The Mortification of Sin (Preface 2)

Josh May 23rd, 2006

In the last entry I established the first reason Dr. Owen gave for publishing his work. Today, we’ll look at the second.

Preface 1b

  1.  
    1.  
      1.  
          i. superstition
          ii. self-righteousness
          iii. anxiety of conscience in those who try to carry such an operation out.

        2. -such a burden produces         

      2. 1. Ignorance of both the gospel and the efficacy of Christ’s death (i.e Justification) as can be seen in their:         2. Imposition of the yoke of self-wrought-mortification that none could bear.

    2. B. The Observation of Some Men’s Dangerous Mistakes Concerning the Method of Mortification. These mistakes being due to:         

So, in essence, there are 2 reasons he has written the book. And like any good pastor, his reasons are borne from necessity. Not only did he see the foolishness of the culture’s easy-believism…the kind of “faith” that would send them straight to hell, but he also saw the need to warn those who trusted in themselves for righteousness and mortification.

In some form or another, this perfectionism has been seen in the likes of the teachings of Jonathan Wesley and Charles Grandison Finney. It is a misunderstanding of the purpose, power, and provision of Christ’s death on the cross. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not mixing justification and sanctification here. But that is the very error that can come out of such a lifestyle of self-mortification.

Owen is not arguing for the believer to not put forth effort in their mortification (as seen in his first reason given for publishing), but he’s arguing for the right understanding of the roles men play in their own sanctification. You see, his two reasons for publishing the work are the two extremes that he found in his time were most prevalent. And we also see these 2 extremes prevalent today.

How do we differentiate and distinguish? Dr. Owen shall give us some guidelines. Let us take the initiative in mortifying the deeds of the flesh and to be always watching, always vigiliant against the devil. For such an endeavor as we are about to execute, temptation may be all the more present, trials may be all the more painful, and persecution may be all the more difficult.

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