The Inner Man

Home



Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day 2 Cor 4:16

It seems to me that much of the confusion we have in understanding the finished work of Christ in our lives, is that we do not understand the “inner man”, that part of us which, I contend, is, in a very real sense, the “real” us. Listed below are OT and NT passages that refer to the “inner man”. Of course, when we, like Paul, deal with our own shortcomings (SIN), we feel hopeless. Indeed we should, because without the grace of God through the finished work of His Son, we are hopeless. But just what did happen, and to what part of us, when God the Father, through His Spirit, “quickened” us? (regenerated, renewed, washing of rebirth, born again).

Could it really be true? Could it be that when God did His work in each chosen one of us, at the time of our individual salvation, , that He really made the “inner man” in each of us NEW, free from the power and penalty of sin, never to die (inner man), and in right relationship again with Him? I believe the answer is a resounding YES.

So that helps me understand the “inner man”. I am now spiritual (ie, under the domain of the Spirit, no longer natural, ie “no longer by nature children of wrath”, Eph 2:3). It all makes sense. My “outer man” slumps, has a bad right knee, and will ultimately die. But the apostle John, when he tells me in 5:24 and 6:47, (see also Eph 1:7, 2:5,8), that I HAVE BEEN saved. I already have life eternal. And this gives wonderful meaning to the verse in Romans 8 that says we (believers) not only have been justified, adopted, and sanctified, but also GLORIFIED! He HAS “raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus”, Eph 2:6. Indeed with Paul we can rejoice that our citizenship IS in heaven. Isn’t it wonderful!

Eph 3:16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,

Rom 7:22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man,

Ps 7:9 O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; For the righteous God tries the hearts and [Lit kidneys, figurative for inner man] minds.

Prov 20:7 The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the innermost parts of his being.

Home crista dawn tate veach danny daniel