Mortification of Sin: In Modern English

by John Owen

Some advisors among us also overlook the necessity of regeneration and confidently tell everyone who complains of any sin or lust to make a vow against it for a certain period, like a month. These people seem to have very little understanding of the gospel's mystery, similar to Nicodemus when he first came to Christ (John 3). They tell people to vow to abstain from their sin for a while, which often makes the lust even stronger. They might keep their vow, but with great difficulty, or they might break it, increasing their guilt and torment. Does this really mortify their sin? Do they conquer it? Does their condition change, even if they manage to give up the sin? Aren't they still in a bitter state? Isn't this like asking people to make bricks without straw or, worse, without strength (Ex 5:7)? What promise or assistance does an unregenerate person have for this work? Can sin be killed without a connection to Christ's death or mortified without the Spirit? Even if such directions could change people's lives, which they rarely do, they don't change their hearts or conditions. They might make people self-righteous or hypocritical, but not true Christians.