What does the Bible teach about death?

In the Bible, death never means the end of existence; it means separation - the inability to function in a particular realm. Scripture describes seven deaths: spiritual, positional, temporal, operational, and physical. Spiritual death is separation from God, which results from sin (Gen. 2:17; Col. 1:13; Rom. 6:23). Positional death refers to our old nature being crucified with Christ at salvation (Rom. 6:1–4, 10–11; Gal. 2:20; Col. 2:12, 20; 3:3). Temporal death occurs when we give in to temptation and sin, resulting in separation from fellowship with God (James 1:15; Rom. 8:2, 6, 13; 1 Tim. 5:6). Operational death is the separation of our profession of faith from the practice of that faith (James 2:26; Eph. 5:14; 1 John 1:5–6). The physical death is the ultimate separation from this life and the opportunity to serve God in this body. The Bible teaches us that through Christ's death, we have been freed from sin and its consequences, and can now live a new life in fellowship with God.