The Conception of Indwelling Sin

From the fifth chapter of Triumph Over Temptation by John Owen entitled The Conception of Indwelling Sin:

Four aspects of this conception for consideration.

1. The will is the cause of obedience or disobedience. "The will actualizes sin or disobedience." (105)
2. The will consents to sin. "The will does this in two ways. Sometimes...the will becomes wholly convinced, weakened, or conquered...On the other hand, someone's will to sin may come in conflict with his other desires." (105-6)
3. The will may not completely consent to sin. "No Christian will absolutely and fully consent to sin, because within his will resides the principle to do good...The principle of grace within a Christian inclines him to do good. Grace rules, not sin, in the believer. (106)
4. The will may be conditioned by tendencies. "Repeated acts of the will to sin often produce a disposition and inclination toward sin. This proneness leads to easy consent." (106)

How does the deceit of sin lead to the consent of the will?

1. The will consents to sin as a result of sin's deception. "The conception of sin always occurs as the result of some deception. Sin seeks to mix up the emotions, or mislead the reasoning, or weaken the will in some way." (107)
2. The will chooses the good and consents to nothing unless it has the appearance of good. "This may be an immediate good, or a temporary good, or the appearance of goodness, or the circumstances of what is good...But when sin deceives the mind, it paints what is absolutely evil as having as apparently good appearance." (108)
3. The will operates as a rationale appetite. "Rationally, it is guided by the mind. As an appetite, it is also excited by the emotions. It is influenced in its exercise by both of these faculties." (109)

Ways God prevents the fruition of sin.

1. God's providence in outward acts obstructs the power of sin.
2. God's grace in inward changes diverts the will to sin.