The Book's Purpose

• Study the nature of indwelling sin in the lives of believers
• Examine temptation in the light of Scripture and the practice of daily life
• Encourage believers in the understanding and practice of mortification

The Book's Message

Many recognize John Owen, born in 1616, to be among the greatest Puritan scholars. The teachings collected in this book challenge our generation’s neglect of the doctrine of sin. In them Owen examines sin’s workings in the human heart and challenges believers to deal mercilessly with their mortal enemy.

The Nature of Indwelling Sin

Without an adequate understanding of indwelling sin, understanding our guilt before God and our need for a savior is impossible. For believers, indwelling sin is a law which inclines them toward evil. Though Christ’s work has broken the power of sin, believers feel its power and must acknowledge its presence.

Therefore, believers bear the responsibility to discover sin in their hearts. They must recognize its presence with them even when they will to do right. Since their great enemy resides within them, they should diligently pay heed to its workings in their heart.

Sin dominates the flesh and offers fleeting, though powerful, pleasures. It tirelessly pursues our affections, and has within our hearts a willing ally. Though Christ strengthens believers, nevertheless a traitorous heart stands ready to betray the believer at any time.

The heart of man is deceitful and unsearchable. It controls his actions and reinforces his course by virtue of its pervasive influence. Because sin resides in the heart, it can be thought of as a fortress. As a fortress, the heart is unsearchable, deceitful, and full of contradictions. Consequently, we must exercise care in our dealings with our own hearts. We must always consider ourselves at war with our hearts, remaining vigilant against the heart’s tendencies. Also, through prayerful diligence we must commit the searching of our hearts to the Lord, who alone plumbs the heart’s depths and knows its cure.

The Power of Indwelling Sin

Sin is the declared and open enemy of God. Consequently, obliterating sin remains the only option available to the believer as he decides how to address it. The believer desires communion and fellowship with God, yet sin waits in ambush at every turn. It hates holiness and usurps any right desire on the part of the believer to walk with God.

No attribute of God fails to war against sin. No duty required by God fails to oppose the work of sin. Because the believer finds new life in Christ but lives on in the flesh, his soul experiences warfare between God and sin. As long as man lives on in the flesh, sin never fails to oppose and contradict every holy inclination.

The believer’s disposition toward sin reveals itself in the conflicts of his soul: His affections are easily turned from God, his attention is easily diverted from truthful meditation, and his heart is easily distracted from the duties required of him. Therefore, the believer must fix his heart upon God and strive moment by moment to prevent this disposition from getting the upper hand. He must acknowledge that losses against the foe of sin will come, but he must never allow himself to yield the battle. In reality, if anything excellent or praiseworthy resides in the heart of a man, it results from the working of God’s Spirit upon him.

How does sin war against God within the soul? Sin lusts for evil, whether by thought or action. It wars against God’s grace and rightful reign over the believer’s heart and affections. It seeks the bondage of the believer to the rule of sin. Finally, it leads men to madness as they recklessly and fearlessly rebel against God at the risk of eternal punishment for the momentary gratification of their lust.

God helps believers even when they are caught in the deceitfulness of sin. He reminds them of their danger of death, judgment, and hell. He sometimes intervenes in events, preventing greater sin from being committed.

The Deceit of Indwelling Sin

Because the mind controls the will and affections of man, sin works to deceive the mind and to captivate the entire man.

James 1:14-15 explains the incremental process sin uses to enslave man. Sin deceives through lust, entices, conceives, develops, and then finishes with death. The believer, by the mercy of God, is kept from the last two stages. However, he must deal with sin’s deception, enticement, and conception.

In fearing the Lord, the believer protects himself from sin. However, sin undermines the fear of the Lord by emphasizing cheap grace and by deceitfully hiding the true condition of people in the world. When the believer fails to see the sinfulness of sin wherever it is found and fails to recognize the enmity between sin and God, his fear of God fades and great danger for him lurks nearby.

The believer can do much to strengthen himself against sin’s deceit. He can frequently think deeply upon God or upon the Word of God in the presence of God. By meditating upon God and His ways, the believer’s perception of the vileness of sin grows. He then gains strength against sin and works against the power of sin in his own heart.

Why do we as believers fail to avail ourselves of this help? There are many reasons. Sin takes advantage of the weakness of the flesh. Or, it applies false urgency to circumstances of life. Sometimes it distracts us with duties or false intentions.

Because we are so easily distracted, we must strive to obey God with a whole heart. We must depend completely upon Him, seeking only to glorify Him. We must remember His sovereignty, the wages of sin, His patience with us, the cost of our purchase from sin by the blood of Christ, and the presence of His Holy Spirit. Our meditation upon such truths restrains our willing participation in our own deception.

The Enticement of Indwelling Sin

Sin works to entice our emotions, enthralling them with the pleasure of sin. When the imagination dominates the mind, the power of sin multiplies.

How does sin possess such power to entice? The acutely aware mind prepares for sin’s advance and avoids it. But the distracted mind is easy prey. So sin, by presenting itself as desirable and hiding its devastating consequences, distracts the mind and takes it captive. Sin proposes numerous excuses for indulgence and lulls the mind into its trap.

The believer can escape such enticement by fixing his affections on godly things. These include God himself, Christ, the gospel and its mysteries, blessings, and beauty. Also, the believer should meditate on the cross of Christ, the love expressed in Christ’s obedience, and the sinfulness of sin which required Christ’s death. Such thoughts help insulate him from the enticement of sin.

The Conception of Indwelling Sin

Through deception sin gains the consent of the will. Strangely, though the heart is wicked, the will chooses to follow only paths that present the appearance of good. So sin works to conceal the truth regarding itself, presenting instead an attractive image of itself to lead the will astray. Then, as man remains ignorant of the will of God, sin uses that ignorance to great advantage against man’s good.

Man is not alone in his struggle against sin. God uses many methods to prevent sin from gaining full advantage in a believer’s life. Sometimes, according to His wisdom and sovereignty, God interferes with the work of sin. He limited the span of man’s years on the earth to prevent the multiplication of sin. He sometimes limits the power of sinners in order to reduce the extent of sin. He allows suffering and disappointment, which sometimes restrain men in their pursuit of sin.

God also influences the conception of sin in man’s life through restraining grace and renewing grace.

Restraining grace is God’s tool of revealing to sinners the futility of their sin. He reveals the suffering caused by sin, the advantages of doing good, and secretly influences man’s hearts away from sin, thus aborting its conception.

Renewing grace is revealed to believers either at conversion or during their lifetimes.

In this way, God uses His Word to bring conviction of sin and reveal the utter futility and wickedness of sin. Here believers find the help of Christ as He enables them to stand against the enticement of sin.

The Effects of Indwelling Sin

Indwelling sin may reveal itself either in violent explosion (such as the revelation of a gross moral sin) or in gradual moral decline. Faithful men throughout Scripture are revealed as prone to the deceitfulness of sin, and their stories highlight for us the danger of either path.

How can a believer test himself to evaluate his susceptibility to such failure? He must ask himself to what extent his life condemns the worldliness of sinners around him. He must ask himself to what degree he values the Word of God and the fellowship of the Lord and His Church. He must analyze the degree to which he denies himself for the sake of the cross of Christ.

If the believer recognizes the marks of spiritual decline in his own life, he should trust in God’s power to overcome it. God overcomes our spiritual decline in a number of ways. He has blessed His Body with spiritual gifts for the encouragement of the saints. He reminds us of our continual need of His help. He provides Christ as our constant aid. He nourishes us with spiritual goodness, causing worldly pleasures to pale by comparison.

Corruption of the believer’s life and habits often brings about the moral decline sought by sin. The believer can recognize several signs of danger. For example, when the believer becomes lazy in his attitude toward God’s grace, he should be wary. Or, when he begins to lose reverence for God, forgetting His purity, holiness, and majesty, there is cause for concern. Other causes for alarm include forgetting the simplicity of the gospel, lacking vigilance against Satan, imitating poor examples set by professing Christians, harboring secret sins, neglecting private time with God, growing in knowledge of God without changes in practice, increasing in worldly wisdom, and failing to repent of sin.

Therefore, let us not forget the power of the law against the workings of sin. It reveals sin for what it is, exposes its dangers, convicts the sinner of guilt, brings discomfort and restlessness to the sinful soul, and brings death to the soul. In this way, the law prepares the heart for the gospel of Christ, rich in grace and mercy, and able to save.

The Nature of Temptation

God tempts mankind, if by tempting we mean the process by which someone is tested or proved. This temptation accomplishes two ends. First, God uses this kind of temptation to reveal man’s heart to man. If the man is a believer and remains faithful during trial, he reveals the advancement of grace within his heart. Also, God tests man to reveal Himself to them. In this way, God encourages man that He goes before him in trial and that He is able to sustain him during times of weakness.

Man experiences God’s strength and grace through trial, at which time God positions man to face his weakness and rely upon Him. He gives man duties impossible for him to achieve without help in order to reveal the resources at his disposal in Christ. He allows suffering in man’s life so that man may avail himself of God’s strength. Also, He allows falsehood and deceit, which test the faith of His people. Through such temptation God proves and refines the faith of believers.

Temptation in a specific and active sense is any purpose to do evil. We face passive temptation when sin affects us. We fact active temptation when Satan leads us to do evil. God does not in this sense tempt us, for God tempts no man. Satan tempts us himself when he fires darts of evil or blasphemous thoughts into believers’ hearts. Or, he uses the world and the things of the world to beguile believers and mislead them. Finally, Satan often turns the lusts of believers to his advantage, enticing them to conceive and commit sin. In this way, believers face constant warfare and must remain vigilant.

Entering Into Temptation

People often confuse at least three things with “entering into temptation.” It is not the same as being tempted, for all mankind faces temptation. Nor is it the normal temptation incited by our own lust. Finally, it does not mean to be conquered by temptation, for Scripture promises that when we enter into temptation, God makes a way of escape. To enter into temptation, man finds Satan has become more forceful than usual. He finds himself unable to escape by his own means. Temptation has built to a point where its forcefulness and power are very strong.

How does temptation gain such strength? First, when the mind is faced with temptation consistently, it becomes accustomed to it. What was once shocking becomes common. Then, if sin becomes common in the lives of others and ceases to shock the mind, we may find ourselves ensnared as well. Finally, seeking a good end for the wrong reasons or in the wrong way gives rise to temptation.

Temptation has reached its peak when an urgent restlessness regarding the temptation begins to overtake the mind. Also, when a love for a sinful activity combines with the fear of abandoning it, the mind is captivated with sin and the hour of temptation has come.

The Power of Temptation

Scripture abounds with stories of godly men who fell under the power of temptation. From Adam to Abraham, David through Judas, and Noah through Peter, the power of temptation overcame them all. Scripture commands us to treat those who fall into temptation with gentleness and warns us of the dangers ourselves. Secret lusts lie within all our hearts, ready to betray us at the first opportunity.

Relying on the world’s “safeguards” to combat temptation is not prudent for a believer, since these are not strong enough to counter his tendency toward sin. For example, seeking after the world’s honor and a good reputation will not squelch giving in to temptation. Neither will a propensity to fear the shame and reproach of open sin or the fear of disobeying one’s conscience or risking eternal judgment. Even the thought of sinning against a good and holy God is not adequate to keep people from yielding to temptation.

How does temptation overtake the mind when there are so many reasonable defenses against it?

Often, during temptation the mind becomes fixated upon the object of temptation and distracted from the help available in Christ. It blinds a person to love, hope, and healthy fear and confuses him regarding what he should do. Temptation stirs the mind’s lusts endlessly. In so doing, it wears down the defenses and overcomes the mind, will, and affections. Such temptation may come publicly upon whole groups of people, or it may come personally and privately.

Some may protest such attention to the matter of temptation, choosing instead to accept temptation as a fact of life, one which Jesus faced, and one which God promises to sustain us through. However, temptation is a powerful foe, wielding consequences of great destruction against the soul. It is a matter of grave importance that we resist it with all diligence.

The Danger of Temptation

All sin results from temptation, so we must give consideration not just to repenting of sin, but how we came to sin in the first place. Temptation may come subtly, out of something good in itself. When one is recognized for a gift or skill he may hardly be aware of the temptation to pride and self-reliance within himself. “Most people think about how to avoid open sin, but they never think about the dynamics of temptation within their hearts.”

Some temptations may particularly suit one’s lusts, strengthening their power and allurement. Or, temptation can fill the vacuum left when one fails to diligently serve the Lord and seek Him in prayer and study.

How do we remain vigilant against temptation? We must remind ourselves of the great danger of temptation. We must also realize we cannot keep ourselves from it. We avoid temptation only by the grace of God.

To avoid temptation, we must continually rely upon God. In doing so, we experience God’s grace and compassion. We are reminded of our constant danger and need of God, and are encouraged to trust the promises of God to preserve us. We must also make prayer our primary duty, whereby we watch with perseverance and seek divine help.

Watching Against Temptation

We face temptation at every turn, but when are we unusually prone to face temptation? First, we face temptation during times of prosperity. So often, man forgets God when his immediate needs are met. As his enjoyment of life and satisfaction in comfort gain hold, he becomes prone to the danger of temptation.

Secondly, man may expect temptation when he neglects his duty to God, takes grace for granted, or performs his duty with formality rather than sincerity. As lethargy grows upon our hearts, we become susceptible to temptation.

Third, great temptation may follow times of great spiritual fellowship with God. After allowing us particular communion with Him, the Lord may allow us to face trials.

Conversely, temptation also finds us in the midst of great self-confidence. When we fail to keep a humble attitude regarding our strength against our enemy, we place ourselves in great danger of temptation and failure.

Just as we watch our circumstances for signals of oncoming temptation, so also we must watch our hearts. We must maintain an awareness of our particular weaknesses, as sin often takes advantage of our natural inclinations. We must fill our hearts with a sense of God’s love and the beauty of His holiness. In doing so, we remain in His peace and increase our awareness of the onslaught of temptation.

Remember that Satan, by means of temptation, desires for your sin to destroy your hope in the gospel. “Perhaps today he will say, ‘You can venture into that sin, because you have Christ’s help in spite of it.’ But then tomorrow he will tell you that because you have sinned, Christ is no longer yours.”

So, seek God again and again for strength against temptation. Run to Christ for help and look to Him for the deliverance He promises to those who trust in Him. He has many means at His disposal and will not abandon anyone who trusts in Him.

Keeping Christ's Word Against Temptation

In Revelation 3:10, Christ encourages the saints to keep the word of His patience, and in so doing resist temptation. This word is the gospel, which emphasizes His patience and tolerance toward those who trust Him. Believers are to battle patiently against temptation, knowing that the hour of complete deliverance will soon come.

We must know this gospel as one of grace and mercy, holiness and purity, liberty and power, and consolation. When we come to know it as such, we treasure this gospel and value it above all other possessions. This leads naturally into obeying it, so that when opposition to it comes in the form of temptation, we are strengthened to resist it.

We find encouragement in God’s promise to keep us by the gospel. He uses all means, the strength of the Father, the covenant of the Son, and the efficacious power of the Holy Spirit to preserve us. He preserves us as we obey His Word, resisting temptation and filling our hearts with the goodness of the Lord. Thus we come to love Christ, take hope in His victory over sin and temptation, and seek His approval.

As the believer lives thus, he is governed by principles which by their nature insulate him from some of the power of temptation. He lives by faith in God, relying upon His wisdom and being satisfied with His promises. He also lives with a concern for the welfare of others, resisting temptation not just for his own sake but for the sake of others.

Keeping Christ's Word Against Temptation

Mortification is essential for the believer, if he takes seriously Romans 8:13: “If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” In this verse, Scripture prescribes the duty whereby believers find comfort, joy, and Christian vitality. Mortify the deeds of the body with the aid of the Spirit.

Mortifying something is putting it to death, killing it.

To fully understand mortification, we must refute myths about it. First, it is not the final elimination of sin, for that is impossible in this life. Nor does mortification mean pretending no more sin remains, or the development of a quiet and controlled temperament. Mortification should not be confused with exchanging one sin for another. Finally, occasionally defeating sin fails to qualify as mortification.

Mortification habitually weakens sin. And ultimately, mortification conquers sin. Sin remains a deadly enemy for the believer, and only the gracious qualities of the Spirit of God unseat it. The believer must arm himself with the understanding of how sin works against him, then, by the Spirit, resist it with all his might. In doing so, the believer grows in his experience of life in Christ, an experience that includes peace, joy, and victory.

The Need for Mortification

Because sin dwells within the believer, he must never cease to oppose it daily. Saints who most consistently appear free from sin’s condemnation consider it their duty to oppose it. Professing believers who fail to do so disregard sin in their own life and must deceive others by hiding their true nature.

Only the Holy Spirit enables man to mortify his sins. He brings forth His fruits in our hearts’ fruits, which war against the fruits of our flesh. He withers the root of our lusts, and introduces the cross of Christ to our spirit, helping us conform to the death of Christ.

Consequently, only a true believer can mortify sin. Unless a man is in Christ, he remains blind to his sinful condition and remains without his only efficacious help against it, the Holy Spirit. The believer mortifies sin by faith, trusting and depending on Christ as he strives to walk in obedience. Without obedience, man longs for freedom in vain. These traits by nature remain absent from unregenerate man.

The Need for Mortification

As the believer considers mortification, let him consider the following practical questions:

1. Does the sin exhibit particularly dangerous symptoms? If the believer feels committing the sin is inevitable, or if he makes special excuses for his sin, his situation is dangerous. If the sin stubbornly resists mortification the believer risks the hardening of his heart. If he only resists sin from fear of punishment, he secretly may cherish it. Such symptoms require special attention, including prayer and fasting.

2. Does the believer maintain a clear sense of sin’s guilt, danger, and evil?

3. Is his conscience properly weighed down with a burden of his sin? As long as unmortified sin remains in his heart, he remains condemned by the law and lacks security in the gospel.

4. Does he continually seek deliverance from sin’s power?

5. Has he considered how his temperament contributes to the sin against which he fights? He must subject his body to his spirit, refusing to allow it control through its natural inclinations.

6. Has he taken note of the times and circumstances which most provide opportunity for this sin? He must take note of them and strive to avoid them at all costs.

7. Does he react strongly at the first stirrings of sinfulness? Does he root it out at the first sign?

8. Does he fix his mind upon both the perfection of God and his own sinfulness in order to abase himself in his own eyes? God opposes the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.

9. Is he careful to wait on God to speak peace to him, rather than deceiving himself with false victory? God possesses the prerogative to grant peace in victory over a particular sin, and men who have not hated their sin or who have based their sinfulness upon their personal conviction should not convince themselves God approves. The peace of God humbles, and it is rooted in the Word of God.

The Need for Mortification

After considering all that has been said regarding sin, temptation, and mortification, the believer needs only to apply two directions: Trust completely in Christ and seek the Holy Spirit, who grants power to mortify sin.

Most assuredly, the believer will grow weary in his battle against sin. During such times, he must believe there remains more help in Christ. He stands ready to help and provides an abundance of resources to guarantee victory. The believer should always believe Christ can and will do more, and he will find Christ a tender, faithful, and encouraging source of help. Christ gave his life to defeat sin; therefore, the believer may assure himself of His aid in this perpetual struggle.

The believer does not actually mortify sin. The Holy Spirit does the work. He reveals the heart’s utter sinfulness. He brings awareness and grants faith that Christ is sufficient in our struggle against sin. He strengthens the heart in its resolve. He applies the sin-killing power of the cross to our sinful hearts. He is the author and finisher of our salvation. And finally, He is our comforter as we walk with God. Armed with such weapons, God provides the believer every needed defense against the work of sin in his life.