2 Corinthians 4:16, “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”
Ephesians 3:16, “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;…”
When reading and studying the Bible it is important to consider context. Who is speaking? Who is being spoken to? What are the surroundings and conditions when the person is speaking? These are just a few questions that are important to ask before concluding what a portion of scripture is teaching.
The two previously cited verses of scripture both refer to the inner man. But are these two portions of scripture saying the exact same thing though they use similar terminology? The short answer? No.
When an elect child of grace is born again by the direct work of the Holy Spirit, the inner man is made fit for heaven instantly and irreversibly. When the born again child of grace passes from this life into glory, they will not be stopped at the door of heaven and swept clean because they didn’t get themselves straightened up in their experiential life that particular day in time. According to Colossians 1:12-13, by the direct work of God, the child of grace, has been made “meet” (fit) for heaven when they were translated into God’s kingdom by His grace. Like God and heaven above, the inner man of the child of grace is not getting older. The inner man, because of the indwelling of God, is the same no matter how many years pass in this temporal world because of the constant “renewing” of God. To say any different would be to say that a born again child of grace will need a constant cleansing or renovation to keep themselves fit for heaven. If this is the case, I sure hope I don’t miss any opportunities to keep myself ready, (grin). No, the inner man needs nothing but is complete in God (Colossians 2:10). 1 Corinthians 4:16 is teaching this fact.
Ephesians 3:16 is teaching something different. In this portion of scripture, the Apostle is praying that the inner man would be strengthened so it would dominate the experiential life of the born again child of grace in this temporal world. According to scripture, the born again child of grace has two natures. The nature of God and the fallen nature inherited from Adam. These two war against each other as long as the child of grace lives in this world. Which one rules the experiential life of said person; the one that is strengthened? I heard an older preacher once say, “I have a white dog and a black dog within me, which one will win? The one I feed the most.” The Apostle Paul is praying in Ephesians 3:16 that the born again child of grace would have their inner man strengthened so the righteous nature within would dominate the temporal life of the person, all while believing the inner man is already perfect and righteous by the eternal grace of God which preserves the soul of spirit of the person forever.
In the end, no Bible student should believe the child of grace could ever fall from the eternal salvation they have. There’s nothing that could change the direct work of God in regeneration. But any Bible student should be able to see how a born again child of grace needs daily help and spiritual nourishment to be strengthened to continually labor to walk in a way pleasing to God in this temporal world. So let our prayer be as the Apostle’s. And let us take advantage of every occasion to be strengthened by God, all while having the assurance that God’s eternal grace is an instant and unchangeable work.