Overcoming Sin and Temptation (Chapter 2)
“Be killing sin or it will be killing you…”
This week we continue reading the classics together by turning to the second chapter of John Owen’s Overcoming Sin and Temptation. If you’d like to know more about this project, you can read about it right here: Reading Classics Together. Last week we read the first chapter which was an exposition of Romans 8:13: “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.” Owen came to three conclusions: 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; The mortification of indwelling sin remaining in our mortal bodies, that is may not have life and power to bring forth the works or deeds of the flesh, is the constant duty of believers; The vigor, and power, and comfort of our spiritual life depends on the mortification of the deeds of the flesh.
Summary
The thesis of the second chapter is this: “Believers ought to make the mortification of indwelling sin their daily work.” The question we must ask ourselves and the exhortation of the author is this:
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.
The rest of the chapter is given or to reasons that we must be at the business of killing sin. It follows this outline:
- Indwelling sin always abides; therefore it must always be mortified
- Indwelling sin not only abides, but is still acting
- Indwelling sin is not only active, but will produce soul-destroying sins if not mortified
- Indwelling sin is to be opposed by the Spirit and the new nature
- The results of neglecting the mortification of indwelling sin
- It is our duty to perfect holiness in the fear of God and grow in grace every day
Discussion
This week I focused in on individual phrases rather than the chapter as a whole. Owen is an eminently quotable author who can distill a chapter or a section to a sentence or to a phrase. The most notable example must be this: “be killing sin or it will be killing you.” Who, having read that phrase, will ever forget it? The challenge is laid down in just those nine words. We are at war and there is going to be a victor. Will it be us or will it be sin? Owen says also, “When sin lets us alone we may let sin alone.” As much as I hate sin and long to be free from it, I know that I will be in constant conflict with it until the day I die. It is then, and only then, that sin will leave me alone. It is then, and only then, that I may leave it alone.
Here are a few of the other phrases that I highlighted not just to mark them, but so I could return to them and ponder them.
“He that is appointed to kill an enemy, if he leave striking before the other ceases living, does but half his work.”
“Sin does not only still abide in us, but is still acting, still laboring to bring forth the deeds of the flesh. 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 vigorous at all times and in all conditions, even where there is least suspicion.”
“Who can say that he had ever anything to do with God or for God, that indwelling sin had not a hand in the corrupting of what he did?”
“There is not a day but sin foils or is foiled, prevails or is prevailed on.”
“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.”
“[Sin] has no bounds but utter relinquishment of God and opposition to him.”
“It is our participation of the divine nature that gives us an escape from the pollutions that are in the world through lust.”
“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.”
“By the omission of this duty grace withers, lust flourishes, and the frame of the heart grows worse and worse.”
“Sin does so remain, so act and work in the best of believers, while they live in this world, that the constant daily mortification of it is all their days incumbent on them.”
I think the one that will stay with me the longest and that will continue to reverberate in my mind (and I hope this is especially true when I am lured and enticed by sin) is this: “Sin aims always at the utmost.” Though sin may compel me to do something that seems small and nearly harmless, sin’s ultimate aim is always greater. Its aim is always more dangerous. Sin aims at the greatest fulfillment of any sin and aims even further to cause me to utterly relinquish God and to be in opposition to Him. What seems small and harmless is really just the first rocks shifting in what aims to become a terrific landslide.
Next Time
Next Thursday we will continue with the third chapter of the book. We have only just begun so there is still plenty of time for you to get the book and to read along.
Your Turn
I would like to know what you gained from this chapter. Feel free to post comments below or to write about this on your own blog (and then post a comment linking us to your thoughts). Do not feel that you need to say anything shocking or profound. Just share what stirred your heart or what gave you pause or what confused you. Let’s make sure we’re reading this book together. Last week’s comments were great and really aided my enjoyment of the chapter. I trust this week will prove the same.
Comments (25) »
1. Mike Sager
November 22, 2007
9:56 AM
As I read and recognized what a daunting enemy sin is, the quote that will stick with me the most from this chapter is: “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.”. It’s sin not to be mortifying sin!
I’m so thankful for that goodness, kindness, wisdom, grace, and love of God, and that he who is in me is greater than he who is in the world.
2. Chuck
November 22, 2007
10:30 AM
I found it so true that sin “will produce soul-destroying sins if not mortified.” This is evident in my life where not only sin will become the norm of everyday living, but will continually seek the “utmost sin in that kind” if left unchecked. I remember watching an interview of Ted Bundy before his execution where he admitted that his actions to fulfill sexual desire all started with a lust over a pornographic magazine. How harmful is that? Very! If not mortified now! Less we “come short of eternal life.”
3. Mike Leake
November 22, 2007
11:03 AM
I highlighted many of the same quotes that Tim did. I too was especially struck by the course that sin desires to run. I tend to think of sin in isolation to other sins. But Owen awoke to my mind that all sin is interconnected and is aiming at a God-dethroning goal. I was also struck by this phrase by Owen:
“The root of an unmortified course is the digestion of sin without bitterness in the heart. When a man has confirmed his imagination to such an apprehension of grace and mercy as to be able, without bitterness, to swallow and digest daily sins, that man is at the very brink of turning the grace of God into lasciviousness and being hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
It helped me see that I must constantly be in battle with sin. It alarmed me because some of those “seemingly innocent” little sins that still plague me do so without a bitterness in the heart. I thank God for bringing me to Owen so that I can see the utterly disgusting nature of EVERY sin.
After reading this chapter it caused me to long for Jesus to come to my rescue. If elt like Paul at the end of Romans 7, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Lord, give us the grace to mortify sin!
4. don gale
November 22, 2007
11:40 AM
One thing I really appreciate about Owen that is especially evident in this chapter is that he shows that it is our duty to mortify. We can’t simply pray that we’ll be kept from temptation or that God will “bind up satan” or that God will put a “hedge of protection” around us. Too often, I hear people pray these things, and then think that they are completely removed from responsibility. Owen says, “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” (pg 54). Is it right to ask God to keep us from temptation or bind anything up if we’re not doing everything we can to fight it? It seems like bad stewardship.
Happy Thanksgiving!
5. Ben G
November 22, 2007
12:21 PM
Thank you, don gale, for your comments last week about the role of the Spirit vs. my role in defeating sin.
In your post on this chapter, I think you need to be careful, as Jesus told us to pray this way. We are supposed to ask for deliverance from temptation. My church specifically renders the Lord’s prayer this way: “…lead us not into trial, but deliver us from the Evil One…” You’re right to say we can’t simply pray for the “hedge of protection,” but we also can’t get by without some spiritual protection! We all know that we will never have a life free of temptation, but an essential part of the struggle is to ask God for deliverance and protection from it. Then also we need to put on the full armor of God.
Here is an Owen quote that caught me: “The root of an unmortified course is the digestion of sin without bitterness in the heart.” How many times does sin seem good? How many times do I countenance sin without feeling a tinge of disgust? Part of the battle to mortify sin is to hate it. Hate the small sins and the big ones. I think this is a rule that should also apply to our consumption of entertainment.
Happy Thanksgiving.
6. Loren
November 22, 2007
4:35 PM
Chapter 2 is an unrelenting analysis of the battle we must engage in if we are to experience a spiritual life that has “joy, comfort and vigor…”. My goodness, Owen’s never eases up on the warnings and resulting consequences if we are not serious about mortifying our sin. It’s sobering, yet refreshingly challenging. It is my experience to hear much more teaching that emphasizes after-the-fact confession of sin then intense exhortations to struggle with, wrestle with, and plead for the Spirit’s help with not sinning in the first place. Owen’s is intense in his unwavering focus in the prevention of sin.
I thought he made an astute observation in saying that negligence of mortification results in the inward man perishing while the focus on the outward man is renewed day by day. So much of my time can be spent on acquiring things, focusing on appearance, physical health and living a comfortable life (taking care of the outward man) that often leaves left over morsels of time and focus on my inward man which can grow weak and ineffective from such neglect. It is amazing how words written so long ago are challenging me to again take an honest look at what I am doing, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to kill sin in my life. God is amazing!
7. Greg Shunk
November 22, 2007
8:54 PM
I do appreciate Owens setting out to make clear our position in Christ at the beginning of the chapter (Col. 3:1,3,4) that in itself is complete grace. I think what I have taken away from this chapter more then anything is how the author has greatly opened my eyes to the reality at how the neglect of mortification can lead to a disframing the spirit from communion with God. Oh that our God of grace would forever grant us in his favor a greater conviction that leads to repentance.I need that! It is very sobering to contemplate where he talks about sin being left alone”if not continually mortified,it will bring forth great,cursed,scandalous, soul destroying sins.” I don’t know about the rest of you folks but I often wonder have I pushed the envelope to far? All I can say at this point is that the first and second chapters of this book are both very disturbing and humbling for me. In closing I can really identify with King David Psa 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Psa 51:8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Psa 51:9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psa 51:11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Psa 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
8. Pastor Chad
November 22, 2007
10:26 PM
What a man of one liners! There are so many things that one could take away from this chapter and still be left mining for more. The biggest thing that I got from this chapter, as many of you did as well, was the quote, “Be killing sin, or it will be killing you.”
There is a very specific sin that I have been dealing with for some time. One which is somewhat private, but yet causes damage to my relationships. This duty to keep killing sin is something I have to put more effort into. I have been praying that God would give me the strength to resist. But when I fel I would blame it on him. Then I realised that he was giving me the strenght, even prompting me by brining to mind hymns, psalms, and other Bible verses as I was struggling with the temptation. More often than not, the problem was that I really did not WANT to resist. After all, “God does not tempt you beyond what you can bear. But with every temptation he will provide a way out.” (quoting from memory so please excuse any errors) The way out of our sinful habits is to continually battle with them, even, and maybe especially, when they appear dead.
9. Jeri
November 22, 2007
11:58 PM
Very helpful, sobering, and encouraging. So true that Owen can “distill a chapter or a section to a sentence or to a phrase,” and this week I definitely appreciate that. Thanks Tim and all.
10. don gale
November 23, 2007
12:30 AM
Ben G., Thanks for pointing that out. I guess I was more complaining about people I know personally who, like I said, simply pray and never act. Say they’re struggling with a certain sin, they’ll pray for protection from it, but not really change what they do. It’s almost like that whole “let sin abound so that grace may abound” thing, but kind of backwards. While we can and should and are commanded to ask God for help, it doesn’t stop there. Anyway, hopefully that clarifies what I was trying to say. Thanks for sharpening.
PS - I think this is the best blog idea of all time…it’s certainly been the most helpful for me….thanks, everyone, for the great insight….it’s like having an army with me fighting through Owen’s ridiculous phraseology (of which, for some reason, i can’t get enough)
11. Jason P
November 23, 2007
1:12 AM
I found myself unsettled with this chapter (in a necessary way, I think):
“Sin sets its strength against every act of holiness and against every degree we grow to. Let not that man think he makes any progress in holiness who walks not over the belly of his l/usts. He who does not kill sin in his way takes no steps toward his journey’s end. He who finds not opposition from it, and who sets not himself in every particular to its mortification, is at peace with it, not dying to it” (55).
Whenever I read this I pray for God’s mercy. I know that my flesh is so deeply perverted, and is constantly seeking the “height of its kind,” seeking to deceive and kill. I know that sin holds out a promise of fulfillment and satisfaction, which is why I pray that God would reveal himself in a greater and more profound way during those moments of temptation. I pray that he would remind me of his goodness and mercy; that I (we) would be in awe at the depth of his grace in my (our) lives. I also see why it’s SO important to be involved in other Christians’ lives, and have them involved in mine. This, admittedly, is also hard for me, to find others to fellowship with. Be at peace…
12. Staci at Writing and Living
November 23, 2007
1:21 AM
When reading this chapter I was reminded over and over of James 1:14-15:
but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
13. Karen B
November 23, 2007
6:59 AM
There were so many good things in this chapter. I think the two things that were most striking to me were that when sin is quiet, it is not absent, but may be working more deeply. The other is that neglecting the small sins is not simply neglecting the small sins (while thinking that I am dealing properly with the bigger ones) - neglecting the small sins is also allowing the bigger ones to take more root. After reading Tim’s comments, though, I want to think more about how “sin aims always at the utmost” - I am not tempted just to fall to the one (perhaps little) sin, but it is a scheme to make me fall absolutely.
14. Kendall
November 23, 2007
9:34 AM
While I am reading Owen, I am continually struck by the contrast between his theology and the popular theology of today. Owen seems to present the destruction of sin as the primary goal of salvation. After all, didn’t Jesus come to save His people from their SINS - Mt 1:21?
I am afraid far too many gospel presentations today make the appeal for sin to be forgiven, but not forsaken. Obviously, this is attractive because people desire to be absolved of the penalty of their sin (so they seek forgiveness from God), but do not really want to forsake their sin (engage in mortification of the flesh). Is this a true salvation? Can someone genuinely be forgiven yet never engage in the duty of forsaking/mortifying sin? Just some thoughts bouncing around in my mind while hanging out with Owen…
15. Kevin S.
November 23, 2007
9:51 AM
This has been great so far… and we’re only into chapter 2. Thanks Tim, for the invitation to read this together.
Chapter 2 was, indeed, full of great lines, quotes, admonitions and the conviction brought by the Spirit when I realize that I’m not like the apostle Paul, whom Owen paraphrases (and I’m guessing Kapic & Taylor paraphrased Owen a bit too) “I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection” (1 Cor. 9.27). “I do it,” says he, “daily; it is the work of my life: I omit it not; this is my business.” (page 50) Oh to see the slothfulness of my dealing with sin. There is no cease-fire in this war, no DMZ that we can run to and hope to be safe from this enemy. Retirement is never going to be something to prepare for and look forward to in this “business” of putting sin to death. Owen helps me so much here.
I saw & highlighted many of the quotes which you did, Tim. Here’s one that stood out (page 53):
There is not the best saint in the world but, if he should give over this duty, would fall into as many cursed sins as ever any did of his kind.
Another powerful word (page 55):
Let not that man think he makes any progress in holiness who walks not over the bellies of his lusts.
I ask forebearance for this next one, a bit lengthy, but I believe it tells me, that we’re not so far removed or advanced even 350+ years later (page 55-56):
There is, indeed, a broad light fallen upon the men of this generation, and together therewith many spiritual gifts communicated, which, with some other considerations have wonderfully enlarged the bounds of professors and profession; both they and it are exceedingly multiplied and increased. Hence there is a noise of religion and religious duties in every corner, preaching in abundance - and that not in an empty, light, trivial, and vain manner, as formerly, but to a good proportion of a spiritual gift - so that if you will measure the number of believers by light, gifts and profession, the church may have cause to say, “Who has born me all these?” But now if you will take the measure of them by this great discriminating grace of Christians, perhaps you will find their number not so multiplied. (read the rest of this paragraph and lament the day we live in; lament our sins and friendliness with the world; lament and confess and repent and see these sins put to death)
Here’s looking forward to chapter 3. Also, to everyone else’s comments, thanks. Iron sharpening iron here.
16. Scott D. Andersen
November 23, 2007
12:14 PM
BE KILLING SIN OR IT WILL BE KILLING YOU
WOW, when Owen writes his words are loaded with scripture or scriptural language. It is wonderful how he pulls in so much scripture and speaks not with his own authority but with the very authority of God’s Word.
Example: It is our participation of the divine nature that gives us an escape from the pollutions that are in the world through lust and there is a law of the mind and as well as a law of the members.
Owen referred to col 3.1-5 Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Making the point that we are to be mortifying. We who are risen with Christ, and are dead with Christ and are alive with Christ and who will be with him in Glory — that is who this mortification of sin is for.
Sin’s condemning power has no hold on us who are in Christ but the indwelling power of sin remains as an enemy to be mortified.
Owen makes the point that we who are both dead with Christ and raised to newness of life in him are not excused from this work of mortification.
Owen makes referenence to Joh 15 where every branch in him is purged. And also to Paul who says I keep under my body and bring it into subjection 1co 9.27.
There are some who claim perfection or the ability to be 100% free from the indwelling power of sin and achieve perfection. Owen says they know nothing about sin or they would never make such claims. One way they can claim perfection is by calling good evil and evil good. Another is by tempering God’s laws and standards so that they can deceive themselves thinking his standard matches theirs.
Sin corrupts even the good that we do.
Sin always abides and is always acting within us — we must be in constant warfare against it.
Every day sin prevails or is prevailed upon, sin foils or is foiled.
Sin will always go to the greatest extreme that it can — “every lustful glance would run to full adultery” paraphrased
Sin starts out small but grows to a great cancer.
Sin hardens little by little until God is forsaken. Sin allows a little at the first and indifference to this little is hardening already begun.
The only prevention to sin’s success is mortification which strikes at his very head every hour.
One purpose of the new nature and the indwelling spirit is to provide a principal with which to commence warfare.
The flesh lusts against the Spirit —- what of it!!!! The spirit lusts also against the flesh!!! I love this quote in Owen.
God has given the New Nature and the Spirit as a relief against our greatest enemy — do not neglect the gift of God.
Neglecting the Spirit is like keeping the great warrior tied up and restrained who would fight for your eternal good while sin bludgeous away at you to your eternal harm. Don’t neglect the Spirit for this is very unfair warfare indeed!
Neglecting the Spirit and the New Nature is a SIN against the GOODNESS OF GOD.
The best grow cold through neglecting the grace of mortification.
Our duty is perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Don’t neglect this duty.
Unmortified sin should be our very bitterness of Heart.
The fault lies when we have too slight of thoughts of the sinfullness of sin. Examining myself I think “how slight are my thoughts!”
Then those who profess faith in Christ but fail to be mortifying sin are a snare to others who see them.
BE KILLING SIN OR IT WILL BE KILLING YOU.
17. Mrs. J.D.Darr
November 23, 2007
1:46 PM
Hi everyone! LOVE all of the insights I’ve read!!! I quickly read the chapter before heading out for Thanksgiving dinner. What I read, pierced my heart. I had been angry at my inlaws. Very angry…that anger was leading to hateful thoughts. The more I thought, the worse it got. Owen stated that sin wants to take you futher, all it needs is a foothold. I had been so careful watching the OTHER sin I struggle with, that I didn’t even notice this one. God forgive me, I am the chief of sinners. Guido once said, If you want to rebuke an evil man, start with yourself.
18. Andrea Wandell
November 23, 2007
3:50 PM
My husband and I decided to read this book together as we attempt to battle sin. I told him that I did not want to read a “how to book.” I wanted to understand how to battle sin through the Holy Spirit. What struck me in this chapter was realizing that sin is ALWAYS at work in me. Even as I am sanctified through Christ, I must daily identify and reject Satan’s lies. I must admit that understanding what this looks like is difficult for me. We must put to death the sins of the flesh by the Holy Spirit. I want to understand how to do this through the Spirit, how to pray to the Spirit and rely on the Spirit - not so that I may be void of action - but that any victory won is no longer my victory. I have lost enough battles on my own effort and am finally ready to lie down my ego and submit to God’s authority and fight on His terms with His tools.
19. Darren
November 23, 2007
11:05 PM
This chapter really brings home the sobering reality of this battle as well as the constancy of it and dire need for it. Our very souls are at stake. One of the phrases that really caught my attention was: “He that is appointed to kill an enemy, if he leave striking before the other ceases living, does but half his work.” We are appointed to this task. This is our job on this earth. God has given us an enemy, a means, and a motivation (be killing sin or it will be killing you). If we fail to completely accomplish this task then we have completely failed. Sin must be crushed. In sports, a championship team is characterized by “smelling the blood in the water.” When they knock a team down they put their foot on the neck and go for the kill. They show absolutely no mercy toward their opponent. They leave no doubt. It’s the same for me. I must leave no doubt. No mercy for sin. Kill it and kill it now. I love how Piper characterizes this battle. He says that we as Christians need to have a “mean streak.” This isn’t a pleasant affair. It is bloody and dirty and we must have a mean streak. In the case of sin we must have a bloodlust and seek its absolute destruction. There is no room for anything but violence. May God give me the grace to be steadfast in this battle and give me the strength to persevere. Praise God that he has already claimed the ultimate victory over this enemy and has given me all I need to see the battle through to its glorious end.
20. Robin
November 23, 2007
11:37 PM
I have seen first hand how sin strives to reach the utmost. What starts out small, with a still small voice speaking to its being addressed, will get louder and louder - in the hopes to drown out that still small voice.
Only two weeks into this and I already wonder why churches aren’t using Owen to disciple believers. How effective that Owen backs every thesis with Scripture. How many believers, new and old, do not look to the word to back up the “fix it” things they hear?
I cannot wait for Chapter 3’s discussion. And Chapter 4’s, and Chapter 5’s………….
SDG
21. Bill
November 24, 2007
12:47 AM
I’ve enjoyed reading this book each week along with a whole other group learning the same things. It’s really awesome. I shared my thoughts on this chapter over at my own blog. http://petruzzo.wordpress.com.
I can’t wait till the next chapter!
22. Carol
November 24, 2007
7:44 AM
I liked Tim’s comment that “Be killing sin or it will be killing” is a sort of summation. This phrase, together with”Sin aims always at the utmost,” are the two phrases that have “stuck,” in my mind, and by God’s grace, my practice this week.
Owen writes, “Do you mortify? Do you make it your daily work?” It’s almost as if he is asking “Are your mortifying?” “Are you making it your daily work?” Owen inspires me to work, and not grow weary, but get up another day, to another temptation, ready to battle. Not for myself only, but with the Spirit’s help and a jealousy that God’s work not be hindered by my own ugly sin.
Owen’s words about sin shooting for the utmost have been tumbling around my mind and helped me cultivate conviction. Owen’s descriptions help me see the seriousness of what my sin will acheive if given it’s own way. So, yes, I would want to follow Owen’s advice, “Now, it being our duty to mortify, to be killing of sin while it is in us, we must be at work.”
Again, Owen’s precepts make their way to practice with immensely practical application. In practice, am I inviting input from those around me about my sin? Do I make it a practice to ask forgiveness whenever sin has gotten the upper hand (1 John 1:9) and trust him for purification in this process? When I see sin rise it’s head and my desires are in line with sin and not the Holy Spirit am I recognizing that my (evil) desires aren’t dead yet? When others have observations that point to sin in my life (my choices, my words, my practice) am I recognizing what really hurts (and if it’s sin to go after it rather than placating it)?
I love that Owen hates sin and teaches me to do the same. I love that it was the Holy Spirit’s idea first and that the Word is punctuated with examples and that Owen’s writing reflects this.
Thanks Tim for going through this book! I am so grateful to be reading comments and reading this together!
23. Marilyn B.
November 25, 2007
4:16 PM
I am finding this reading less difficult and more profitable than I expected. Thank you, Tim, for choosing this book. The major impact from this chapter has been as others posted, the sad lack of hard teaching on sin in most modern churches.
Owen speaks of a “noise of religion and religious duties in every corner, preaching in abundance—and that not in an empty, light, trivial, and vain manner, as formerly, but to a good proportion of a spiritual gift—…” He goes on to say, “Where almost is that professor who owes his conversion to these days of light, and so talks and professes at such a rate of spirituality as few in former days were, in any measure acquainted with…”
I think this describes the church today. So many churches are full of religious people, who speak “religion-ese” and live an outwardly decent life but one put on in order to fit in with others in the same church or denomination; people who live by habit instead of holiness. Too many people have missed understanding God’s great holiness and in so doing are unable to see how vile our smallest sins are to Him. I was first overcome by this after reading Sproul’s “Holiness of God”. I am truly and deeply grieved that so many preachers are not missing this by accident, but are purposefully avoiding this point so as not to offend sensitive seekers.
I’m not adept at expressing the fullness of my thoughts, but I guess I’ll leave it at that and hope for the best!
24. Jacob Douvier
November 27, 2007
12:55 PM
I’m in the middle of Ch. 2 still (and thus a little behind), but what I have read thus far has been powerful and convicting. It meshed well with what my pastor’s sermon on Sunday on Romans 12:1. Mortifying the sin in my life is a spiritual act of worship. This thought has been very beneficial to mediate on and has been encouraging me in the face of temptation.
The other thing I noticed, like Kendall above, is how contrary it is to contemporary teaching. A few weeks ago on my blog, I reviewed Wild at Heart and noted the book’s faulty and unrealistic understanding of human nature. Owen is a breath of fresh air in light of Eldridge, and men would do much better to read this work than his.
Lord willing, I’ll be caught up by thursday!
25. Kwame Nyarko
November 27, 2007
10:10 PM
Hello Everyone, What really stood out to me was “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.”
I am grateful to God for this truth because it is clear that not being deeply concerned and distraught about the absence of daily mortification of sin, is in itself sinning. Amazing!!! This reminds me of what the Prince of Preachers (CH Spurgeon) said, that “Contentment as to worldly goods may make men rich but contentment with our spiritual condition is the index of [spiritual] poverty.”
Brethren, may we never be content with our walk. May we daily ask for Grace so that through the Holy Spirit’s work, we may incessantly mortify sin.
Kwame