Remainders of Indwelling Sin in Believers (Chapter 4)

Having plowed through quite a bit of Owen lately, I have wondered whether this work is edifying at all. I am convinced that this work of considering Sin and Temptation can only be for good. I had a conversation with a good friend the other night about the nature of this work as a whole. I sought this person's advice because the words of this individual always come as words of life and encouragement. This person is truly a champion for the Gospel. I am always confident that their words are words of love and edification. Thank you very much for your encouragement; I am thankful to Jesus Christ for your commitment to His Lordship in all things!

With that being said, Owen can now be explored in a different light, though I will still try to bring a good evaluation. The next chapter in this treatise concerns the nature of the "law of sin." Understanding its nature will help you and I understand why we must seek Jesus Christ every hour.

Owen makes home base Romans 8:7 for his thoughts on the nature of the law of sin. It states, "The carnal mind is enmity against God." Enmity communicates more than just merely being an enemy. Owen comments,

It is not only an enemy,--for so possibly some reconciliation of it unto God might be made,--but it is enmity itself, and so not capable of accepting any terms of peace. Enemies may be reconciled, but enmity cannot; yea, the only way to reconcile enemies is to destroy the enmity.

This comes as good news and bad news for us friends. This is bad news because we begin to see how formidable and how strong our opponent is. However, and praise God there is remedy, those who are enemies to God may have peace with the Righteous One. Jesus Christ has destroyed this enmity by the blood of His cross. The death of Christ has secured salvation for all of those who call upon His righteous name. If you will turn to Him, He will not turn you away. Praise be to God.

However, the enmity exists in our hearts until the day Jesus Christ returns. The law of sin itself is enmity. No matter how close you are to God, your flesh stands ready to oppose God on all fronts. This is why you and I are called to "always be about the work of mortification." No matter how small, it still is enmity. Owen illustrates,

As every drop of poison is poison, and will infect, and every spark of fire is fire, and will burn; so is everything of the law of sin, the last, the least of it--it is enmity, it will poison, it will burn.

Even the least bit of the law of sin is complete enmity that divides us before God. This is why it is impossible for the sinner to come to Christ without God Himself aiding the poor sinner. The only way that this "dividing wall", as it is called, may be torn down is

"If it be not overcome and destroyed, it will overcome and destroy the soul."

Now the fact that the law of sin is enmity is enough for us to shutter, but it also is an "enmity against God." Its war is against everything that comes from God. The law of sin, whose seat is your heart, hates everything that comes from the hand of God. Whether it is righteousness, holiness, or even grace and mercy, where our souls find remedy, the law of sin always wars against these things. I am reminded of my need for the cross due to this fact. Sadly enough I can even see this in my heart at times. How I need the blood of Jesus Christ to wash me every hour! Every spiritual good that may come from the Father, your great enemy seeks to push it away with extreme hatred. IT DESPISES GOD. It opposes the Gospel on all fronts. This is why you need an Advocate.

Owen now gives two applications of this nature of the law of sin. This enmity is universal, and it is universal on two fronts:

1. It is universal to all of God. There is no part of God where the law of sin does not find enmity. If the law of sin did not find enmity with God on some level or parcel, there would be room for friendship. Do we believe this is the case? Do you not believe that light always has the power to overcome darkness? If there were holes in this dividing wall where the light of the holiness of God could shine through, God would burn all the way through every time. But, all men suppress the truth in unrighteousness in all things. There are no holes in this wall that shuns God's revealing truth in the Gospel. There is no one point where our enemy does not find enmity with God. This is why general revelation cannot communicate salvation to us. This is why men are unable and unwilling to repent. This is why we need the Holy Spirit to break through and destroy this "dividing wall of enmity." Its nature is in universal enmity towards God. This leads to the next.

2. It is universal in all of the soul. It clouds the entire soul as well. Not only does it have enmity with God ontologically it has enmity with God existentially as well. Owen says,

But when Christ comes with his spiritual power upon the soul, to conquer it to himself, he had no quiet landing place. He can set foot on no ground but what he must fight for and conquer. Not the mind, not an affection, not the will, but all is secured against him.

The soul is not free and at liberty; it is enslaved and imprisoned. Only Jesus Christ can come and completely destroy this enmity so that we may have communion with God. The law of sin never surrenders to Jesus Christ; its nature is never changed. The law of sin is not changed in believers. It is always warring against God, and for believers, against their soul because it is Jesus Christ's soul.

This law of sin is a constant enemy. It will accept no terms of peace with holiness, and righteousness. It is never satisfied. Give it one inch, it will take a mile. When you sin one little time, you bring in multitudes of sin because of the nature of this "law of sin." Every little sin brings the opportunity for more and more sin. How we need Jesus Christ to command our soul and destiny. The enemy within will not have you submitting and obeying Christ, it seeks its own worship. But Jesus Christ comes as a bulldozer, removing all obstacles, so that we may see the Light of the Gospel. When that light shines bright, all shadows are dispelled and we can have true fellowship with God.