Death and Life are Concurrent

 In 2 Corinthians 4:16b we read, “Though the outward man is perishing, the inward man is being renewed day by day.” The word perishing is the Greek word diaphtherio. It means decay and corruption. The word renewed is the Greek word anakainoō. It is a compound word. Ana means back or again. Kainos means new. It is used in the passive voice. What this means is the subject is receiving the action of the verb. The subject is the inward man. The verb action the inward man is receiving is the ongoing renewing of his spirit by the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul wrote these words. Why did he write them? In this chapter, Paul is talking about the very high cost of following Jesus. We have to follow the Lord even if it means our death - a price Paul knew he would eventually pay and was happy to do so. You see Paul knew that there is life after death for those of us who are in Christ so he was motivated and motivated others to continue to fight the good fight of faith to the end.

Paul was giving a message of reality and ultimate hope. His present physical reality and ours is bleak yet temporary because of the present wickedness we are bombarded with everyday. Death and life is working in us at the same time. That is why he said the outward man is decaying. We’re all slowly dying physically, but our spirits are forever living and getting stronger. That is why we can rejoice because we have ultimate hope that this temporary life of pain will end when we die. Paul is encouraging us not to ignore what we see, but do not lose heart because of it. Like our physical bodies, it's fading away. Rather, we are with the eyes of faith focus on what we cannot see, for that is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). What we can’t see is ours now for it has been promised to us. It is part of our inheritance.

Paul declares these words regarding his present trials in 2 Corinthians 4:7-18:

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not us. We are hard press on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. Always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us (emphasis added), but life in you. 

And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believe therefore I spoke”, we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound the the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things that are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

The previous twelve verses of revelation is what Paul lived and died for. Are we willing to imitate Paul and do the same?

Strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).