“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).
Many see the start of a new year as a time of renewal – an opportunity to change the direction of their lives, to improve themselves in some way, and so on. The basic idea of this is good. However, as with all things, we need to think about it Biblically.
There are a few passages in the New Testament that talk about being renewed. When it is mentioned in the Bible, it is not tied to a certain day on the calendar. It is also not about just anything that might be new in our lives (new job, diet, exercise routine, etc.). Instead, the renewal discussed in the New Testament is always about improving our spiritual lives.
In this article, we will consider what the New Testament says about renewal – when it happens, what it means, and what the result of it is in our lives.
Renewal Is a Continual Process
“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
Paul said this renewal occurs “day by day,” signifying continued growth. Without this, we become stagnant. And while there is some benefit to investing in the health and development of our physical bodies, the emphasis here is on the growth process of “our inner man.” No matter how much we try to eat healthy, exercise, and stay in shape, our “outer man is decaying.” Therefore, we need to focus primarily on the condition of our souls. Being spiritually healthy will enable us to persevere through hardships, knowing that the ultimate reward of our efforts is “far beyond all comparison” to what we could hope to gain here.
Renewal Begins When We Are Born Again
“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4-7).
Regeneration is a new birth. Jesus described this in a conversation with Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. […] Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:3, 5). When Paul mentioned the “washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,” he was referring to Jesus’ statement about being “born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5). This occurs when we are “baptized into Christ” (Romans 6:3-4), “by one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13), in order to “wash away [our] sins” (Acts 22:16).
This new life in Christ is made possible by “His grace [so that] we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” This grace has been extended to all through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross (Titus 2:11, 14). This sacrifice was made “according to His mercy” because we deserved death as a result of our sin (cf. Romans 6:23). Yet we have the opportunity to be saved after we are “born again” (John 3:3).
Renewal Is According to God’s Design
“That, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth” (Ephesians 4:22-24).
As the Lord enables us to be “born again” [previous point], He calls us to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4) after that. Therefore, we are to “lay aside the old self” and “put on the new self.” In a parallel passage, Paul said we have “laid aside the old self with its evil practices” (Colossians 3:9). Previously, we lived in a way that was contrary to God’s will, being “disobedient, deceived, [and] enslaved to various lusts and pleasures” (Titus 3:3). Yet we laid those things aside when we made the commitment to follow Christ.
Our new life must follow God’s purpose for us. Paul reminded the brethren in Ephesus, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Living according to His purpose means our lives will be characterized by righteousness, holiness, and truth as we strive to do His will in all things.
Renewal Is Patterned after Christ
“Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all” (Colossians 3:5-11).
Our new life must reflect the image of Christ. But Paul explained that this is based upon the “true knowledge” of Him, not some erroneous concept of Jesus derived from what others say about Him. The “true knowledge” of Him will be rooted in what the word of God says about Him, which reminds us of the importance of studying the Bible.
Paul told these brethren they were to “consider” themselves to be “dead” to sin. He made the same point in his letter to the saints in Rome: “Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11). We are not to “continue in sin” (Romans 6:1), but strive to avoid it at all times (1 John 2:1). Jesus left “an example for [us] to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:21-22). We must strive to be like Him.
Renewal Makes Us Different from the World
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1-2).
As we strive to “not be conformed to the world,” we will stand out. People will notice that we are different (cf. 1 Peter 4:3-4). This will happen because our minds are “transformed” by “the will of God.” Following Christ will affect how we think and change our priorities and motives. We will present ourselves as a “living…sacrifice” as we give our lives over to Him. Unlike the animal sacrifices described in the Old Testament in which an animal was killed and could never be offered again, we continually offer ourselves in service to the Lord “day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).
Conclusion
A new life in Christ is available to all. It comes by being born again and having our sins forgiven. After that, we must be renewed day by day, continually becoming more like Christ and less like the world. Whatever improvements we strive to make in our lives, this is where we need to start.
