2 Corinthians 4:16 KJV
16 For which cause, we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
The words “For which cause, we faint not” refers to the ministry and suffering of Paul and the other apostles.
Earlier in the same chapter of 2nd Corinthians, he says they are troubled, perplexed, persecuted and cast down. Yet, they are not in distress, not in despair, not forsaken and not destroyed. He says “we faint not.”
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 KJV8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
Then Paul goes on to say a great deal in very few words. In fifteen simple words, Paul gives us a great lesson.
He talks about the outward man or the physical body and the inward man which is our soul.
THE OUTWARD MAN—THE BODY
The “outward man” is the body which is the home of the soul. The temple that houses the soul.
Paul points out the obvious, that the outward man is physical. It will perish, decay and return to dust.
In another verse in 2nd Corinthians, Paul refers to the outward man or our body as a tent.
We know that the outward man is vulnerable to exhaustion, weakness and illness. We know that our body is finite and life upon this earth is but a vapor.
His point is simple. Our physical bodies will perish. They will die.
2 Corinthians 5:1 NIV
1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
THE INWARD MAN—THE SOUL
The outward man is finite with a definite end. The inward man is infinite and eternal.
What is the inward man that Paul is referring to?
He is referring to the soul which we believe to be part of our mind. The living, intellectual part of our being that thinks and decides.
This is the part of us that lives on after the physical body dies.
All of our spiritual qualities and decisions have to do with our soul or mind.
We have noted that the outward man is vulnerable to disease but what about the inward man?
Yes, without question, the inward man or soul/mind can also be diseased. As influenced by Satan it can be in rebellion with God, become reprobate and just plain evil.
Finally, the soul is also vulnerable to spiritual death.
If you die without Christ as your personal Savior, your soul will be forever separated from God, living in eternal punishment. This is the spiritual death.
So, how do we nourish our inward man or soul?
THE SOUL IS RENEWED DAY BY DAY
In the 23rd Psalm, David uses a different word when he says “He restoreth my soul.”
Restore means to bring back, put back to the prior state or re-establish.
Paul uses the word renew which means to restore or confirm.
Both David and Paul definitely knew the importance of the restoration and renewal of the soul.
In this lesson’s scripture, Paul says the inward man or soul is renewed day by day. We believe that Paul is telling us the soul NEEDS to be renewed daily.
Just as the outward man requires rest from the daily grind of life, the inward man requires renewal and rejuvenation.
Daily, we should renew our love and worship of God, living each day with a worshipful attitude. With this worshipful attitude, we are mindful of God, lifting His name in praise, thanksgiving, glory and honor, consciously and unconsciously throughout the day.
In addition to living with a worshipful attitude each day, we must stay in daily communication with God.
- We must realize our need to commune with God each day.
- We must commune with God through prayer each day.
- We must read and study God’s Word each day.
- We must allow the leading and direction of the Holy Spirit each day.
- We must fervently seek to grow spiritually each day.
Romans 12:2 KJV
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
In doing so, we renew our soul, and grow spiritually in our Christian journey.
Satan naturally wants us to slack off and grow away from God, but Paul gives us the battle plan. We must renew our soul each day. Energize it. Charge it. Rejuvenate it. Strengthen it. Restore it.
Not every so often, but every day!
RVH