John Owen on The Need for Mortification

The Need for Mortification

"The promise of life and vigor in our spiritual life depends much upon our mortification of sin. To gain spiritual strength, we must weaken sin, disentangle our hearts from false ambitions, and cleanse our thoughts. We must also mortify our affections so that we become more engaged in the worship of God than in the worship of our own idols. Mortification prunes indwelling sin and allows the graces of God to grow with vigor in our life." (201)

"Mortification robs sin of its debilitating, inharmonious, and emotionally distracting influences. Without mortification, sin darkens the mind, while the lusts of the flesh grow like weeds. Mortificati9on is the soul's vigorous opposition to the fruit-less self-life." (201)

The Daily Mortification of Sin

The most saintly believers, who appear free from the condemning power of sin, make it their duty every day to mortify the indwelling power of sin." (202)

"Since indwelling sin always abides in the believer, we always need to mortify it." (202)

"Sin is always acting, always conceiving, always seducing and tempting. To dare and stand still is to lose the battle." (202)

"It is our duty to "grow in grace" (2 Peter 2:18), to be "perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Cor. 7:1) by "renewing the inward man day by day" (2 Cor. 4:16). We cannot do this without daily mortifying sin. Sin sets its strength against every act of holiness and against every step of faith. Thus in spite of the mortification exhibited in the cross of Christ for each and every sin, we must apply its efficacy by our daily mortification of the flesh." (203)

"Every professor of faith who fails to mortify sin daily exhibits two evil characteristics. First, he has little regard for the reality of sin in his own life. The cause of this indifference is his ability to adsorb and digest sins daily, without bitterness or repentance...Second, he deceives others in his unmortified state. He appears alright in comparison to others. He seems to walk separated from the world, yet he still lives in its ways. He talks spiritually, but he lives in vanity. He mentions his communion with God, but he in every way conformed to the world. He boasts of the forgiveness of God, but he never forgives others. He actually deceives himself into thinking he is a partaker of eternal life." (203, emphasis mine)

Quotes from Triumph Over Temptation (Houston, John M. Triumph Over Temptation. Colorado Springs: Victor, 2005)

A Biblical Definition of Mortification

Part III of Triumph Over Temptation(Houston, John M. Triumph Over Temptation. Colorado Springs: Victor, 2005) focuses on the work of practical theology by John Owen originally entitled Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers (1656).

Owen, via the editor James Houston, wants the reader to understand mortification before he begins to consider the need to practice the duty. He starts by refuting several false notions about it.

1. "The first thing to remember is that the mortification of sin never means the death and final elimination of sin. This cannot be expected in this life." (195)
2. "Second, mortification does not consist of pretending sin is removed. That would only add hypocrisy to iniquity." (195)
3. "In addition, mortification does not mean the improvement of a quiet, controlled temperament." (195)
4. "Moreover, sin is not mortified when it is only diverted...To change pride for worldliness, sensuality for Pharisaism, or vanity for contempt is not mortification of sin." (195)
5. "Furthermore. occasional conquests of sin do not count as mortification." (195-6)

Following these considerations, Owen ventures the questions "What then is mortification? What does it mean to mortify sin?" (196) To which he answers that mortification consists in three things:

1. Mortification is the habitual weakening of sin. "Now the primary task of mortification is to weaken this habit of sin so that its power to express itself-in violence, frequency, tumult, provocation, and unrest-is quelled...The first expression of mortification is to weaken these lusts." (196-7)
2. Mortification is a constant fight and contention against sin. "First, it is necessary to recognize the enemy you face. Take sin seriously-most seriously indeed.When people view sin superficially, they have no sense of need or motivation to mortify sin...Second, it is important to learn the wiles and the tactics of sin before engaging in spiritual warfare...Third, severely attack it, loading against sin all the firepower most destructive to its survival." (197-8 emphasis mine)
3. Mortification is evidenced by frequent success against sin. "By success, I do not mean the frustration of sin, but the pursuit of it for a complete conquest. When sin no longer hinders our duty or interrupts our peace of mind, then mortification has succeeded to some extent." (198)

The Character of Mortification

Mortification, or reckoning ourselves dead to sin, is a topic that I need to learn more about. Jerry Bridges address the topic in The Pursuit of Holiness in a very helpful manner. This topic was clearly one of significance to the Puritans, and in particular, one of John Owen's focuses. The following quotes are taken from Triumph Over Temptation (Houston, John M. Triumph Over Temptation. Colorado Springs: Victor, 2005) which is a compiling of three John Owen works.

"Because they remain unacquainted with the mystery of the gospel and the efficacy of the death of Christ, they impose unnecessary yokes upon their disciples. Their view of mortification is unrelated to the nature of the gospel and not subject to its means and effects. This results in superstition, self-righteousness, and anxiety of conscience in those who submit to these false forms of discipline." (191)

"Even the choicest saints who seek to remain free from the condemning power of sin need to make it their business, as long as they live, to mortify the indwelling power of sin." (192)

"Mortification is only accomplished "through the Spirit."...Mortification based on human strength, carried out with man-made schemes, always ends in self-righteousness. This is the essence and substance of all false religion in the world." (193)

"To mortify is literally to put to death. "If you put to death," argues the apostle, "you kill." Indwelling sin in the believer is the old man who must be killed, with all his faculties, properties, wisdom, craft, subtlety, and strength. Its power, life, vigor, and strength must be destroyed and slain by the cross of Christ. The old man must be "crucified with Christ" (Rom. 6:6), if we would experience regeneration (see Rom. 6:3-5). But this whole work is gradual and requires all the days of our life for its accomplishment. God has designed this mortification of the indwelling sin that remains in our mortal bodies in order to eliminate the life and power of our flesh." (194)

Keeping Christ's Word Against Temptation

From Triumph Over Temptation (Houston, John M. Triumph Over Temptation. Colorado Springs: Victor, 2005)

"Three things merit our consideration concerning keeping this word: knowing it, valuing it, and obeying it." (179)

1. "First, anyone who desires to keep this word must know it...As a word of grace and mercy, the word of Christ's patience saves us...As a word of holiness and purity, it sanctifies us...As a word of liberty and power, it ennobles us and sets us free from the guilt of sin and wrath...As a word of consolation, it supports us in every circumstance so that we lack nothing." (179-180)
2. "Second, we must value the word of Christ's patience, keeping it as a treasure (1 Tim. 1:14)." (181)
3. "Third, we must obey the word of Christ's patience." (181)

If we have intimate acquaintance with the gospel in all its excellence, knowing the word as one of mercy, holiness, freedom. and consolation, we will value it as our chief and only treasure. We will also make it our business to give ourselves to it in absolute obedience. Then when there is opposition and apostasy that tests the patience of Christ to the utmost, God will preserve us from the hour of temptation. (181)

Watch the Approaches of Temptation

From Triumph Over Temptation (Houston, John M. Triumph Over Temptation. Colorado Springs: Victor, 2005)

"It is not enough to watch our circumstances to detect the times of temptation. We must also watch our hearts to know when temptation might approach us." (170)

"It is an advantage to know oneself, because temptations often lie in one's natural disposition and personality." (171)

"To avoid temptation, we each need to understand our natural temperament. by doing this, we guard against the natural treacheries within us" (171)

"Just as people have differing and distinctive personalities, so they are also affected by distinctive temptations. These relate to their nature, education, and other factors. Unless we are conscious of these propensities, relationships, and dynamic possibilities, temptation will constantly entangle us. This is why it is so important to know ourselves-our temperaments and our attitudes." (171)

"If people did not remain strangers to themselves, they would not maintain all their lives in the same paralyzed state. But they give flattering names to their own natural weaknesses. They try to justify, palliate, or excuse the evils of their own hearts, rather than uproot and destroy them ruthlessly. They never gain a realistic view of themselves. Ineffective lives and scandal grow like branches out of this root of self-ignorance. How few truly seek to know themselves or possess the courage to do so." (172)

Watching Against Temptation - John Owen

In Triumph Over Temptation, John Owen encourages the reader to be aware of, and alert to, the time of temptation:

1. We face temptation in times of prosperity. "Satisfaction and delight in creature comforts-the poison of the soul-tend to grow upon us. A hardness or lack of spiritual sense develops with success. We need to watch and fear always, but especially in times of prosperity." (168)
2. We face temptation in times of indifference to grace, neglect of communion with god, and formality in duty. "We need to ask, "Is my zeal cold?" Is my heart not warmed by the love of God? Are we negligent in duties of prayer or of listening to the Word? Have we become feeble in our profession of the faith? Is our delight in God's people faint? Has it grown cold? Is our love for them merely carnal? If we find ourselves in such a lethargic condition, we need to wake up!" (168)
3. We experience temptation after experiencing great fellowship with God."Sometimes God gives us special discoveries of Himself and of His love and fills our hearts with His kindness. We experience unspeakable, glorious joy. One might think this is the most secure condition in the world....Yet frequently some bitter temptation approaches us. Satan will see that we neglect many opportunities of fellowship with God in such times, so that he can enter and take advantage of us." (169)
4. We face temptation in times of self-confidence. "Let us take heed about overconfidence. Let us also consider the times when temptation makes it approaches to the soul and fortify our heart against them." (170)

God keeps us from temptation

"In these, and in innumerable other ways, God keeps you from temptation." (Owen, John. Triumph Over Temptation. Colorado Springs: Victor. 2005. p176)

1. "God may deliver you, first of all, by sending you an affliction to mortify your heart toward that temptation. While before it was a sweet morsel to your tongue, now you have no further taste or relish for it. Your desire for it has been killed." (176)
2. "Second, God may by some providence alter the source of your temptation. When He takes the fuel from the fire, it goes out." (176)
3. "Third, He may tread down Satan under your feet if he should ever dare to suggest anything that is to your disadvantage. When the God of peace does this, you will not hear from Satan anymore." (176)
4. "Fourth, He may give you such a supply of grace that you will be free, not perhaps from the temptation itself, but from the tendency and the danger of it." (176)
5. "Fifth, He may also give you such an assurance of success in the issue that He leaves you refreshed in the midst of your trials." (176)
6. "Sixth, God may utterly remove the temptation and make you a complete conqueror." (176)

"Remember whenever temptation surprises you and makes entry into your soul, that you have all the resources, with all speed, to repair the breach. Close up that passage where the waters have begun to flood. Deal with your soul like a wise physician. Inquire when, how, and by what means you fell into this sickness. If you find that negligence or carelessness in keeping watch over yourself is at the bottom of it all, then focus upon this tendency or weakness. Lament before the Lord; then proceed to the work that lies before you." (176)

Vigilantce Against Temptation

From Chapter 10 of Triumph Over Temptation:

How then can we be vigilant against the dangers of temptation?

1. Always remember the great danger it is for anyone to enter into temptation. "It is sad to find most people so careless about this. Most people think about how to avoid open sin, but they never think about the dynamics of temptation within their hearts." (Owen, John.Triumph Over Temptation. Colorado Springs: Victor.2005. 162)
2. Realize we cannot keep ourselves from falling into temptation. "If we commit ourselves to God in this way, three things will follow. First, we will experience the reality of the grace and compassion of God...Second, we will be conscious of our danger and of our need for God's protection. Third, we will act in faith on the promises of God to keep us. To believe that He will preserve us is, indeed, a means of preservation."(163-4)
3. Resist temptation by making prayer of first importance. "If we do not abide in prayer, we will abide in temptation." (165)

On avoiding temptation

In chapter 9 of John Houston's book Triumph Over Temptation, John Owen has a specific purpose: "Let us learn more about the power of temptation in order to avoid it." (149) And so Owen goes on through out the chapter proposing the power that temptation has in order to cause the saint to give it proper consideration; it is no mere trifle.

Owen proceeds to consider some "inadequate safeguards against the power of temptation" (151) thus further warning and cautioning the reader of the danger of entering into temptation. Here is his list:

1. The love of honor in the world. "Those who have no better defenses than the love of honor are inadequately equipped to deal with temptation. Sadly, it is possible for those with great reputations to suffer destruction when their only defense lies in their own good name." (152-3)
2. The fear of shame and reproach. "This motive proves useless when dealing with sins of conscience or with sins of the heart. Innumerable excuses are offered to the heart when one relies on this as the predominant defense against temptation." (153)
3. The desire to not disturb one's peace of mind, wound one's conscience, or risk the danger of hellfire. "There is no saint of God who does not value the peace he enjoys. Yet how many fall in the day of temptation!" (154)
4. The thought of the vileness of sinning against God. "Unfortunately, we see that even this is not a sure and infallible defense. No such defense exists." (154)

Entering Into Temptation

From Triumph Over Temptation:

Entering Into Temptation

"First, to enter into temptation is not merely to face temptation. It is impossible for us to be so free of temptation that we never experience it. As long as Satan continues with his power and malice, and as long as the world and its lusts exist around us, we will face temptation." (143)

"Second, to enter into temptation refers to more than the ordinary work of Satan in our own lust. These are sure to tempt us all the time...It suggests something that leads specifically to the seduction of sin, either by attraction or fear." (144)

"Third, it does not imply being conquered by a temptation. It does not mean that we commit specific sin or evil that tempts us or neglect the duties that we know we must fulfill. A man may enter into temptation and yet not fall under temptation, for God makes a way of escape." (144)

"As long as temptation merely knocks outside the door, we remain free. But when it enters and parleys with the heart, reasons with the mind, and entices and allures the affections-either for a short or a long time, whether the soul is conscious of it or not-then we enter into temptation." (144)

Owen on how God "tempts" believers

From Triumph Over Temptation by John Owen as edited by James M. Houston:

How God Tempts Believers

"Generally speaking, temptation merely means to test, to prove, or to experiment with. In this sense, God sometimes tempts men...When we speak of God "tempting" two things merit our consideration. First, God tempts man to show him what is in man, either of grace or corruption...

God alone can plumb the depths of our souls. His instruments are His trials. They penetrate the inmost parts of the soul and permit a man to see what lies there...

Second, God tests us to show Himself to man." (137-8)

From Chapter 6 of Triumph Over Temptation by John Owen as edited by James Houston. The Chapter is entitled The Effects of Indwelling Sin.

Tests to determine the extent of our moral decline.

1. Evaluate your zeal for God. "Is our zeal for God what it used to be-warm, living, vigorous, and effective? Or has the abundance of iniquity dulled us and made our hearts cold?" (121)
2. Examine your delight in the worship of God. "Are we irked by duties and obligations that we once rejoiced in doing?" (121-2)
3. Inspect your sensitivity to sin. "All decline comes from indwelling sin." (122)

What are the sources of God's power for overcoming sin?

1. His gifts to the body of Christ.
2. His commands, exhortations, and promises in the Scripture.
3. Supplies that come from the grace of Christ.

"The fresh taste of spiritual things keeps Christians from worldly contentments...But the process of decay begins with the tainting of these fresh springs." (124)

1. The development of sloth and negligence of God's grace.
2. The loss of reverence for God.
3. The loss of the simplicity of the gospel.
4. The lack of vigilance against Satan.
5. The imitation of the poor example of professing Christians.
6. The enjoyment of some secret lust in the heart.
7. The negligence of private communion with God.
8. The increase in knowledge without answerable practice.
9. The growth in worldly wisdom.
10. The failure to repent of some great sin.

"Theoretical knowledge swells to undue proportions...like a plant with much greenery but no fruit. When believers view evangelical truths as mere head knowledge, they become empty and barren. Those who ere once humble and walked closely with God become mere talkers. Their empty knowledge becomes food for sin. It produces vanity in the mind without any rebuke from the conscience.

When Christians enjoy merely talking, writing, and studying about religion, their conscience becomes pacified. It lodges no protest in the soul. Thus men content themselves with notions of truth, without laboring to experience the power of truth in their hearts. They bring forth no fruit in their lives. Decay ensues. (128)

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.

The Enticement of Indwelling Sin

From the fourth chapter of Triumph Over Temptation by John Owen as edited by James M. Houston:

The Enticement of Indwelling Sin

The affections are snared when they are aroused by sin. For when sin prevails, it captures the affections completely within it. Sin continually obsesses the imaginations with possessive images. (99)

The enticement of sin is heightened when the imagination dominates over the mind. It implants vain thoughts within the mind and delights secretly i its complacency. when we indulge with delight in thoughts of forbidden things, we commit sin, even though our will has not yet consented to perform the deed. (100)

As we have seen, sin always seeks to extenuate and lessen the seriousness of sin to the mind. "It is only a small offense," it says. "It will be given up shortly." With such excuses it speaks the language of a deceived heart. When there is a readiness on the part of the soul to listen to these silent voices-secret insinuations that arise from deceit-it is evident that the affections are already enticed. (100)

How does sin deceive to entice and entangle the affections?

1. It makes use of the tendency of the mind.
2. It takes advantage of the phases of life and proposes sin to be desirable.
3. It hides the danger associated with sin.

But it[sin] so takes up and possesses the mind and affections with the attraction and desirability of sin, that it diverts the soul from realizing its danger. (101)

What are the remedies for avoiding such deception?

1. Guard our affections by mortifying our members.
2. Fix our affections on the cross of Christ.

When someone sets his affections on the cross and the love of Christ, he crucifies the world as a dead and undesirable thing. The baits of sin lose their attraction and disappear. Fill your affections with the cross of Christ, and you will find no room for sin. (102-3)

Remember also that the vigor of our affections toward heavenly things is apt to decline unless it is constantly looked after, exercised, directed, and warned. God speaks often in Scripture pf those who lost their first love, allowing their affections to decay. Let us be jealous over our hearts to prevent such backsliding. (103)

Insight from Triumph Over Temptation

From chapter three, The Deceit of Indwelling Sin:

Four ways sin seeks to accomplish its ends:

1. Sin takes advantage of the weariness of the flesh.
2. The deceitfulness of sin argues falsely about the pressing circumstances in life.
3. Sin argues for compensatory duties.
4. Sin feeds the soul with false promises and purposes.

Sin uses at least six ways to distract the mind:

1. Sin persuades the mind to deal in generalities and to avoid particular duties.
2. The mind feels content in performance of its duties while secretly sinning.
3. The mind often becomes perfunctory in its performance of its duties.
4. Sin distracts the mind from maintaining its diligence.
5. Sin distracts the mind by using deceit to take it by surprise.
6. Sin deceives the mind by frequent and lengthy solicitations.

In regards to the proper attitude towards duty:

1. We must obey God wholeheartedly.
2. We must depend on God in faith to obey Him.
3. We must exercise our understanding and affections to obey God.
4. We must obey God to bring Him glory.

Five ways to direct our minds against deceit that hinders us in our duties:

1. We must consider the sovereignty of God.
2. We must consider the punishment of sin.
3. We must consider the love and kindness of God against whom sin is committed.
4. We must consider the blood and mediation of Christ.
5. We must consider the indwelling Holy Spirit.

From Triumph Over Temptation

Some quotes from Triumph Over Temptation:

Sin seeks to divert the mind from God in various ways. This principally happens when sin argues that certain things are necessary and lawful for the mind to dwell on. (86)

Yet so readily does the deceitfulness of sin use duties to rob God of His due. (88)

The principal care and charge of the soul, as we have seen, lie then in the mind. If the mind fails in its duty, it is like a sentry who fails in his duty. All is lost because of his negligence. (88-9)

The stable, solid, resolved mind in the things of God is not easily moved, diverted, changed, or drawn aside. It is a mind that is not prone to listen to corrupt reasonings, false insinuations, or pretexts seeking to draw it away from its duty. (89)

Prayer Destroying Sin

We have seen four ways in which the spirit of true prayer helps the believer destroy sin. First, it exposes any secret sin lurking in the heart. Like wild beasts, the more earnestly they are pursued, the more likely they will be discovered. Second, prayer weaken a prevalent sin and develops an antidote to it. When the soul of a believer becomes sick with spontaneous languor or apparently causeless weariness, it is a sure sign some sinful disease remains within the soul. Third, as long as the soul engages itself with God, it is certain sin cannot rise up in ruinous dominance...Finally, when the heart remains undeceived by sin in its diligence before God, it receives a special diligence and watchfulness against sin. (Owen, John. Triumph Over Temptation. Colorado Springs: Victor. 86, emphasis mine)

More from John Owen in Triumph Over Temptation

Weakening Deceit by Meditation and Prayer

It is the duty of the mind to keep the soul in a constant, holy concern for God and His grace. This is the essence of obedience to the gospel...But there are some godly duties that are particularly important in weakening and subduing the power of indwelling sin in the believers. These are first prayer and then meditation...By meditation I mean meditation on what respect and relevance there is between the Word and our own heart, so that they stay close together in conformity to each other...Thus meditation has the same intent as prayer, which is to bring our mind into a disposition that answers in all things to the mind the will of God. (82-3)

Rules for Meditation

1. Meditate about God with God - "When we think about God and His excellencies, glory, majesty, love, and goodness, let it be done in such a way that we are speaking directly to God, in a spirit of deep humility and dependence before Him. This will fix the mind and draw out one thing after the other that gives glory to God in a fitting manner. This will affect the soul to exercise a holy admiration of God and a delight in Him that is acceptable to God. Meditate as you would pray or give praise, speaking with God." (83)
2. Meditate on the Word in the Word of God - "Look to God to find help, guidance, and direction in the discovery of His mind and will within the Scriptures." (83)
3. Endeavor to Meditate Frequently - "When we come short of prolonged sustained concentration in meditation, let us make up by frequency in meditation." (83)

"Although there are other spiritual duties, both meditation and prayer particularly oppose indwelling sin. They are always designing the destruction of sin." (84)

A true proposition to a false conclusion

A few more quotes from a book comprised of material from 3 of John Owen's treatises: Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers (1656), Of Temptation (1658), and The Nature, Power, Deceit, and Prevalency of Indwelling Sin (1667). The book, Triumph Over Temptation, was edited by James M. Houston.


In regards to how sin diverts the mind by emphasizing "cheap grace":

Here then is where the deceit of sin intervenes. It separates the doctrine of grace from its purpose. It persuades us to dwell upon the notion of grace and diverts our attention from the influence that grace gives to achieve its proper application in holy lives. From the doctrine of assured pardon of sin, it insinuates a carelessness for sin. God in Christ makes us a true proposition, but Satan with sin makes a false conclusion. (79)

The great affect of the gospel's wisdom and grace keeps the heart always in deep humility, in abhorrence to sin, and in self-abasement. This is the test of the real efficacy of the gospel: It keeps the heart humble, lowly, sensible to sin, and broken on that account. The Spirit of grace moves us to repentance and teaches us to detest sin. (79-80)

Sin deceitfully diverts Christians from a consideration of sin's true nature and real danger by several means:

1. "First, the soul-needing frequently to return to the gospel grace because of guilt-allows grace to become commonplace and ordinary. Having found a good medicine for its wound, it then takes it for granted." (80)
2. "Second, the deceitfulness of sin takes advantage of the doctrine of grace to abuse it, stretching the soul's sense of liberty beyond the limit that God assigns. Some never feel free from legalism unless they indulge in sensuality and plunge into its depths. Sin pleads that certain limits are unnecessary. "Shouldn't the gospel relieve one of such narrow bounds?" they argue. But does this mean as if we should live as if the gospel was unnecessary or as thought pardon of sin was nonessential? (80)
3. "Third, in times of temptation, the deceitfulness of sin goes to such lengths as to actually plead the need to sin, in order to show the reality of the gospel of grace...The manner of vigilance against sin is over scrupulous, it argues...The mind thus becomes careless about sin, and the sense of sin's vileness is lost." (80-1)

The Deceit of Indwelling Sin

These quotes have been gleaned from Triumph Over Temptation by John Owen as edited by James M. Houston. They come from the third chapter entitled The Deceit of Indwelling Sin.

Every lust is deceitful-not inherently so, but because of what is communicated to it by this law of sin. (73)

The life of evil men consists of nothing but "deceiving and being deceived" (2 Tim. 3:13). This is also the character of our enemy. He is deceitful. Against such a one no security exists but vigilance. (73, emphasis mine)

The basis for the efficacy of deceit is its effect upon the mind. For sin deceives the mind. When sin attempts to enter into the soul by some other way (such as by the affections), the mind checks and controls it. But when deceit influences the mind, the chance of sinning multiplies. (74)

So sin aims first of all to distract and to divert the mind from the discharge of its duty...The duty of the mind consists of two things. God requires these of us in our obedience to Him. The first is to keep the mind in such a posture and framework that it is obedient and watchful against all sinful enticements. The second is to attend to and perform all particular actions as God requires according to His will...Indwelling sin tries to divert and to draw away the believer from doing these things. (77)

"Be clothed with humility" says the apostle (1 Peter 1:17). This is what becomes us as the only safe disposition...How is this humble disposition obtained? How is it kept? It is only achieved by a constant, deep apprehension of the evil, vileness and danger of sin. (78)