What the Bible says about Spiritually Comatose
(From Forerunner Commentary)

1 Peter 4:6 Having read what Peter writes in I Peter 3:19, many have assumed that the "dead" in I Peter 4:6 are the souls of dead people who are "lost" in terms of salvation. However, this is not the case—in fact, the only real connection between "the spirits in prison" and "those who are dead" is that they appear in the same paragraph! In taking the latter verse apart and seeing it in the flow of the apostle's thought, one realizes that the "dead" are individuals who actually heard the gospel while they were alive, embraced it, and suffered and died for it, whom God accounted worthy of eternal life. Therefore, since they are not the lost dead, I Peter 4:6 is not a clarification of I Peter 3:19 and "the spirits in prison," as is often supposed. Richard T. Ritenbaugh Jesus and 'the Spirits in Prison' Related Topics: 'the Spirits in Prison' | Dead in Christ | Spirits in Prison | Spiritually Comatose | Spiritually Dead

Revelation 3:2 Christ first addresses their “works,” which He finds imperfect. God desires quality, godly works, full of love and faith toward Him. The works of Sardis seem to be blemished like unworthy, ritualistic Old Covenant sacrifices, lacking holiness and the intent of pleasing Him. While they may still have some truth, their dead works indicate a lack of living faith (James 2:17-20), suggesting people who perceive themselves to be alive but are standing still, spiritually catatonic, even comatose. They may exist as stones in the Temple but not as “living stones” (I Peter 2:5). Richard T. Ritenbaugh The Seven Churches (Part Seven): Sardis Related Topics: Dead Men Walking | Drifting Spiritually | Faith Once Delivered | Guarding the Truth | Living Stones | Relationship with God | Sardis, Church of | Spiritual Lethargy | Spiritual Slumber | Spiritual Stupor | Spiritually Comatose

 

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