A new year is coming upon us, indeed. However, why do we wait until January 1st to start pursuing a goal of sorts? Well, there is a Christian duty (one of several) in which we should never be found dull, neglect, or waning. It is one in which we must be constant, consistent, and continuous if we profess to know the God of Scripture. This duty, this absolute necessity, this practice is called Mortifying Sin.

As I have alluded to elsewhere, John Owen once wrote, “Be killing sin or sin will be killing you.” This is precisely why one cannot wait until January 1st. In fact, you cannot afford to defer another moment from this duty!  You must resolve yourself this instant to dedicate your very essence of existence to this task. Why? Because the wages of sin are DEATH. Now surely I have some qualifications to make.

First, in order to engage in this distinctly Christian duty, you must be a Christian. If you’re not a Christian, it is not only the height of arrogance to think for a moment that you can effectively engage in the duty of mortification,  but it is also sheer futility and the compounding of your condemnation to do so. If this applies to you, I implore you to read this. If you are a Christian, read on.

Secondly, not only must you be a Christian, but you must engage in this duty by the Spirit. If you attempt to mortify your sin apart from dependance upon the Holy Spirit, your efforts are just as vain as that of an unbeliever. Though you are now a Christian, you are still affected by that residue of indwelling sin, which is exactly why you must engage in this duty! So then, you must be a Christian to do this, and you must also do it by the Spirit.

You say, “That’s great, Josh. Thanks for telling me what I need to do (and why), but then totally leave me hanging by not telling me how.” Well, my friend, this is where the Big Guns come in. I can absolutely no better exhort you in this manner than has already been exhorted by some of the godliest men of the past. Therefore, I will give you a few brief pointers, and then suggest a book or two concerning the pointers.

What is Sin?

To kill sin, you must know sin intimately. Now, don’t twist that. Don’t misunderstand. I am not saying to engage more heavily in sinning so that you might know it better. That’s utter foolishness. I am saying that you must know your enemy– that is, Sin– and know it intimately within the context of Scripture’s light. In doing this, as a Christian, you will come to have a holy hatred for your sin. Book Suggestions:

The Sinfulness of Sin-by Ralph Venning (Banner of Truth)

The Evil of Evils-by Jeremiah Burroughs (Soli Deo Gloria-buy it used if you can)

How Does Sin Work? 

You must also know sin personally. By that, I mean you must know how sin approaches you, specifically. How does Satan use your own sinful nature to tempt you and bring you to a halt. You must learn his strategies. Book Suggestion:

Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices-by Thomas Brooks (Banner of Truth)

How Do I Mortify Sin?

Now we come to the clencher. And I’m not gonna say a thing. I’m going to suggest three books. One of them is a compilation of three works by John Owen. The other two are more contemporary works on the subject of mortification. Obviously, I’m partial to Owen. However, he can be a stickler to read most of the time for many, and some of the time for some. Therefore, the latter of the three suggestions are recommended, and are theologically solid, sound, and from a Reformed understanding of Scripture and the Christian Faith.

Overcoming Sin and Temptation: Three Classic Works by John Owen-edited by Justin Taylor & Kelly Kapic (Crossway)

The Enemy Within-by Kris Lundgaard (P & R)

A Fight to the Death-by Wayne & Joshua Mack (P & R)

Don’t wait for the New Year. Start killing sin now. Develop a more holy hatred of sin, YOUR SIN, each passing moment. We must truly seek to know the sinfulness of sin, and the wretched vile stinch it is in the nostrils of God. I’ll leave you with some applicable quotes from the grand ole Puritan Divines:

We do not want sin covered, but cured-Thomas Watson

Let no man think to kill sin with few, easy, or gentle strokes. He who hath once smitten a serpent, if he follow not on his blow until he be slain, may repent that ever he began the quarrel. And so will he who undertakes to deal with sin, and pursues it not constantly to the death.-John Owen

If you wish to stand firm in the midst of suffering, forewarn yourself of this fact: Temptation is never stronger than when relief seems to dress itself in the very sin that Satan is suggesting.-William Gurnall

Mortification from a self-strength, carried on by ways of self-invention, unto the end of a self-righteousness, is the soul and substance of all false religion in the world.-John Owen

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 contrivances against it to be vigorous at all times and in all conditions, even where there is least suspicion.-John Owen

I read the following excerpt from Charles Haddon Spurgeon in a blog entry by my good friend, Jessica. This quote can also be found in Spurgeon’s Autobioraphy, Vol. I, Ch. 29. As I read through it, several things came to my mind. Firstly, I’m reminded of my own selfishness and how it takes much effort and thoughtfulness to truly love a person with whom I will spend all my life. Next, I was very touched by the imagery and words Spurgeon used in his desriptives of a “model marriage.” While reading it aloud to a friend one day, it was all I could do to restrain myself from choking up…which is not very characteristic of me.

Quite honestly, what strikes the most conviction when considering this lovely passage from Spurgeon is the correlation of the intimacy between Husband and Wife to that of Christ and the Church. As I read through it again, I was (and am) more humbled and convicted to truly give myself to Christ, in submission and with utmost devotion, just as a wife should to her husband. I encourage to take a look and while you read, consider the sobering parallels and applications we should make toward our own commitment to Christ, as His Bride.

Sometimes we have seen a model marriage, founded on pure love, and cemented in mutual esteem. Therein, the husband acts as a tender head; and the wife, as a true spouse, realizes the model marriage-relation, and sets forth what our oneness with the Lord ought to be. She delights in her husband, in his person, his character, his affection; to her, he is not only the chief and foremost of mankind, but in her eyes he is all-in-all; her heart’s love belongs to him, and to him only. She finds sweetest content and solace in his company, his fellowship, his fondness; he is her little world, her Paradise, her choice treasure. At any time, she would gladly lay aside her own pleasure to find it doubled in gratifying him. She is glad to sink her individuality in his. She seeks no renown for herself; his honor is reflected upon her, and she rejoices in it. She would defend his name with her dying breath; safe enough is he where she can speak for him. The domestic circle is her kingdom; that she may there create happiness and comfort, is her lifework; and his smiling gratitude is all the reward she seeks. Even in her dress, she thinks of him; without constraint she consults his taste and considers nothing beautiful which is distasteful to him.

A tear from his eye, because of any unkindness on her part, would grievously torment her. She asks not how her behavior may please a stranger, or how another’s judgment may approve her conduct; let her beloved be content, and she is glad. He has many objects in life, some of which she does not quite understand; but she believes in them all, and anything she can do to promote them, she delights to perform. He lavishes love on her, and, in return, she lavishes love on him. Their object in life is common. There are points where their affections so intimately unite that none could tell which is first and which is second. To watch their children growing up in health and strength, to see them holding posts of usefulness and honor, is their mutual concern; in this and other matters, they are fully one. Their wishes blend, their hearts are indivisible. By degrees, they come to think very much the same thoughts. Intimate association creates conformity; I have known this to become so complete that, at the same moment, the same utterance has leaped to both their lips.

May we, Christ’s Church, delight in our Lord, His Person, Character, and Affection. May He be our All in All. Let us consider these great things this Lord’s Day. Blessings to each of you as we enjoy His goodness to us and His provision in our lives. Grace, Peace, and Godspeed.

If it is dangerous to keep company with people of bad character or bad principles, it is much more so to keep company with bad books.

-Harvey Newcomb

I thought it’d be nice to share some excerpts from Dr. Octavius Winslow’s The Precious Things of God for your consideration this Lord’s Day. Blessings and enjoy!

On the Preciousness of Christ:

The Bible recognises but two specific and distinctive characters — the SINNER — the SAVIOUR; and all others are but modifications of these. The saint is but the sinner converted, justified, pardoned, adopted, sanctified, saved, glorified. And all the official relations sustained by Christ in the economy of salvation are but so many varied and beautiful forms of the one Saviour, of whom it is said, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heave given among men whereby we must be saved.” Thus, then, as you feel your sinfulness, you will estimate the fitness and suitableness of the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour. There will be a perfect agreement between your consciousness of guilt and your believing apprehension of the excellence of the Atonement to meet your case. Your sinnership and Christ’s Saviourship will harmonise and dovetail in exact and beautiful fitness and proportion. Oh, what a divine and blessed arrangement is this! With what grandeur, yet with what simplicity, does it i nvest the scheme of salvation! What solemnity, yet what hope, does it throw around the present and the future of the soul! It seems to fathom the lowest depth of my sinfulness, while it lift me to the loftiest height of God’s grace.

and

We have need, beloved, to be cautioned against an error into which some have fallen — of exalting the work of Christ above the person of Christ — in other words, not tracing the efficacy of Christ’s sacrifice to the essential dignity of Christ’s person. The Godhead ofthe Saviour admitted — His atoning death becomes a fact of easy belief. Once concede that He who died upon the cross was “GOD manifest in the flesh,” and the mind will experience no difficulty in admitting that that death was sacrificial and expiatory. The sufferings and death of a Being so illustrious must be in harmony with an object and in connexion with a result of equal dignity and momentousness; and where will there be found such an object and such a result as the SALVATION of man? The brilliant achievements of a general rushing to the rescue of a beleaguered garrison may so exalt his personal genius and valour as to invest his name with a glory peerless and immortal; but the reverse of this holds good with Christ. There had been no glory in His achievements, no significance in His work, no efficacy in His blood, had there been no divine dignity and worth in His person. And, had He not taken a single step in working out the salvation of man — had He repaired no breach, wept no tear, endured no agony, shed no blood in the redemptionof His Church — had He, in a word, conferred not a solitary blessing upon our race — He still had been the ETERNAL SON OF GOD, divine, peerless, glorious — the object of supreme love, adoration, and worship by all celestial beings and through all eternal ages. While, then, His sacrificial work illustrates His marvelous grace and love to sinners, that work owes all its acceptance and efficacy to the value imparted to it by the essential Deity of His person. Thus, it is the personal preciousness of Christ that imparts an official preciousness to His work.

As I may have whined about already, I’m working full time and going to school full time. Thus, because I am a simpleton, I have not been as apt to keep up with my reading of the Puritans and Reformers as of late (though I have been touching a little Gurnall here and there). I’ve pretty much been sticking with my M’Cheyne Bible Reading and my boring text books from school. However, I have to get some relief- so I picked up a new book today for light reading. John MacArthur’s new release, The Truth War: Fighting for Certainty in an Age of Deception. I look forward to having this small bit of escape.

Though MacArthur is neither a Puritan or a Reformer (especially since he thinks Calvin would be a dispensational premillenialist!), he is nonetheless an excellent preacher and writer (on most things). I have always appreciated his books which show the complete absurdity of modern evanjellyfish thought. My two particular favorites of his are The Gospel According to Jesus and The Gospel According to the Apostles, in which he triumphantly and thoroughly exposes those modern easy believism teachers who seem to think that repentance is optional and wholly separated from faith.

Anyway, I just thought I’d share. Godspeed.