MSJ 1:1 (Spr 90) p. 30 are born spiritually dead, they certainly are not confirmed in that state. However, following the apostle’s teaching here, there may come a time prior to their physical death when their condition becomes irreversible, when divine forgiveness is no longer available to them (cf. Matt 12:31–32).36 Third, the immediate context offers important credence to this conclusion, for both before and after the sixteenth verse, zōē is used to refer to eternal, spiritual life (vv. 11,