1st Problem - Spiritually Dead
All Men and Women are Born Separated from God and Spiritually Dead
Physical Life: Our Soul & Spirit is in Union with Our Body
Physical death results in the separation of our soul & spirit from our body.
Spiritual Life: Our Soul & Spirit is in Union with God
Spiritual death means we are separated from God.
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23 ESV)
just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so [spiritual] death spread to all men because all sinned (Romans 5:12 ESV)
If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:10 ESV)
the wages of sin is [spiritual] death (Romans 6:23a ESV)
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ [spiritual death], alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world [spiritual death]. (Ephesians 2:11-12 ESV)
Before the Fall of Man Mankind Enjoyed...
Significance
Humanity Had a Devine Purpose
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28 ESV)
Safety & Security
God Provided for All of Humanity's Needs
29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. (Genesis 1:29-30 ESV)
Belonging
Humanity had a Sense of Identity and Belonging to God and Each Other
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” (Genesis 2:18 ESV)
After the Fall of Mankind
In Our Minds
The Concept of Knowing was No Longer Relational
17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. (Eph 4:17-18 ESV)
In Our Emotions Humanity Experienced
Fear & Anxiety
Shame & Guilt
And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” (Gen 3:10 ESV)
Depression & Anger
5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? (Gen 4:5-6 ESV)
In Our Wills
Increase in Opportunities to Make Poor Choices
In Our Relationships
Sense of Rejection and Need for Belonging
In Our Guilt & Shame
Need for Acceptance and Affirmation
In Our Weakness & Helplessness
Need for Strength and Self-Control
Portions of this webpage adapted from:
Neil Anderson. The Bondage Breaker Interactive Workbook. (Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2011), 11-12.