Spiritual Death - Separation From God
Defining the Word "Death"
We need to understand that there are three forms of death: (1) physical death, (2) spiritual death, and (3) eternal death. The word – death – does not mean that you cease to exist. The work death means "separation." With this in mind we can give a definition for the three forms of death.
Physical death is when your human spirit separates, or leaves your physical body. Even though your spirit separates from your body, you still have consciousness and an existence after death. This is the only form of death many people are aware of.
Spiritual death is separation from God. This is what happened to Adam and Eve when they ate the forbidden fruit. The instant they ate of it, they died spiritually, right on the spot. Yes they were alive physically, but spiritually speaking, they were dead to God. You see, sin separates you from God. Isaiah 59:2 puts it this way, "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." This form of death is far worse than physical death. As long as a person is alive in this world, even though they may be spiritually dead, they still have the opportunity to be saved and be given eternal life.
The third form of death, eternal death (the second phase of spiritual death) is the final separation from God by being thrown into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone. This is the final judgement or final hell. If you leave this world without being Born Again, your fate is sealed and you will eventually go where the spiritually dead go, that is the Lake of Fire.
Because of Adam’s sin, every person that was ever born inherited a sin nature. This means that every individual is spiritually dead when they are born into this world. This is the reason why Jesus said, "You must be born again (John 3:7)."
The Penalty for Sin
Now that we know spiritual death is separation from God, we need to know what the penalty is for sin. In Romans 6:23, it is written, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." The punishment for sin is spiritual death. This should make us to understand that sin is a serious matter. Its not just the bad things, or sins, that we do that brings this penalty upon us, it is the sin nature that we inherited from Adam that condemns us. This is why living a good life is just not enough to cover our sins. Our very nature is the heart of the problem. The inner man, or spirit man, which is the real you, is what will live forever SOMEWHERE. This is why the Bible says we need a new heart, or reborn spirit to be right with God.
