Mortification
of Sin
Do
you mortify; do you make it your daily work; be always at it whilst
you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will
be killing you. (John
Owen, The Works of
John Owen, Banner
of Truth, 2000, vol. VI. pg. 9)
John
Owen penned these penetrating words hundreds of years ago. Yet, they
still ring true; they, perhaps, are now more relevant than ever
before. Why? Because we live now. If we were alive in Owens' day,
they would be truer than the generation before. In our day, as
always, sin is not killed. Sin is not slain. Sin is not seen as the
monster that it is. No, sin is celebrated and paraded around; all
the world is a carnival and most, if not all, happily join in the fun
and games.
Sin
is horrible. Sin marred the image of God in man. Sin separated
mankind from his glorious God. Sin evicted man from God's paradise.
Sin ushered in all manners of evil and treachery. Sin curses God,
destroys lives, kills families, erodes the foundation of
civilization, elevates man to heights he ought not contemplate,
attempts to dethrone the Lord of the universe, calls evil good and
good evil, and crucified the perfect Son of God. Sin is anti-God!
Sin is cosmic treason!
As
believers, we ought to hate sin. Christians need to be killing sin.
How? Good question. Let's look into this very important and often
neglected discipline.
To
begin, mortification is the killing of indwelling sin that remains in
the flesh of a believer. Romans 8:13 reads, “For if you live
according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to
death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Readers may also
consult John 15:2, 1 Corinthians 9:27, and Colossians 3:5.
Unfortunately, sin indwells believers as long as they are in the
world (Rom. 7:24; 2 Cor. 4:16; Gal. 5:17; Phil. 3:12, 21; 2 Pet.
3:18; 1 Jn. 1:8). The flesh is where sin dwells and works (Rom.
7:23; Heb. 12:1; Jms. 1:14).
So,
what are we to do? First, do not take sin lightly. Do not grow
hardened or calloused to sin and its effects. Beware of becoming
desensitized or used to sin. Never say, “this is just the way it
is.” Or, “It's always been this way.” Or, “I'm just a
sinner saved by grace.” These are excuses and attempts to justify
sin or sinful behavior.
Second,
realize that mortification is the work of the Spirit that indwells
believers. Be sure, we cooperate with the Spirit, but it is
primarily his work in us. The Spirit searches our spirits, convicts
of sin, fills us with godly sorrow when we sin, drives us to
repentance, gives us grace to repent, restores fellowship, conforms
us more into the image of Christ, causes us to hate sin, and changes
our affections. There is a war raging inside every believer. The
Spirit indwells every Christian, yet every Christian is still in the
flesh. Are you at war? Do you battle sin? Are you wrestling and
growing in your hatred of this cosmic tyrant? If you are, that is
good. That is the Spirit of God at work in you. Christian, keep
fighting! Depend on the Spirit, he will finish the work that he
began. Christian, take heart, God cannot fail!
Mortification
consists of the habitual weakening of sin. This is a process, which
means that it does not take place overnight. Usually, it looks more
like, one step forward and two steps back. Albeit, sin is weakened.
Resistance to temptation and victory over sin are included in
mortification. Mortification also is the consistent fight against
sin. This fight will not end any time soon. As long as we are
present in this life, we will be at war. Believers are to persevere
in the fight against sin.
Christian,
do you even realize that you are at war? During the second World
War, Americans knew they were at war. Everything was effected by the
war. The men were away fighting overseas, women worked in the
factories, people read the headlines in anticipation of peace,
baseball ceased for a time, food was rationed, items could not be
purchased because they were needed for the war effort, and telegrams
were received making known the awful news that everyone dreaded. The
people of that day knew all to well of the reality of war. Our
country is presently at war. But we do not live as though we are.
Our lives go on as usual. Nothing has changed for most us. We still work
and play as if nothing is happening on the other side of the world.
Christian, make no mistake about it, you are at war. Fight the good
fight!
What
can be done about sin? How may we mortify our sinful flesh? First,
be persistent. Do not give up or give in. Second, search and
examine your heart looking for tendencies and weaknesses. Third,
pray for conviction of sin and grace to resist temptations. Fourth,
be honest about your sin. Do not tell yourself that, “It's not so
bad.” Fifth, think on the dangers and consequences of sin. Sixth,
think on the evil of sin. Meditate on how much God hates sin and the
fact that Christ hung on a cursed cross bearing the wrath of God for
sin.
Seventh,
meditate on the law of God and his perfections. This practice will
reveal sin and convict. Eighth, be particular and not general; focus
on specific sins that are revealed and that must be fought against.
Ninth, depend on God and his power for deliverance from sin and lean
not on your own strength. Tenth, Identify things that trigger sin
and remove them. Avoid temptations and stay away from evil.
Eleventh, be on guard and remain watchful. Sin never sleeps or
slumbers; we must not drop our guard for a second. Twelfth, attempt
to fight sin when it first appears. Do not wait or put it off;
always engage sin at the onset. Thirteenth, do not silence your
conscience; do not grow hardened or used to sin. Fourteenth,
meditate on Christ, his atoning work, and his continual intercession.
This will transform your mind and draw your affections to Christ's
work causing you to hate sin and cease from it.
Fifteenth,
trust Christ and know that you have no hope without him. You must
not wage war without Christ; he is the supreme leader whom we follow.
Sixteenth, think on the promises that have been given to believers
that they will persevere until the end (Rom. 8:31-39; Phil. 1:6).
Seventeenth, put on the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:10-18).
Eighteenth, and lastly, rely on the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit
that convicts us of sin, convinces us of the truth, reveals Christ to
our souls, strengthens us when weak and battered, relieves us of
guilt and sin's grasp, fills us with peace and joy, applies the work
of Christ to us, continues sanctifying us, hears our cries, forgives
us when we repent and confess, and brings our requests to God.
The
mortification of our sinful flesh is not easy. Nothing worth its
weight ever is. No, be prepared for a fight to the death. And know
this, sin will not die easily or quickly. Sin will not give up and
go home. This fight will last until we breathe our last or the Lord
takes us home. But, Christian know this, we serve an awesome God.
He will never leave us or forsake us. And not only that, but our
great and glorious God uses our sin for his glory and our good! How
can this be? We do not know all of the details but we trust that
this is true. Have faith in our God. God cannot fail or be
thwarted. What God begins he will accomplish. He will win. God has
to win! So, Christian, keep on fighting in the strength of the Lord
and await the good news of victory. V-Day will come, so hope in this
and wait for Christ's return or the call home.
