Of the seven possible states for the human soul, there are three that belong to our sojourn in this life. These are the states of innocence, spiritual death, and spiritual life. In this lesson, we consider the states of spiritual life and spiritual death.

2. State of Spiritual Death

Rom 7:9 Eph 4:18

A changeable state in this world

FIVE TRANSITIONS OR JOURNEYS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS STATE

• from Innocence via First sin to Spiritual Death
• from Spiritual Death to Spiritual Life via Conversion
• from Spiritual Life via Falling Away to Spiritual Death
• Spiritual Death to Hadean Doom via Physical Death
• Spiritual Death to Eternal Death via Judgment Day
• DIAGRAM

STUDY POINTS

1. When one first sins, one becomes "dead in sin" (Eph 2:1, Rom 7:9, Eph 4:18) alienated from the life of God and under condemnation.

2. This is also the state of the apostate —one who, having been forgiven and having entered into the state of spiritual life, quits and falls back reverting to this state of condemnation (2Pe 2:20-22, Heb 10:26-31).

3. There is a difference between the apostate who has fallen away from grace, and the believer in the state of spiritual life and grace who is struggling with sin (1Jn 1:5-10).

4. This being "dead in sin" is a changeable state in terms of a person's will, because a person's repentance in faith and obedience permits a transition to the state of spiritual life. (Acts 2:38-39).

3. State of Spiritual Life

Eph 2:4-5 Acts 2:38

A changeable state in this world

FOUR TRANSITIONS OR JOURNEYS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS STATE

• from Spiritual Death via Conversion to Spiritual Life
• from Spiritual Life to Spiritual Death via Falling Away
• from Spiritual Life to Hadean Safety via Physical Death
• from Spiritual Life to Eternal Life via Second Coming
• DIAGRAM

STUDY POINTS

1. When one is "born again" in Christ, one becomes "a new creature" forgiven in Christ, "dead to sin and alive to God".

2. The death of Jesus makes this possible for any sinner, through the sinner's personal faith, repentance, and baptism (2Co 5:17-18 Eph 2:4-5, Rom 8:1, Acts 2:38, Rom 6:4,11, Jhn 3:16).

3. Furthermore, in the case of one who has fallen away, a renewal of faith and repentance, with prayer for forgiveness, brings the fallen Christian back (Acts 8:13,18-24).

4. The state of spiritual life or "death to sin" is a changeable state in terms of a person's will. It is conditional —"if you continue in the faith" (Col 1:22-23).

5. The state of innocence and the state of spiritual life are both states of grace, not a states of merit. All human beings rely on the grace of God through the righteousness of Christ. Not even infants, who are innocent of sin, have a righteousness of their own, much less the person dead in sin. Neither innocent babes nor penitent sinners are given eternal life by anything but "the righteousness of God in Jesus" (2Co 5:21).

ALL SEVEN STATES... Innocence | Spiritual death | Spiritual life | Hadean doom | Hadean safety | Eternal death | Eternal life | DIAGRAM

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