It means being without spiritual life — physically alive yet dead in trespasses and sins.
Les teaches from Ephesians 2:1 that the unsaved are not physically dead but spiritually dead, dead in trespasses and sins. This condition traces to Adam, who brought separation from God upon the human race. It is not annihilation; the spirit still exists but is dead to God and must be regenerated by the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:1 — Paul's phrase 'dead in trespasses and sins' is the most direct biblical description of spiritual death.
Romans 5:14 — Shows death reigned because of Adam, and Adam is a type of Christ who restores life.
Romans 8:6 — Reveals that the carnal mind is death, while the spiritual mind is life and peace.
In Ephesians 2:1 Paul writes, 'And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.' This is the Bible's description of the condition: dead in trespasses and sins before being made alive by God. Romans 5:14 shows death reigned from Adam to Moses even over those who had not sinned exactly as Adam did. Romans 8:6 draws the life/death contrast: 'For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.'
Les Feldick teaches that the unsaved are physically alive but spiritually dead. He says the world is full of dead people — not physically dead, but dead in trespasses and sins, under the control of old Adam and wrapped in the spiderweb of Satan. Using a dead car battery, he explains that a person born as a son of Adam has a spirit that is dead and useless until it is recharged from an outside source. This regeneration is the work of the Spirit in salvation, and it is not annihilation — the spirit is dead to God but not gone. Les also ties spiritual death to Adam, the federal head of the human race. Adam's sin brought death and separation from God on everyone, and Christ, the last Adam, came to impart life — but this restoration is based on choice, not automatically given to everyone.
Les explains that Adam, as the federal head of the human race, sinned and caused death and separation from God to come upon the whole human race. Romans 5:14 says death reigned from Adam to Moses even over those who had not sinned in the same way as Adam. Just as Adam brought death, Christ, the second Adam, came to impart life — but that life is received on the basis of choice, not automatically.
No. Les defines death in this context as separation from God, not a ceasing to exist. The spirit part of a person is dead by virtue of sin, but it is not gone. To remain carnally minded and in old Adam means eternal spiritual separation from God, while the spiritually minded enjoy life and peace.
Using the illustration of a dead battery, Les says the dead spirit needs to be charged from an outside source — regeneration. The Bible says believers 'hath he quickened' who were dead in trespasses and sins. Christ, as the last Adam, is able to impart life, but the restoration is based on choice.
Adam Brought Death; Christ Brings Life
Les teaches that as Adam brought death and separation from God on the whole human race, Christ, as the last Adam, came to impart life. This restoration is based on choice, not automatic.
A World Full of Spiritually Dead People
Les uses Ephesians 2:1 to show the unsaved are dead in trespasses and sins — not physically dead, but spiritually dead, even while busy in the world.
Carnal Mind Is Death
Les connects the carnal mind to death, saying the lost person under old Adam has no eternal life and is headed toward eternal spiritual death.
Dead Battery Needs Regeneration
Using a dead car battery, Les explains that as sons of Adam we are born spiritually dead and must be regenerated by an outside source.
Eternal Consequences of a Carnal Mind
Les warns that to be carnally minded is spiritual death and eternal doom without end, while to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
The World Is Full of Spiritually Dead People
Les points to Ephesians 2 in saying we are living in a world full of spiritually dead people.
Death Is Separation From God
Les defines spiritual death as separation from God, not annihilation, and says the carnal mind remains in old Adam.
Regeneration Recharges the Dead Spirit
Les says the spirit is dead but not gone, and like a discharged battery it needs regeneration, the work of the Spirit in salvation.
Ephesians 2:1: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
This is the key Bible phrase 'dead in trespasses and sins' that Les uses to explain spiritual death.
Romans 5:14: Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
Shows that death entered the whole human race through Adam, the one man.
Romans 8:6: For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Contrasts the carnal or fleshly mind with the spiritual mind and their outcomes.
Yes. Les says the unsaved are not physically dead but spiritually dead, living in a world full of dead people. Ephesians 2:1 describes them as dead in trespasses and sins.
It is not the final condition for everyone. Les teaches that Christ, the second Adam, can impart life and restore what Adam lost, but it is based on choice and requires regeneration.
He means death in this regard is separation from God, not an annihilation of existence. The spirit is dead by virtue of sin but not gone; to remain carnally minded means eternal separation from God.
Watch the Teaching: The Moment Death Entered the World: Genesis 3 & Romans 5 Explained