"On The Mortification of Sin" By: John Owen
I just finished reading the other day for my third time, a book by John Owen "On The Mortification of Sin", it was a really good book, but a tough book to read at first. Anybody that has opened a book by John Owen will know that his books can be difficult to read. I have become accustomed to his type of writing now, and can read his books like any other. One of the biggest problems I run into is all of the really large words that he uses, sometimes I wonder where he even found the words that he uses. I must tell you one thing, anyone who has read anything of John Owen knows, that he does not teach a certain method that you must follow, he only by the scriptures leads you to Christ, to find peace. When I read his books, I am driven to my knees, to look to Christ.
In his book "On The Mortification of Sin", the first thing he starts out with is the sense that we are not of ourselves able to do this, and we are not to be pressing this process onto anyone.
"The pressing of this duty immediately on any other is a notable fruit of that superstition and self-righteousness that the world is full of, - the great work and design of devout men ignorant of the gospel, Rom. X. 3, 4; John XV. 5."
I really like the fact that it is just not another thing we are to we are to press onto others, or just to do because that is what we are told. It is to be more, it is our duty, our desire of those who are truly believers and followers of Christ.
"The choicest believer, who are assuredly freed from the condemnation power of sin, ought yet to make it their buisness all their days to mortify the indwelling power of sin."
Just as true followers of Christ are to mortify or put to death indwelling sin, we are not to strive in our own strength, we are to do it by the Holy Spirit, that dwells in us. I really like how John Owen really points one to the Spirit for the mortification of sin, and how that all other ways are vain and week, falling short of the end aimed at.
"All other ways of mortification are vain, all helps leave us helpless; it must be done by the Spirit. Men as the apostle intimates, Rom. IX. 30-32, may attempt this work on other principles, by means and advantages administered on other accounts, as they always have done, and do: but, saith he, "This is the work of the Spirit; by him alone is it to be wrought, and by no other power is it to be brought about." Mortification from a self-strength, carried on by ways of self-invention, unto the end of self-righteousness, is the soul substance of all false religion in the world."
This is like really tough preaching, because it is not a man trying to push off on me a prescribed method of self-mortification, that come from any strength or power that I might possess. But it comes from a life subjecting, will sumbitting, submission to the word of God, and the work of the Spirit. I will try and go through the book and help to lead others to Christ and a Holy Spirit empowerment for the mortification of sin.
"The vigour and power, and comfort of our spiritual life depends on the mortification of the deeds of the flesh."
In his book "On The Mortification of Sin", the first thing he starts out with is the sense that we are not of ourselves able to do this, and we are not to be pressing this process onto anyone.
"The pressing of this duty immediately on any other is a notable fruit of that superstition and self-righteousness that the world is full of, - the great work and design of devout men ignorant of the gospel, Rom. X. 3, 4; John XV. 5."
I really like the fact that it is just not another thing we are to we are to press onto others, or just to do because that is what we are told. It is to be more, it is our duty, our desire of those who are truly believers and followers of Christ.
"The choicest believer, who are assuredly freed from the condemnation power of sin, ought yet to make it their buisness all their days to mortify the indwelling power of sin."
Just as true followers of Christ are to mortify or put to death indwelling sin, we are not to strive in our own strength, we are to do it by the Holy Spirit, that dwells in us. I really like how John Owen really points one to the Spirit for the mortification of sin, and how that all other ways are vain and week, falling short of the end aimed at.
"All other ways of mortification are vain, all helps leave us helpless; it must be done by the Spirit. Men as the apostle intimates, Rom. IX. 30-32, may attempt this work on other principles, by means and advantages administered on other accounts, as they always have done, and do: but, saith he, "This is the work of the Spirit; by him alone is it to be wrought, and by no other power is it to be brought about." Mortification from a self-strength, carried on by ways of self-invention, unto the end of self-righteousness, is the soul substance of all false religion in the world."
This is like really tough preaching, because it is not a man trying to push off on me a prescribed method of self-mortification, that come from any strength or power that I might possess. But it comes from a life subjecting, will sumbitting, submission to the word of God, and the work of the Spirit. I will try and go through the book and help to lead others to Christ and a Holy Spirit empowerment for the mortification of sin.
"The vigour and power, and comfort of our spiritual life depends on the mortification of the deeds of the flesh."
posted by James | 8:08 PM
1 Comments:
James, that is tremendously good preaching. Owen is right. That sort of self-mortification sums up the Christian teaching I was raised up with when it comes to holy living. Character. Character. Character. We must have character. That's what the Christian life was to me in my youth. It was drilled into me that I must make myself a good Christian. Owen points out that this is the basis of all false religion in the world. He is right, for it is a soft legalism and legalism is the anti-thesis of Christianity.
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