21/04/2024
“To mortify: “if you put to death” is a metaphorical expression, taken from putting of any living things to death. To kill a man, or any other living thing, is to take away the principle of all his strength, vigor, and power, so that he cannot act or exert or put forth any proper actings of his own; so it is in this case of “mortifying sin”.
“Indwelling sin is compared to a person, a living person, called “old man” with his faculties and properties, his wisdom, craft, subtlety, strength: this, says the apostle, must be killed, put to death, mortified- that is, have its power, life, vigor, and strength to produce its effect taken away by the Spirit.
“ it is, indeed, meritoriously, and by way of example, utterly mortified and slain by the cross of Christ; and the “old man” is thence said to be “crucified with Christ”. Rom. 6:6, and ourselves to be “dead” with Him (Rom. 6:8), and really in initially regeneration (Rom. 6:3-5), when a principle contrary to it and destructive of it (Gal. 5:17) is planted in our hearts; but the whole work is by degrees to be carried on towards perfection all our days. The intention of the apostle in this prescription of the duty mentioned is that:
“ The mortification of indwelling sin remaining in our mortal bodies, that it may not have life and power to bring forth the works or deeds of the flesh, is the constant duty of believers”.
By John Owen in Overcoming sin and Temptation.
