Yes, dead (spiritually) in trespasses and sins is a description of the unregenerate, totally depraved man. That's how Paul describes the natural condition of man negatively. He later, in chapter 4:17-19 describes the unregenerate, natural man positively:
Ephesians 4:17-19 (ASV) "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart; 19 who being past feeling gave themselves up to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness."
So negatively we see that the natural man has no natural ability to know, or even respond to God nor to do those things which are holy, just and good, and positively, we see that the natural man is active in his depravity and ever increases in its expression in their lives. (cf. Rom 1).
Contra the quote by Michael Horton that was posted today, the Bible and the overwhelming majority of the Church has confessed that man has NO NATURAL ABILITY to relate to God. The natural man will not, because he cannot. And he cannot because he will not... because the natural man is spiritually DEAD; the thoughts and intentions of his heart are evil continually (Gen 6:5; 8:21; Jer 4:22, 13:23; Hos 5:4; Ps 36:1-4; Jh 3:19,20; Rom 9:6-29; et al).
Addendum: I should have added a salient question, but unfortunately I was rushed in my response... sorry.
There are two classic passages spoken by the Lord Christ in the gospel of John which show both the natural
inability, and the natural
unwillingness of the unregenerate man to desire to be reconciled to God. Can you, Tom, or anyone else provide those two passages?
![[Linked Image]](http://www.the-highway.com/pilgrim/pil_sig2.gif)
![[Linked Image]](http://www.the-highway.com/Smileys/pencil.gif)
