TEXT: Romans 8:13

SUBJECT: Mortification #3

Tonight brings us to part three in our study of John Owen's great book, On the Mortification of Sin. His topic is taken from the verse I just read, Romans 8:13. In chapter one, he explains the text, and in chapters two and following he develops his theme.

Last time, we asked, "Why should believers mortify their sins?" Owen gave six good reasons for that. They are:

That's what we looked at last week. In tonight's chapter, the Puritan tackles three big questions. I've re-worded them a bit, but here's what they are:

Each question, you'd think, needs a long book to answer it, but Owen addresses them all in just four-and-a half pages! John Owen is like a French chef--he serves small portions, but they're very, very rich.

WHY SHOULD WE DEPEND ON THE HOLY SPIRIT TO MORTIFY OUR SINS?

There are three reasons to depend on God's Spirit, writes the Puritan.

The first is: No one or nothing else is able to mortify your sins. To quote Owen,

John Owen lived in the 17th Century. His great enemy was Roman Catholicism. Did the Roman Church care about the mortification of sin? Did it know what to do about it?

As for it's concern, Owen says it was deep and intense.

But, did the Church know how to mortify sins? John Owen says it did not.

What is wrong with its "ways and means" of mortifying our sins? Only two things:

If you study the Catholic saints, you'll see that many of them practiced extreme self-denial. Before he was saved, Martin Luther would wear a rough shirt to itch his body; he would eat just enough to stay alive; he would lie on a cold floor without covers; he would pray for days without sleeping; and so on.

St. Ethelbert wanted to overcome his sexual lust. To achieve that holy end, he stood neck deep in a freezing river, all night long!

When she saw her son washing his hands, Melania, a woman in the Early Church rebuked him,

Luther, Ethelbert and Melania obviously wanted holiness. And they took extreme measures to obtain it. But is starving the way to God? Is freezing? Is itching? Is stinking?

Their devotions were no doubt sincere. But they weren't "God's way of holiness". But "self-made religion". And, therefore, did them no good.

Colossians 2:23 explains the vanity of trying to mortify your sins in your own way:

Man-made religion doesn't work! Even if it's sprinkled with Christ, the Bible, the Church, and so on.

Not only doesn't it work, but man-made devotion keeps us from following "God's way of holiness".

What is that? It's not very exciting, but it works. The means of grace are the obvious things: Prayer, study, meditation, fellowship, the Lord's Supper, hearing sermons, and so on.

For most American Christians, the Catholic way of holiness is not very attractive. But other things are, things like Recovery Groups, 12 Step Programs, Promise Keepers, and so on. These things are not wicked; blessed by God, they can support the ordinary means of grace. But they must never replace them! A Recovery Group is not the Church! The 12 Steps are not the 10 Commandments! We are not made holy by "keeping our promises", but by God keeping His!

To re-cap: We should depend on the Holy Spirit to mortify our sins because nothing else can.

On the positive side--Owen says--we should depend on the Holy Spirit to mortify our sins because God promises to make us Holy by His Spirit and because the Spirit communicates Jesus Christ to our souls.

Is he right? I think he is. God says His Spirit will make us holy:

God has promised. Can He be trusted? If so, let us depend on the Spirit to mortify our sins!

As to the second part, all the blessings of Christ are given to us through the Holy Spirit. What are they? Conviction of sin, repentance, faith, a hatred of sin, a love for God, and everything else we need to mortify our sins.

This means: If Jesus Christ is a all sufficient Savior, then the Spirit who communicates Him to us is sufficient to mortify our sins.

This is why we're to depend on the Holy Spirit alone to mortify our sins: Because no one else can do it and because He can do it. And will do it.

HOW DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT MORTIFY OUR SINS?

On this point, Owen is very brief, but still quite thorough. The Holy Spirit mortifies our sins:

By giving us a love for other believers, the Spirit mortifies our sins of hate, envy, contempt, selfishness, and so on.

"He takes away the heart of stone"; He "lusts against the flesh"; He "washes"; He is a "Hammer that breaks the rock in pieces"; He is the "Plow that breaks up the fallow ground"; He is "A Spirit of judgment and burning". The Spirit not only works through us, but in us directly!

This greatly encourages me. When I'm shot at the end of the day, I know God's Spirit is still strong and fresh and ready to fight by battles for me.

It is very hard to think about our Lord and to give in to sin at the same time. By bringing Him to mind, the Spirit expels wicked thoughts, and so "mortifies" our sins.

IF THE HOLY SPIRIT MORTIFIES OUR SINS, WHY ARE WE STILL TOLD TO DO IT?

Owen explains,

In other words, if we're made holy by the Spirit alone, why pray, read the Bible, or resist temptation?

Here's why:

In mortifying your sins, the Spirit does not "mortify" your mind or will. No! He "enlivens" them. He enables you to hate your sins and to seek the grace to mortify them.

God's "people are willing in the day of His power" (Psalm 110:3). "He works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:15).

Thus, in mortifying your sins, you must make a maximum effort. When you do, the Holy Spirit receives all the credit, for it is He who gave you the desire and power to mortify your sins.

CLOSE

If the mortification of sin depends on the Holy Spirit, then we ought to be very encouraged. If left to me, I'd never do it. Not even a man of Paul's iron will could subdue his lusts. Neither could Luther. Neither can you. No one can.

But, if the mortification of my sin depends on the Holy Spirit within me, then I know my sins will be mortified--despite my weakness and folly.

For this great war is not won by "Might or by power, but by My Spirit says the LORD".

And so: Get busy mortifying your sins. God give you success in it, for Christ's sake. Amen.