What Does it Mean that We were Dead in Sin?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT WE WERE DEAD IN SIN? 

By Ezekiel Kimosop

THE FALLEN STATE OF THE SINNER

Following the fall of Adam, man was immediately separated from God. This is the condition contemplated by Scripture when it metaphorically describes sinners in Ephesians 2:1,5 as spiritually dead. 

Contrary to the teaching of the Total Depravity doctrine advanced by five point Calvinism, being dead in sin does not imply that the sinner is utterly depraved to the point that he is morally incapable of hearing or responding to the gospel when proclaimed to him in truth. It simply means that the sinner in his fallen condition is separated from God and is helpless without the redemption in Christ. 

The gospel of the cross conveys the only cure for the sinner in his fallen state. It contains all the divine ingredients for the purpose. It is sufficient. There's nothing to be added, not even any prior spiritual surgery on the sinner! 

The word of God is described in Hebrews 4:12 as sharper than any two edged sword. It cuts through the sinners heart, no matter how depraved or wicked he is. It will draw the sinner into conviction.

The truth is that as a result of the fall, all men in all ages since Adam have come short of God’s glory and need to be restored to God through the atoning grace in the gospel of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 53:6, Ephesians 2:1, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:12, Ecclesiastes 7:20). Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. 

Our spiritual separation from God in Adam came with dire consequences. Adam did not die physically the day he disobeyed God. He lived on to 930 years (Genesis 5:3-5). Scripture doesn't say how long Eve lived after the fall but she possibly lived for a comparatively long period!

The Hebrews are a patriarchal society where little mention is made of women except those who are prominent. 

Scripture is explicit that both Adam and Eve suffered spiritual death and were instantly separated from God the moment they disobeyed God. This is in accordance with the teaching of Genesis 2:15-17, 3:2-3. 

Adam therefore instantly lost his fellowship with God the moment he disobeyed Him and was shut out from God's holy presence. His expulsion from the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3:22-24 is instructive of his falleness.

GOD'S SOLUTION TO MAN'S FALL

Man's condition of rebellion could only be cured by the redemption that God provided in Christ at the cross of Calvary. This is the foundation of our hope in Christ that Scripture alludes to in Genesis 3:15. Without the works of cross, the Christian faith would be incomplete.

The gospel of Jesus Christ grants us the ability and the means by which we receive cleansing and restoration to fellowship with a holy and righteous God. This is the exclusive way to God that lies at our disposal while Christ tarries. The Bible says in 1 Timothy 2:5-6 "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."

If God left man to himself, he would have continued in sinful condemnation and perished but glory to God that He did not leave us to ourselves. We can rejoice with Abraham that God has indeed provided the Lamb for our atonement! (See Genesis 22:14). He has sent His loving and gracious appeal to us in the gospel of Jesus Christ that directs us to the cross of Calvary where we receive God's gracious pardon for our sin (Acts 17:27, Romans 10:17, 2 Corinthians 5:20, John 20:31, John 12:32)

Now that God has enlightened us through His revelation in His word, the sinner can receive Jesus Christ and be spiritually restored to fellowship with God (John 1:12, Acts 16:31, Romans 10:9, Romans 10:13).

If the sinner persistently rejects the gospel, he can potentially become hardened; ever seeing but not perceiving, ever hearing but not understanding. 

The sinner who persists in his rebellion against God can be given over to his reprobate mind. This does not imply that God hardens the sinner for destruction. It is the sinner's intransigence that takes him further and further away from God! 

If the sinner ultimately perishes, having heard and rejected the gospel, he will do so because he refused to love the truth and so be reconciled with God. (John 3:36, 2 Thessalonians 1:8, 2 Thessalonians 2:10, Acts 28:27, Romans 1:28).

CONCLUSION

We have learned from this article that we all fell under sinful condemnation in Adam until God mercifully reached out to us in Christ Jesus. We have also discovered from the teaching of Scripture that God is still reaching out to every sinner through the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

This window of opportunity will be closed when the sinner dies in unbelief or when Jesus Christ returns to take away His Church.

Any doctrine that contradicts the authority of Scripture concerning the gospel is false. The Bible is the sole and exclusive authority for Christian doctrine. It should inform our faith and practice and shape our theological worldview.

The Bible nowhere teaches that God ordained and hardened some sinners for destruction in hell for His glory! He never created some for eternal life in Christ while deliberately consigning others for eternal damnation in hell. 

God, by means of the cross, desires that no sinner should perish in disobedience (John 3:16).  It is upon every person who hears the gospel today to turn to God for forgiveness of sin. There's no other way to God beside Christ.

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing blood? 

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2020