05.26

Outer Man Perishing, Inner Man Renewed "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our
outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians
4:16)"

Those who learn to live by the grace of God are increasingly protected from
discouragement. "Therefore we do not lose heart." This truth was touched upon in an
earlier verse from this fourth chapter of 2 Corinthians. "Therefore, since we have this
ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart" (2 Corinthians 4:1). The
protection from discouragement there involved mercy and grace. Since we serve the Lord by
mercy and grace (and not by our merit or by our resources), we have a built-in supply of
heavenly encouragement available to us daily.

In our present verse, encouragement comes from the contrast between what is happening to
the "outward man" and to the "inward man." The "outward man" is the physical person, which
can be observed by human sight. This is generally the object of attention among the
unredeemed (as well as among believers who are walking according to the flesh). This man
is "perishing" because sin has impacted all of us. "Therefore, just as through one man sin
entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all
sinned" (Romans 5:12). Man began from dust. "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of
the ground" (Genesis 2:7). Due to sin, the outer, physical man is headed back toward that
initial starting point. "In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to
the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return"
(Genesis 3:19). For those who do not know the Lord, this is a discouraging fact. They
often strive desperately to prevent this inevitable process.

On the other hand, servants of new covenant grace are not discouraged by this fact.

"Therefore we do not lose heart." It is true that our outer man is also perishing. Yet, we
see a bigger picture than that. "Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward
man is being renewed day by day." As our outer man is deteriorating, we are still
encouraged, because our inner man can be in the process of renewal: "And have put on the
new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him"
(Colossians 3:10). As we are humbly seeking the Lord in His word, we are being changed,
brought more and more into the newness of Christ: "Beholding as in a mirror the glory of
the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the
Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18).

"O Lord, as my outer man deteriorates, remind me of the encouraging reality that my inner
man can be renewed. Help me to desire inner spiritual progress, rather than outer physical
prowess. This I pray through Christ, my Lord, Amen."