1. MORTIFICATION OF SIN IN BELIEVERS A summary of John Owen’s insights by Stephen Lee Kolk Steve@Kolkulations.com
2. Foundation – Romans 8:13 What Mortification is NOT What Mortification IS How to mortify sin – by obedient faith Nine ways to prepare for mortification Six Practices of mortification Building on John Owen’s foundation: Goal: Holiness(Heb 12:14) Gold tried in fire (Rev 3:18) Methods: Col 3:5; Romans 6:6, 21, 23, 7:25, 8:6, 13:14; 1Co 9:27; Gal 5:17-24, 6:8; Eph 2:1, 5:14; James 1:15, 1Peter 2:11 John Owen and Mortification
3. A condition is stated: “If” A subject is denoted: “ye” (believers) A means is identified: “through the Spirit” A duty is prescribed: “mortify the deeds of the body” A promise is given: “ye shall live.” - Romans 8:13b Foundation of Mortification
4. Mortification NEVER means Death and elimination of sin in this life Pretending sin is removed Improvement of a quiet, controlled temperament A sin is NOT mortified when it is only diverted Occasional conquest of sin is not mortification Resolving never to sin again is not mortification What Mortification is NOT
5. Mortification is thehabitual weakening of sin Mortification is aconstant fight and contention against sin Recognize your enemy – take sin seriously!!! Learnthe wiles and tactics of the enemy – before engaging in spiritual warfare. Severely attack sin – loading against sin all the firepower destructive to its survival! Give it new wounds every day. Never think of sin or lust as dead because it lies dormant. Mortification is evidenced by frequent success against sin What Mortification is
6. The Holy Spirit is the only sufficient power In vain do we seek other remedies How does the Holy Spirit mortify sin? By causing our hearts to abound in grace and His fruits, which oppose deeds of the flesh “By the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning” By bringing the cross of Christ into our hearts by faith Contrast Gal 5:19-21 with 5:22-23; see Isa 4:4; see Phi 3:10 How To Mortify Sin
7. Mortification is not possible for unregenerate man Mortification is the work of faith Mortification requires obedience Without obedience to God, no believer can mortify sin Without obedience to all of God’s Word and all of God’s provisions for salvation, isolated acts of mortification avail little Universal obedience is essential How can sin be mortified?
8. Consider whether the sin exhibits particularly dangerous symptoms Maintain a clear and abiding sense of guilt, danger, and evil of sin Let the guilty weight of sin burden your conscience Seek with a constant longing to be delivered from the power of sin Consider of the evil perplexing you is rooted in your nature and nurtured and exaggerated by your temperament Preparation for Mortification
9. Watch out for the occasions when your evil sickness tends to occur React strongly against the first stirrings of your evil disposition Use meditation as a means of self-abasement by contemplating God’s perfection and your sinfulness Take care that you do not speak peace to yourself before God speaks it Preparation for Mortification
10. Trust in the Sufficiency of Christ Avoid the entanglements of lust by filling your soul with the realization of all the provisions available in Christ Jesus Raise your expectations of what Christ can do for you Consider also Christ’s faithfulness Focus your expectations of Christ upon the reality of His death and resurrection The Practice of Mortification
11. Seek The Holy Spirit for Mortification of Sin The Holy Spirit clearly and fully convinces the heart of the evil and guilt that needs to die. The Holy Spirit alone reveals to us the fullness of Christ for our relief. The Spirit alone establishes the heart in expectation of help from Christ. The Spirit alone brings the cross of Christ into our hearts with its sin-killing power. By the Spirit we are baptized into the death of Christ. The Spirit is the author and finisher of our sanctification. In all the soul’s relationships with God, we have the support of the Holy Spirit. The Practice of Mortification
