MORTIFICATION OF SIN IN BELIEVERS by JOHN OWEN THE NECESSITY, NATURE, AND MEANS OF IT: WITH A RESOLUTION OF VARIOUS CASES OF CONSCIENCE BELONGING TO IT. BY JOHN OWEN, D.D., A SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE WORK OF THE GOSPEL. from THE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN EDITED BY WILLIAM H. GOOLD VOLUME 6 This Edition of THE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN first published by Johnstone & Hunter, 1850-53 Source: Ages Software Modernized, formatted, and annotated by William H. Gross www.onthewing.org © Dec 2002 Last updated 3/7/2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS EDITOR’S PREFACE CHAPTER 1 ROMANS 8:13 EXPLAINED 1. This duty to mortify sin is conditional, “But if you...” 2. The persons to whom this duty is prescribed. 3. What causes us to perform this duty is the Spirit 4. The duty that is prescribed is this: “Mortify the deeds of the body.” (1.) What is meant by the body. (2.) What is meant by the deeds of the body. (3.) What is meant by mortify. 5. The promise for fulfilling this duty is life: “You will live.” CHAPTER 2 THE DUTY OF THE BEST BELIEVERS I. The first general principle: despite the death of sin on the cross, sin remains. 1. Indwelling sin stays with us while we are in this world; therefore we always need to mortify it. 2. Sin not only still abides in us, but it still acts, still labors to bring out the deeds of the flesh. 3. Sin not only troubles us, but if left alone, it produces soul-destroying sins. 4. The Spirit and the new nature are given to us so we have the moral strength to oppose sin. 5. Neglecting this duty renews the old man, and rots the new man. 6. It is our duty to be “perfecting holiness out of the fear of God.” Two evils accompany every unmortified professor of faith. 1. The evil in himself. 2. The evil in relation to others around them. CHAPTER 3 FALSE MORTIFICATION OF SIN II. The second general principle: Only the Spirit is sufficient to do this work of mortification; 1. Men seek other remedies in vain. 2. It is the work of the Spirit. (1.) God promised to give the Spirit to us to do this work. (2.) Mortification is a gift of Christ, and all the gifts of Christ come to us by the Spirit of Christ. How does the Spirit mortify sin? If this is the work of the Spirit alone, why are we urged to do it? CHAPTER 4 USEFULNESS OF MORTIFICATION III. The third general principle: the vitality of our spiritual life greatly depends on our mortification of sin. 1. Life, strength and comfort in our spiritual life are not the necessary result of mortification. 2. Life, strength and comfort in our spiritual life are privileges, not rights. 3. Life, strength, and comfort in our spiritual life greatly depend on mortification. (1.) Mortification alone keeps sin from depriving us of them. (2.) Mortification prunes all the graces of God, and makes room for them to grow in our hearts. (3.) Mortification, sincerely applied, produces peace. CHAPTER 5 MORTIFICATION NEGATIVELY CONSIDERED How do we fight indwelling sin in a way that maintains peace in our communion with God? I. Mortifying a Sin - 1. Negatively (1.) Mortifying a sin does not mean completely killing it. (2.) Mortifying a sin does not mean disguising the sin. (3.) Mortifying a sin is not changing our natural disposition to a quiet, sedate one. (4.) Mortifying a sin is not diverting the sin to another outlet. (5.) Mortifying a sin is not getting occasional victories over it. CHAPTER 6 MORTIFICATION DESCRIBED IN ITS PARTICULARS I. Mortifying a Sin - 2. Positively (1.) Habitually weakening it. (2.) Constant fighting and contending against it. (3.) Realizing success over it. CHAPTER 7 MORTIFICATION: THE WORK OF BELIEVERS II: The ways and means we may use to mortify any particular sin 1. The 1st general rule: be sure to get an interest in Christ. (1.) Unless a man is a believer, he cannot mortify a single sin. (2.) Mortification is the work of faith, and the unique work of faith. CHAPTER 8 UNIVERSAL SINCERITY NEEDED 2. The 2nd general rule: Strive to mortify ALL lusts, or fail to mortify ANY lust. (1.) This kind of selective mortification is the result of a corrupt motive. (2.) God may be using the persistent lust that troubles you to strengthen you. Reasons for the predominance of a particular lust. (1.) As its natural effect (2.) As punishment for other sins CHAPTER 9 SYMPTOMS OF A PARTICULAR LUST III. Particular directions for dealing with a disturbing lust The FIRST direction: Consider which dangerous symptoms accompany your lust. 1. The sin is long-standing and deep-rooted. 2. When the heart secretly pleas to approve and not oppose it. 3. There is frequent success in sin’s seduction. 4. When a man fights against his sin only with legalistic arguments. 5. When it is probable that there is Godly rehabilitation involved through punishment. 6. When your lust has already withstood particular dealings from God against it. CHAPTER 10 A SENSE OF THE GUILT OF SIN REQUIRED The SECOND direction: Grasp the guilt, danger, and evil of your sin 1. Get a clear and lasting sense of the guilt of sin. (1.) Continuing sin in believers is worse than sin in unbelievers. (2.) Sin hidden in our heart is worse than sin evidenced by our acts. 2. Consider the multiple dangers of continuing to sin: (1.) The danger of being hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (2.) The danger of receiving serious correction in this life. (3.) The danger of losing of peace and strength all your life. (4.) The danger of eternal destruction. 3. Consider the evils of continuing to sin; (1.) It grieves the holy and blessed Spirit. (2.) The Lord Jesus Christ is wounded again by it. (3.) It will take away a man’s usefulness in his generation. CHAPTER 11 FIVE MORE DIRECTIONS FOR DEALING WITH SIN The THIRD direction: Load your conscience with the guilt of your sin. 1. Begin with generalities: (1.) Consider the guilt that arises from the holiness of the law. (2.) Consider Christ whom you have pierced. 2. Descend to particulars. (1.) Consider the infinite patience and tolerance of God towards you personally. (2.) Consider how often you have been restored by God’s grace. (3.) Consider all of God’s gracious dealings with you. The FOURTH direction: get a constant longing to be delivered from its power. The FIFTH direction: Consider if the sin is rooted in your natural disposition. 1. This does not minimize the guilt of your sin in the least. 2. You must focus more because Satan has an advantage over you. 3. Force your body into submission. The SIXTH direction: Guard against the occasions and opportunities of your sin. The SEVENTH direction: React swiftly against the first signs of your sin. CHAPTER 12 SELF-ABASEMENT BEFORE THE MAJESTY OF GOD The EIGHTH direction: Consider the majesty of God and how little you know of Him. 1. Think about the greatness of God, and who you are by comparison. 2. Think about how unfamiliar you are with him. (1.) We know so little of God, because it is God we are trying to know. (2.) We know little of God, because it is by faith alone that we know him in this life. (3.) No matter how much more we know through Jesus Christ, we still know very little. CHAPTER 13 PRECAUTIONS AGAINST FALSE PEACE The NINTH direction: Do not speak peace about a sin until God speaks it. 1. It is the great prerogative and sovereignty of God to give grace and peace to whom he pleases. 2. It is the prerogative of Christ to speak peace home to the conscience. Rules to know whether God is speaking peace about a sin or it is false peace: Rule 1: God is not speaking peace if there is no hatred of the sin or self-loathing Rule 2: God is not speaking peace if it is based on convictions and rational conclusions. Rule 3: We speak peace to ourselves when we do it carelessly. Rule 4: God is not speaking peace if we are holding onto another sin. Rule 5: God is not speaking peace if there is no humiliation in our souls. CHAPTER 14 NECESSITY OF FAITH IN CHRIST 1. Set your faith on enlisting Christ to kill your sin. (1.) By faith, fully consider the provision we have in Jesus Christ for this purpose. (2.) Bolster your heart by faith to expect relief from Christ. To further engage you in this expectation, (1.) Consider Christ’s mercifulness, tenderness, and kindness. (2.) Consider the faithfulness of the One who has promised. [1.] Such expectation enlists Christ’s quick and complete assistance. [2.] Such expectation makes the heart attentively listen for Christ. First, let your faith act specifically on Christ crucified and slain. Secondly, expect power and then endeavor to conform to Christ. 2. The work of the Spirit in mortification. (1.) The Spirit alone convicts the heart of its sin. (2.) The Spirit alone reveals to us the fullness of Christ for our relief. (3.) The Spirit alone bolsters the heart to expect relief from Christ. (4.) The Spirit alone brings the cross of Christ into our hearts with its sin-killing power. (5.) The Spirit is the author and finisher of our sanctification. (6.) The Spirit supports the soul’s petitions to God.