SPIRITUAL DEATH
When we are physically born, we are spiritually dead, and we need gain life in the Spirit through baptism. Jesus told Nicodemus, “What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit” (Jn 3:6). On another occasion Jesus said, “It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail” (Jn 6:63).
Just as we have a physical and spiritual life that can be seen separate, there is separate physical and spiritual death. So, one can be physically alive and spiritually dead and vice versa.
When our First Parents exited Paradise on account of their sin, they lost the benefit of a direct correlation with God and so spiritually died. Humanity regained life when Jesus reconciled us with his Father.
When the prodigal son returned to his father for reconciliation, the father said of him, “This son of mine was dead, and has come to life again” (Lk 15:24).