Is There No Evidence Existing for the Power of the Word?

I have been reading John Owen's discourse entitled, "The Reason of Faith." He argues why faith is reasonable in that God expresses His mind in the Scripture. Since God reveals His mind in the Scripture, men are therefore to believe in this revelation. The chapter I just completed was a real encouragement and strengthened my faith in Jesus Christ. What proof does the believer have that the Bible is from God? Well, ultimately there is no scientific proof, (even scientific proof does not make it effectual), but Owen does give some evidences to believers of how we may know the Bible to be from God.

1. The Bible brings conviction over sin "on those who expected it not, who desired it not, and who would avoid it if by any means possible they could." Think about this in your own life and this will prove the power that accompanies the Bible. We love sin. We love ourselves. How strong and efficacious is the Word of God then that it points us away from our sin and ourself! Many men are comfortable in their sin, and find enjoyment in their secret lusts. The Bible causes men to enjoy God! Hear this from Owen,

Where it gives disquietment, all the world cannot give it peace; and where it speaks peace, there is none who can give it trouble.

When the word of God moves on us, pointing us to Christ, it does so with such power that nothing can conquer our affections.

2. It is the light shining in the dark place. The entire world is dark, eternally separated from life with God because of sin. The Word is the avenue where men may come to the knowledge of God and truly live. Owen continues,

And the minds of men are naturally in darkness; there is a blindness upon them that they cannot see nor discern spiritual things, no, not when they are externally proposed unto them...With respect unto both these kinds of darkness the Scripture is a light, and accompanied with a spiritual illuminating efficacy.

The world is filled with vanity, evil, and confusion, but the Word comes to the mind as a light shining in the darkness. It opens up our understanding and conforms us to the image of the new man, Jesus Christ.

3. It evidences itself by the awe that it puts on the minds of men who hate the Scriptures and who hate God. We must understand, all those who are outside of Jesus Christ hate God and hate the Word. But, these men and women will rarely utterly reject and absolutely refuse to give small countenance to God and His Word. There is a slight respect for these in the despisers. This is "because of that testimony for himself which he keeps alive in them whether they will or no." They know in their conscience that this Word is from God, though they hate it and despise it. Though they wish they could break free of His rule, they still understand that the Bible manifests itself to be the Word of God.

4. It evidences its power by providing strong consolations "in the deepest and most unrelievable distresses." Men and women suffering for the Christian faith have been locked up in dungeons, beat and stripped, spit on, ridiculed, but...

in these and the like distresses doth the word of God, by its divine power and efficacy, break through all interposing difficulties, all dark and discouraging circumstances, supporting, refreshing, and comforting such poor distressed suffers, yea, commonly filling them under overwhelming calamities with "joy unspeakable and full of glory."

How can this word give that much consolation in such insurmountable circumstances? It is because it comes from the Holy Spirit, who comforts believers in sufferings. It is from God. This is the power of the Word.

Are you allowing the Word to transform your thoughts, affections, desires, emotions, and reflections? Know, believers, we have a true word from God in Jesus Christ. Your Bible is that Word from God showing you the power that is in the Gospel. Take, read; and when you do believe that it is the power of God unto salvation!

Loving Yourself

This post will attempt to summarize my life for the last six months or so. My reading of John Owen continues, but my understanding of Jesus Christ has increased. This is the goal. I also have been struck at how much I love myself, rather than my Savior. However, here are a few things that the Holy Spirit has taught me in my recent readings and meditations.

1. I need the Bible to understand God.
This may seem a "no-brainer," but the depth of understanding this truth has become clearer to my inner man lately. This is the grace of God. I have been reading Owen's "Work of the Spirit," and two of the treatises in that volume deal with this subject. I will commend you to do what the Spirit has been teaching me lately. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you His word. Ask Him to give you insight into the text, that you may understand your need for Christ.

If you do not read and meditate upon the Word, how will you ever align yourself with the will of God? If you do not understand the mind of God, how will you ever pray correctly? If you do not pray, how will you ever be found in Christ? These things have become more real for me lately. Are you praying more? relying on Christ? desperate for a word from God?

2. Prayer is the work of spiritual maturity in Christ
The Lord has been gracious to me in showing me that prayer is the work to Christ-likeness. It typifies Jesus Christ in that you show your dependency upon God the most when you pray. Prayer should always be coupled with the Scripture. Once again, the Scriptures show to the Church the mind of God. Understanding the mind of God, gives us the tools to pray rightly to God. So let me ask you, as the Holy Spirit asks me every day. Do you pray? I am not asking to you spend 10 minutes in the morning going through a routine word order. Do you pray with unction? Do you contend with God? Do you sweat blood?

If we find Christ as our goal, which I hope all Christians do. We will understand our need to pray.

The book I just picked up which has encouraged me to pray is D. A. Carson's "A Call to Spiritual Reformation." Though I am only three chapters in, this book has reminded me of my need to cry out to my God for help, strength, wisdom, and Christ-likeness.

3. The aim, the vision, the goal; Everything, is being found in Christ
If Christ is not there, I should not be. I pray my desire would be to hate what God hates and love what God loves. There is coming a kingdom that will not fail. This kingdom will never fall. Are you found in Christ daily? Do not think if you prayed a prayer you are found in Christ. Being found in Christ is a daily thing. Do you find yourself clinging to Christ more when things are different as you expect? The Holy Spirit continues to show me my sin, my hatred of God, and my faithlessness.

Will Jesus Christ be your portion? Will the supremacy of Jesus Christ be your mantra in life? Will you lose all things that you may gain Jesus Christ? Will you say with Paul, "all things are garbage to gain Christ?"

Why Does God Not Take This Sin Away From Me!? (Mortification Chapter 8)

We continue in chapter eight in "The Mortification of Sin." This chapter was revolutionary in my understanding of spiritual warfare. There is always that "one" sin that seems to plague us. We think that if we could just get rid of that one lust our spiritual life would abound. We think, "Why does God not take this sin away from me?" Surely, we know how to bring God more glory than He does right? Well, Owen answers these things in a way that is truly captivating.

The second rule proposed in the mortification of sin, or the rule that must be true if any one sin be mortified, is that there must be universal obedience. Owen sets this up,

A man finds any lust to bring him into the condition formerly described; it is powerful, strong, tumultuating, leads captive, vexes, disquiets, takes away peace; he is not able to bear it; wherefore he sets himself against it, prays against it, groans under it, sighs to be delivered; but in the meantime, perhaps in other duties,--in other ways that are not of the same kind with the lust wherewith he is troubled,--he is loose and negligent.

This is the heart of Owen's argument. We are prone to set are eyes on our sin, but take them off Christ. We are so depressed over this or that sin, which we should be, and seek to get rid of it because it "bothers us." In the meantime, we skim over sins that are just as heinous to God. We fail to repent from sin that Jesus Christ died on the cross to take away. Owen asks,

Now, canst thou think that God will set in with such hypocritical endeavors, --that ever his Spirit will bear witness to the treachery and falsehood of thy spirit?

Why do you desire the mortification of a certain sin? This goes back and applies to the last rule we learned. All mortification needs to have its interest in the glory of Christ. Is not your struggle with this or that sin just because it troubles your soul? This, I am afraid, is hypocrisy at its worst. You seek to rid your lust, but you are loose in conversation, you eat too much at night, you do not pray and seek the Lord with all your heart! Do not think the Lord will give you victory over your sin since your heart is not His anyways. Who knows why God has you suffer under this or that sin. God would have you suffer under this sin for years so that you may see your need of Him in all areas of your life, every second of your life. God does not desire half, or even three-fourths of your heart, God wants all of your heart. This the Great Shepherd will have.

Think about your life. "Know that every lust, every omission of duty, is burdensome to God, though but one is so to him." Your other sins are putting you on a course of apathy and spiritual death. Do you not think that your other sins will cause the sin that you desire to get rid of to become more excited in your affections? Are you neglecting time in the Word or time in prayer before God? Are you seeking to obey the commandments of the Lord? Are they your delight? This is the only way that God would have it; you must be about universal obedience in your spiritual walk if you are to mortify any sin.

Do You Have An Interest In Christ? Mortification of Sin (Chapter 7)

Going back to "The Mortification of Sin," we left off in chapter 6 of this great work by Owen. Chapter 7 begins a long strand of rules that apply to the mortification of any sin in your heart. In this chapter, Owen gives some general rules for this work. By rules, Owen means things that must be true in the work itself.

The first thing that must be true of any person desiring the mortification of sin is that they need to be a believer. In my opinion, this is understood. It is inconceivable that any person outside of the faith could mortify any one sin. The reason why this is impossible is that they have not died to the enemy within. As Owen says, it is those who "are risen with Christ, verse 1; whose 'life is hid with Christ in God,' verse 3; 'who shall appear with him in glory,' verse 4. (Colossians 3)." Also,

There is no death of sin without the death of Christ.

Considering, then, the unbeliever, one may start to think that this needs to be the present work of an unbeliever. Owen disagrees. Owen thinks, "So it is in this case: sin is to be mortified, but something is to be done in the first place to enable us thereunto." In previous chapters, Owen pointed out that only those who possess the Spirit of God could mortify sin. So it is in this case, the unbeliever is not indwelt by the Holy Spirit and does not have the right weapon to combat the enemy. Owen puts it,

All attempts, then, for mortification of any lust, without an interest in Christ, are vain.

What Owen would call this man to, being perplexed by his sin and not converted, is the "work of conversion of the whole soul, and not to this or that particular lust." The soul that has no interest in Christ is in bondage to the law of sin that resides and reigns in the heart. There is no reign of grace in the heart of the unbeliever. When this person tries to get rid of this or that sin, they may have temporary success. They may quit drinking for a week or a month or so, but soon they will return to the slop. The Holy Spirit is the only one who can mortify any sin in the heart. This leads to the frustration of sinners. They desire to get rid of the disease plaguing them, but there is no interest in Christ. Soon they will give up all attempts of the things troubling their conscience. After this, the law of sin has free reign to perform its design. Owen states,

And this is the usual issue with person attempting the mortification of sin without an interest in Christ first obtained. It deludes them, hardens them,--destroys them.

It is like trying to hang a picture on a wall where the nail is weak. The picture will continually fall to the floor or even break. Without the nail in The Rock, there will be no hope to anchor the soul.

Not only must a person be a believer to mortify sin, but this work is also a work of faith. The work of mortification is the work of living men, not dead. Faith is living, causing the soul to grasp God. Those who possess the Spirit and exercise faith find encouragement in this work, rather than discouragement. They hear the Word preached and know they have an Advocate at their side. Believers do not look to themselves or their ability to bring about this work. Believers understand that this is a supernatural work and the one working for them is stronger than the enemy within. Mortification is not a work of getting rid of any one sin, but remember that believers are called to mortify all sin in the body. If an unbeliever cannot mortify one sin, how is he expected to mortify the "deeds of the flesh?" Only those who have an interest in Christ have the weapons to fight this spiritual battle.

Consider your spiritual walk; you may have full confidence in your salvation, but are you fighting the fight with faith in Christ. Is Jesus Christ your hope for salvation? Just as Israel was reminded so we are, the fight belongs to the Lord! Believers, this is not an option for your spiritual life. This is a command from the Shepherd of our souls, Jesus Christ (John 10). Remember that you can do nothing without Him. He is the vine you are the branches.

Quit Trying, Give Up Hope? Remainders (Chapter 17)

Chapter 17 is the last chapter in this discourse. I am glad that I have made it this far, but it is bittersweet. The challenge that Owen sets forth is alien. There is true adventure in this work, and I have to say, this book has become a watershed moment in my life. Having read this book before, it amazes me how sovereign God is in all His dealings with His children. The Father decided that now was the time that I would see my sin. Believers, you serve a great God.

In this chapter, Owen evinces the strength of sin by showings its resistance against the power of The Law. The Law cannot conquer this enemy. The Law "entices" the enemy in a way. It does this by first "discovering" the law of sin that is in the heart. The Law is the agent who discovers this great enemy in the heart. Paul said, "I had not known sin, but by the law." Owen continues,

Sin in the soul is like a secret hectical distemper in the body--its being unknown and unperceived is one great means of its prevalency.

In the law's discovery of this enemy, the law also informs us of its nature. This inbred enemy is evil. We are only aware of this because of the law. It is the law that informs the soul of its vileness and its deadly effect. The law pleads with the soul, "It is a deadly foe." Scripture tells us, "For the wages of sin is death."

Not only these two things, namely, the discovering of sin and its revealing its nature, but the law pronounces judgment on the person. Owen says,

"Abide in this state and perish," is its language. It leaves not the soul without this warning in this world, and will leave it without excuse on that account in the world to come.

In this, we are able to see the power of the law. When the law pronounces judgment upon the individual, it "affrights the soul and slays the soul." The law is quite right in saying, "You are that man," and leaves us with no hope in the world.

Despite this great work of the law, the discovery of the enemy, informing of the enemy’s nature, and its pronouncement of judgment, it will never conquer the law of sin that abides in the soul. You would think that this would be enough to conquer any enemy. If any force were able to locate an enemy, having both its position and its intent, and then gave instruction on the attack, you would think the force were handicap if they could not subdue the enemy. Oh, how we are handicap! This great enemy would conquer all if God were not gracious!

Owen then sets the reader up. He says, "Do we not see it by experience, that many are wrought upon by the preaching of the law to a relinquishment of many sins and amendment of their lives?" Of course, the answer is positive. The preaching of the law does caution men of their sin. We know many people who feel the guilt of their sin and forsake some habit for a season. Nevertheless, go back a year later, maybe two if not in a shorter time, and the law of sin will burst forth with even more strength. This is because the enemy was not killed. The fruit of the enemy was done away with, but the root stood strong through the storm of the law. Owen gives an illustration,

As a traveler, in his way meeting with a violent storm of thunder and rain, immediately turns out of his way to some house or tree for his shelter, but yet this does not cause him to give over his journey,--so soon as the storm is over he returns to his way and progress again; so it is with men in bondage unto sin.

This is the frustration in life. So many people are weighed down with their guilt from sin. Feeling guilty, they go to church and hear the Word of God spoken. However, not being regenerate, they are unable to discern spiritual things and hear the Law pronounced against them. This causes them to promise to themselves that they will not perform this certain thing nagging them. Then, they make a vow to themselves or even maybe to their imagination of God. Since the motives were wrong from the beginning and the heart never changed by grace, the sinner is soon back in the mire of transgression. This leads to such frustration and discouragement that the sinner will give up hope of ever "matching up." This is the only remedy that the unregenerate are aware of in combating sin, this vowing. All hope is lost, and the law of sin has full reign since they have no weapon to fight against the enemy. Now, I know this is not the case 100 percent of the time, God does give effectual call some in this same situation. However, I feel that if we look into many of our churches today we could find this story somewhere in the pew.

The law, therefore, cannot conquer this enemy. The law only enrages and entices this deadly enemy. It brings a sentence, but not pardon. It brings the disease, but no remedy. However,

The Holy Ghost compares sinners, because of the odious, fierce, poisonous nature of this indwelling sin, unto lions, bears, and asps, Isaiah 11:6-9. Now, this is the excellency of gospel grace, that it changes the nature and inward principles of these otherwise passionate and untamed beasts, making the wolf as the kid, the lion as the lamb, and the bear as the cow.

Repentance from sin and trusting in Jesus Christ will always do what the law can never do. Saving grace will make the heart brand-new. The old heart is killed, and the new heart has reign. The enemy within still has life, but it is on its deathbed. Believers, you will always have this old man nagging at you from his deathbed. He will call to bring him food, water, and entertainment. However, when Jesus Christ returns, all things will become new. The old man will finally die and the elect will give glory to God the Father in Jesus Christ by their indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This, my friends, is the hope we wait for. This life is to come. On that day, we will understand that everything was created for glorifying God. We wait for this day.

Why Unbelieving Hearts Desire Naturalism and Murder. Remainders (Chapter 16)

With only one more chapter left in this treatise after this one, the end is getting exciting. This chapter speaks of the strength of indwelling sin in its manifestation in unbelievers. It is easy to say that this is where one may truly see its strength. There is no Spirit combating the law of sin, only a severely seared conscience. Remember, before we may grow proud, that this enemy dwells within us as well! Believers, you will never truly mortify your sin until Jesus Christ saves your soul on that day. Pray, fight; watch, so that you may fight the good fight!

Owen begins the treatise, and builds as well, upon the premise that,

Every creature of God has in its creation a law of operation implanted in it...

The power in the law of sin is unveiled in its ability to cause men to have no regard to even the basic things of life. Some things, Owen argues, are just basic to creation generally, even animals. Things like "nourishing their young, to live quietly with them of the same kind and race with them, to seek and follow after that which is good for them in that state and condition wherein they are created, ect." We do not need a vivid imagination to see where Owen is going with this. However, Owen reminds the reader that within man there is a moral responsibility that is not found in the rest of creation. Man alone has the ability and opportunity to enjoy God and yield to him in conscious obedience. Because of this, man is held morally responsible as well. Owen explains,

But he must do it also in subjection to God, and obey Him therein, and do it unto his glory, the law of moral obedience passing over all his whole being and all his operations.

Not only do men have an inbred instinct of certain things, they have an inbred law as well. As we will see, the law of sin causes men to cast these things aside.

Would you not think it strange if you saw cats and dogs destroy their offspring as they were being born? Now, I know that there are times when animals do this sort of thing. I know that male lions will kill male cubs to destroy future competition. I have seen some dogs kill pups only a few hours after being born. However, it is in the nature of animals to have a tender care for their offspring. God places this within creation so the animal will exist. How strange it is then that today we see too many people selfishly decide that a baby is not worth the responsibility. How strong is the power of the law of sin that human beings, who have children, would kill their offspring without any regard for the helpless babies? Certain known civilizations often sacrificed children to false gods. This, my friends, is one example of how the law of sin can cast off that thing naturally implanted in a human being from nature. Owen explains,

that inbred traitor, sin, [is the thing that can] stop the course of nature, when all the sails of it, that carry it forward, are so filled as they are in that of affections to children, but also drive it backwards with such a violence and force as to cause men so to deal with their own children as a good man would not be hired with any reward to deal with his dog.

Not only this, for it is more than apparent today that sin dominates our culture, but the law of sin also has the ability to cast off all consideration of the Gospel. Think about this for a moment. We are all aware of those times when our conscience screams at us we are in the wrong. Our conscience even rightly informs our intuition of the judgment that is due because of our violation of law. Does the Gospel not remedy this dreadful thought? However, how many do we know who have believed considering all the people in the world? True believers in Christ are few indeed. This seems irrational, nevertheless, this is the enemy we have to deal with.

Consider how great the Gospel is:

1. The Gospel is the most reasonable thing that can be proposed to the understanding of man! Man was created to bring glory to God and Him alone. It is man who has failed to do so; and it is his fault alone. However, God offers free pardon through the Gospel so that we may live to our utmost purpose and escape the burning wrath of the infinite God.

2. The Gospel is the most profitable invitation!

3. The Gospel is the most pleasant thing that a man can received. Owen comments, "Surely it is a pleasant thing to be brought out of darkness into light, out of a dungeon unto a throne, from captivity and slavery to Satan and cursed lusts, to the glorious liberty of the children of God."

4. The Gospel is necessary. Do not be deceived. Jesus Christ is your only hope for eternal life. History is full of examples how nothing will fill the empty void in your soul. You are not missing sex, alcohol, entertainment, a relationship; you are missing Jesus Christ. He is the only One who can remedy your ailing soul! Owen continues,

Tell men ten thousand times that this is wisdom, yea, riches, that all their profit lies in it, that they will assuredly and eternally perish, and that , it may be, within a few hours, if they receive not the Gospel...They will rather perish in their lusts than accept mercy!

How indwelling sin blinds the eyes of the heart from seeing this precious, multi-faceted jewel of the Gospel. All of life is contained therein, yet, it is rejected at the cost of 30-second pleasure.
How unreasonable is this! God offers sinners eternal life and it is rejected! Owen continues,

To leave God for the devil, after a man has made some trial of him and his service, heaven for hell, after a man has had some cheering, refreshing thought of it, the fellowship of the saints for an ale-house or a brothel-house, after a man has been admitted unto their communion, and tasted of the pleasantness of it; to leave walking in pure, clear, straight paths, to wallow in mire, draughts and filth.

Believers look at the nations and see these things! Upon this thought, remember the grace and mercy that God has shown you by giving you repentance. The law of sin's grasp on sinners’ heart is so strong that despite the beauties of the Gospel, it will leave them all for the ugliness of sin! You too were like this, but God in His mercy has caused your heart to live! May this cause you to tremble and be in constant thankfulness as you pray to your Father. Be thankful that your heart can say that you would rather have Jesus Christ than anything this world can offer!

Is The River Not Flowing? Remainders of Indwelling Sin In Believers (Chapter 15)

Having considered the power and efficacy of the law of sin, Owen now begins to discuss ways whereby the law of sin causes the hearts of believers to decay in the things of grace. When first brought into communion with God, we are full of humility and praise because we remember from the position we came. However, as we grow in the faith, that "first love" begins to wear off and we no longer consider grace a supernatural thing. This is what Owen would have us fight off. May we remember our first love, may we remember that we are sinners who deserve the absolute wrath of God because of His awesome holiness.

Owen first considers "the many streams and springs" that proceed from the heart upon our first conversion. These springs are what give our hearts the high "faith, love, holiness, fruitfulness, and obedience unto Christ." Owen gives a couple of reasons why this is true.

1. Newly professed Christians have a "fresh, vigorous sense of pardoning mercy." Remember how awesome it was when we considered from whence we came. Imprinted on the heart was that we deserve nothing that comes from the hand of God. Our hearts were filled with thanksgiving and humility. Owen illustrates this with Luke 7:47. She loved Christ so because of her being forgiven. The only way we will love Christ with a full heart is to have before us how much Christ has loved us. If we think this mercy a common thing, our love for Christ will be common and cold.

2. The newly professed have a "fresh taste of spiritual things." Owen illustrates,

As a man that has been long kept in a dungeon, if brought forth on a sudden into the light of the sun, finds so much pleasure and contentment in it, in the beauties of the old creation, that he things he can never be weary of it, nor shall ever be contended on any account to be under darkness again.

However, we see the marvelous light of the new creation in Jesus Christ. Do we keep before our minds the beautiful light of the Gospel we have been shown? Do we remember that we were dead in our trespasses and sins with no hope in the world? I believe that we do not remember that we came from the dungeon and have become used to the warmth of the sun. This is how indwelling sin captures us and causes us to decline in our spiritual life. Owen lists a couple of tangible ways this enemy captures our heart and causes us not to bask in the light of the Gospel.

1. It works in our hearts by "sloth and negligence." It causes our hearts not to continually be thinking about these truths of the Gospel. We begin to think about TV, schedules, assignments, money, responsibilities, and forget that our affections need stirring toward the Gospel. What does the Word of God remind us? Matthew 6:33, "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." I know how hard this is. I try to remind myself continually to allow the cross of Jesus Christ, in who are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, to fill all of my affections. Owen continues,

Let the heart never so little disuse itself to gracious, soul-affecting thoughts of the love of God, the cross of Christ, the greatness and excellency of gospel mercy, the beauties of holiness...

Allow these things I have put in bold print to fill your minds every hour. If you lack to do this constantly, your spirituality will decay and decline.

2. It works in our soul by "unframing the soul so that it shall have formal, weary, powerless thought of those things which should prevail with it unto diligence in thankful obedience." It causes our soul to see the beauties of spiritual discipline as common things. It makes our soul not "hunger and thirst for righteousness." It makes us see grace as a common thing. Is grace a common thing however? No, it is a supernatural thing! Owen commands,

When we have anything to do wherein faith or love towards God is to be exercised, we must do it with all our hearts, with all our minds, strength, and souls; not slightly and perfunctorily [performing as a routine duty; lacking interest or enthusiasm; apathetic], which God abhors.

Perform all spiritual duty with all your soul and so "engraft them upon your soul." This will cause those springs and streams in the heart to flow free and swift. No longer doing this will cause us to be slight in our affection toward God. We must always "Be serious in spiritual things if ever we intend to be bettered by them."

3. It will take the simplicity of the Gospel away from our soul. It will cause our minds to wonder and doubt. Do we need anything else to rouse our soul but the thought of forgiveness from sin? Do we need any other encouragement than that Jesus Christ is with us until the end of the age? I think not. This alone will fuel our heart to love God. Owen continues, "And he that really improves the gospel truths, thought he hears them a thousand times, they will be always new and fresh unto him, because they put him on newness of practice."

Not only does indwelling sin cause our affection for the gospel to be slight, making it a common thing, but it also causes us to be slight in our watching against Satan. It causes our minds not to be on constant alert from the enemy without. We have the enemy within, the law of sin that pleads for its obedience; the law of sin is a weapon Satan uses when he attacks our soul. However, we must oust the enemy within by filling our affections with the things above and we must watch and pray lest the enemy from without come and cause us to fall. Owen gives us a couple of ways he does this:

1. The law of sin "entangles the soul in the things of world, all which are purveyors for Satan." Satan causes the world in general to entangle our thoughts, emotions, and feelings. When this happens, this causes our affection for spiritual things to be nullified. It chokes us. We then become faint and choke the new man from breathing the life of Christ into our heart.

2. It makes the soul negligent in its duties. This has been considered some, but Satan has a way "which if he cannot obtain, yet he makes our lives uncomfortable to ourselves and unfruitful to others, in weakening their root." Owen explains,

Here, if it prevails, it will not fail to produce an habitual declension in the whole course of obedience. All neglect of private duties is principled by a weariness of God, as he complains (Isaiah 43:22) "Thou hast not called upon me, thou hast been weary of me."

Are you weary of God? If you are slight in your duties before God, Owen thinks you are and so does Isaiah!

3. Indwelling sin takes advantage in the soul by taking "evil examples from professors [believers] on how they should live." Remember, your example in life should be that of Christ. Though we have heroes in this life, they should never be our aim. Our affections, once again, should not be filled with them, but on Christ, who alone can satisfy. This is when we get in the attitude, "I am not as bad as he is." We see the bad example of others and justify our own actions. In addition, we actively perform the way others do. This is not the command we have in Scripture. We should only imitate those who imitate Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).

4. Indwelling sin makes the soul "cherish some secret lust in the heart." What secret lust do you cherish your heart? Owen warns that even the smallest treasured lust will “in every way weaken spiritual strength. It weakens confidence in God in faith and prayer." Believers, we need the full armor of God to combat the enemy; one small defect in our armor will cause our spiritual death. Owen continues,

It disturbs the thoughts, and sometimes will even frighten the soul from dealing with it by meditation, lest, corrupt affections being entangled by it, grace loses ground instead of prevailing...By these and the like means it becomes to the soul like a moth in a garment, to eat up and devour the strongest threads of it, so that thought the whole hand loose together, it is easily torn apart.

In longing for sin, "If it be neglected, it certainly hardens the heart, weakens spiritual strength, enfeebles the soul, discouraging it unto all communion with God, and is a notable principle of a general decay." Why treasure your sin, when you can treasure Christ? This too is hard because the law of sin is strong in its command upon the soul, but brothers and sisters, fight it! Remember, he who dies fighting dies a victor!

6. It uses "growing in notions of truth without answerable practice." This also will cause the soul to decay and decline spiritually, as Paul reminds us, "knowledge puffs up" (1 Corinthians 8:1). If these truths are not changing and humbling our hearts, they will certainly lift it up against God. All truth from Scripture is meant for our spiritual growth. Satan causes truth not to have its right application. If the truth is not humbling you, it will build up pride.

7. It uses growth in carnal wisdom rather than spiritual wisdom. Owen comments,

So much as carnal wisdom increases, so much faith decays. They proper work of it is to teach a man to trust to and in himself; of faith, to rust wholly in another [God].

Growth in carnal wisdom destroys the work of faith altogether. It puffs up the mind, and causes the mind to leave humility.

These are some ways where the law of sin gains advantage in the soul causing its decay from the graces of God. I would ask you to consider these things and see if these are true in your life. The point is, is that some of them are true, if not all at some time! Allow the Holy Spirit to search your heart and ask Him to break away the dividing walls in your heart. Allow the Holy Spirit to conquer those fortresses that you have set up against your spiritual renewal. Remember, if you are not killing sin, sin is killing you! Allow the streams of mercy to run fresh and anew in your soul. May your heart be a tree firmly planted by the streams of living water! May you find your peace, your hope, and your joy in Jesus Christ!

Why Are The Sheep Starving Who Are In The Fold? Remainders of Indwelling Sin In Believers (Chapter 14)

Beginning this chapter, Owen relays that the main of his work has now passed. This chapter seeks to give the reader a better understanding of the "power and efficacy of indwelling sin" by showing its effects on believers. Those who have grace upon grace poured out upon their lives still fall back in the traps of the old man. Owen does this two ways: (1) By showing the great "eruptions of sin in their lives"(2) By their "habitual declensions from the frames, states, and condition of obedience and communion with God, which they had obtained."

First, Owen would have us consider the actual sins that come out of the lives of believers as evidence toward the power and efficacy of indwelling sin. He does this a couple of ways, but first Owen reminds us that in the Scriptures we must remember, "Most of them were not the lowest form of believers but they had peculiar intimacy with God." Owen points us to men like Noah, Lot, David, Hezekiah, and shows that their walk with God was constant, yet they fell. Owen comments,

An ordinary engine could never have turned them out of the course of their obedience. It was a poison that no athletic constitution of spiritual health, no antidote, could withstand.

Not only did these men fall by the power of indwelling sin, remember that they did not fall from small heights. They did not fall at the very beginning of their profession. These men had walked with God for some time when these eruptions sapped their spiritual life. Consider,

Noah, according to the lives of men in those days of the world, had walked uprightly with God some hundreds of years before he was so surprised as he was (Genesis 9). Righteous Lot seems to have been towards the end of his days ere he defiled himself with the abominations recorded. David, in a short life, had as much experience of grace and sin, and as much close,spiritual communion with God, as ever had any of the sons of men, before he was cast to the ground by this law of sin.

What better argument is needed to prove the power of indwelling sin that resides within your heart? Did not these men have much sight of the goodness and grace of God in their lives? Moreover, as Owen puts it, "who had either better furniture to oppose sin withal, or more obligation so to do, than they?"

This certainly calls our attention to this great enemy. The Scriptures would have us remember these great men, and what these men are when not submitted before the power of the Holy Spirit! Next, Owen also shows that not only were these men experienced in the things of God, but also these abominations happened after some "newly received great and stupendous mercies from the hand of God." Had not Noah just seen the annihilation of an entire wicked generation and just came out of the boat by the grace of God when he fell into drunkenness? Had not Lot seen "hell coming out of heaven" upon Sodom and Gomorrah when he fell into incest? Had not David been delivered out of many troubles and out of the hand of Saul when he fell into murder and adultery?

Are we any better than these men? Do we think we will also stand against this great enemy if we do not watch and pray? If these great men, whom God himself calls righteous, men after His own heart, and the only righteous one, fell; what does this communicate about our enemy at hand? Owen concludes this point,

They are all set up as buoys to discover unto us the sands, the shelves, the rocks, whereupon they made their shipwreck, to their hazard, danger, loss, yea, and would have done to their ruin, had not God been pleased in his faithfulness graciously to prevent it.

The law of sin also proves its power by "the habitual declensions from zeal and holiness." Owen illustrates this point with an analogy,

As the wind which will blow down a dead tree that has no root to the ground will scarcely shake or bow a living, well-rooted tree. But this it will do.

These men we find as examples in the Bible, they were men who walked close with God. This seems to be common among believers that their zeal is not as strong as it was at their first profession of Christ. Owen evidences this point by having us notice this point. Is the zeal of most believers the same as it was form the very beginning? Do they attend to the word of God as earnestly as they did when they first confessed Christ? Owen continues,

Is there the same conscientious tenderness of sinning abiding in many as was in the days of old, the same exact performance of private duties, the same love to the brethren, the same readiness for the cross, the same humility of mind and spirit, the same self-denial?

When we find this to be true in those older ones in the faith, this is evidence of the efficacy of the power of the law of sin in their heart. It has a grip on the heart where they no longer push forward, but rather take the blows as common.

Owen concludes this chapter by showing the power of indwelling by contrasting it with the provisions made against it by the Holy Spirit. Owen believes this shows us how great an enemy is before us, despite the great gifts of the Spirit given to believers for their edification. First, Owen considers the word and the ordinances of the Gospel are given for the "preventing of decays and declensions in the saints, all for the carrying them on to perfection." He uses Ephesians 4:11-15 to make his point. The work of all these ordinances is for the "equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up the body of Christ." Yet do we not find believers using demeaning words when they talk to one another? Do we not find believers dragging each other's names through the mud? Owen then asks the question,

Does it have bounds fixed to its work? Does it carry us so far, and them leave
us?

No, the very work of these gifts from the Holy Spirit is given for our perfection before God. Verse 14 states, "so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes." Yet do we not find it to be true, despite these efficacious gifts given to the church that the law of sin still prevails over many believers?

Not only this, but God has also made us mindful of this assistance and is "continually calling upon us to make use of the means appointed for the attaining of the end purpose." God is continually calling us to come and find pasture provided, so that your souls may live. Owen gives a great illustration here; please hear this rather long quote,

If we see a lamb run from the fold into the wilderness, we wonder not if it be
torn and rent of wild beasts. If we see a sheep leaving its green pastures and watercourses, to abide in dry barren heaths, we count it no marvel, nor inquire farther, if we see him lean and ready to perish; but if we find lambs wounded in the fold, we wonder at the boldness and rage of the beasts of prey that durst set upon them there...It is indeed no marvel that poor creatures who forsake their own mercies, and run away from the pasture and fold of Christ in his ordinances are rent and torn with divers lusts, and do pine away with hungerand famine; but to see men living under and enjoying all the means of spiritual thriving, yet to decay, not to be fat and flourishing, but rather daily to pine and wither, this argues some secret powerful distemper.

This argues for a strong enemy. An enemy that can cause a soldier to starve in battle who eats three times a day. The believer who is praying, reading, and attending church can still be swept away by the craft of the enemy.

Does Jesus Christ not continually pour grace out on His Church? Is He not a Living Head who gives grace upon grace to His church, yet is His Church taking one-step forward and two backward? So many times, it seems that the dispensations of grace given merely combat the powers of indwelling sin and not to cause us to have spiritual victories. What about you, is this true of you? Is the grace given you just given to fight off your lusts? Can you say that the grace given you daily by your Lord and Savior is causing you to inch closer and closer to the image of Christ? It seems that in our life we are given so much grace, but the very next second we act as though Christ has not shown us mercy and favor. May we feed upon the green pastures of Christ! May Jesus Christ be our steadfast hope and joy! May we see the power of this inbred enemy and watch and pray against it. This, I believe, will cause our hearts to be ready to spring for the cross and deny ourselves.

Oh, Your Life Would Be Utter Ruin! Remainders of Indwelling Sin In Believers (Chapter 13)

Honestly, I am going to have to take a deep breath and gut this one out. This chapter in Remainders is a beast. Starting in the middle of 260, this chapter extends to page 278. It was a good hour and a half read...lol. With that being said, I hope this will encourage you to love Jesus Christ with all of your soul. I know it has me.

There is no way I could go about this chapter the same way I have with previous ones. What Owen does in this chapter is deal with the several ways the actual bringing forth of actual sin is obstructed. God uses various means and purposes to keep the law of sin from accomplishing its utmost desire, utter ruin (Proverbs 5:14). Owen comments,

That this is not so, is no thanks unto sin nor the law of it. What it conceives, it would bring forth; and that it doth not is for the most part but a small abatement of its guilt...There is nothing wanting on sin's part that every conceived sin is not actually accomplished.

Owen begins by noting that there are two things that must be present within the sinner to actual bring forth iniquity. God is the one obstructs these by His sovereign providence in the world so that sin will not come to its head. The first one is the power to do so (one must have the ability). Second, one must be also willing to commit the sin at hand. In this chapter, Owen considers five different ways the Lord uses to cut short the power to bring forth sin.

1. Owen observes that life is the foundation of all power. If there is no life in an entity, there will be no motion or movement. Something that is dead has no ability. Therefore, God sometimes in His obstructing the production of sin in the world cuts short the life of those who actually conceive sin. Now we know that God does this with believers and unbelievers. Owen here mainly has unbelievers in mind. The Bible is full of instances where this is true. The best example is Exodus 15:9-10 where the Lord deals with Pharaoh. Pharaoh had both the ability and the desire to pursue Israel and do away with her. However, God in his providence cut short the life of Pharaoh and his armies so that sin would not have its course.

However, we must understand that this is not the end purpose of God. God does shorten the life of sinners so that sin will not have its full course, but Owen would have us remember 2 Peter 3:9 which reminds us that God has declared that He is a patient God who desires that none perish. Owen comments,

This is the very end of the long-suffering of God towards believers, that before they depart hence they may come to the sense, acknowledgment, and repentance of every known sin.

The second point from this goes along; God also takes the lives of His own to prevent the guilt of sin overcoming them. God knows what each of His children can withstand. God does not tempt us beyond what we can bear as Owen illustrates,

Thus a captain in war will call off a soldier from his watch and guard, when he knows that he is not able, through some infirmity, to bear the stress and force of the enemy that is coming upon him.

As this is the case in war, in a similar way God also does not allow His children to undergo overwhelming temptations that may cause their denial of the Gospel or ultimate destruction that one finds in the unrepentant.

2. God also providentially "cuts short the power of them that had conceived sin." The Lord sometimes does not take the life away, but takes away the ability to perform the abomination. Think of the tower of Babel. They desired apostasy from God by building the great tower. What did God do? In verse 6, “They have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them that they have imagined to do." God took away their ability to perform this great act of sin; the Lord confounded their language. Owen continues,

This is the measure of their sinning, even their power. They do, many of them, no more evil, they commit not more sin, than they can. Their whole restraint lies in being cut short in power, in one kind or another.

Consider what a grace of God this is to us. That God at times takes away the ability of sinners to bring about what they desire to do in their hearts. What a terrible, frightening world this would be! Nevertheless, consider what a glorious God we serve who will not give the god of this age the power and ability to perform all that is in his heart!

3. Sometimes God raises up opposite forces to oppose the great power and desire of sinners. God leaves their desire and the ability alone; he brings an opposite power to oppose the great power of sin. God raised up armies in the Old Testament to do away with rebellious nations. He sends great storms and trials to bring a greater appreciation of His own character into the hearts of sinners. He sends the Holy Spirit to conquer the most rebellious of sinners.

4. Sometimes God "obviates" the accomplishment of sin by taking away the actual object that is lusted after or toward. The Lord may simply take away the person whom one plans to murder or ravage.

5. Sometimes God may even divert the thoughts of some men who have conceived sin in their heart. Owen illustrates,

Thus, also, when Saul was in the pursuit of David, and was even ready to prevail against him to his destruction, God stirs up the Philistines to invade the land, which both diverted his thoughts and drew the course of his actings another way (1 Samuel 23:27).

Think about God in the world and the advantages this brings people in the world. Look at the advantages the infinite wisdom of God brings to the advancement of faith in the world. First, this should cause us to praise the providence of God generally. Because God has done this, though at times we are unaware, we should be in even more awe of the greatness of our God. Please hear this line, Owen bursts out,

That all the earth is not in all places filled with violence, as it was of old, is merely from the mighty hand of God working effectually for the obstructing of sin. From hence alone it is that the highways, streets, and fields are not all filled with violence, blood, rapine, uncleanness, and every villainy that the heart of man can conceive. Oh, the infinite beauty of divine wisdom and providence in the government of the world! For the conservation of it asks daily no less power and wisdom than the first making of it did require.

Think about the peace you have in your home. If sin would have its full, God-opposing way, your home would be destroyed, your job would be stripped, your children would be abused; but, oh, the grace of God is so evident that most of the time these things are not true. Think about the times you where on the brink of sin. Your heart so desired to swim deep in the ocean of iniquity, you desired to forsake the Lord. But, God (how wonderful those two words are every time) in his mercy hindered you from transgressing His law and you kept your life. If God did not have full control of all events, how Satan would desire the death of all the people of God, the torture of their life, and the destruction of their soul.

Praise God that at times we find it difficult to bring about the lusts of our heart. Do not think this mere circumstance; these are the evidence of the mercy of God. Those times when our minds are diverted from disobedience, when the consequences of certain actions are too great we suppose, when the action would be too difficult to bring about though it would reward our flesh, all of these are evidences that God is a God who remembers mercy. Ponder how the Lord has caused you not to disobey His Law. Ponder how the Lord has been merciful to you! You know fully that if you were able to accomplish all that your heart desired toward sin, your life would be in utter ruin. You would have no hope, you would have no peace, and you would have no life! Taste, and see that the Lord is good!

Why You Will The Things You Wish Not To Do. Remainders of Indwelling Sin in Believers (Chapter 12)

Having an understanding of how the affections are entangled by the law of sin, Owen now moves to how the will consents to sin. It is obvious, the will is principle, and “it is the seat and cause of obedience or disobedience." The will is the final straw, for if will goes one way there is nothing else to override the soul from doing. Once the will is set on a decision that is the direction it will go. Owen states,

Every sin is so voluntary, that if it be not voluntary it is not sin

The will, according to Owen however, consents in two different ways.

1. There is a full and complete "deliberation of prevailing consent" of the will. Owen illustrates,

With this consent the soul goes into sin as a ship before the wind with all its sails displayed, without any check or stop.

This is when the will is full in its consent unto a certain activity. The will "rushes into sin like a horse unto battle." There is no hesitancy, but there is a full compliance to the sin at hand.

2. There is also consent of the will where there is a "secret renitency [persistent oppressing] and volition of the contrary." Yes, there is consent in the will to a particular action, but there is a part of the will that knows that such an action is not best. Owen continues,

Thus Peter's will was in the denying of His master. His will was in it, or he had not done it. It was a voluntary action, that which e chose to do at that season. Sin had not been brought forth if it had not been thus conceived. But yea, at this very time, there was resident in his will a contrary principle of love to Christ, yea, and faith in him, which utterly failed not. [However, this word mine] The efficacy of it was intercepted.

This is true only in believers. We have the law of sin at work in our soul, and we have the law of grace at work in our soul. We desire to obey the law of sin when it commands at times, and then we desire to obey the law of grace in our soul when it commands therefore obeying Christ. Remember, there is within every believer "the desire to do good." Owen explains, "Grace has the rule and dominion, and not sin, in the will of every believer."

Owen would have us remember not only does the flesh lust against the Spirit, but the Spirit also lusts against the flesh. This comes as great encouragement to us as believers. We have an Advocate helping us in our battle against sin. You are not alone. The Spirit keeps the acting of sin from being full and complete. Owen concludes,

And much spiritual wisdom lies in discerning aright between the spirit renitency of the principle of grace in the will against sin, and the rebukes that are given the soul by conscience upon conviction for sin.

I believe this can be an application of what Paul prays for in Colossians 1:9, "And so, from the day we heard, we have not cased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding." We should be praying for our brothers and sisters that they will be able to tell when the Spirit is lusting against the flesh to not give into the commands of the law of sin.

In the next point Owen does warn believers,

Observe, that reiterated, repeated acts of the consent of the will unto sin may beget a disposition and inclinableness in it unto the like acts, that may bring the will unto a proneness and readiness to consent unto sin upon easy solicitations.

Owen then moves to consider "the way that the deceit of sin proceeds in to procure the consent of the will." You must understand that the will does have "an appetite." It desires to be fed so it may act. The will is fed by the affections. This is why it is so important that we feed our affections on the things above, so that we will not give way to the law of sin, this how the law of sin captures the will. The will only chooses to do that which seems good unto it. Owen continues, "It cannot consent to anything under the notion or apprehension of its being evil in any kind." If it seems bad to the will to do something, it will simply do opposite that certain thing. This is how the law of sin operates upon our will, drawing away the mind from duty and entangling the affections to feed the will. Now the law of sin does acts in two ways to accomplish this:

1. It imposes "corrupt reasonings that grace is exalted in pardon." Owen describes how the Gospel teaches us to "deny worldliness" and then if one stumbles there is pardon in the shed blood of the cross. The law of sin,

Changes this method and order of the application of gospel truths

The Gospel's first intention is to keep us from sin and then relieve us from sin if we are to fall. However, the law of sin imposes liberty on the soul so to ruin grace. In this way, it makes the sin at hand seem favorable to the will. "Jesus Christ has bought your salvation; you will not burn for this action." This is a reversal of how God has designed the Gospel to apply to our lives. Do not give into this reasoning. The law of sin does this little by little, not shocking the soul in terror. It injects its poison little by little so you will not notice that sin carries your soul away.

2. It also imposes advantages to the will. Think about the Garden of Eden. Eve saw that "it is good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and to be desired to make one wise." This thought drug her away from the promise, "You will surely die." Now it imposes in two ways:

1. It forces the will to make a hasty decision without considering the consequences. Owen illustrates,

So was the case with David in the matter of Nabal. A violent provocation from the extreme unworthy carriage of that foolish churl stirs him upon to wrath and revenge (I Samuel 25:33-34). His entangled, provoke affections surprised his will to consent unto the conception of many bloody sins.

2. It makes frequent solicitations. A certain lust may lay in the heart continually soliciting the will to its obedience. Just like Joseph's brothers,

They hate their brother, because their father loved him. Their affections being enticed, many new occasions fall out to entangle them further, as his dreams and the like. This lay rankling in their hearts, and never ceased soliciting their wills until they resolved upon his death.

The lusts in the heart build and bring greater solicitations every time it builds. One temptation becomes another. The will starts to enjoy one temptation, it then becomes another one, and it then likes it and builds to another. The will conceives sin at each step of this process. You can see how sin is building.

The law of sin gains this advantage as well by the darkness of the mind. We know the truth only partially as believers. There are still shades of darkness throughout our minds to which we are blind to the will of God. Darkness will always exist in the mind until Jesus Christ returns, until then, we will battle against sin. Owen distinguishes this darkness in to forms: ignorance and error.

1. If anyone is ignorant all together of the will of God, what weapon will it use to attack the solicitations of the law of sin? Owen reminds us, "God complains that his people 'perished for lack of knowledge' (Hosea 4:6). Being ignorant of the mind and will of God, they rushed into evil at every command of the law of sin."

2. "There is ignorance in every error, but there is no error in all ignorance." The law of sin desires this advantage because it finds the most heat in error. The mind is puffed up with knowledge and is deceived into thinking a certain action is correct by its error. Think about those who are zealous. They believe their actions are right, but they are in error. Not only do men need to fill their minds with the will of God, but also they must be sure they are filling their minds with the actual will of God and not of man. What does Proverbs 2 remind us? It states,

Understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, form men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness.

These men have no understanding, so they walk in darkness. Nevertheless, understanding is a wreath (Proverbs 1:8) around the neck that will protect one from evil.

Do not allow your mind to be ignorant or erroneous in its thinking. The law of sin will use this darkness to bring about its ends. This is why it is important that we be constantly before the cross. There is a tendency for us to compare ourselves with one another. We think, "Yeah, but I am not as bad as he is." However, if we have are eyes set on Jesus Christ, we will be ashamed of our nakedness. If we keep our eyes on the beauty and majesty of Christ, it will fill our minds with his will. See that your will is not enticed by your affections by having a weak mind. Fill your mind with affection for the cross of Jesus Christ. Be reminded of Chapter 11 of this work. If we think rightly about ourselves, this will give us a right view of what sin is before God and help us appropriate our responsibility before Him.