And you were dead in the the trespasses and sins in which you once walked - following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit which is now at work in the sons of disobedience
Without Jesus, we are not just in need of a bit of assistance. We are dead men walking. Spiritually dead. We are "absolutely void of all spiritual life, as incapable of quickening yourselves as persons literally dead" (Wesley). Not just doing the odd thing wrong but willfully walking IN sin, dead IN trespasses. We are in serious need. We need serious help