'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — May 10

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. 'To mortify' is a metaphorical expression taken from the putting of any living thing to death. To kill any living thing, is to take away the principle of its strength, vigour, and power, so that it cannot put forth any proper actions of its own. Indwelling sin is compared to a living person called 'the old man', with his faculties, properties, wisdom, craft, subtlety, and strength. This, says the apostle, must be killed, put to death, mortified by the Spirit. It is meritoriously and utterly mortified and slain by the cross of Christ, so the 'old self' is said to be 'crucified with Christ' (Rom. 6:6). This is done initially in regeneration (Rom. 6:3-5), when a principle contrary to sin, and destructive of it, is planted in our hearts (Gal. 5:17). Then the whole work is carried on by degrees towards perfection all our days. Thus it is our constant duty as believers to mortify the sin remaining in our mortal bodies, that it may not have life and power to bring forth the deeds of the flesh. The promise for this duty is life: 'You will live.' Perhaps the word may not only intend eternal life, but also the spiritual life which is already enjoyed by believers, as to the joy, comfort, and vigour of it, as the apostle said in another place: 'Now we live, if you are standing fast' (1 Thess. 3:8). The vigour, and power, and comfort of our spiritual life depend much on the mortification of the deeds of the flesh. As sin is never quiet even when it seems to be quiet, and its waters are for the most part deep when they are still, our fight against it should be vigorous at all times even where there is the least suspicion of danger.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
John Owen, Works, VI:5-11
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