Hi Micah7:9,
Man/woman/Adam in Gen.3 "disobeyed" what he was charged not to do in Gen. 2:17 and that when he did he would begin dying, not physically but as every person Ive read or listened to calls "spiritual death," yet I have yet to find anywhere in the Bible where "spiritual death" is located and mentioned as spiritual death; I understand what it is, but well Ive been here before so Ill leave that.
This part about "spiritual death," I think this is the premise of the church that man is a spiritual being to start with and falls from grace when they sin. Here is their teaching of the fall of man starting with Adam in a nutshell.
The Fall of Man
An expression probably borrowed from the Apocryphal Book of Wisdom, to express the fact of the revolt of our first parents from God, and the consequent sin and misery in which they and all their posterity were involved.
There is a spiritual death in trespasses and sins, i.e., the death of the soul under the power of sin (Rom_8:6; Eph_2:1, Eph_2:3; Col_2:13).
(Easton's Bible Dictionary)Man is not a spiritual being from his beginning and revolts, but a carnal fleshly being right from the start. The only way the soul will die is if the person dies, then their spirit (breath of life) returns to God and the body deteriorates back into the earth, which combined makes the soul.
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death...
Eph 2:1 And He has made you alive, who were once dead in trespasses and sins...
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins...
These Scriptures all state what our condition is from birth, we are carnal, yes spiritual dead and blind to the truth. Until God draws us to Him and gives us the Holy Spirit, we will remain carnal/flesh/spiritually dead to the day that we physically die. That is how it is for the 'many' in the world, all are carnal "sold under sin" right from the day we are born.
Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Rom 7:15 For that which I do, I know not. For what I desire, that I do not do; but what I hate, that I do.
Rom 7:23 but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind (Paul's converted mind), and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin being in my members.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Yes who shall deliver any of us from this body of death? We all know the answer to this.
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Jesus Christ indwelling is what gives us spiritual LIFE, it only is given to the 'few' for now the rest 'many' will not be given this life in Jesus Christ until they are resurrected back to physical life in the next age.
mercy, peace and love
Kat