The Inward Man and the Outward Man

The Inward Man and the Outward Man

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” “While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Our body is the visible man, but we also have an inward man. Physicians can operate and find the heart, the kidneys, and the brain, but they cannot find the thoughts, the will, and a person’s interests.

Most people live according to the flesh and its passions and desires. They live for the visible things, enjoying their existence with their body as well as they know how, thereby getting established in a mindset and an understanding that fits in with this world. With their body they also build up a reputation among people. Because they have the visible things in mind they seek the honor of man; they come to rely on what others think about them. This is how the Pharisees had built up an external man, so they appeared to be righteous before people, but their inward man was full of hypocrisy and unrighteousness. Matt. 23:27-28. The false prophets conducted themselves in like manner. They came in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they were ravenous wolves. Matt. 7:15. When such people’s outward man perishes, their inward man also perishes, and they lose courage. Then when the time comes for them to pass out of the body, everything they have lived for ends up in ruins. They are without God and without hope. Eph. 2:12. “For if you live according to the flesh you will die . . . .” Rom. 8:13.

“Always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.”

“Who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you . . . .” 1 Pet. 1:3-4.

We have our eyes opened to that which is invisible when our human spirit is born again, and we have also received the Holy Spirit who is to lead us into all truth. Now that I am guided by the Spirit instead of by my passions and desires, an inward man is being built up who gets a spiritual sense for divine nature. The death of Christ is working in my body, with the result that it becomes an acceptable sacrifice to God. Then Jesus’ life is also revealed by my body. It is the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ that is shining from us. 2 Cor. 4:6. We also build up an outward man with our body and become an aroma of life to life to those who are being saved, and an aroma of death to death to those who are perishing. Ch. 2:15-16.

“That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith . . . .” Eph. 3:16-20.

We can be very easily influenced by our own desires, by people, and by changing circumstances in our surroundings. But if Christ dwells in our hearts by faith, our inward man is strengthened, so that we can reckon ourselves “to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom. 6:11-13. This inward man is grounded in love so we can bless our enemies and do good to those who persecute us. We do not change according to external circumstances because we keep that which is invisible in mind. The invisible things are unchangeable. Then tribulations work in us “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

We also enter into tribulations because our outward man is perishing; but as Paul says, then our inward man is being renewed day by day. He teaches us that “if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Rom. 8:13. Then our inward man is being renewed by the increase of the fruits of the Spirit. When we then leave the body, nothing of what we have lived for will be destroyed. We go home to the Lord and are awaiting a glorified body that is suitable for our inward man. Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Cor. 15:51-54.