“Be killing sin or it will be killing you.” John Owen, The Mortification of Sin.
“Do you mortify [i.e. kill sin]; do you make it your daily work; be always at it whilst you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you.” ― John Owen, The Mortification of Sin
Prevailing science shows us that human behavior is influenced by genetic and environmental contributions. [And yes, we all have free will and are able to make choices that also impact our behaviors.] For example, we have genetic predispositions for alcoholism, violence, and even sexual orientation. Christians believe that our forefathers, Adam and Eve, committed a heinous act that brought God’s curse on them and this affected the total persons (spirit, mind, body, and social relationships). It affected their genes and even the environment was destroyed. Christian theology holds that we have inherited their faulty genes and the depraved world and is responsible, in great part, for the state in which we see the world. In addition to that, there is a good and an evil spirit. The evil spirit continues to tempt us to do what is wrong to bring about our ruin. Because of all that marring of the human composition, we have an inborn disposition toward sin. The genes that we have are not as perfect as they were designed. In addition to that, our depraved environment has many prevalent tendencies toward conditioning us to do things that are sinful. In our depraved state, we have struggles that we wouldn’t have in our perfect state.
Sin is defined as behavior that “misses the mark”. Generally, this mark is moral law or the standards set by God. In a sense, we all have indwelling sin (maladaptive behaviors) that we must struggle with. Even though many of these behaviors have strong genetic dispositions and environmental influences that can be traced back to our formative years when we were children, we are left to struggle with it as adults and left with the choice to reign in these behaviors to conform them to the moral law or standards of God.
For example, the person who was raised and abused in an alcoholic family who becomes an alcoholic and abuser himself has the choice to make to reform himself to align with the moral law and society’s ethical standards. He doesn’t have a right to continue in his ways and, perhaps as a drunk driver, kill an entire family. Christians believe that he also has a responsibility to God to reform himself even though he may have been thrust into that situation by both genes and upbringing and he simply couldn’t resist growing up.
We are called to mortify or put to death sin and the desires of the flesh.
Bible verses
“So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:12–13)
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” (Colossians 3:5–8)
What do you mortify? Answer Sin.
How do you do it?
Recommend reading John Owen’s the mortification of Sin. Also, the medical and social science literature on breaking bad habits and starting a good habit is helpful.
Also, check on these blogs
- The Gospel Coalition.
- Ligonier.org.
- John McArthur, how to Kill Sin In your Life.
- Challies.com, 9 Steps to Putting that sin (Based on John Owen’s the mortification of sin).