MAN: OUTER & INNER or OLD & NEW

MAN: OUTER & INNER or OLD & NEW

What is the outer man and the inner man? Neither refer to the physical body, but to the two natures that dwell within a child of God after the new birth. One nature is "Christ in you, the hope of glory." The other is the sinful nature of the flesh. The actions of the body reflect the nature that is prevailing at any given moment.

While regeneration does not take away or change the outer man or the sin-nature, it (the outer man) is restrained by the inner man so that it is no longer in control as before. "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." {1 John 4:4} The new birth affects or brings about an effect on the whole man; body, soul and spirit. That sinful nature, referred to by Paul as the outer man, continues with us until death to trouble us and lead us to sin. However, through the spirit of Christ, we are commanded to Mortify or put to death the sinful deeds of the body. {Colossians 3:5;Colossians 3:9-10}