The Mortification of Sin in Believers (Chapter 2)

Though Owen deals with this at many points, the question he seeks to answer is, "Why is it important to be about this work?" He makes the summary statement of what he is about to lay out in saying,

Do you mortify; do you make it your daily work; be killing sin or it will be killing you

Believers are to always be doing this work. Paul says, "I do it daily; it is the work of my life; I omit it not; this is my business." Owen concludes from this that if Paul, who received exalted grace, revelations, enjoyments, privileges, and consolations above many believers (which so many times we think this will put an end to our sin), then how much more are we to be about this work. Do not think your successes have actually mortified one little sin! Owen gives 6 reasons why we are "to always be mortifying sin."

1. Indwelling sin always abides in us while we are in the world, therefore we are to always be putting to death this sin. Owen then shows the folly of those who think that men are able to have perfection while in the world. One quote will show his attitude toward this kind of thought

The vain, foolish, and ignorant disputes of men about perfect keeping the commands of God...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 must below perfection of degrees, that they never attained to a perfection of parts in obedience or universal obedience in sincerity...Not that they are perfect in the things we call good, but that all is alike to them, and the height of wickedness is their perfection.

Sin always abides, therefore we are to always be killing sin. Do we need to be reminded therefore of the words of Isaiah

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter

Do not think that you are righteous before God. Every good deed is darkened by the sin that prevails upon your soul. YOU need Jesus Christ for your righteousness.

2. Believers are to always be putting to death sin because not only does it always abide with us, but it is always acting. Owen qualifies this statement, "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 less suspicion." If you think sin is gone, BEWARE, you are about to fall. Sin may be quiet for years, but it will raise its ugly head and bring death to your spiritual enjoyment. In every moral action sin is inclining to evil, or hindering us from doing that which is good. Owen asks, "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?" If sin is always acting, and you are not always mortifying, your soul is in great danger!

3. Believers need to always be putting to death sin because it will "bring forth great, cursed, scandalous, soul-destroying sins." Sin seeks to go to the fullest at all times. Were it not for the grace of God, how wretched would we be. HEAR THIS "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 great of a God do we serve that this is not always true. We would be in great trouble were it not for God's grace and mercy. Mortify Sin! Sin is not something to be played with because it will damn your soul. Sin vies at your heart, seeking to get ground. Once it okays the conscience, it digs deeper and deeper. It will grow until it brings these great soul-destroying sins.

4. This is why the Spirit and the new nature is given to us, that we may have proper weapons to oppose this great enemy. The Spirit is always fighting the flesh and vice versa. Owen then brings this to light with a lamentable situation

Now this is, first, the most unjust and unreasonable thing in the world, when two combatants are engaged, to bind one and keep him up from doing his utmost, and to leave the other at liberty to would him at his pleasure; and, secondly, the foolishest thing in the world to bind him who fights for our eternal condition, [salvation] and to let him alone who seeks and violently attempts our everlasting ruin.

Owen's words are obvious, "Give the Spirit the Sword so that He may combat the great enemy of your heart."Do not give advantage to the old man, give the new man the resources to FIGHT FOR YOUR SALVATION!

5. Believers are to always be putting to death sin because negligence in this work puts the soul in a contrary position to what the apostle Paul claimed was his, "thought our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." If we do not mortify sin, sin will beat us down and break the bones of our soul (Psalm 38:3-5). Do you desire to grow quick and warm to the things of God? Mortify the sin of your soul! If not, you grow cold and ache.

6. Believers are to always be putting to death sin because we are to be "perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1). Sin sets itself against every act and thought of holiness. If you are meddling or even waddling in your sin, you are not progressing in holiness, but regressing.

There are two evils that attend every unmortified sin

1. It kills the man. Owen says, and PLEASE hear this,

Neither is there a greater evidence of a false and rotten heart in the world than to drive such a trade. To use the blood of Christ, which is given to cleanse us, (1 John 1:7; Titus 2:14); the exaltation of Christ, which is to give us repentance, (Acts 5:31); the doctrine of grace, which teaches us to deny all ungodliness (Titus 2:11-12)

2. It kills others, in that it hardens the hearts of others by your bad example and it deceives them in thinking that this work is not important. ARE YOU joining forces with the army of darkness by not mortifying the deeds of your flesh? ARE YOU making others as well, by your lifestyle, not see the gravity of this work. ARE YOU leading others to kill the sin that is in their life? ARE YOU taking Christian liberty to destroy your body, and even more, The Body of Christ?