Jesus considered the Sadducees dead
Mat_8:22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
Eph 2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
Mat 22:32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
Good points! This may tell us that being "dead" doesn't really mean being dead. Let's look at Eph 2:
[Eph 2:1-3, 5, 7 KJV] 1 And you [hath he quickened],
who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past
ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also
we all had our conversation in times past in the
lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the
desires of the flesh and of the mind; and
were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. ... 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved
... 7
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
If you take the first verse all by itself, it appears that it is talking about a recent condition of death, that is alleviated by a current condition of life. But if you look at vs 2 and 3, it appears to be talking about a condition that allows for "walking", "conversation" (conduct), "lusting", and "desiring". I think this is explained in vs 3 when it says we "were by nature children of wrath". What is that wrath? Isn't it God's wrath that results from our disobedience, starting with Adam? And what did God say was the result of our disobedience? Death. If we are then "children of wrath", doesn't that mean that wrath is determined for us? Wrath/death is the end result?
[2Pe 3:9 NIV] The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you,
not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Isn't this a verse about God withholding His wrath, giving people a chance to repent--to avoid death?
Paul backs this idea up in Romans:
[Rom 2:4-6, 8 ESV] 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart
you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will render to each one according to his works: ... 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there
will be wrath and fury.
These seem to say that God's punishment is delayed (fortunately for us). If His punishment is delayed, then it seems to me that when Paul talks about being "dead in trespasses and sins" and being "children of wrath", and he also says that wrath is yet to come, then we are "dead in our trespasses and sins" in a future sense--that we are promised death and God will fulfill that promise if we don't repent and believe in Jesus sacrifice for us.
And if we can be dead in a future sense, we can also be alive in a future sense--that we are promised life in Jesus Christ, even though we may die (which we do), was recognized by Jesus: [Jhn 11:25-26 KJV] 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
This seems to be saying some opposite things--that those who believe in Jesus will never die, but if they are dead, they will live again. I think rather it is saying that those who die will live again--"yet
shall he live"-- and those that have begun that kind of living will never die--"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die".
This CAN'T mean that just because you believe, your
soul will never die, because, like the rich man in your view, the soul of those that don't believe are not dead. And it allows for those that don't believe to not be dead yet, despite your assertion regarding the Sadducees.