John Owen on the Nature of Sin

Here's a few quotes from the book Overcoming Sin and Temptation by John Owen. It is a tough read, but here are some nuggets from Owen, with some general observations.

Without sincerity and diligence in a universality of obedience, there is no mortification of any one perplexing lust to be obtained. (p. 86)

Owen is pointing out that one may conquer one sin, but like a hydra, it might grow another head in some other sin. The only way to kill sin off (the mortification is never totally accomplished during our stay on earth) is total obedience to the Gospel.

Hatred of sin as sin, not only as galling or disquieting, a sense of the love Christ in the cross, lies at the bottom of all true spiritual mortification.(p. 87)

We may hate how a sin (gambling or pornography addiction) may affect our lives and our family, but unless we kill off sin because we love Christ and what he did on the cross to pay for our sin; we will not have any real progress in the mortification of our sin.

Lust, as I showed in general, lies in the heart of everyone, even the best, while he lives; and think not that the Scripture speaks in vain, that it is subtle, cunning, crafty--that it seduces, entices, fights, rebels. (p. 88)

Sin or lust is a formidable enemy and it takes constant vigilance to mortify lust in all its forms.