What is the spiritual state of a person before he is saved?
Before salvation, a person is spiritually dead, described as only body and soul, with the sin nature ruling supreme. He is in bondage to the sin nature and to Satan, unable to clean up his own life. God must infuse divine life and power, taking him just as he is, a sinner.
Les teaches that before salvation the person is only body and soul, and the sin nature is ruling supreme. He may inhibit a few things, but he is not in control; he is in bondage to the sin nature and to Satan. Using the dead battery illustration, cleaning up the outside does not give life; the person remains dead until outside power—divine life—comes with salvation. God takes us as sinners and infuses that life and power.