MORTIFICATION OF SIN IN BELIEVERS by JOHN OWEN part 1
Channel: Africa Without Borders
Date: 2023-08-18

MORTIFICATION OF SIN IN BELIEVERS
by JOHN OWEN  https://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/sdg/owen/Mortification%20of%20Sin%20-%20John%20Owen.pdf
THE NECESSITY, NATURE, AND MEANS OF IT:
WITH
A RESOLUTION OF VARIOUS CASES OF
CONSCIENCE BELONGING TO IT.
BY JOHN OWEN, D.D.,
A SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE WORK OF THE GOSPEL.
from
THE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN
EDITED BY
WILLIAM H. GOOLD
VOLUME 6
This Edition of
THE WORKS OF JOHN OWEN
first published by Johnstone & Hunter, 1850-53
Source: Ages Software
Modernized, formatted, and annotated by
William H. Gross www.onthewing.org © Dec 2002
Last updated 3/7/2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EDITOR’S PREFACE
CHAPTER 1
ROMANS 8:13 EXPLAINED
1. This duty to mortify sin is conditional, “But if you...”
2. The persons to whom this duty is prescribed.
3. What causes us to perform this duty is the Spirit
4. The duty that is prescribed is this: “Mortify the deeds of the body.”
(1.) What is meant by the body.
(2.) What is meant by the deeds of the body.
(3.) What is meant by mortify.
5. The promise for fulfilling this duty is life: “You will live.”
CHAPTER 2
THE DUTY OF THE BEST BELIEVERS
I. The first general principle: despite the death of sin on the cross, sin remains.
1. Indwelling sin stays with us while we are in this world; therefore we always need to
mortify it.
2. Sin not only still abides in us, but it still acts, still labors to bring out the deeds of the
flesh.
3. Sin not only troubles us, but if left alone, it produces soul-destroying sins.
4. The Spirit and the new nature are given to us so we have the moral strength to oppose
sin.
5. Neglecting this duty renews the old man, and rots the new man.
6. It is our duty to be “perfecting holiness out of the fear of God.”
Two evils accompany every unmortified professor of faith.
1. The evil in himself.
2. The evil in relation to others around them.
CHAPTER 3
FALSE MORTIFICATION OF SIN
II. The second general principle: Only the Spirit is sufficient to do this work of mortification;
1. Men seek other remedies in vain.
2. It is the work of the Spirit.
(1.) God promised to give the Spirit to us to do this work.
(2.) Mortification is a gift of Christ, and all the gifts of Christ come to us by the Spirit of
Christ.
How does the Spirit mortify sin?
If this is the work of the Spirit alone, why are we urged to do it?
CHAPTER 4
USEFULNESS OF MORTIFICATION
III. The third general principle: the vitality of our spiritual life greatly depends on our
mortification of sin.
1. Life, strength and comfort in our spiritual life are not the necessary result of
mortification.
2. Life, strength and comfort in our spiritual life are privileges, not rights.
3. Life, strength, and comfort in our spiritual life greatly depend on mortification.
(1.) Mortification alone keeps sin from depriving us of them.
(2.) Mortification prunes all the graces of God, and makes room for them to grow in our
hearts.
(3.) Mortification, sincerely applied, produces peace.
CHAPTER 5
MORTIFICATION NEGATIVELY CONSIDERED
How do we fight indwelling sin in a way that maintains peace in our communion with God?
I. Mortifying a Sin -
1. Negatively
(1.) Mortifying a sin does not mean completely killing it.
(2.) Mortifying a sin does not mean disguising the sin.
(3.) Mortifying a sin is not changing our natural disposition to a quiet, sedate one.
(4.) Mortifying a sin is not diverting the sin to another outlet.
(5.) Mortifying a sin is not getting occasional victories over it.
CHAPTER 6
MORTIFICATION DESCRIBED IN ITS PARTICULARS
I. Mortifying a Sin -
2. Positively
(1.) Habitually weakening it.
(2.) Constant fighting and contending against it.
(3.) Realizing success over it.
CHAPTER 7
MORTIFICATION: THE WORK OF BELIEVERS
II: The ways and means we may use to mortify any particular sin
1. The 1st general rule: be sure to get an interest in Christ.
(1.) Unless a man is a believer, he cannot mortify a single sin.
(2.) Mortification is the work of faith, and the unique work of faith.
CHAPTER 8
UNIVERSAL SINCERITY NEEDED
2. The 2nd general rule: Strive to mortify ALL lusts, or fail to mortify ANY lust.
(1.) This kind of selective mortification is the result of a corrupt motive.
(2.) God may be using the persistent lust that troubles you to strengthen you.
Reasons for the predominance of a particular lust.
(1.) As its natural effect
(2.) As punishment for other sins
CHAPTER 9
SYMPTOMS OF A PARTICULAR LUST
III. Particular directions for dealing with a disturbing lust
The FIRST direction: Consider which dangerous symptoms accompany your lust.
1. The sin is long-standing and deep-rooted.
2. When the heart secretly pleas to approve and not oppose it.
3. There is frequent success in sin’s seduction.
4. When a man fights against his sin only with legalistic arguments.
5. When it is probable that there is Godly rehabilitation involved through punishment