“Blush, my soul, that you have exchanged the divine for a bestial likeness; blush that despite your heavenly origin you now wallow in filth.” —BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX The gospel message begins with the fact that all people are born totally dead in sin. The apostle is clear as crystal when he declares, “You were dead in your trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). What does Paul mean by “dead?” Dead means dead. How dead? Completely dead. The non-Christian isn’t like a drowning man.