A Grace That Saves and Pervades

In the movie, The Princess Bride, Inigo and Fezzik take Wesley to miracle Max to hopefully bring their friend back to life. During the course of their conversation, Max says that their friend is only mostly dead and not all dead. Paul also describes us as dead. Are we "mostly" dead or "all" dead? Either way, is there a remedy and if so, what is it? As followers of Jesus, we were once dead, but by God's grace we're alive. What does that actually mean? How should that shape how we respond to God and direct our lives?