Back in December 2009, I introduced the book The Mortification of Sin and described how John Owen's short book which was written almost 350 years ago has helped me understand the power of sin in my life. Owen does an amazing job at explaining what the Bible describes as the "deceitfulness of sin" or how we are blinded to our heart's true condition.
Reading my new one year Bible today, I was struck by these words from Jesus, "But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander." (Matt 15:18-19)
In chapter 2, Owen describes why we must mortify (or destroy) sin in our lives. He describes the details of each of these items in the book. Here are his reasons:
1. Indwelling sin always abides while we are in this world.
2. Sin is acting and laboring to bring forth the deeds of the flesh.
3. Sin, if not continually mortified, will bring forth great, cursed, scandalous, and soul-destroying sins (Gal. 5:19-20).
4. The Holy Spirit and our new nature are given to us to oppose sin and lust (Gal. 5:17; 2 Pet 1:4).
5. Neglect of this duty makes the inner man decay instead of renewing him (2 Cor 4:16).
6. Our spiritual growth is our daily duty (2 Cor 7:1; 1 Pet 2:2; 2 Pet 3:18).
Owen goes on to describe the condition of many professing Christians living during his lifetime: "Perhaps we might find that, judging by the principle of mortification, the number of true believers is not as multiplied as it appears from those who made a mere profession.... If vain spending of time, idleness, envy, strife, variance, emulations, wrath, pride, worldliness, selfishness are the mark of Christians, we have them among us in abundance."
Wow! And that was back in the 17th century! How much more true is this statement today with the behaviors displayed on the Internet, TV, video games, etc? In other words, Owen is pointing out that our thoughts and actions give evidence of whether or not we are true believers.
While it is true that we are saved by grace, "He who is able to swallow and digest daily sins in his life without conviction in the heart is at the very brink of turning the grace of God into lasciviousness, and being hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Let a man pretend what he will, little concern over sin is a serious offence to the grace and mercy of God!"
Owen moves on and points out how our lives affect others and can provide an evil influence. Others watch professing Christians and think that they are just as good as those people who, "have a zeal for religion, but it is not accompanied with righteousness. They view their worldly and selfish lives. They see them talk spiritually but live vainly."
This condition can even leave others into a serious misunderstanding and false condition. "It deceives them to think that if they can just be as good as the unmortified professor (other person) it shall be well with them. In reality they might even go further in 'holiness' than the unmortified professor, and yet still fall short of eternal life."
Yes, this is just some of the solid meat in one chapter. I will go on next time to describe some of Owen's solutions based on Christ's teaching and the Apostle Paul's guidance in Romans.
But what is just as exciting to me is the practical reality that God's Word and Owen's teachings prove to be true in real life. Our everyday experience matches what Owen describes. Our online battles are real, and the Biblical solutions provide answers that work. Just read the papers, listen to testimonies, watch how people are deceived in cyberspace.
So often it starts with "small sins" or "little white lies" that lead to much, much more. and grows and grows. For some, their online behavior even leads to jail time. Check out this story as an example.
Next time, I'll speak to some of Owen's solutions, but I encourage readers to buy and read this book. You won't regret it
Any thoughts on cyber sin?