Life and death have been very common all throughout humankind’s history. In fact, life and death are a process of nature that we’re all a product of from the beginning and will eventually have to go through when we cease to exist. Our life starts at one point during conception and will end at some point when we die. But at the same time that issue gets very complicated once we enter the spiritual realm because it’s one thing to be alive physically, whereas it’s something totally different to be alive spiritually. The Word of God has lot to say regarding that matter because God Himself is the author and sustainer of every life.
When men were initially brought into existence by God’s power during the creation, death was not an issue at all. This took place in the Garden of Eden when God made that monumental declaration, let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness… (Genesis 1:26). It’s also important to realize that there are two critical aspects that constitute the life of men: first you have the physical aspect, then most importantly the spiritual one. Men are made up of three elements: soul, spirit, and they are contained within a physical body.
With that being the case, it’s absolutely safe to conclude that as humans, we’re more spiritual than physical because up to 67% of our being are spirit or immaterial. Additionally, the very cores of our being are spirit. Therefore, the body is just a cover that God has given us to encase both the soul and spirit, so that we can carry out His will on this earth and to interact with the physical realm we’re living in. That’s the main reason our body perfectly corresponds to that physical world. On top of that, God has made us with a clear purpose in mind. We’re made to serve Him, to depend on Him, and to remain loyal to Him in everything. As humans, our lives must revolve around our Maker.
Since our life comes from Him in order for that life to be sustained and maintained a genuine relationship with God is required. As people whom God has made out of the dust of the ground (Genesis 2:7), everything that constitutes our whole being comes from our Maker because the dust of the ground is merely a non-life material. Our significance is based squarely on God. Consequently, if we are disconnected with Him, we are in serious trouble.
Nonetheless, something terrible has occurred within the third chapter of Genesis that has a tremendous impact on God’s initial plan for men. The sin committed in the Garden of Eden by Adam and Eve has brought both physical and spiritual death upon humanity. Men didn’t die physically shortly after their disobedience, but spiritual death ensued immediately, and physical death then occurred later.
What Spiritual Death is All About?
God has given us a spirit in order for us to be able to connect with Him, relate to Him, and to build an intimate relationship with Him. Our human spirit is the very part of our being that plugs us right into God, then His rich provision and nourishment for our soul flow through that connection. To put it another way, our soul is fed through the means of that connection we have with God through Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, this is precisely what gives life to our soul, so that we’re able to please God and live a Spirit-filled life. Can you imagine placing yourself into such a detrimental situation where you can’t be fed indefinitely? We receive and discern God’s truth through our own spirit. The Holy Spirit Himself who indwells us carries out His works through our own human spirit. He Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children (Romans 8:16).
On the other hand, our soul is the very embodiment of our being because it’s housed our intellect, will, and emotion. Moreover, it’s our control center, our personality, and who we really are as human beings. In spite of all that capabilities, the soul is not sufficient to help us know God. To put that into perspective, our spirit is a lamp to our soul just as the Word of God is a lamp to our feet. With this in mind, our soul is being influenced by two powers: the power of the Holy Spirit through our own human spirit, and the power of Satan through our own flesh.
Spiritual death simply means that our own human spirit has become disconnected from God because of sin (Romans 6:23). The same way that our physical body needs food, water, air, medical care, and so forth in order to sustain and maintain itself, so is our soul. Since our soul is spiritual, it only needs spiritual nourishment and care from God, which we receive through Christ who is the Word.
When we find ourselves in that critical state, our soul is literally dead due to our disconnection from the source of life. Sin not only breaks our fellowship with God which cuts off His spiritual supplies to our soul, but it does inflict deadly damages to our own soul that can only be restored by the blood of Jesus.
Being that the case, our soul can no longer be influenced by our human spirit which is also symbolic of our God-given conscience unless something powerful is done by Him in order to reverse that strong hold of the flesh on our soul. Since we have a free will, God can’t do it alone without our active involvement because He won’t impose Himself on it.
The Full Weight Of Sin Falls Squarely On The Soul
Let’s take a look at these two Scripture verses founds in Romans chapter 8.
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. (Romans 8:5)
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. (Romans 8:13-14)
What truly happens by being in that condition is the fact that the power of the flesh completely takes over our entire life. We simply want to practice the very things that God hates. Bear in mind, the enemy’s main objective is to provoke our flesh, so that we can be more prone to live according to the sinful desires found within that will ultimately lead to death. The problem is that there is no way we can ever please God with that kind of selfish mindset because our entire desire is to satisfy the desires of the flesh or ourselves instead of God.
In order for us to be able to please God, we have to be willing to put under subjection the desires of the flesh which are waging war against our soul by submitting ourselves completely to Him. Thus it’s all about renouncing our sinful attitudes and tendencies by embracing His Son’s life. The soul has become a slave to the flesh when spiritual death occurs, sinning has become automatic because the soul can’t resist the intense pressure being applied to it by the flesh. On top of that, the soul can’t receive vital nutrients it desperately needs from God under the full weight of sin.
When we’re dead spiritually, our life is useless, futile, and fruitless in the eyes of God. We’re out of control, and the Spirit of God can’t operate into our lives because of that filthy environment we’ve created. Truthfully, our spiritual life is far more important than the physical one, although it’s something that vast majority of people have chosen to ignore the most. Our physical life is temporary, while our spiritual life is eternal.
One day we’ll spend our eternity somewhere, and our current life’s condition determines where we’re heading. If you are dead spiritually because of your unwillingness to accept Christ, you are on your way to hell. Conversely, if you are in Christ, then heaven is your final destination.
Jesus says in this following verse:
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10).
Christ is the One who has granted us access to the source of life, and He’s life Himself by the way (John 14:6). Apart from Him, there is no hope for men. You can be well alive physically but dead spiritually. How well you are physically doesn’t determine your spiritual state before God. Being dead spiritual means that you’re separated and alienated from God, which means that you’re in a state completely unacceptable to God. Jesus came and laid down His life in order to set us free from sin which penalty is death, so that we may have eternal life.
The good news is eternal life is readily available in Christ for just anyone who is willing to receive it by faith. Will you allow sinful living to continue to eat your soul up? Or are you willing to come to Christ, so that He can cleanse and restore your soul that is completely corrupted and damaged by sins with His own precious blood?