Why we must mortify sin.

If we are not fighting sin, and bringing sin into subjection to Christ through the Holy Spirit, then we have become anemic and dead Christians. If we sin and take no thought about that which we do, and think that some how we have quit sinning, we have become numbed or deadened by our sins. We must always fight sin on our knees, where we are strengthened in our battle here, with that Holy Spirit empowering. Otherwise we are binding the Holy Spirit, and allowing Satan to take jabs and shots at the Spirit, thus grieving it and giving strength to our flesh. We will take a look into why we must mortify our sins. There are several things to keep into account, but we will start with two things on why we must be always about the mortification of sin that I will cover today:


Rom 7:18-21 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.


1. Indwelling sin abides while we are in this world.

The vain, foolish, and ignorant disputes of men about perfectly keeping the commands of God, of perfection in this life, of being wholly and perfectly dead to sin, I meddle not with. It is more than probable that the men of those abominations never knew what belonged to the keeping of any one of God's commands, and are so much below perfection of degrees, that they never attained to a perfection of parts in obedience of universal obedience in sincerity.
John Owen

While we are here we "know but in part," 1 Cor. XII 12, having a remaining darkness to be gradually removed by our "growth in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ," 2 Peter III 18; and "the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, so that we cannot do the things that we would," Gal. V 17: and are therefore defective in our obedience as well as in our light, 1 John I 8.
John Owen

We have a "body of death," Rom. VII 24; which we are not to be delivered from but by the death of our bodies, Phil. III 21.
John Owen

2. Sin does not only still abide in us, but it is still acting, and still laboring.

When sin leaves us alone we may leave sin alone; but as sin is never less quiet than when it seem to be most quiet, and its waters are for the most part deep when they are still, so should our methods against it to be vigorous at all times and in all conditions, even where there is the least suspicions.
John Owen

Sin not only abide in us, but "the law of the members is still rebelling against the law of the mind," Rom. VII 23; and "the spirit that dwells in us lusteth to envy," James IV 5. Gal. V 17; lust is still tempting and conceiving sin, James I 14; in every moral action it is always inclining to evil, or hindering from that which is good, or disframing the spirit from fellowship with God. It inclines to evil.
John Owen

Who could say that he ever has had anything to do with God or for God, that indwelling sin did not have a hand in the corruption of what he did? And in this trade it will strive more or less all of our days. If, then, sin will be always acting, if we are not always mortifying, we are lost creatures. He that stands still and suffers his enemies to double blows upon him without resistance, will undoubtedly be conquered in the fight. If sin be subtle, watchful, strong, and always working in the business of killing our souls, and we be slothful, negligent, foolish, in proceeding to the ruin of sin, can we expect a comfortable event? There is not a day that sin foils or is foiled, prevails or is prevailed on; and so it will be while we live in the world.
John Owen

The saint, whose soul breathes after relief from its perplexing rebellion, know that there is no safety against sin but in constant warfare.
John Owen