“If ye by the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the flesh, ye shall reside” (Rom. 8:13)
The Obligation: Mortify Your Deeds
The responsibility itself, “Mortify the deeds of the physique,” is subsequent to be remarked upon. Three issues are right here to be inquired into:
(1) What is supposed by the physique?
(2) What by the deeds of the physique?
(3) What by mortifying of them?
(1) “The physique” within the shut of the verse is similar with “the flesh” at first: “If ye reside after the flesh ye shall dye,” but when ye “mortifie the deeds of the physique”—that’s, of the flesh. It’s that which the apostle has all alongside discoursed of below the title of “the flesh,” which is obvious from the prosecution1 of the antithesis between the Spirit and the flesh, earlier than and after. “The physique,” then, right here is taken for that corruption and depravity of our natures whereof the physique, in an amazing half, is the seat and instrument, the very members of the physique being made servants unto unrighteousness thereby (Rom. 6:19). It’s indwelling sin, the corrupted flesh or lust, that’s meant. Many causes may be given of this metonymical expression2that I shall not now insist on. The “physique” right here is similar with παλαιὸς ἄνθρωπος and σῶμα τῆς ἁμαρτίας, the “previous man” and the “physique of sin” (Rom. 6:6); or it might synecdochically3 categorical the entire individual thought of as corrupted, and the seat of lusts and distempered affections.
Quantity 15 of The Full Works of John Owen consists of 4 edited and formatted treatises on the mortification of sin, the ability of temptation, indwelling sin, and God’s grace.
(2) The deeds of the physique. The phrase is πράξεις,4 which, certainly, denotes the outward actions mainly, “the works of the flesh,” as they’re known as, τὰ ἔργα τῆς σαρκὸς (Gal. 5:19); that are there stated to be “manifest” and are enumerated. Now, although the outward deeds are right here solely expressed, but the inward and subsequent causes are mainly meant; the “axe is to be laid to the basis of the tree”5—the deeds of the flesh are to be mortified of their causes, from whence they spring. The apostle calls them deeds, as that which each lust tends unto; although they do however conceive and show abortive, they purpose to convey forth an ideal sin.
Having handled indwelling lust and sin because the fountain and precept of all sinful actions, he right here mentions its destruction below the title of the consequences which it does produce. Πράξεις τοῦ σώματος6 are, as a lot as φρώνημα τῆς σαρκός7 (Rom. 8:6), the “knowledge of the flesh,” by a metonymy of the identical nature with the previous; or because the παθήματα8 and ἐπιθυμίαι,9 the “passions and lusts of the flesh” (Gal. 5:24), whence the deeds and fruits of it do come up; and on this sense is “the physique” used: “The physique is lifeless due to sin” (Rom. 8:10).
(3) To mortify. Εἰ θανατοῦτε—“if ye put to loss of life”—[is] a metaphorical expression, taken from the placing of any residing factor to loss of life. To kill a person, or some other residing factor, is to remove the precept of all his power, vigor, and energy, in order that he can not act or exert or put forth any correct actings of his personal; so it’s on this case. Indwelling sin is in comparison with an individual, a residing individual, known as “the previous man,” together with his colleges and properties, his knowledge, craft, subtlety, power; this, says the apostle, have to be killed, put to loss of life, mortified—that’s, have its energy, life, vigor, and power to supply its results taken away by the Spirit. It’s, certainly, meritoriously, and by means of instance, completely mortified and slain by the cross of Christ; and the “previous man” is thence stated to be “crucified with Christ” (Rom. 6:6), and ourselves to be “lifeless” with him (Rom. 6:8), and actually initially in regeneration (Rom. 6:3–5), when a precept opposite to it and harmful of it (Gal. 5:17) is planted in our hearts; however the entire work is by levels to be carried on towards perfection all our days. Of this extra within the technique of our discourse.
The intendment10 of the apostle on this prescription of the responsibility talked about is that: the mortification of indwelling sin remaining in our mortal our bodies, that it might not have life and energy to convey forth the works or deeds of the flesh, is the fixed responsibility of believers.
The Promise: You Shall Reside
The promise unto this responsibility is life: “ye shall reside.” The life promised is against the loss of life threatened within the clause foregoing, “If ye reside after the flesh, ye shall die”; which the identical apostle expresses, “Ye shall of the flesh reap corruption” (Gal. 6:8), or destruction from God. Now, maybe the phrase might not solely intend everlasting life, but in addition the religious life in Christ, which right here we now have; not as to the essence and being of it, which is already loved by believers, however as to the enjoyment, consolation, and vigor of it: because the apostle says in one other case, “now I reside if ye stand quick” (1 Thess. 3:8)—“Now my life will do me good; I shall have pleasure and luxury with my life”—“You shall reside, lead a very good, vigorous, comfy, religious life while you’re right here, and procure everlasting life hereafter.”
Supposing what was stated earlier than of the connection between mortification and everlasting life, as of means and finish, I shall add solely, as a second motive to the responsibility prescribed, that:
The vigor, and energy, and luxury of our religious life
will depend on the mortification of the deeds of the flesh.
Notes:
- I.e., finishing up; execution.
- I.e., determine of speech through which one time period is substituted for one more time period intently related to it. For instance, we’d say “wheels” to consult with an car, “Crown” to consult with a monarchy, or “Washington” to consult with the U.S. authorities.
- I.e., a determine of speech (through which, amongst different makes use of, the half stands for the entire or the entire stands for the half). On this case, Owen is suggesting that “physique” stands for the entire individual.
- Gk. “actions, or practices.”/li>
- Matt. 3:10.
- Gk. “works of the physique.”
- Gk. “thoughts of the flesh.” Novum Testamentum Graece reads, φρόνημα. Novum Testamentum Graece, ed. B. Aland et al., twenty eighth rev. ed. (Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2012); hereafter cited as NA28.
- NA28 reads, παθήμασιν.
- NA28 reads, ἐπιθυμίαις.
- I.e., intention.
This text is customized from Sin and Temptation (Volume 15) by John Owen.
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