by Bret Capranica | Apr 25, 2007 | Christian Living
Owen in Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers Strength and comfort, and power and peace, in our walking with God, are the things of our desires. Were any of us asked seriously what it is that troubles us, we must refer it to one of these heads (63). In the ordinary walking with God, and in an ordinary course of his dealing with us, the vigor and comfort of our spiritual lives depend much on our mortification . . . (64) As sin weakens, so it darkens the soul. It is a cloud, a thick cloud, that spreads itself over the face of the soul, and intercepts all the beams of God’s love and favor. It takes away all sense of the privilege of our adoption; and if the soul begins to gather up thoughts of consolation, sin quickly scatters them . . . (65) The heart is like the sluggard’s field – so overgrown with weeds that you can scarce see the good corn. Such a man may search for faith, love, and zeal, and scarce be able to find any; and if he does discover that these graces are there yet alive and sincere, yet they are so weak, so clogged with lusts, that they are of very little use; they remain, indeed, but are ready to die. But now let the heart be cleansed by mortification, the weeds of lust constantly and daily rooted up (as they spring daily, nature being their proper soil), let room be made for grace to thrive and flourish – how will every grace act its part, and be ready...
by Bret Capranica | Apr 24, 2007 | Christian Living
From Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers . . . reasons why the papists can never, with all their endeavors, truly mortify any one sin, among others are: Because many of the ways and means they use and insist upon for this end were never appointed of God for that purpose (i.e., rough garments, their vows, penances, disciplines, their courses of monastical life, and the like;). Because those things that are appointed of God as means are not used by them in their due place and order – such as are praying, fasting, watching, meditation, and the like.. (59). Why Mortification is the Work of the Spirit He is promised of God to be given unto us to do this work. We have all our mortification from the gift of Christ, and all the gifts of Christ are communicated to us and given us by the Spirit of Christ (60). How the Spirit Mortifies Sin By causing our hearts to abound in grace and the fruits that are contrary to the flesh, and the fruits thereof and principles of them. By a real physical efficiency on the root and habit of sin, for the weakening, destroying, and taking it away. He brings the cross of Christ into the heart of a sinner by faith, and gives us communion with Christ in his death and fellowship in his sufferings (61) If the Spirit Alone Mortifies Sin, Why Are We Exhorted to Mortify It? It is no otherwise the work of the Spirit but as all graces and good works which are in us are his. He does not so...
by Bret Capranica | Apr 23, 2007 | Christian Living
From Owen’s Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers Sin will not only be striving, acting, rebelling, troubling, disquieting, but if let alone, if not continually mortified, it will bring forth great, cursed, scandalous, soul-destroying sins (52). Sin aims always at the utmost; every time it rises up to tempt or entice, might it have its own course, it would go out to the utmost sin in that kind. Every unclean thought or glance would be adultery if it could; every covetous desire would be oppression, every thought of unbelief would be atheism, might it grow to its head (53). Not to be daily mortifying sin is to sin against the goodness, kindness, wisdom, grace, and love of God, who has furnished us with a principle of doing it (54). Let not that man think he makes any progress in holiness who walks not over the bellies of his lusts (55). The root of an unmortified course is the digestion of sin without bitterness in the heart...
by Bret Capranica | Apr 22, 2007 | Christian Living
In his chapter, “The Necessity of Mortification” in his book, Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers, John Owen gives us a few summary principles, from his exegetical musings on Romans 8:13: The choicest believers, who are assuredly freed from the condemning power of sin, ought yet to make it their business all their days to mortify the indwelling power of sin (47). The mortification of indwelling sin remaining in our mortal bodies, that it may not have life and power to bring forth the works or deeds of the flesh, is the constant duty of believers.(49). The vigor, and power, and comfort of our spiritual life depends on the mortification of the deeds of the flesh (49). Do you mortify; do you make it your daily work; be always at it while you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you (50). When sin lets us alone we may let sin alone; but as sin is never less quiet than when it seems to be most quiet, and its waters are for the most part deep when they are still, so ought our contrivances against it to be vigourous at all times ad in all conditions, even where there is least suspicion (51). If sin be subtle, watchful, strong, and always at work in the business of killing our souls, and we be slothful, negligent, foolish, in proceding to the ruin thereof, can we expect a comfortable event? There is not a day but sin foils or is foiled, prevails or is prevailed on; and it will be so...
by Bret Capranica | Apr 18, 2007 | Christian Living
Here are a few quotes from Kelly M. Kapic’s introductory article to he and Justin Taylor’s reproduction of John Owen’s works on the subject of Overcomeing Sin & Temptation, which I am reading in my devotional time each morning: Owen’s personal life: Though he had eleven children with his first wife, only one of them survived beyond adulescence; the one girl who did survive ended up returning to live with her father after her marriage collapsed, and while in his home she died of consumption (24). Sin moves by drawing the mind away from God, enticing the affections and twisting desires and paralyzing the will, thus stunning any real Christian growth. Far too often Christians working within the Reformed tradition have been guilty of confusing stoic ideals of emotional detachment with maturity in the Christian life. But this Reformed tradition, which Owen self-consciously grows out of, has at its best made significanct space for the importance of the affections (27). . . . all Christians are call to love God with their mind, will, and affections. Healthy affections are crucial tothe life of faith, and numbing them cannot be the answer (28). Resisting sin, according to this Puritan divine, comes not by deadening your affections but by awakening them to God himself. Do not seek to empty your cup as a way to avoid sin, bu rather seek to fill it up with the Spirit of life, so there is no longer room for sin (28). . . . there is no temperament that is free from temptation, and the trick is to be aware of the threats that...
by Bret Capranica | Jan 15, 2007 | Christian Living, Miscellaneous
Tim Challies shows us again why he is one of the most worthwhile bloggers to read. He gives us all a great review of the recent e-conversation on the subject of profanity. His interaction with Wayne Grudem’s note to John Piper on the subject is well stated. Thanks Tim! Challies Dot Com: Grudem and Piper on...
