What does it mean to be dead? (2)
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COLUMN: FIDELITY
What does it mean to be dead? (2)
by Mike Benson
tinyurl.com/7rb8vaz
Even a brief survey of the New Testament illustrates
the fact that the first petal of Calvin's TULIP is in
error./1 Total hereditary depravity is a false
doctrine.
Yes, a person outside of Christ is, in fact, dead
(Ephesians 2:1). However, this doesn't mean he is
totally depraved.
The word "dead" does not refer to an unsaved person's
inability to engage in any positive behavior; it refers
to his spiritual status before a holy God (cf. Isaiah
6:5). He is dead and therefore separated from God,
because he chooses to commit sin (Luke 15:24, 13).
"A sinner in his pre-Christian state is
'dead in sin;' but that deadness is not
something he inherits, but comes about
through the guilt of the sins he commits."/2
Consider the following passages:
"And you He made alive, who were dead in
trespasses and sins, in which you once
walked according to the course of this
world, according to the prince of the power
of the air, the spirit who now works in the
sons of disobedience, among whom also we
once conducted ourselves in the lusts of the
flesh and mind..." (Ephesians 2:1-3a)
"Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened,
that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that
it cannot hear. But your iniquities have
separated you from your God; and your sins
have hidden His face from you, so that He
will not hear you." (Isaiah 59:1-2)
Watch it carefully.
An individual is dead "in trespasses and sins" and
therefore separated from God. But how so, Paul?
He is dead because (a) he walks according to the course
of this world, and (b) he conducts himself in the lusts
of the flesh and mind (cf. 1 John 3:4). In essence, he
lives his life in conformity to the thoughts and
pursuits of this present evil age (cf. Romans 12:2;
Colossians 3:7).
He is born pure and sinless (cf. Ezekiel 18:20; Matthew
19:14), as are all infants, but when he sins, he dies
spiritually. Later, if and when he comes in contact
with the life-giving blood (cf. Ephesians 1:7) of
Christ at baptism (Revelation 1:5; Acts 22:16), he
is–notice Paul's words–"made alive" and therefore no
longer separated from God.
In fact, quite the opposite-he is "brought near" to God
via the blood of Christ (cf. Ephesians 2:13).
Is a man dead prior to his conversion? Yes, but that
doesn't mean he's incapable of any of any admirable
conduct; it means he's separated from God.
Make these notes in the margin of your Bible at
Ephesians 2:1:
Dead = separated from God by personal sin.
Alive = brought near to God by Christ's blood.
________________
1/ T=total hereditary depravity, U=unconditional
election, L=limited atonement, I=irresistible grace,
P=perseverance of the saints.
2/ James Burton Coffman,“Commentary on Ephesians,”
Commentary on Galatians, Philippians, Ephesians,
Colossians, 152.
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