Mortification of Sin, Part 2--The Deceitful Nature of Sin

This is the second post in my series as I read through John Owen's Mortification of Sin (see first post for link to the online version of this book). This second chapter is quite full of excellent analysis and I will not attempt to recreate it all here, but there are some definite points worthy of discussion.

FIRST: There is not one believer on this earth that is exempt from the command to mortify sin.

You see, when I was in college, there were some who I viewed as "holier than thou" folks, and who always seemed to be doing the proverbial "self-whipping" and "sack cloth and ashes" idea when they described their sin. I thought that they were acting as if they were more righteous than me since they acted this way--I was in fact QUITE wrong. They recognized their sinfulness and asked God to help mortify such desires and acts. Owen similarly calls on ALL Christians to do the same--it is to be our "daily work" as Paul states in 1 Cor. 9:27, "I discipline my body and keep it under control" (the Greek literally can be translated: I pummel my body and make it a slave).

Why does he say that we should do this? Because there is a most important second truth.

SECOND: Sin does not only still abide in us, but it is actively working to bring about the worst of sins.

Ponder that for just a moment. Have you ever tried to bargain with sin? Have you said, okay, we'll do this, but I'll go no further, I'm drawing the line here? Has that ever worked? Of course not! Because you immediately rationalize the act! Sin convinces you that you're not that bad, or "hey, you haven't done this in a while." Fill in the excuse. Even though we are in Christ, the flesh battles against the Spirit daily, and wants nothing more for us than to fall! (see Galatians 5:17). And not only does it want us to fall, but to suffer greatly, in bringing about the worst of sins. This excerpt illustrates this:
Sin aims always at the utmost; every time it rises up to tempt or entice, might it have its own course, it would go out to the utmost sin in that kind. 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. Men may come to that, that sin may not be heard speaking a scandalous word in their hearts, -- that is, provoking to any great sin with scandal in its mouth; but yet every rise of lust, might it have its course, would come to the height of villainy: it is like the grave, that is never satisfied.

Sin does not endeavor that you tell a "white" lie--it wishes to destroy your soul by using lying and other sins that result to destroy your soul! Owen aptly says: "Be killing sin or it will be killing you." Is that stark enough?

So what are we to do? How can we combat this?

THREE: The Spirit and our new nature have been granted to us by the grace of God to combat and oppose this sin and fleshly desire that battles against us.

We have been given the gift of the Spirit so that we can oppose sin, and to not do so is to neglect the grace and the gift that God has given us. The Spirit's help is to be used and exercised! Owen later indicates that "exercise and success are the two main cherishers of grace in the heart." If such grace is not exercised, then the soul will wither in despair and misery and sin take more of a foothold.

In mortifying sin, it is important to emphasize as well that we are to not only kill sin but replace it with godly thinking in "growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (see 2 Peter 3:18)

Lastly, what are the dangers of not mortifying sin and the flesh? Owen points out two types of wrong thinking, first in ourselves, then in others.

FOUR: We who do not mortify the flesh take sin too lightly.

We should not tolerate sin without a "bitterness of heart" as Owen describes it; over our daily sins we should be convicted and properly grieve them, since they do grieve our Father. To dismiss them flippantly is to not understand the nature of grace, for if you dismiss them so lightly than you cannot grasp the nature of God's grace any more firmly.

FIFTH: We who do not mortify the flesh cause others to think that if they would measure up to us, then they would be in a good condition.

This not only hardens others to think that they are in as good condition as these "best" professors, but they are also deceived into thinking they are in a good condition, all the while sin festers in them, producing the deeds of the flesh. Worse yet, it can confirm in someone a belief in Christ when there is no such warrant or evidence of that in the least.

So what is the warning? Mortify the sin and deeds of flesh in your life, being on your guard against the deceitfulness of sin; but be encouraged Christian, the Holy Spirit is given to you to help combat this spirit of the flesh.