Does Being Spiritually Dead Make a Person Incapable of Repentance?

Genesis 2:16-17: “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

Moving ahead now to Genesis 3:6-8: “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.”

Adam and Eve were not only spiritually alive before they fell, they were even spiritually intact since they were untainted by sin at that point. Yet neither this reality nor their excellent environment prevented them from making a wicked choice and bringing spiritual death upon themselves.

The remainder of Genesis chapter 3 also proves that dying spiritually did not mean Adam and Eve lost all of their spiritual senses. They were conscious of their guilt and hid themselves from God’s presence. They also attempted to clothe themselves due to spiritual shame. Even though they did not clothe themselves adequately, they were right to at least try to clothe themselves. It is seen later in Genesis chapter 3 that the Lord had an animal killed to make better, more thorough clothing for Adam and Eve after they fell.

These things make it obvious that dying spiritually did not mean that Adam and Eve became totally depraved since they evidently did not lose all of their spiritual faculties as a consequence of their fall. Spiritual death does not equate to spiritual incapability. Spiritual death is rather a state of separation from the true God. If spiritual death meant no sense nor capability in relation to spiritual matters, then sinners would not even be conscious of their guilt before the Lord to any degree. It would not even be reasonable in that case to try to convince anyone that they are spiritually dead and in need of spiritual life.

Since having spiritual life and wholeness did not remove the possibility of Adam and Eve choosing things which lead to spiritual death and corruption, then being in a state of spiritual death and corruption would not remove the capability of choosing that which leads to spiritual life and restoration from mankind’s fallen state if a way was made to be forgiven and restored to spiritual life. The grace of God in Jesus Christ has provided an open door for those dead in sin to repent in order to obtain forgiveness and spiritual life.

Total Depravity is the foundational concept of Calvinism which claims that man cannot repent towards God unless he is made spiritually alive beforehand. This is essentially saying that new life in Christ goes before repentance rather than afterwards. Calvinism thus teaches life unto repentance rather than repentance unto life. To prove this conclusion false would prove that Calvinism is all one big lie. Also, be aware that the influence of the Calvinistic concept of Total Depravity is vast. As a result, even many who don’t say that they are Calvinists are influenced by the concept.

The implication in the concept of Total Depravity is that new life in Christ must be obtained by an individual before they repent towards God. Yet this is proven false by how the Bible teaches that repentance towards God goes before new life rather than coming afterwards.

Acts 2:38: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Note that receiving Christ’s Holy Spirit is spiritual regeneration. This is the same as being spiritually born again. The Bible thus teaches repentance unto life rather than life unto repentance.

Acts 11:18: “When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.”

This means that those who are spiritually dead are capable of repentance. The Lord has made it clear that He demands and expects people to repent and obey Him in their fallen state in order to obtain forgiveness and new life in Jesus Christ.

Calvinist theology goes well beyond saying that people are sinners at birth. It actually teaches that people are confirmed, intensely hardened sinners at birth. If sinners are totally depraved, then no one could end up in a spiritual state worse than their first state. Yet the Bible says this is possible (see 2 Peter 2:18-22). According to the Total Depravity concept, it is just as hard for anyone else to enter the kingdom of God as it is for a rich man. This opposes what the Bible teaches.

Sinners are enemies of the true God because they truly do have spiritual capabilities which they do not exercise properly. God’s grace and man’s need to cooperate with His grace are not opposing concepts.

Many use Romans 6:23 to attempt to make it seem as if receiving Christ and being saved is just a quick, easy transaction. It is actually key information related to more detailed instruction about abstaining from sin and walking in a living faith in Jesus which actually saves. Note what is being communicated.

Romans 6:16-23: “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Note again that the Roman Christians were directly told in Romans 6:17-18: “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”

In order to continue walking in new life in Christ, and eventually enter into the fullness of eternal life, Christians who have already been born again must continue to choose to walk in the same obedient faith which they have already exercised that caused them to enter into new life.

This reality does not make obtaining eternal life in Jesus Christ any less a gift. As with Acts 16:31, those who preach a lawless gospel typically gloss over or explain away how Romans 6:23 emphasizes that Jesus Christ is “the Lord.”

The Bible teaches we are required to turn from our sins and are capable of doing so. This means that those who say that you cannot and/or need not do so are liars.

Ezekiel 18:26-32: “When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal? Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.”