That is... spiritual death... the eternal separation from God and all that is holy, righteous, pure, good, etc... and the eternal binding of someone to the way of wickedness and permanent surrender of his or her soul to the devil.
DEATH, yes, but the essence of death is separation. Physical death is separation of the spirit from the body (James 2:26). Death NEVER means a cessation of existence.
Spiritual death is separation from God, the breaking of the glorious union and fellowship that God intended when He created us.
Redemption and the forgiveness gives us life again, restoring us to fellowship with God (1 John 1:4-9).
Not only does the penalty of sin cuase us to be seperated form God spiritually, but we also suffer death in many areas of our lives when we sin, either physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially.
All you have to do is think about how you have suffered for your sins BEFORE you were born again, the many losses. And even now, in some cases when you have sinned, and have not repented as fast as you should have, what was lost because of the thing you said or did, that you know was not pleasing to God, and was sin.
While you are correct that sin separates us from God, it is not God that pulls away....it is us. Look at Adam and Eve in the garden. When they sinned, the first thing they did was hide. God still showed up. Same throughout the bible. Our own guilt, from knowing we sinned, makes us hide our face from God. He is still there, waiting for us to repent and come back. Look at the prodigal son. When he returned he planned to throw himself on the mercy of his father, but before he even got there, the father ran out to him, hugged and kissed him, and clothed him. That is how our Father is, He just wants us back on track.
I, also know that our Father will chastise us until we come back. It will get worse and worse until we do repent and turn back to Him. I know this not only from the bible, but through personal experience.
Rom. 6:23 For the wages of sin is ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ was ETERNALLY SEPARATED FROM GOD for our sins according to the scriptures;
Heb. 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD; and without ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD is no remission. 23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better ETERNAL SEPARATIONS FROM GOD than these.
Eze 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall be ETERNALLY SEPARATED FROM GOD.....
Eze 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall be ETERNALLY SEPARATED FROM GOD.
Mt 10:28 And fear not them which ETERNALLY SEPARATE FROM GOD the body, but are not able to ETERNALLY SEPARATE FROM GOD the soul: but rather fear him which is able to ETERNALLY SEPARATE FROM GOD both soul and body in hell.
Heb. 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD for every man.
Heb. 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD he might destroy him that had the power of ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD, that is, the devil;
________
________
As you can see above replacing the true penalty for sin, "death"...with "eternal separation from God" is absolutely unscriptural and man-made reasoning.
To say that "eternal separation form God is the penalty for sin", is to claim that Christ failed to pay for our sins.
Rev. 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Sinners being perpetually kept alive while being withheld from God for all eternity is not confirmed by the scriptures.
Mal. 4:3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.
1John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to TAKE AWAY OUR SIN; and in him is no sin.
Heb. 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to PUT AWAY SIN by the sacrifice of himself.
Jam. 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and SIN, WHEN IT IS FINISHED, BRINGETH FORTH DEATH.
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which TAKETH AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD.
John 16:8 And when he is come, he will REPROVE THE WORLD OF SIN, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
___________
___________
There will be no more sin, sinners, pain, or suffering, the former things will be passed away. The idea that sinners can be kept alive eternally is in direct conflict with the most basic foundations of Bible doctrine. Most especially such teaching blatantly voids the sacrifice of Christ, by claiming that Christ has not yet paid for our sins.
Adam, do you understand what Paul is writting about in Romans chapter 6, or chapters 7-8?
Do you truly understand what spiritual separation form God means?
Look at what the scritures really says that you quoted to make your point; Hope I haven't misread your comments. Nevertheless, if sin has dominion over a person, this person is separated from God, Why is this? because anything that is not of God is of the satan, and brings a divide between God and the person. That means a separation.
You quoted verse 23 of Romans chapter 6, For the wages (price paid) of sin is death... therefore I ask you if the price paid for sin is death, is not this a sentence or penalty for sinning?...c'mon now get real.
BTW, when you were in the world sinning, and were not born again, was your mind stayed on Jesus during your time in the world?
NO! there is not one person who was in the world who can say they thought about Jesus while out sinning!
If a person died without repentance and coming to Jesus before they die, they die being spiritually separated from God, and will indeed go to HELL! that's the bottom line to sin and where people go when they don't know Jesus Christ and have not repented of their sins before they die...HELL!.
I know many don't like hearing the truth of sin AND HELL, but we enjoy living in sin not knowing that they are making their bed in hell. But as I always say, I didn't write the Bible, wish I could get credit for doing so.
Sorry, but sin and God don't get alone too well, they make fora bad couple:nahnah: two choices heaven or hel...sin or righteousness!