THE MORTIFICATION OF SIN IN BELIEVERS

Key Verse: Romans 8:13

For if you are living according to the flesh, you shall die; but if you are putting to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit, you shall live. (my translation)

I. THE PROPOSITION CONSIDERED
"If you are putting tho death the deeds of the body by the Spirit, you shall live." 


II. THE CONDITION OF THE PROPOSITION
A. The Protasis: "If you are putting tho death the deeds of the body by the Spirit"
B. The Apodosis: "You shall live
."

III. THE COMMAND OF THE PROPOSITION
"Put to death the deeds of the body
."

IV. THE PROMISE OF THE PROPOSITION
"You shall live
"

V. THE DEFINITION OF TERMS
A. Body (Flesh)
1. The corrupt and depraved nature of man
2. The place where this corruption and depravity dwells (Romans 7:23)
3. The instrument which this corruption and depravity uses to fulfill its wicked desires (Romans 6:13; Colossians 3:5)
"The body, then, here is taken for that corruption and depravity of our natures whereof the body, in a great part, is the seat and instrument, the very members of the body being made servants unto unrighteousness thereby, Romans 6:19. It is indwelling sin, the corrupted flesh or lust, that is intended. " (John Owen, Works, vol. 6, p. 7)
B. Put to death
1. To take the life from
2. To destroy the power and workings of
3. To oppose and depose the influence of
C. Through the Spirit
1. By the agency of the Spirit
2. By the power of the Spirit
a) His redeeming power
b) His cleansing power
c) His overcoming power
3. By the means provided by the Spirit--the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17)


VI. THE NECESSITY OF PUTTING SIN TO DEATH
1. Positively: If you do you shall live.
Negatively: If you do not you shall die.

"The vigour, and power, and comfort of our spiritual life depends on the mortification (putting to death) of the deeds of the flesh." (John Owen, The Works of John Owen, vol. 6, p. 9)


Sin (the thing itself, not just the act of sin) is always moving in and through us, trying to control us, to make us its slave to do its every bidding. Therefore, if we would be "pure in heart", and rejoicing in Christ and our salvation, and be free from the fear of judgment--both temporal and eternal--we must be constantly, consistently putting sin to death.

VII. THE WAY OF PUTTING SIN TO DEATH
A. Man's Way--the wrong way
1. The way of self-righteousness
a) The denying of original sin (1John 1:8)
b) The denying of personal sin (1John 1:10)
2. The way of religion
a) To rely on religious affections of desires
b) To rely on religious deeds
(1) church membership and attendance
(2) baptism
(3) tithes and offerings
(4) prayers
(5) Bible reading
(6) communion/the Lord's Supper/mass
(7) witnessing
(8) anything else
c) To rely on religion itself--to be religious or that one even belongs to a religion; that the religious organization itself is sufficient to separate one from his sins, especially in the eyes of God
3. The way of self-effort
a) To rely on one's own willpower
b) To rely on one' self-chastisement
(1) to beat oneself verbally
(2) to beat oneself physically
(a) by thrashing one's own body
(b) by denying oneself food or sleep
(c) by putting oneself through any other sort of difficulty or agony for religious purpose (especially to gain the favor or God)
c) To rely on personal separation
(1) to separate from sinful company
(2) to separate from sinful surroundings
(3) to separate from society altogether
B. God's Way--the right way
1. The way of the Spirit's working to salvation
a) To convict one of sin
(1) by the preaching of the Word
(2) by the reading of the Word
(3) by the knowledge of one's sinful condition
(4) by the knowledge of one's sinful acts
b) To turn one from sin
(1) by causing one to hate sinful desires and actions
(2) by causing one to flee sinful desires and actions
c) To turn one to Christ
(1) by causing one to understand Christ's sacrifice for him
(2) by causing one to accept Christ's sacrifice for him
2. The way of the Spirit's indwelling the saved
a) to give assurance of salvation (Romans 8:16)
b) to give guidance (John 16:13)
c) to give comfort and encouragement (John 15:16)
d) to take away the stony heart--that stubbornness, rebelliousness, pride and unbelief one naturally possesses [This is the general work of mortification the Spirit does in the believer's heart.] (Ezekiel 36:26-27)
e) to cause one to abound in grace and the fruits of the Spirit that are contrary to the flesh (Galatians 5:22-23a)
f) to judge and "burn" out of one the root and fruit--habitual practices--of sin (Isaiah 4:4) ["He is the fire which burns up the very root of lust." John Owen, Works, vol. 6, p. 19]
to apply the cross of Christ to the believer for putting sin to death (Galatians 5:24; Romans 6:6)
to cause the believer to desire and do God's good pleasure (Philippians 2:13; 1Thessalonians 4:3-4, 7)
1. The way of man's fulfilling his obligations to God
a) by hearing and obeying His Word
b) by giving attention to and obeying the guidance of the Spirit
(1) through the Word
(2) through convictions
(3) through obvious leadings
c) by using God's means of grace
(1) the Bible
(a) from which we know the nature of God
(b) from which we know the nature of man
(c) from which we know the will of God
(d) from which we know the obligations of man
(2) prayer
(a) in which we communicate with God
(b) in which we submit to God


The task of putting sin to death is a difficult one--the most difficult thing anyone has been required and commanded to do. We, without God, cannot do the job. Yet God, without our participation will not do it by Himself. Man is, in and of himself, not equipped to do the job. God, though able, will not do that for man which He has required of him and equipped him to do. The one who both relies on God and obeys God actively will find the power of sin greatly diminished, though not altogether destroyed so as to no longer indwell and actively try to destroy him. Rely on God as if it all depends on Him, as in truth it does. But actively obey Him as if it all depends on you.


APPENDIX

In this section scripture quotations are from then King James Version of the Bible primarily.

1. "Indwelling sin always abides (lives in us) whilst we are in this world; therefore it is always to be mortified."
2. "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 [schemes] against it to be vigorous at all times and in all conditions, even where there is [the] least suspicion [that sin is anywhere present or working against us]. Sin does not only abide in us, but 'the law of the members is still rebelling against the law of the mind,' Romans 7:23; and 'the spirit that dwells in us [desires] to [the point of] envy,' James 4:5. It is always in continual work; 'the flesh lusts against the Spirit.' Galatians 5:17; lust is still tempting and conceiving sin, James 1:4; in every moral action it is always either inclining to evil, or hindering from that which is good, or disframing the spirit from communion with God. . . . There is not a day but [that] sin foils or is foiled, prevails or is prevailed on; and it will be so while we live in this world."
3. "Sin will not only be striving, acting, rebelling, troubling, disquieting, but if let alone, if not continually mortified, it will bring forth great, cursed, scandalous, soul-destroying sins."
4. "This is one main reason why the Spirit and the new nature is given unto us--that we may have a principle within whereby to oppose sin and lust. 'The flesh lusteth against the Spirit.' . . . and . . . 'The Spirit also lusteth against the flesh,' Galatians 5:17. There is a propensity [natural inclination or tendency] in the Spirit, or spiritual new nature, to be acting against the flesh, as well as in the flesh to be acting against the Spirit: [see] 2Peter 1:4,5."
5. If one neglects to do his duty too mortify sin he will not be being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, which is the ultimate goal of God concerning every child of His (Romans 8:29). Without mortification of sin one cannot be renewed in his inner man, that is, his spirit (2Corinthians 4:16). Either a Christian is being renewed or he is being undone. There is no middle ground.
6. "It is our duty to be 'perfecting holiness in the fear of God,' 2Corinthians 7:1; to be 'growing in grace' every day, 1Peter 2:2, 2Peter 3:18; to be renewing our inward man day by day,' 2Corinthians 4:16. Now, this cannot be done without the daily mortifying of sin. 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 bellies of his lusts. He who doth not kill sin in his way takes no steps towards 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." (John Owen, The Works of John Owen, vol. 6, pp 10-14 [slightly edited for todays readers and clarity], except for #5.

There are two basic attitudes of Christians with reference to the mortification of sin. Some think it is not necessary; they are quite happy to put little effort into the fighting against sin; they see no need for it. But others see the need as it truly is, as is demonstrated by the Scriptures, yet find in themselves no ability to accomplish the task, not even to a small degree. Consequently, they think it can't be done; they have to a real degree given up hope of ever having victory over sin. They no longer struggle against it like they once did. They feel helpless and hopeless against sin's forceful demands. For them, sin is, as it were, a flooded river that moves with such force that it takes within everything that gets in its path. As helpless as an infant would be who is trying to swim that raging stream, so they feel about the raging force of the sin that moves against their souls. They are, in the end, defeated and downtrodden again. They would echo the great apostle Paul when he said, "O wretched (miserable) man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death (or, this body of death)?" (Romans 7:24). Yet they have forgotten the fact of his rejoicing, "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 7:25a), and, "I can do all things trough Christ Who strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13), and, "But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (1Corinthians 1:30), and, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1Corinthians 10:13).

What is the cause of these two attitudes? First, concerning the one who does not take the command to mortify sin seriously, there is a great lack of understanding concerning sin and himself and God. He does not see sin as that wicked, horrible, soul-destroying thing that it is. He does not take into account that were there no sin there would be no death, sorrow, pain, or any other destructive, unpleasant thing. None of these things existed before sin entered the world by man's disobedience to God (Romans 5:12). And sin is the very thing that causes it all. Sin is corruption itself--corruption of the soul that leads to the corruption of all else, even the physical universe (Romans 8:19-23) [compare to Romans 8:10]. And corruption produces corruption, as the bad apple will affect all the others that come into contact with it.

This one who does not work at the mortification of sin is also ignorant of the fact that sin indwells him, is always active in him for the purpose of destroying him. He is himself both the vessel which contains sin and the instrument which sin uses to do its deeds (Romans 6:10-13). This person sees himself as being "OK," a pretty good guy. He may recognize his faults, but does not consider the fact that he must deal with them, even as God has commanded. For some, they may say, "If Christ took away my sins when I trusted in Him as my Savior, what is there to deal with? It's already taken care of." Or he may say, "Salvation does not depend upon works, and since I am already saved why should I care about sin?" The obvious danger in this last statement is that if one really has this attitude he may well not be saved at all [consider Romans 6]. Still other may say, "I don't do anything all that bad. I may not be as careful about what I say, or listen to, or watch on TV as I ought to be, but only with the little stuff. I leave the really bad stuff alone." How deceived this man is! He does not understand that there are no little sins. All sin is sin before God. He excuses absolutely none of it. It is just as much sin to tell a "little white lie" as to commit mass murder. I do not say that one is not worse than the other is some ways, I only say that neither is more sinful than the other. It is as the 17th century preacher, John Bunyan, said, "No sin against God can be little, because it is against the great God of heaven and earth; but if the sinner can find a little God, it may be easy to find little sins" (revised). Consider Genesis 39:9; Deuteronomy 32:15; Psalm 51:4 regarding these thoughts.

My last point concerning the man who does not work at mortifying sin in his body is this, he does not have a clear view of God and what He thinks of sin. If he did he would never think that any sin could be considered as little. The thing that makes sin to be sin is that it is against the very nature and will of God. In God there is no sin, neither can He look upon it (James 1:13; Isaiah 6:3; Habakkuk 1:13a). To believe that God is not concerned with all sin is to disbelieve that God is absolutely pure and that He will not have anything at all to do with sin. It is also to disbelieve God when He says that He will both judge and destroy sin and sinners (Psalm 5:5; Relation 21:8,27). For these reasons, some would rather let their laziness and carnal desires dictate them rather than the truth. Let not this be your attitude, Christian. Be most diligent to remember that sin is in every for sin, and that God shall judge it most surely. Let these thoughts prod you on to deal with sin and sinful habits, no matter how difficult it may be, according to God's Word. And consider this, lest you be fooled, and in the end damned, that if the Christian is so full of sin and under God's hand of judgment, how much more is the sinner. Be sure, then to deal with sin, and not be found out in the end that you are naught but an empty, lost professor.

But what of the one who truly desires to be rid of sin but cannot seem to make any headway in his efforts? Of them, also, I say that they do not understand sin, themselves, or God. With reference to sin, this person often does not understand that the sin problem does not stem from himself, but from sin itself. This the apostle attested by the words, "Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me" (Romans 7:17-20 ).

This is not to say that we have no responsibility to refuse to obey the sinful impulses that constantly force themselves upon us, but it does put things in to the proper perspective. The fact that a Christian who swishes to follow the Lord with all his heart yet finds wicked desires in himself does not mean that the person is the one creating those desires, which are indeed contrary to his desire to serve the Lord. This, though, is exactly what some believers conclude. though they strive diligently to do the right, they always seem to end up doing the wrong. "How can this be," they may ask. "If I am really a Christian, how can I do these things? I don't even want to do them! I must not really be saved, or at least not really want to follow the Lord. All my desires for the Lord must be false. I also must be a fake Christian, but unwilling to admit it."

The key to understanding the heart of this individual is in the saying, "I don't even want to do them!" This agrees perfectly with Paul's experience in his Christian life. "For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and brings me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. . . . So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin" Romans7:22, 23, 25b). Consider also, "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would" (Galatians 5:17). The very fact that this individual is even having this struggle is evidence in itself that he is a Christian who wants to serve God. The one who does not find this struggle in himself is the one who ought to be concerned about this relationship with God. Yet he is the very one who has no concerns toward God, otherwise he himself would find in himself much unrest of one sort or another, whether it be a struggle with sin or a struggle with needing to repent and trust Christ as his Savior. He who is comfortable in this life without a thought of eternity and his eternal state is the one who ought to be in the most despair of soul. Surely it is not good with him, for he is at home in sin. True righteousness has never crossed his path, nor knocked on his heart's door. He knows nothing of it.

So, the first comfort the defeated Christian ought to relish in is the fact that he has no comfort, for sin is always in his way of seeking holiness. Yet he may feel defeated still. He may think that there is no way to defeat sin in his life, and in one sense that is true. Sin shall always be present and hounding him. But it need not be in control. The answer to this problem lies in this, that the believer needs to recognize that if he will walk in the Spirit he will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). To walk in the Spirit is to first take Him at His word. Since He says it is possible to have real victory, though not total victory, over sin , he needs first of all to believe it. And so there is hope after all. He needs also to believe, like he seldom does, that the workings of the flesh move totally without his help and prodding. Simply because sinful desires plague him does not mean he has done something or that he is of a spiritual state that has brought it about. It simply means that, as Scripture teaches, sin is a principle--"a dynamic spring of energy" (J.I. Packer)--that moves within him regardless of his wanting it to or not (Romans 7:21). It is not something he can control to any real degree; yet he can say "NO!" to its bidding. This refusal to obey sin is what the mortification of sin, or the flesh or body, is all about--to put it to death by not feeding it, by giving it nothing by which to flourish and grow.

To "walk in the Spirit" is also to rely upon Him for the necessary strength to say "NO!" to the temptations of sin, even when one wants to say "Yes." The fact that one wants to give in to the temptation proves indeed that it is a temptation, for if one had no desire to fulfill the requests proposed it would not be a temptation at all. The only thing that makes a thing tempting is one's desire for it. Most children have no desire for liver that would make Mother need to guard it, but she'd better hide the cookies! Liver is no temptation to most children, cookies are. And so comes the difficulty of saying "NO!" to temptation. That is the very thing we desire and would say "Yes" to if we had no desire for God. So one ought not be overly concerned by the fact that he finds temptations desirous; that is their very nature. Therefore one needs to rely upon the Spirit to give him the strength to hate the wrong and to choose the right.

To "walk in the Spirit" is, thirdly, to live in the truth that Christ, by His death and resurrection, defeated sin and the Christian is the recipient of His work. So say the Scriptures, "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection: knowing this, that our old man (flesh/body) was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. . . . For in that He died, He died unto sin once (for all): but in that he liveth, He liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:3-6, 10-11). The great death-blow to sin is not something we need to look forward to, but a thing we need to look back upon. It has already happened once for all time. It need never happen again. We need only to live in the victory wrought for us by Christ. And so we do have the means to fulfill the command, "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace" (Romans 7:12-14).

What grace are we under? Why, the grace, or ability, of God provided for and to us by the death and resurrection of Christ. By His conquering sin, He made us also conquerors of sin (Romans . We need only live in this fact and apply the means God has provided for us to say "NO!" to sin's temptations. What hope this truth would provide for that downtrodden saint who feels defeated by his enemy, sin. He needs the key of this promise, that he can overcome sin in a real way, and this victory is won by faith (1John5:4). And so ought we all rejoice with Paul in saying, "But thanks be to God, Who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1Corinthians 15:57).

To believe God's Word is to live in submission to the Spirit of God and to find the direction and strength whereby we might defeat sin at its worst. This, though by no means an exhaustive treatment of the subject, is what it means to "walk in the Spirit," whereby one can have sure victory over sin, though not total victory. This is the means whereby the defeated saint can rejoice as a victorious conqueror in Christ.

An admission of C. H. Spurgeon, from his sermon, The Remembrance of Christ:
"But alas! we have a worm in the heart, a pest-house, a charnel-house within, lusts, vile imaginations, and strong evil passions, which, like wells of poisonous water, send out continually streams of impurity. I have a heart, which God knoweth, I wish I could wring from my body and hurl to an infinite distance; a soul which is a cage of unclean birds, a den of loathsome creatures, where dragons haunt and owls do congregate, where every evil beast of ill-omen dwells; a heart too vile to have a parallel--'deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.'"