Having been in the first treatise for the last three blogs, I would like to return to the third treatise. The title of this work is in the title of this blog. This chapter is one of the best I have read in this book. Owen describes in detail the biblical reality of the heart. Your heart is the throne of sin.
The law of sin finds its residence in the heart. This is where Owen opens up this chapter. Owen gives a couple of Scriptural examples to solidify his point as well. Matthew 15:19, "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies, ect." Owen continues,
The root, rise, and spring of all these things is in the heart. Temptations and occasions put nothing into a man, but only draw out what was in him before.
Do not think that your circumstances have made you sin. Do not get in the habit of thinking, "Satan made me do it." According to Matthew 15:19, Ecclesiastics 9:3, the master theologian John Owen, and other places in Scripture, the residence of sin, its base of operations, its home and dwelling are your heart. If you would disagree with this point I believe you need to reexamine your motives and your actions. Genesis 6:5, "Every imagination of the thoughts of man's heart is only evil continually!" Owen uses illustrative language to describe the heart as sin's own work-house. Is not the heart the place where new evils are contrived? Do men not plan evil in the hearts? Is sin not imagined in the heart? Where else does sin have residence? Your heart, in Calvin's terms, is an idol-factory. It is a master craftsman at this as well. The amount of sin in your heart is abounding all the more. Owen comments,
It will never be exhausted; it is not wasted by men's spending on it; yea, the more lavish men are of this stock, the more they draw out of this treasure, [the stored sin in your heart that you treasure] the more it grows and abounds
Owen continues, PLEASE HEAR THIS:
It is from this deceitfulness of this law of sin, whereof we shall speak afterward at large, that men persuade themselves that by this or that particular sin they shall so satisfy their lusts as that they shall need to sin not more...all this is treasured and stored in the heart.
The heart is wicked. Do not think that you will ever satisfy its hunger and desire. Only those who have the Spirit will be satisfied; and satisfaction here comes in holiness (Matthew 5:6). Your sin, however, is never satisfied because the enemy is never satisfied. He desires more and more until you are bowing before his feet. Then he will kick you while you are down and spit on you and ridicule you until you are ready to die. Is this not a picture of hell? Do not give in to the desires of your flesh!
Owen next begins to describe what it means when Scriptures uses the word heart.
1. When men take delight and are pleased in and with what they do, they are said to do it heartily, with their whole hearts. Is this not your state when you are satisfying the flesh
2. Resolution and constancy in such actions. It is never quenched.
It is like an enemy in war, whose strength and power lie not only in his numbers and force of men or arms, but also in the unconquerable forts that he doth possess.
There are two truths about the heart that Owen considers now that will give evidence to the fact that this is no easy opponent.
1. The heart is unsearchable. No one knows the ways of the heart. If you think you understand the ways of your heart; think again. When you have swum one mile deep into this vast ocean, you will find that you need to swim yet another one. When you think you have understood the depths of your heart, it will surprise you. Your heart is always inventing new ways to do evil. If you think that you have blueprinted your heart, you will find another bedroom yet unexplored. The heart is unsearchable and deep. Unfortunately, it’s a slave to sin apart from Christ. Owen comments,
In this unsearchable heart dwells the law of sin; and much of its security and consequently of its strength, lies in this, that it is past our finding out. We fight with an enemy whose secret strength we cannot discover.
However,
It is true, there is yet a relief in this case...namely, the Holy Ghost, comes with his axe to the very root; neither is there anything in an unsearchable heart that is not "naked and open unto him (Heb 9:13)"
2. Not only is the heart unsearchable, but it is also deceitful. It is deceitful above all else. Owen says, "Now, incomparable deceitfulness, added to unsearchableness, gives a great addition and increase of strength to the law of sin, upon the account of its seat and subject." Owen lists two ways it is deceitful
1. It abounds in contradictions. This was very convicting to me. One moment I will bless a person with heavenly words from the Words of Scripture, while the very next moment I will raise hell with the curses found in my heart. Owen adds
This, I say, makes the heart deceitful above all things: it agrees not at all in itself, is not constant to itself, hath no order that it is constant unto, is under no certain conduct that is stable.
2. Its deceit lies in its full promising upon the first appearances of things. The heart, who is enslaved to sin apart from Christ, will promise life in exchange for obedience to it. But what does the Scripture say? Who are we ultimately to obey? Is Jesus Christ not our guide and God? Does not life come from obedience to Him alone? Do not give in to the lies of your heart, NO MATTER WHAT IT PROMISES. Follow and trust Christ for your life and peace.
A deceiving and a deceived heart, who can deal with it?--especially considering that the heart employs all its deceits unto the service of sin, contributes them all to its furtherance.
Considering these truths, Owen now gives us three general rules to apply in light of these facts. This, I feel, is the CLIMAX to this entire work:
1. "Never let us reckon that our work in contending against sin, in crucifying, mortifying, and subduing of it, is at an end." Owen states that "when we think we have won the field, there is still some reserve remaining that we saw not." This is reminiscent of the first treatise: ALWAYS BE ABOUT THE WORK OF MORTIFICATION. Be in endless pursuit in killing the deeds of the body. This is a work that will never be complete until Jesus Christ returns and purifies His Church. This may seem discouraging, but Owen concludes this point in the most encouraging way. This might be the most important statement of the entire book,
Let us, then, reckon on it, that there is no way to have our work done but by always doing of it; and he who dies fighting in this warfare dies assuredly a conqueror.
Wow! Who is a TRUE CONQUEROR. The one who fights sin. The victor is the one who is the most faithful to always fight against the deceitful heart. You will always be fighting sin while on this earth. But the one who is continually resisting and warring with sin is the victor. What must be done to hear those words, "Well done good and faithful servant," it is the one who is always fighting sin, even until his death. Mortify your sin always!
2. "Hath it its residence in that which is various, inconstant, deceitful above all things? This calls for perpetual watchfulness against it." Owen illustrates,
An open enemy, that deals by violence only, always gives some respite. You know where to have him and what he is doing, so as that sometimes you may sleep quietly without fear
But this enemy is cunning, using craft and deceit. This enemy is the lion and the serpent. This is why you are to always be watching in all ways. This enemy does not use a one-sided attack. His attack is multi-faceted. This is why you are called to always be WATCHING, PRAYING, MORTIFYING, AND BEING OF SOBER MIND.
3. Commit the whole matter with all care and diligence unto Him who can search the heart to the uttermost, and knows how to prevent all its treacheries and deceits. Do you think your heart is wiser than God? Remember the words of 1 Peter 5:6-7, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." The Lord is faithful in His promises, and He desires your Good. Trust Him with all of your heart, lean not on your own understanding because there you will fail. Commit your ways to Jesus Christ. He is your Great Shepherd.
The seat of the law of sin is your own heart and your heart is the very thing that drives your motives and deep passions. This is why the enemy is so hard to defeat because he is inbred and he is persuasive. Allow the Spirit free reign in your heart so that He may unveil the mask that sin wears. Allow the Lord to light the deep corners of your heart by going to the Word and praying for your soul. Ask the Lord to reveal your deep, unsearchable heart because He is the only one who understands it. If you are faithful to watch and pray and then to mortify sin, you are more than a conqueror and you are pleasing to your Father who is in heaven. ALWAYS BE ABOUT MORTIFYING YOUR SIN.
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