1. The lack of spiritual perception. As a dead body does not have the five bodily senses, so a dead soul does not have the spiritual senses. It neither sees nor hears nor tastes nor perceives the perfume, nor feels the reality, of the spiritual world. The glory of God shines forth in the gospel of Christ, but dead souls are blind and cannot see it. "If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine into them" (2 Cor 4:3-4). God speaks by His providence and by His inspired Word in the loudest tones of reproof, admonition, invitation and love, warning and terror; but the dead soul is deaf, like the adder that heareth not the voice of the charmer, charm he never so sweetly. The dead soul cannot taste and see that God is gracious. Though to the senses of a renewed soul, "because of the savour of [His] good ointments", the name of Christ "is as ointment poured forth", yet to the dead soul He is as "a tender plant, as a root out of a dry ground, having no form, nor comeliness," nor beauty, nor desirableness.

2. No spiritual understanding. "There is none that understandeth" (Rom 3:11). "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." It was in reference to their lack of spiritual perception and understanding that the Lord said to Isaiah about the Jews, "Go and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed" (Isa 6:9,10).

3. Lack of spiritual desires. "Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of Thy ways." "There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God." The purity and holiness of God's will and law are not perceived or understood, and therefore cannot be loved or desired. There is not, and cannot possibly be, a single self-originated desire after God and holiness in the breast of the natural man. As well might the heart beat and the blood circulate in the mouldering and worm-consumed carcase.

4. No spiritual strength. The natural man is, in spiritual exertion, absolutely helpless and powerless. When a dead body can restore itself to life, then a spiritually dead soul will be able to draw near to God or restore itself to spiritual soundness, health and holiness. "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil" (Jer 13:23). "No man can come to Me except the Father . . . draw him." "The carnal mind . . . is not subject to the law of God."

5. The dead soul has no capacity for spiritual enjoyment. Dead in trespasses and sins, it can have no true or permanent happiness. It has committed two great evils: it has forsaken God the fountain of living waters and true happiness, and hewn out for itself cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. Only a soul spiritually alive unto God can enjoy happiness, as it can come only from God. Apart from God, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. "The wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."