The Mortification of Sin

How to kill the sin in us, to put it to death, is a dilemma for every one who truly is born again. We know that Christ has done it in His death on the cross, but to see it carried out in our daily lives . . . well, there's the problem. I am currently reading a work on this very thing, by a man who lived a very long time ago: The Mortification of Sin in Believers, by John Owen. Owen lived in the 1600s, but, could have been writing today, with respect to the subject matter of his work. I guess that things spiritual are pertinent to the church in every age. I find within Owen's writings, not simply his scholarly approach (which is little in itself by way of recommendation), but a deep humility before the things of God, whereby he deals with the matters of the heart, and not simply the externals of religion. Here are some quotes from the above work, copied from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library.


The Scripture that Owen speaks on is this verse from Romans 8:13: “If ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live.” He then proceeds to explain what mortification is, and to show that it is a crucial duty in the life of every Christian.

"The intendment of the apostle in this prescription of the duty mentioned is, — that the mortification of indwelling sin remaining in our mortal bodies, that it may not have life and power to bring forth the works or deeds of the flesh is the constant duty of believers."

"The vigour, and power, and comfort of our spiritual life depends on the mortification of the deeds of the flesh."

Owen then talks about the idea of sinless perfection in this life.

"Indwelling sin always abides whilst we are in this world; therefore it is always to be mortified. The vain, foolish, and ignorant disputes of men about perfect keeping the commands of God, of perfection in this life, of being wholly and perfectly dead to sin, I meddle not now with. It is more than probable that the men of those abominations never knew what belonged to the keeping of any one of God’s commands, and are so much below perfection of degrees, that they never attained to a perfection of parts in obedience or universal obedience in sincerity."

And the great need for mortification is the fact that sin is always active within and against us.

"Sin doth not only still abide in us, but is still acting, still labouring to bring forth the deeds of the flesh. When sin lets us alone we may let sin alone; but as sin is never less quiet than when it seems to be most quiet, and its waters are for the most part deep when they are still, so ought our contrivances against it to be vigorous at all times and in all conditions, even where there is least suspicion."

"So that sin is always acting, always conceiving, always seducing and tempting. Who can say that he had ever any thing to do with God or for God, that indwelling sin had not a hand in the corrupting of what he did? And this trade will it drive more or less all our days. If, then, sin will be always acting, if we be not always mortifying, we are lost creatures. He that stands still and suffers his enemies to double blows upon him without resistance, will undoubtedly be conquered in the issue. If sin be subtle, watchful, strong, and always at work in the business of killing our souls, and we be slothful, negligent, foolish, in proceeding to the ruin thereof, can we expect a comfortable event? There is not a day but sin foils or is foiled, prevails or is prevailed on; and it will be so whilst we live in this world."

And about the goal of sin and its pervasiveness . . .

"Sin aims always at the utmost; every time it rises up to tempt or entice, might it have its own course, it would go out to the utmost sin in that kind. Every unclean thought or glance would be adultery if it could; every covetous desire would be oppression, every thought of unbelief would be atheism, might it grow to its head."

How serious is this idea of the mortification of sin in believers?

"The contest is for our lives and souls. Not to be daily employing the Spirit and new nature for the mortifying of sin, is to neglect that excellent succour which God hath given us against our greatest enemy. If we neglect to make use of what we have received, God may justly hold his hand from giving us more. His graces, as well as his gifts, are bestowed on us to use, exercise, and trade with. Not to be daily mortifying sin, is to sin against the goodness, kindness, wisdom, grace, and love of God, who hath furnished us with a principle of doing it."

The Lord has seen fit to point out sin in me as I have been reading this book and the many Scriptures Owen cites as references as he writes. It is my prayer that He will continue to do so, and to cleanse me from every iniquity.

I will post more of these quotes from the book later, but I urge you to read it yourself online, or purchase the volume from Banner of Truth.