Spiritually Dead - When You're Alive But Not Really Living
Stage 1 of the Spiritual Maturity Series
Do you know what it means to be physically alive but spiritually dead? That is the reality for millions of people walking on earth today. They breathe, they laugh, they work, they loveābut deep inside, where it matters most, there's a spiritual emptiness that no amount of success, relationships, or achievements can fill.
This is where every single person begins their journey: spiritually dead.
Saul: The Perfect Example of Spiritual Death
Want to see what spiritual death can look like in real life? Look no further than Saul of Tarsusāthe man who would later become the Apostle Paul. His story is fascinating because he represents the most "religious" form of spiritual death you can imagine.
Before his dramatic encounter with Christ, Paul was the poster child for religious achievement:
"Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless" (Philippians 3:4-6).
Paul was:
Born into the right family
Had perfect religious credentials
Belonged to the most elite religious group
Was morally blameless according to the law
Was incredibly zealous for his faith
If there was a "spiritual resume," Paul's would have been flawless. Yet he was completely, utterly spiritually dead.
Paul's spiritual death showed through his violent opposition to God's truth. He was so spiritually dead that he thought he was serving God by destroying God's people! He was "exceedingly mad" against Christians, filled with rage against the very people who had found the life he was missing.
Paul's story teaches us: You can have all the right religious activities, knowledge, and moral behaviour, and still be spiritually dead. Religion without relationship is still death.
How Did We Get Here? The Story Behind Spiritual Death
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God in Eden, they didn't drop dead physically that instant. But they died spiritually, losing their intimate fellowship with God and becoming separated from Him. That spiritual death was passed down to every human being born after them.
Just as a child in the womb cannot interact with the physical world until they're born, you cannot receive and grow in all that God has for His children unless you're spiritually born. The capacity simply isn't there.
"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:" - Ephesians 2:1-2
What Does Spiritual Death Look Like?
Here's where many people get confused. They think spiritual death means being obviously wicked or immoral. But spiritual death can take many different forms, especially for young women today:
1. Living According to the World's System
Paul describes it perfectly in Ephesians 2:1-3. The spiritually dead person is:
Following the ways of this world (influenced by this present age)
Operating under the prince of the power of the air (Satan)
Living in the passions of the flesh (behaviour governed by the sinful self)
This looks like:
Chasing career success or relationship goals thinking they'll fill the void inside
Making decisions based on what's trending rather than what's truly right
Feeling anxious about your future because you're trying to control everything yourself, without a relationship with God
2. Religious But Not Redeemed
This was Paul's condition before his conversion. You might believe in the true God but still be spiritually dead if you haven't surrendered to His lordship and chosen to live in obedience to His word.
This looks like:
Going to church out of habit or family expectation, but feeling disconnected from God
Knowing Bible verses but not experiencinga personal relationship with Jesus
Trying to be "good enough" through religious activities while your heart remains unchanged
3. Inability to Understand Spiritual Things
"The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 2:14).
This looks like:
Thinking Christians are naive or old-fashioned
Dismissing God's standards as irrelevant to modern life
The Dangerous Reality of Staying Spiritually Dead
Living in spiritual death is dangerous for several reasons:
1. You Remain Under Satan's Influence: There is no neutral ground in the spirit realm. Either God leads your life, or the devil does. When you're spiritually dead, you're subject to Satan's will, whether you realize it or not.
2. You Miss Out on Life's Greatest Blessings: You miss out on the peace, joy, purpose, and eternal perspective that come from walking with God. The devil keeps you hiding from the light.
3. Time and Opportunities Are Wasted: Even if you eventually come to Christ later in life, the enemy will have caused you to make regrettable mistakes and waste precious years and opportunities.
4. Eternal Consequences: The greatest danger is continuing in a spiritually dead state until Christ returns or death knocks at your door. Without spiritual life through Christ, a person faces eternal separation from God.
What You Need: The Bridge to Spiritual Life
The bridge from spiritual death to spiritual life is shorter than you might think. It's about a single, life-changing decision to surrender your life to Jesus Christ. You can take this step right now, wherever you are:
The ABCD of Being Born Again
A - Acknowledge that you are a sinner and in need of Christ's forgiveness Recognize that you've fallen short of God's perfect standard and that you can't save yourself through good works or religious activity.
B - Believe that Christ can totally save you from sin. Trust that Jesus' death on the cross paid the full penalty for your sins, and that His resurrection proves He has power over death and sin.
C - Confess your sins to God and ask Him to cleanse you through Christ's blood. Be honest with God about your failures and ask for His forgiveness through what Jesus accomplished on the cross.
D - Decide to live a new life of obedience and righteousness in Christ. Commit to following Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, allowing Him to transform your life from the inside out.
Here's a simple prayer you can pray:
"God, I acknowledge that I am a sinner and that I've been spiritually dead, separated from You. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins and rose again to give me new life. I confess my sins to You and ask for Your forgiveness through Christ's blood. Right now, I decide to surrender my life to Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Please come into my heart, give me Your Holy Spirit, and make me Your child. Help me to grow in spiritual maturity from this day forward. In Jesus' name, Amen."
If you just prayed that prayer with a sincere heart, congratulations! You have just passed from death to life. You are no longer spiritually deadāyou are spiritually alive, and your journey of growth and maturity has begun.
What Happens When You're Born Again?
The moment you genuinely surrender your life to Christ, several miraculous things happen:
You pass from death to life - "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life" (John 5:24)
The Holy Spirit comes to live in you - He becomes your helper, guide, and the source of your spiritual growth
You become a new creation - "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)
You receive the capacity for spiritual growth - Now you can understand spiritual things, grow in maturity, and experience the abundant life Jesus promised
You begin your journey toward spiritual maturity - This is just the beginning!
What Comes Next?
If you've just been born again, you're now a spiritual infant (which we'll explore in next week's post). You'll need:
A good church family to help you grow
Regular Bible reading and prayer
Fellowship with other believers
Someone to help guide you in your early steps of faith
If you took this step today, I would love to hear from you. Please reply to this email and share your decisionāI want to celebrate with you and help guide you as you begin this incredible journey of spiritual growth.
For Those Who Are Already Born Again
If you're reading this as someone who's already a believer, remember that your role is crucial in helping others move from spiritual death to spiritual life. Every person in your life who doesn't know Christ is living in spiritual death, whether they realise it or not. They need what you have. They need the life that only comes through Jesus.
Coming Next Week: Stage 2 - Spiritual Infant: Your New Life in Christ Has Just Begun