God created man in His image and in His likeness. He placed man (Gen 1:27) in the Garden of Eden for a time. We call this time a probationary period. God gave instructions to be followed. He also gave man the right to make choices, but made man accountable for these choices.
Man was created of body (which is temporal) and Spirit (which is eternal). Death is the time of separation of the temporal (body), which goes back to the earth, and the Spirit, which goes back to God for a temporary judgment.