Amen. Thanks for that excellent explanation.
It's like Lazarus. He was dead, not just asleep. But he was still a human being, yet 100% incapable of breathing without God bringing him to life again.
What I love about that parable is when Jesus is urged to hurry up and get to Lazarus before he dies. And Jesus purposely makes them wait until poor Lazarus is dead and molding -- to teach us a very important lesson...
"Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him." -- John 11:14-15
Jesus was "glad for their sakes" that He had waited until Lazarus was dead so that they would be able to more fully understand what He does for His flock -- He permits their death in order for them to live again through Him, according to the will of God.
It's like Lazarus. He was dead, not just asleep. But he was still a human being, yet 100% incapable of breathing without God bringing him to life again.
What I love about that parable is when Jesus is urged to hurry up and get to Lazarus before he dies. And Jesus purposely makes them wait until poor Lazarus is dead and molding -- to teach us a very important lesson...
Ah, now I am beginning to see why you are so mistaken in your theology. I see this pericope is often used by Calvinists to "prove" the idea of total depravity. Thus, when they read passages such as Eph 2:1-5, they refer back to the Lazarus story - "see, dead. Man cannot do anything."
There is a major problem with that interpretation. The story of Lazarus refers to PHYSICAL resurrection, PHYSICAL death. Martha says: "I know he will rise again in the resurrection of the last day" (John 11:24). The phrase "last day" is used ONLY when refering to the PHYSICAL resurrection of the body. Jesus confirms this understanding. Nothing Jesus says speaks of SPIRITUAL death or a SPIRITUAL rebirth.
Proper Bible interpretation stresses that we use appropriate pericopes to improve on our knowledge of the God's revelation. Calvinist misapropriation and misunderstanding has led to a heretical view - that man is totally depraved as a result of original sin. If we want to know what God teaches regarding spiritual death and rebirth, we should consider passages that speak of spiritual death and rebirth, not physical death! We KNOW and AGREE that they are two different things, so they shouldn't be lumped together.
Scripture uses the metaphor of spiritual death ESPECIALLY in the parable of the Prodigal Son. It speaks of a spiritual death and totally contradicts the view that the Reformers attempt to teach in their 'gospel'.
In the story of the Prodigal Son, the son leaves the house of the father with his share of the wealth. After squandering the wealth, the son returns by HIS OWN FREE WILL to the father. The father, in turn, greets the son with compassion and invites him back into his good graces. This parable takes on special significance because of the use of the word "dead". The father says "for this son was DEAD and is alive again; he was lost and is found" Luke 15:24. Again, Jesus repeats the father's words to the other son "because this brother of yours was DEAD and is alive again; he was lost and is found" Luke 15:32.
Because the son himself came to his senses and subsequently made his way home, Jesus' use of the metaphor "DEAD" to describe the father's understanding of the son's previous spiritual state shows a state NOT OF TOTAL DEPRAVITY, but rather, of cooperation by the son with the father's will. Thus, Calvinists improperly use Scriptures, trying to tie physical death to spiritual death, when Jesus Himself does not consider them as such.
The idea of total depravity is another word for "fate", a pagan idea that was discarded 1900 years ago by Christians. Unfortunately, it was "resurrected" on account of improper Scripture interpretation and has tickled the ears of people ever since its "rebirth".
Regards