The Mortification of Sin

Today we continue our study through John Owen’s book, The Mortification of Sin. The idea is we read this together and that we read the corresponding chapters prior to the blog post each week. So hopefully if you are joining us you have already read the first four chapter, but if not, we’re not too far along for you to catch up or simply join in. Each Wednesday I hope to post a blog that will contain thoughts, quotes, and questions related to the previous week’s reading.

As we read, may we keep in mind Owen’s goal in writing this book as stated in the preface: “to promote the work of gospel mortification in the hearts of believers and direct them into safe paths where they will find rest for their souls.” (viii)

Chapter 3, The Work of the Spirit in Mortification, begins with this great reminder:

The Holy Spirit is our only sufficiency for the work of mortification. All ways and means apart from Him have no true effect. He only is the great power behind it, and He works in us as He pleases.

He then begins by discussing vain methods of mortification, which can be man-made means that were never appointed by God for this purpose, or even God-given methods that are not used in the proper place or order. Owen says in the latter case many consider them as the fountain and not the stream coming from the fountain. He also believes we often seek to accomplish our own victory and that we may fight against sin for a time, but as the pain of conviction wears off we give up the fight and then sin returns to its former dominion. His conclusion: These ways are not sufficient. There is no self-endeavour that can accomplish mortification. Almighty energy is necessary for its accomplishment.

Some questions for you to consider:

1. In what ways do you attempt to destroy the sins that trouble you?

2. What are you trusting in to change you?

3. What are the reasons such things do not work?

4. How do you often use the right things - such as reading the Bible, prayer, fasting, etc. - in the wrong way to accomplish mortification?

In the second half of chapter three Owen focuses on the Spirit’s work in mortification and says that God promised His Spirit to be given to us for this very work. He lays out three ways the Spirit mortifies sin in the lives of believers:

1. He causes our hearts to abound in grace and the fruits that are contrary to the works of the flesh (See Galatians 5:19-24). If you have just finished a delicious, healthy meal prepared for you by your spouse, you will be too satisfied and full to even consider then eating at Cactus Willies or Old Country Buffet (and if you would choose one of those buffets over a home-cooked meal, you need to come eat at our house sometime!). Perhaps not the best analogy, but something kind of like that.

2. By the effective destruction of the root and habit of sin, to weaken, destroy, and take it away. Praise God the Spirit does this in our lives. He takes away our stony heart and burns the very root of our lusts.

3. He brings the cross of Christ into the heart of a sinner by faith, and gives communion with Christ in his death, and fellowship in his suffering.

Some are concerned that all this focus on mortification and fighting against sin will move us away from the gospel of grace, but notice how often and careful Owen is to ground this mortification, not only in the work of the Spirit, but in our communion with Christ!

So how does our role line up with the work of the Spirit? (Jerry Bridges has a great book on this, The Discipline of Grace: God’s Role & Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness). Owen contends that the Spirit does not so work in us that it is not still an act of our obedience.

The Holy Spirit works in us and with us, not against us or without us, so that His assistance is an encouragement as to the accomplishing of the work.

Philippians 2:12-13

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

God provides the way of escape, he gives us the desire to escape, he inclines our heart to turn from the temptation, we turn by his grace and enablement, and he removes the temptation.

In Chapter 4 Owen seeks to show the joy of our spiritual life depends greatly upon the mortification of sin.

He wants to make clear he is not saying this joy proceeds from our success, as if it were tied to it. Yes, the use of means for the obtaining of peace is ours, but the bestowing of it is God’s prerogative.

Mortification is not the immediate means that God has instituted to give us life, vigour, courage, and consolation. The immediate cause of these privileges is our adoption...Our spiritual life, vigour, courage and consolation, then, come at the hand of the Spirit as we sense and understand our adoption and justification.

So here’s a big question: What is the relationship between justification, adoption, and mortification?

And here is a huge truth about the deceitfulness and deadly danger of sin:

Sin untunes and unframes the heart itself, by entangling its affections. It diverts the heart from the spiritual frame that is required for vigorous communion with God. It lays hold on the affections, rendering its object beloved and desirable, so expelling the love of the Father (1 John 2:15; 3:17). The umortified soul cannot say uprightly and truly that God is its portion, having something else that it loves. The soul and its affections, that should be full of God, cannot be full of Him, since it is entangled in worldly pursuits.

Owen ends chapter four with a helpful gardening illustration on pages 24-25, another reminder of the need for daily mortification and daily fixing our eyes on Jesus!

NEXT WEEK

Read chapters 5-6 by next Wednesday. We have only just begun so there is still plenty of time for you to get the book and to read along.

YOUR TURN

It would be great to hear what you gained from these opening chapters. Feel free to post comments below or talk with one another about what you are reading. Do not feel that you need to say anything shocking or profound. Just share what stirred your heart or what gave you pause or what confused you. Let’s make sure we’re reading this book together.

WSC Q&A #43 & #44

#43 Q: What is the preface to the ten commandments? 
A: The preface to the ten commandments is in these words, I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Exodus 20:2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

#44 Q: What does the preface to the ten commandments teach us?
A: The preface to the ten commandments teaches us that because God is the Lord, and our God, and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all his commandments.
1 Peter 1:14-19 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

I am doing something a little different this week by combining last week's and this week's catechism. As you can see from the Q&As, they build off of each other and I felt they were too connected to separate them into two blog posts. 

Perhaps some may find it odd that God would give a preface to his law. After all, he is God! He does not need to preface anything he commands. Notice, though, what God is doing here. He is reminding the Exodus community (and us) of who he is and what he has done for his people. Why should we obey this law that we're about to receive? Because God is Lord over all. He is our God, and he is our Redeemer. God, in this preface, is revealing something about himself. Yes, he is the sovereign Lord of all. He has a right to command what he wills and he has a right to demand and expect perfect obedience to his law. But here he is revealing that what he desires is that his people obey and follow his law out of a sense of joy and gratitude for who God is and what he has done for us in delivering us out of the bondage and slavery of sin and the devil. Why should we strive to keep the commandments of God? Not simply because he is God, but because he is our God, the God who has made us a people when we were not a people. The God who has made us into a holy nation, a royal priesthood, a chosen race, a people for his own possession. When we reflect and meditate on this truth, how can we not have a deep longing and desire to serve and please God as he has commanded?

Worth Reading

As we continue this weekly series we remind you that the inclusion of links to various articles does not mean we endorse everything written by the author or even necessarily agree with everything in the linked article, but we do think it's worth reading and thinking about with discernment.

Ephesians 4

The gathered worship for Proclamation will be held at Westminster PCA in Lancaster at 5pm this Sunday, November 1. It is a special, one-time service where we are officially “organized” into a particular congregation of the PCA. We will not have a sermon on the gospel of Mark, but three separate “charges”: to the pastor, to the officers, and to the congregation. Ephesians 4 is a good chapter to read in preparation for this service.

The Church Is Not a Drive-Through Restaurant

This is good for us to be reminded of on the weekend of our particularization service. I thank God for the people of Proclamation who have made many counter-cultural sacrifices in becoming part of this new local body of Christ.

What is Reformation Day?

A single event on a single day changed the world. It was October 31, 1517. . .One of Luther’s 95 Theses simply declares, “The Church’s true treasure is the gospel of Jesus Christ.” That alone is the meaning of Reformation Day. The church had lost sight of the gospel because it had long ago papered over the pages of God’s Word with layer upon layer of tradition. . .What is Reformation Day? It is the day the light of the gospel broke forth out of darkness. It was the day that began the Protestant Reformation.

The Reformation Gave Us A Seat At The Table

Among all the critical rediscoveries during the Reformation, it is easy to overlook the importance of recovering the Lord’s Supper as a covenantal meal (not a re-presenting of Christ’s atoning death) with all the elements (bread and cup) distributed to every believer (no longer withholding the cup from the laity). The Lord’s Supper acts as a family table where we can enjoy fellowship with each other and with our Host, partaking of the rich feast of blessings purchased for us at the cross.

Should Christians Take Part in Halloween Celebrations?

Jesus-loving, Bible-reading, well-meaning Christians disagree about whether it is appropriate for a believer to participate in Halloween activities. . .

The Mortification of Sin

Today we begin working our way through John Owen’s book, The Mortification of Sin. The idea is we read this together and that we read the corresponding chapters prior to the blog post each week. So hopefully if you are joining us you have already read the first two chapters. Each Wednesday I hope to post a blog that will contain thoughts, quotes, and questions related to the previous week’s reading.

As we read, may we keep in mind Owen’s goal in writing this book as stated in the preface: “to promote the work of gospel mortification in the hearts of believers and direct them into safe paths where they will find rest for their souls.” (viii)

How does the gospel inform and empower and direct our fight against sin?

In the opening chapter Owen examines the second half of Romans 8:13, “if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live”, and comes to this thesis:

The choicest believers, who are assuredly freed from the condemning power of sin, should also make it their business all of their days to mortify the indwelling power of sin. (2)

Owen claimed that the fight against sin is a necessary and central part of the Christian life, and that “there is a clear connection between the mortifying of the deeds of the body and living” (2). Does this mean that our salvation - ‘life’ - depends on our work of mortifying sin? No. Eternal life is the gift of God (Romans 6:21), so Owen points out the connection is not a cause and effect connection, but rather a means and end.

It is very important that in our fight against sin we recognize that “our strength in the performance of this duty comes through the Spirit” (2). This is Owen’s third point in chapter one and he reminds us that all other ways of mortification are in vain. Owen writes, “Mortification from a self-strength, carried on by ways of self-invention, to the end of a self-righteousness, is the soul and substance of all false religion in the world” (3). A strong statement to be sure and one to keep in mind as we carry on the fight.

Our fight is against indwelling sin, the corrupted flesh that can give birth to evil desires. We are to fight against or mortify indwelling sin. To mortify is to put to death. Owen says it is “the constant duty of believers to render a death blow to the deeds of the flesh, that they may not have life and strength to bring forth their destructive influence” (4). Perhaps he has in mind James 1:13-15.

Owen begins chapter two by reminding us of Colossians 3:5:

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

And then he asks:

            Do you mortify?

Do you make it your daily work?

You must always be at it while you live;

do not take a day off from this work;

Always be killing sin or it will be killing you.

He then gives six reasons for why we must be at this important work.

1. Indwelling sin always abides while we are in this world, therefore, there is always a need for it to be mortified.

He that is appointed to kill an enemy, has only done half his work if he quits before the enemy is dead.

2. Sin is still acting and laboring to bring forth the deeds of the flesh.

This may have been the point that hit me hardest in the first two chapters. Listen to the warnings Owen gives:

When sin lets us alone, we may let sin alone; but sin is always active when it seems to be the most quiet, and its waters are often deep when they are calm… Sin is always acting, always conceiving, and always seducing and tempting...If sin is always of killing our souls, and we are slothful, negligent, and foolish in this batter, can we expect a favorable outcome? There is not a day but sin foils or is foiled, prevails or is prevailed upon. It will always be so while we live in this world. Sin will not spare for one day.

This is where it is important to remember that our fight must be driven by the gospel. It must be empowered by the Holy Spirit. If we are not careful we can read that warning and be driven to despair! How can I defeat so great an enemy? Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ! God will complete the work He has begun in us. Greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world. If we walk by the Spirit we will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

3. Sin, if not continually mortified, will bring forth great, cursed, scandalous, and soul-destroying sins.

Every time sin rises to tempt or entice, it always seeks to express itself in the extreme.

Think about that! Don’t be deceived by sin or think you can tame it.

4. The Holy Spirit and our new nature are given to us to oppose sin and lust.

His graces and gifts are bestowed on us to use, exercise, and get benefit from. If we do not seek daily to mortify sin, we sin against the goodness, kindness, wisdom, grace, and love of God, Who has given us the weapons of our warfare.

5. Neglect of this duty makes the inner man decay instead of renewing him.

6. Our spiritual growth is our daily duty.

This cannot be accomplished without the daily mortifying of sin… We will not be making progress in holiness without walking over the bellies of our lusts.

Gotta love Owen’s use of imagery!

Owen’s main point so far:

Even while we claim the meritorious mortification of our sin through the work of the cross of Christ, and though the implantation of our new life in Christ is in opposition to and destructive of the expression of sin, sin remains, acts, and works in the best of believers while we are yet in this world. It must be our daily duty to mortify it.

And one closing thought from Owen: Let a man pretend what he will, little concern over sin is a serious offense to the grace and mercy of God! Or, as Charles Spurgeon put it, “I cannot trifle with the evil which slew my best Friend.”

NEXT WEEK

Read chapters 3-4 by next Wednesday. We have only just begun so there is still plenty of time for you to get the book and read along.

YOUR TURN

It would be great to hear what you gained from these opening chapters. Feel free to post comments below or talk with one another about what you are reading. Do not feel that you need to say anything shocking or profound. Just share what stirred your heart or what gave you pause or what confused you. Let’s make sure we’re reading this book together.

The Mortification of Sin

In my sermon on Mark 9:42-50 I encouraged us in our fight against sin to ask the question: What do I need to get rid of? I’m going to read John Owen’s book, The Mortification of Sin, praying God will use this book to help expose the idols of my heart and enable me more and more to die unto sin and live unto righteousness. I invite you to read along with me, following the reading schedule below. I plan to write a brief update related to the reading each Wednesday on this blog.