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TEXT: Romans 8:13
SUBJECT: Mortification #7
Tonight, with the Lord's blessing, we'll continue our study of the book, On the Mortification of Sin. The author is John Owen, a Puritan scholar and pastor who died 300 years ago. The work is intensely practical; Owen's goal is to help us resist and conquer the sin that remains in every believer.
In the last two chapters, Owen has labored to define "mortification". It is not:
1.Annihilating your sin.
2.Covering your sin more cleverly.
3.Trading one sin for another, more respectable.
4.Resisting sins that don't really tempt you.
5.An occasional victory over sin.
"Putting to death your sins" are none of the above. Well then, what is it? It is three things, Owen says:
1.The regular weakening of sin.
2.The constant resisting of sin.
3.The frequent success over sin.
This is what Owen means by "the mortification of sin". Is he right? I think he is. We'd do well to learn from this master of practical theology.
In chapters seven and following, Owen gives the General Rules for mortifying our sins. There are two. The first one is this:
"No sin will ever be mortified unless a man is a believer--that is, one that is truly engrafted into Christ--he can never mortify any one sin. I do not say, `Unless he knows himself to be [a believer]' but unless he is [one]".
Two things to say about this "rule". Firstly, not every believer has a strong assurance of faith. Can he mortify his sins? Yes he can. And, by God's grace, he will.
Secondly, only believers can mortify their sins. Others may deny theirs sins, cover their sins, barter their sins, and so on. But they cannot mortify their sins.
To support his argument, Owen cites two passages of Scripture and calls on the aid of theology. Let's look at each in turn:
1.Romans 8:13: "If you, through the Spirit put to death the deeds of the body, you will live".
Who is the "you" of the text? Is it everyone without distinction? Or does it refer to believers only? Look at the context. The "you" of v.13 are obviously the same as the persons that come before and after it. And they are "in Christ"; they "live according to the Spirit"; they're indwelt by "The Spirit of God"; they are "led by the Spirit"; they "cry Abba, Father"; they are "children of God"; they're "heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ".
In the writings of Paul, at least, all these terms are applied to believers. To all believers. And to no one but believers.
"Mortifying your sins", therefore is the duty of Christians.
2.Colossians 3:5: "Therefore, put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desires, and covetousness which is idolatry".
Again, to whom is Paul writing? If you look at the verses around it, you'll see. The are people, "Raised with Christ", who "died with Him"; whose "lives are hidden with God" and who will, one day, "appear with Him in glory".
These terms, like the ones before them, refer to believers in Christ.
3.Theology. Owen says,
"I have proved that it is the Spirit alone who can mortify sin; He is promised to do it, and all other means without Him are empty and vain. How shall he, then, mortify sin without the Spirit? A man may easier see without eyes or speak without a tongue than to mortify any one sin without the Spirit".
How do you obtain the Spirit of God? According to Galatians 3:2, it is by "the hearing of faith". And who "hears in faith"? Believers. Owen goes on and on at this point. But his paragraphs can be summed up in a neat argument: (1) Mortification may only be achieved by God's Spirit; (2) Only believers have God's Spirit; and (3) Only believers may achieve mortification.
As for unbelievers? Owen says they cannot mortify their sins--and shouldn't even try!
Why not? He has five good reasons:
1.It is not his duty.
"I say then, mortification is not the present business of unregenerate men. God calls them not to it as of yet; conversion is their work--the conversion of the whole soul--not the mortification of this or that particular lust".
To support his case, he cites the example of Peter at Pentecost.
"When the Jews, upon the conviction of their sin, were cut to the heart, and cried out, `What shall we do?' what does Peter direct them to do? Does he bid them to go and mortify their pride, wrath, malice, cruelty, and the like? No! He calls them to conversion and faith in Christ. Let the soul be first thoroughly converted, and then mortification will ensue".
2.It diverts him from his most urgent duty. In other words, the unbeliever doesn't have time to work on his anger or cut down on his drinking, and so on. The time he spends on these things are lost to "the one thing needful"--faith in Christ. Many people go to hell in "recovery". Nobody goes to hell "in Christ". First things first!
3.If an unbeliever has any success against his sins, he's likely to become proud of himself, a sin worse than the one he mortified!
"By this means men satisfy themselves that their state and condition is good...and are so hardened in a kind of self-righteousness".
Good works make you feel good. There is nothing wrong with that--that's what your conscience is for--to "accuse or excuse" as Paul says elsewhere. The problem is: When good deeds are done without faith in Christ, they make you feel good...about yourself! When they're done in faith, they make you "glory in the Lord".
4.When an unbeliever fails to mortify his sins on his own, he tends to despair of becoming holy or even to blame God for his failure!
The unbeliever "can't win for losing". If he resists temptation, he becomes a Pharisee. If he doesn't, he becomes a blasphemer. It would be better if he became a believer and then mortified his sins!
5.Mortification is a work of faith.
"Now, if there is a work that can be done by one instrument only, it is madness for any to attempt it who has not that instrument. Now, it is faith that purifies the heart; and without it, it will not be done".
This, I think, is one of Owen's best observations. If there's only one instrument to take your temperature, why are sticking carrots or spoons or pencils or magazines into your mouth? They won't do the job! Only the thermometer will take your temperature! And only faith will mortify your sins.
This is why unbelievers shouldn't try to mortify their sins. It cannot do them any good. But only much harm. God's order is
"Trust and obey".
Owen is wise enough to know his teaching won't go over well with everyone. Someone is sure to say, "Do you want unsaved men to sin?"
He answers: "God forbid!" He doesn't want "sinners to wax worse and worse". That's why he wants them to believe in Christ. For without faith, mortification is impossible.
He closes the chapter with a sharp criticism of Catholics and Protestants who put mortification before faith.
"Herein is the Roman mortification grievously [mistaken]. They drive all sorts of person to it, without considering whether they have the principle for it or not. Yea, they are so far from calling on men to believe, that they may be able to mortify their lusts, that they call on men to mortify their sins instead of believing!"
It is easy to beat up on the Catholics. But Owen turns to the Protestants.
"Some of us...who, overlooking the necessity of regeneration, give this as directions to all sorts of persons that complain of any sin or lust, that they should vow against it, at least for a season, a month or so. These men have [but little] light of the mystery of the Gospel".
An unsaved couple come to the pastor full of marital problems, "What do we do to make this work?" they plead. He tells the husband to listen to his wife more, to be kinder and gentler, and so on.
Should the husband do this? Of course he should. Right after he believes in Christ!
Not because the pastor doesn't care about the couple, but because he cares too much to put bandaids on fatal wounds. Unbelievers need "life", not help in managing their money!
Let me close with a word of advice to preachers and to everyone who witnesses for Christ. Owen says,
"It is their duty to plead with men about their sins, but always remember it is to be done with that which is the proper end of Law and Gospel--that they make use of sin to [bring men to Christ], other wise they will but change men to hypocrisy. It will not do to beat a man off his drunkenness into sober hypocrisy. To break men off particular sins, and not to break their hearts [for Christ does them no good]".
Do you want to mortify your sins? To overcome bad habits with good? If so, don't start with the sins or the habits. Start with Christ. Remember, when it comes to defeating sin, it's not what you know, but Who you know.
God give us the grace to know Christ. Amen.
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