The Mortification of Sin in Believers (Chapter 1)

My project that I have decided to undertake is to evaluate the entire volume of Sin and Temptation. This is a huge project and I understand that it will be flawed and possibly not even finished. I am going to start from the beginning and go through the entire book. However, since I am currently reading the third treatise I will be evaluating those chapters as I finish them. I will tag each chapter that is evaluated so each section will be easy to find.

Owen does a great job in introducing the subject at hand. He gives the subject at hand great gravity, just like any good teacher should. This work is somewhat of an explanation of Romans 8:13 which states,

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Owen beings this chapter with what the "if/then"statement implies. He sees two implications: (1) This statement implies that there is "uncertainty of the event or thing promised." Of course with any "if/then" statement, this promise is conditional. If you take this medicine, then you will feel better. (2) The first implies the condition, but the second places emphasis on the "then." If you are faithful to "put to death the deeds of the body," "then you will live." This promise is made by God Himself, so it is certain that if we are faithful to this noble work, God will give us life by His Spirit. God can never go back on His Word.

Next, Owen makes sure the reader understands that "only believers" are able to do this work. He drives this by stating "if ye mortify." Believers are the only people who "now there is no condemnation" and who are "quickened by the Spirit of Christ." It is absurd for anyone to think that someone who does not possess the Spirit of God can actually muster up enough gusto to get rid of the very thing that is inbred in them. Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leper his spots? No, only the grace of God can give a man/woman the ability to kill the deeds of the flesh and live. This is a monergistic work.

Once again, Owen makes sure that believers understand how important this task is. Owen says,

The choicest believers, who are assuredly freed from the condemnation power of sin, ought yet to make it their business all their days to mortify the indwelling power of sin.

This can only be done by the Holy Spirit. Not only believers, but believers who do so by means of the Spirit can only do this work. As in Romans 8:13, "if by the Spirit." The condition has a condition itself. This cannot be done by some mustering of strength, and as Owen illustrates later in this work, or by theology, or asceticism, or any kind of imagination or clever scheme. This is a work that is a sovereign work done by the Holy Spirit of God. This is the Spirit that "quickens us," it is the "Spirit of adoption" and the Spirit "maketh intercession for us." Owen continues,

All other ways of mortification are vain, all helps leave us helpless; it must be done by the Spirit. Men, as the apostle intimates, Romans 9:30-32, may attempt this work on other principles, by means and advantages administered on other accounts, as they always have done, and do: but, saith he, "This is the work of the Spirit; by him alone is it to be wrought, and by not other power is it to be brought about."

The "deeds of the body" are another way of saying "the flesh" or "the sin nature." It is the body where the sin nature finds its home, here is "its seat and instrument." Sin uses our bodies to be its instrument. It commands us, and we serve it. It pleads, we rush to it. It promises, we obey. It is present "within our members." This is why the apostle makes clear that we are to "offer our bodies as living sacrifices," which Owen will deal with later in the work. The reason they are called deeds is because sinful deeds are fruit of the deadly root of sin. This is how the sin nature makes itself evident, by outward deeds.

What is mortification? Mortification is "putting to death" something. It is a metaphorical way of saying,

To kill a man, or any other living thing, is to take away the principle of all his strength, vigour, and power, so that he cannot act or exert, or put forth any proper actings of his own; so it is in this case...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.

Believers are to always fight sin, we are to find out how this "living sin nature" finds life within our soul. How does it gain strength? How is it weakened? Why throw gasoline on a burning flame? Why give it an advantage to win the battle? It is alive, Kill It! If this is found to be true in the believer, the promise will be granted. Finally, "you will live." Owen explains, "The life promised is opposed to the death threatened in the clause foregoing." This does not only speak of eternal life in Christ, but also our spiritual enjoyment of Christ as well. Our "spiritual vigour, power, comfort, peace and life" all depend on this action of mortification.

Do you actually see the seriousness of your condition? You are plagued by your sinful desires. Put to death the deeds of the body so that you may live! Why are you meddling with what has the ability to bring you down to Sheol? Why are you flirting with what brings men to eternal damnation? Why are you flippant about that which Jesus Christ gave His life for? A notable closing quote that will come up in the next chapter, "Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you." Mortify the deeds of the flesh and live!