Keep On Riding
"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
This scripture describes very simply what happens to every born-again Christian after accepting Jesus as the Savior and Lord of their life. It is a life-changing process called sanctification.
2 Corinthians 4:16 begins with this statement, "Therefore we do not lose heart." It is very important for the Christian to understand that although we receive a new spirit when we become born again, the flesh and the soul, or mind, have yet to be renewed.
The flesh, or body, will always hunger for food and water and function normally until that day when Jesus returns to earth. At that time, whether alive or dead in the grave, a Christian will receive a new "glorified" body. Until that happens, the body continues to deteriorate with age, occasionally struggle with sickness and disease, etc., etc.
The soul, or mind, does not change entirely with salvation. The soul and spirit are bound together and the only thing able to separate the two is the Word of God. Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
Why is it important to understand the above scripture? Because the natural soul (mind) reacts to the needs of the flesh. The body wants food, and the mind responds. For instance, when your stomach growls with hunger, the mind interprets the growl and emptiness in the stomach as a need for food. In the same way, the natural spirit is bonded to the soul and reacts in conjunction with the soul (mind) by searching out food to fulfill the need of the flesh.
The spirit of a born-again Christian has changed. Through hearing or seeing the Word of God, the spirit is independent of the soul and flesh. It is now "supernatural" and it turns to God instead of following along with the soul to satisfy the flesh. For example, in the case of hunger being satisfied by the natural spirit and soul, the supernatural spirit may pray for food or even see hunger as an opportunity to fast and pray.
2 Corinthians 4:16 says, ". . . do not lose heart". This means when the flesh continues to try and lure away the spirit with lust, greed, hatred, vengeance, and even thoughts of murder, do not lose heart in believing you are not saved. Instead, put down those thoughts contrary to the Word of God.
2 Corinthians 10:5, "casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,"
2 Corinthians 4:16 "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perishes, yet the inward man is renewed day by day."
"Even though the outward man is perishing". Aging is a natural process. A person may try to prolong their youth with vitamins and other means but there is nothing to stop the body from getting old and withering away. The only thing to change it is the return of Jesus Christ. Then we will be given new bodies that will be supernatural and able to enter Heaven.
The natural body cannot enter Heaven. 1 Corinthians 15:50, "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption."
But here is the good news in the next few verses:
"Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" (1 Corinthians 15:51)
From the time of salvation when we are given a new spirit, until the time of the return of Jesus when we are given new bodies, the soul (mind) must also become renewed. This doesn't happen automatically at salvation. When we first receive Jesus as our Savior we are "set aside" for our minds to be renewed on a day-to-day process. This is accomplished with the help of our new spirit which hungers for a closer relationship with God. Our new spirit prompts the flesh to pick up a Bible and read it. It gets us out of bed in time for church. It wants to pray for others when friends or family are sick.
The soul (mind) has to learn to follow the desires of the spirit before fulfilling the desires of the flesh. This is the sanctification process every Christian must go through. There will be good days and there will be bad days but as 2 Corinthians 4:16 says, "Therefore we do not lose heart."
It can be compared to riding a horse. You and I will probably be bucked off a horse but it's important to get back on again until you train the horse or else the horse will train you instead. Our new spirit must overcome the desires of the flesh and that is done by the renewing of the mind. That is what Paul meant by his letter to the church in Rome when he wrote: "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:2
The bottom line is, "Keep on riding". Don't lose heart in thinking you are not saved because you yielded to temptation and sinned. Ask God to forgive you of the sin and He will. But also ask for help so you will not repeat the same sin. Pray the sin will become so detestable in your thinking that the Holy Spirit will give you the strength to never repeat it. Pray for the soon return of Jesus so we will all end the process of sanctification in His presence.
God bless!
