"The Duty of The Best Believers"
In a continuation of the mortificaton of our sins, we start into chapter II of "Mortification of Sin in Believers" by John Owen.
Last time I spoke about how it is the Spirit that works through us to accomplish mortification, and that of ourselves we are unable to accomplish the end thereof sinless perfection. It is the Spirit that works in us to will and to do this task.
Today we will look at to whom this duty is prescribed, and for what length of time this duty is to be observed.
I thought I would make a clarification of the term "mortify", since it is not common in our language today. Below I have included a verse from the ESV, and one from the KJV which John Owen would be using. The ESV removes the word "mortify" and replaces it with "put to death", which is clearer in our modern language. Below is the definition of mortification taken from dictionary.com.
Mortification- Discipline of the body and the appetites by self-denial or self-inflicted privation.
Romans 8:13 (KJV) "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."
Romans 8:13 (ESV) "For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live."
"Whom speaks he to? Such as were "risen with Christ," verse 1; such as were "dead" with him, verse 3:such as whose life Christ was, and who should "appear with him in glory," verse 4."
John Owen
"Do you mortify; do you make it your daily work; be always at it wilst you live; cease not a day from its work; be killing sin or it will be killing you. Your being dead with Christ virtually, your being quickened with him, will not excuse you from this work."
John Owen
"And the apostle tells you what was his practice, I Cor. IX 27, "I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection." "I do it," saith he, "daily; it is the work of my life: I omit it not; this is my business." And if this were the work and business of Paul, who was so incomparably exalted in grace, revelation, enjoyments, privileges, consolations, above ordinary measure of believers, where may we possibly bottom an exemption from this work and duty whilst we are in this world?"
John Owen
As Christians, the duty of mortification is directed to us. It is not an occasional or momentary duty, it is to be performed daily. We are to be perfecting our salvation all of our days, subduing our flesh, and bringing our bodies into subjection. In this study, I plan on including more of John Owen's quotes, than my own, but I will try to translate his writings into more modern english, for the enjoyment of the readers.
Last time I spoke about how it is the Spirit that works through us to accomplish mortification, and that of ourselves we are unable to accomplish the end thereof sinless perfection. It is the Spirit that works in us to will and to do this task.
Today we will look at to whom this duty is prescribed, and for what length of time this duty is to be observed.
I thought I would make a clarification of the term "mortify", since it is not common in our language today. Below I have included a verse from the ESV, and one from the KJV which John Owen would be using. The ESV removes the word "mortify" and replaces it with "put to death", which is clearer in our modern language. Below is the definition of mortification taken from dictionary.com.
Mortification- Discipline of the body and the appetites by self-denial or self-inflicted privation.
Romans 8:13 (KJV) "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."
Romans 8:13 (ESV) "For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live."
"Whom speaks he to? Such as were "risen with Christ," verse 1; such as were "dead" with him, verse 3:such as whose life Christ was, and who should "appear with him in glory," verse 4."
John Owen
"Do you mortify; do you make it your daily work; be always at it wilst you live; cease not a day from its work; be killing sin or it will be killing you. Your being dead with Christ virtually, your being quickened with him, will not excuse you from this work."
John Owen
"And the apostle tells you what was his practice, I Cor. IX 27, "I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection." "I do it," saith he, "daily; it is the work of my life: I omit it not; this is my business." And if this were the work and business of Paul, who was so incomparably exalted in grace, revelation, enjoyments, privileges, consolations, above ordinary measure of believers, where may we possibly bottom an exemption from this work and duty whilst we are in this world?"
John Owen
As Christians, the duty of mortification is directed to us. It is not an occasional or momentary duty, it is to be performed daily. We are to be perfecting our salvation all of our days, subduing our flesh, and bringing our bodies into subjection. In this study, I plan on including more of John Owen's quotes, than my own, but I will try to translate his writings into more modern english, for the enjoyment of the readers.
posted by James | 2:44 PM
2 Comments:
James, This one was very thought-provoking and I was wondering if you were up to answering a few questions.
;)
First, in your opinion, does John Owen advocate a sort of Christian ascetism? IOW, does he advocate a Christian's denial of all or many physical pleasures in an effort to help learn restraint of sinful pleasures?
My point is that some physical pleasures are lawful for the Christian while others are not. I would argue that there is a lawful, God-honoring way to satisfy every God-given physical appetite. Sin comes when we fulfill these appetites in a God-forbidden way.
For example: if I have physical, marital relations with my wife, that is God-honoring, holy, and good. On the other hand if I do the same with my neighbor's wife I hve committed sin punishable by hell. I have profaned God's name and brought dishonor to my own body. The one is good while the other is bad.
There are many physical pleasures which God has provided for us tbe enjoyed lawfully, with thanksgiving, and for the glory of God. Ascetism would deny many or most, if not all of these, even the lawful ones, in an effort to train the body.
Do you think John Owen is advocating a Christian ascetism, or do you think he is focusing on sinful pleasure and the curbing of sinful appetites only?
I ask this particularly because of what Paul said about keeping his body under subjection.
Good stuff.
In response to you question on ascetism, and John Owen's stance on the issue.
In this book on "The Mortification of Sin", I did not read anywhere that John Owen promotes ascetism. He does not say that we are to deny the things that we desire, unless they are sinful. The whole book is about sin, and the methods and means which the bible ascribes to obtain the death of it.
God's glory must be our ultimate goal for the removal of sin. He is constantly speaking out against all of vain methods that the Popery do, for the mortification of sin, and the things they deny and how they are vain and foolish. I would say for this book that he is not promoting a form of acetism.
I know that in his book "The Theology From Adam to Christ" he speaks out against, reading anything, that is not of the bible, like Homer "Illiad", and other books. So I would say that John Owen did promote a form of ascetism, but not complete ascetism.
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