Chapter 8 is yet another long, but engaging chapter in this treatise. The chapter begins on page 211 and ends on page 223. This chapter is a continuation of evidences of the power of sin. The second evidence Owen gives is that sins entire operation is that of deceit. Deception is how sin has its power and effect. The writer of Hebrews warns, “Take heed that ye be not hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Once the mind is deceived and believes that this or that action is permissible, it finds its way into the will of the person. This hardens the heart toward God.
Sin finds all of its strength in deceit; without sin’s appeal to the mind through deceit, it would be impotent. “Deceit is the fountain to the law of sin.” Owen grounds this in 1 Timothy 2”13-14. Owen states,
The reason the apostle gives why Adam, though he was first formed, was not first in transgression, is because he was not first deceived. The woman, though made last, yet being first deceived, was first in the sin.
Still by way of introduction of the subject at hand, Owen illustrates sin’s power by deceit by highlighting its local appeal. Owen says, “Deceit properly affects the mind; it is the mind that is deceived.” If sin makes its appeal by deceit to any other faculty to the soul, the mind has the ability to keep check over all aspects of the soul. The mind is the object that directs the affections, will, and desires. If something is appealing to the mind, it then leaks out into the other areas of the soul. Owen reminds us,
[The mind’s] office is to guide, direct, choose, and lead and “if the light that is in us be darkness, how great is that darkness!”
Sin makes its appeal to the mind by deceit. It does this by “presenting unto the soul, or mind, things otherwise that they are, either in their nature, causes, effects, or present respect unto the soul.” Sin has to make its end appealing to the mind if there is going to be any assent. Sin, by deceit, “hides what ought to be seen and considered, conceals circumstances and consequences, presents what is not, or things as they are not.” Remember that the law of sin, just like any law, gives promises for its obedience and consequences for its disobedience. In the case of the law of sin, its promises are faulty and its consequences are faulty. Owen furthers this thought,
This is the nature of deceit; it is a representation of a matter under disguise, hiding that which is undesirable, proposing that which indeed is not in it, that the mind may make a false judgment of it…
Not only this, but deceit has advantage by the way it manages the dispensation of its appeal. “It is always carried on by degrees.” The whole design of the scheme is not revealed at its first appeal to the mind. If this were the case, all men would flee from sin. We know that the design of the scheme of the law of sin is subjection unto it, and therefore eternal death of body and spirit. However, it takes a man who is utterly deceived by sin to see its consequences and still embrace the law of sin. This is its work; it slowly progresses itself by steps. The law of sin tempts every man, so that he may complete its work. It does this by making false promises/consequences. Once the subject is deceived and completes the act of sin, it leads to eternal death.
Owen continues by giving these degrees “whereby sin proceeds in this work of tempting or deceiving.” Owen finds these steps in James 1:14, 15, “Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.” Owen sees five steps: (1) It draws you away or drags you off, “Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust” (2) You are enticed, “and is enticed” (3) In the conception of sin, “When lust has conceived.” For when the heart is “enticed” lust is therefore conceived. (4) Is the bringing of actual sin in its full accomplishment, “When lust has conceived it brings forth sin.” (5) Is the finishing of sin, “the filling up of the measure of it,” Owen says. James too concludes, “Sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.”
The first of these relates to the mind. Sin’s Sin aims to “draw the believer away from holiness and obedience to God” and bring opposition to this causing the birth of sin. The mind has the responsibility, because God has made it so, “to keep itself and the whole soul in such a frame and posture as may render it ready unto all duties of obedience.” God has caused the mind to be the rudder that guides the soul along the ocean of life. The duty of the mind is to keep a correct view of yourself and God. You can find this in John Calvin’s first words of his Institutes as well. If there is a correct understanding of God, it will always lead to a correct understanding of man, and vice versa.
Therefore, deceit “endeavors to draw it off from a due consideration of its own vileness.” This is the greatest deceit performed by the law of sin. It no longer allows us to possess humility in this life. There is no longer a full comprehension to who we really are as vile sinners. It defaces the holiness of God. One can see this in our modern context as well. We begin to think that God “owes” us something, and that we live decent lives. Owen thinks,
[Fear] is not a bondage, servile fear, disquieting and perplexing the soul, but such fear as may keep men constantly calling on the Father.
Owen continues,
To fear sin is to fear the Lord
He makes this premise from Job 28:28 which says, “The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom: and to depart from evil, that is understanding.” The mind is the greatest for of the soul. No wonder sin’s first attack is the mind. If it can control the mind, it will control the soul.
Owen gives ways whereby the law of sin tries to draw the mind away from duty before God:
It seeks to abuse the gospel. It is the Gospel’s purpose to make men holy before God. The Gospel gives the soul not only the weapons to fight off sin, but also its peace before our Awesome God. This is how sin draws the mind away from the things of God, because the things of God are found in the Gospel. If the enemy can ruin the home base of the Gospel, the foundation for life is lost. Think about Titus 2:11-12, “The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in this present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” These are the effects of the Gospel. It teaches us what true righteousness is; it instructs us how to live, and gives us hope for the coming judgment. Sin desires to divorce this doctrine with the right application thereof. The grace of God no longer has ground to stand. The Holy Spirit cannot ground its work in the cross no longer. It abuses the grace of God. It makes men see grace as a common thing, not a supernatural thing. It takes away the power of the doctrine of grace that teaches men of true righteousness in Jesus Christ. It allows the Gospel to become the ground for sin. This is very dangerous. When the Gospel, which gives freedom from sin, becomes the home base for licentiousness, you are in a dangerous place believer. Remember the Gospel gives you freedom from the law of sin; it is not a ground for sin. Do not place yourself under its dominion and power.
In conclusion, I would like to give an application that Owen communicates in the conclusion of this chapter. Owen recommends,
Now, in these decays, if the soul take not care to fix a deep sense of sin on the mind and judgment, thereby perpetually to affect the heart and affections, it will decay.
This is how the law of sin intercepts the ways of the Spirit. You cannot serve “both God and mammon.” You will either love one or hate the other. Allow these things to permeate your thoughts. Notice how your enemy advances against your mind. If you protect the mind and fill it with things from above, you will have a soul that will find victory in mortification.
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