tribulation,
Christians will end up spiritually dead, and having a mortal soul . ( 2 thess 2 ) .

( Here is a end time verse, when Jesus returns,After the tribulation of Antichrist )

Daniel 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life,
and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Sleep in the dust is a figure of speech meaning spiritually dead , and morally low .
The time frame here, is those that took the mark aka worshiped the Antichrist etc .
They pray for mountains to fall on them when the real Jesus returns After The tribulation.

When its talking about the overcomers, its referring to those with Immortality ( 1 cor 15 :50- end )

Revelation 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?



Isaiah 49:23 And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.



 
Last edited:
O

OtherWay210

Guest
#57
Rev 3:1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
 
Sep 3, 2016
6,344
530
113
#58

Satan’s power lies in the realm of sin. The Scripture says, “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). Sin gives Satan the legal right to hold men in captivity, which leads to spiritual death and ultimately means eternal separation from God. In fact, the power of sin and death is so strong that before the Cross, every saint of God who died, which included all the Old Testament saints, did not go to Heaven. Rather, they were taken down into Paradise, in the heart of the earth, and actually held captive there by Satan.

JSM
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,844
13,558
113
#59
Rooting for the Eagles eh? Could qualify as desiring disappointment but not spiritual death.

You have given me a good reason to root for the Patriots. Just my contrary nature.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
Eagles and Patriots

Someone has said, the only way this could get more American is if those two teams ganged up to kill all the Washington Redskins and take over their stadium
 
P

pottersclay

Guest
#60
There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”