There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
— Romans 8:1
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
— Galatians 6:8
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
— Romans 8:2
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
— 1 Peter 1:22
The Necessity of Faith on Christ, by John Owen. The following contains Chapter Fourteen of his work, “Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers, The Necessity, Nature and Means of It: With a Resolution of Sundry Cases of Conscience Thereunto Belonging” — Abridged and Simplified.
If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
— Romans 8:13
Up to this point, we have discussed matters that prepare the heart for the work of mortification. Now, we turn to the actual work itself. There are few direct actions that are unique to this process, but one stands above all others:
1. Set Your Faith on Christ to Kill Sin
Christ’s blood is the ultimate remedy for sin-sick souls. If you live by this truth, you will die a conqueror. Indeed, through God’s grace, you will see your sin defeated before your eyes.
But you may ask,“How do I act in faith upon Christ to mortify my sin?” \
Here are several ways:
(1) Consider Christ’s Fullness as the Answer to Your Struggle
By faith, meditate on the rich provision stored up in Christ for your victory over sin. Even when you feel utterly unable to fight, when your strength is gone and you are ready to despair, Christ remains sufficient. The prodigal son found hope when he remembered that there was bread enough in his father’s house, even though he was far from home. Likewise, even in your weakest moment, fix your mind on the fullness of grace, power, and help found in Christ (John 1:16; Col. 1:19).
Christ is exalted as a Prince and a Savior to grant repentance (Acts 5:31), and repentance cannot exist without mortification. He assures us that we are purged and cleansed by abiding in Him (John 15:3). To act in faith upon Christ’s sufficiency is to remain in Him. Faith alone grafts us into Christ and keeps us there (Rom. 11:19-20).
So, set your heart upon this reality:
“I am weak and unstable, unable to resist this corruption that threatens to ruin my soul. I have tried and failed many times—my vows, my resolutions, all have come to nothing. I am at the end of myself. Yet, Christ is my hope. He has all grace, all power, and all sufficiency. He alone can deliver me. Though I feel my heart like dry, parched ground, He can make it a fertile field. Though my soul is a barren wilderness filled with the dragons of sin, He can turn it into a place of peace and fruitfulness for His glory.”
The Lord sustained Paul in his trials with this promise: “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor. 12:9). Even before Paul received full deliverance, the assurance of Christ’s sufficiency steadied his heart.
By faith, continually set before yourself the truth that Christ has all the strength you need. Even if you do not experience immediate victory, this faith will keep you from despair and prevent you from turning to false remedies that offer no true deliverance.
The power of this truth will be fully realized only in the practice of it.
Expecting Deliverance from Christ by Faith
Another key aspect of faith in Christ for mortifying sin is raising your heart to expect relief from Him. The deliverance Christ provides may not come immediately, but it is certain. As the prophet declared,”It is for an appointed time… though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry” (Hab. 2:3). If you learn to look to Christ with steadfast expectation—just as a servant watches his master’s hand, waiting for provision—you will be satisfied. Christ will slay the sin that troubles you, and your end will be peace. But on what basis can I expect deliverance?
You must expect it because there is no other way. You must be delivered by Christ, or you will not be delivered at all. Where else will you go?
More than that, there are strong reasons to confidently expect help from Christ:
1. Christ Alone Has the Fullness of Grace You Need
You cannot mortify sin in your own strength. Christ Himself declares,“Without me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5), speaking specifically of purging sin (v. 2). Mortification requires grace, and all grace dwells in Christ: “It pleased the Father that in him all fullness should dwell” (Col. 1:19).
“From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace” (John 1:16).
He is the head from whom all spiritual life flows (Eph. 4:15-16).
If we are to be “strengthened with power in the inner man,” it is through “Christ dwelling in our hearts by faith” (Eph. 3:16-17).
2. Christ Alone Supplies the Spirit for Mortification
You cannot put sin to death apart from the Spirit (Rom. 8:13). But who sends the Spirit? Who has secured Him for us and promised to give Him to those who ask? It is Christ alone.
This is why all of your expectation for deliverance must be placed on Christ. If you do not receive help from Him, you will not receive it at all.
Beware of False Paths
All efforts, strategies, and struggles against sin that are not rooted in a confident expectation of Christ’s help are useless.
If you pursue mortification by any means other than Christ—through sheer willpower, religious duties, or personal resolve—you will fail. These efforts are only valuable if they serve to direct your heart to Christ as the only source of help. Otherwise, they are vain and will leave you exhausted.
Fix This in Your Heart
Let this truth be settled in your soul: If you do not receive help from Christ, you will not be delivered at all. Look to Him. Wait for Him. Expect Him. He will not fail you.
Expect Relief from Christ: His Mercy and Faithfulness
To further encourage you to expect deliverance from Christ, consider these two powerful truths:
1. Christ is Full of Mercy and Compassion as Our High Priest
Christ is not indifferent to your struggles against sin. As our great High Priest at God’s right hand, He deeply cares for His people. He assures us,”As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you” (Isa. 66:13). His love is as tender as that of a mother for her nursing child.
The book of Hebrews makes this even clearer:
“He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest… Because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted” (Heb. 2:17-18).
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are—yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:15-16).
Because Christ has suffered and been tempted, He understands our weaknesses. His ability to help is not just about His power, but also about His willingness and eagerness to come to the aid of struggling believers. He does not turn away from you in your weakness—He runs to you in mercy.
Therefore, when you feel overwhelmed by sin and helpless in your battle, fix your faith on His mercy. Expect relief from Him. This will do more to weaken sin in your life than the harshest self discipline ever could. No one has ever been defeated by sin while looking to Christ with expectation of help.
2. Christ is Faithful—He Always Fulfills His Promises
Your expectation of relief from Christ is not based on wishful thinking but on His unbreakable promises. God assures us that His covenant is as certain as the sun, moon, and stars (Jer. 31:36). That is why David said he waited for the Lord “more than watchmen for the morning” (Ps. 130:6). Just as the morning always comes at its appointed time, so will Christ’s help arrive exactly when you need it.
Christ does not promise immediate relief, but He promises certain relief in due season. Like rain falling on parched ground, His grace will come at the perfect time. He is faithful—what He has promised, He will fulfill. Fill your heart with His promises. Cling to them. Hold onto the ones that speak directly to your struggle, and trust that He will not fail you.
The Key to Overcoming Sin
The greatest weapon in your battle against sin is not harsh self discipline—it is faith in Christ’s mercy and faithfulness. Expect His help. Trust His promises. Know that He will not let you perish under the weight of sin. Look to Christ, and you will not be disappointed.
The Power of Expecting Help from Christ
Placing your full expectation of deliverance on Christ comes with two great advantages:
1. Expecting Help from Christ Engages Him to Act on Your Behalf
Nothing moves a person more to help another than the expectation of help that is rightly placed upon them. Christ, through His promises and faithfulness, has invited us to place our full trust in Him for help in our struggles against sin. When our hearts truly rest in Him and look to Him for deliverance, He will not fail us.
The Psalmist affirms this truth: “You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You” (Ps. 9:10). God has never told His people to seek Him in vain. If Christ is the foundation of our hope, He will never disappoint us. He is not like a dried-up stream that promises water but leaves the traveler thirsty. If we look to Him for help, He will give it in the right time and measure.
2. Expecting Help from Christ Keeps the Heart Attentive to His Means of Grace
If we expect help from Christ, we will diligently seek Him in the ways He has ordained to communicate His grace—prayer, Scripture, worship, and the sacraments. Just as a beggar waits at the door of the one who can provide for him, so we must place ourselves in the path of Christ’s promised grace.
This expectation of relief makes every means of grace come alive with new power. When we seek Christ with anticipation, prayer is no longer a mere duty—it becomes a channel of strength. Meditating on His promises fills the soul with hope. The ordinances of worship become a source of real transformation. Without this expectation, these means often feel lifeless. But when our hearts wait eagerly for Christ to act, we engage in them with faith and receive the power they were meant to bring.
The Testimony of the Saints
Many believers who have struggled against sin will testify to the power of this truth. Those who have walked closely with God through seasons of temptation know that looking to Christ with expectation has never failed them.
If you are engaged in battle with sin, do not let your hope rest on your own efforts or discipline alone. Lift your eyes to Christ. Expect Him to act. Seek Him in His appointed means of grace. And know that He will never fail those who put their trust in Him. This is the surest way to victory.
The Power of Christ’s Death in Overcoming Sin
To truly mortify sin, you must fix your faith on the death, blood, and cross of Christ. His crucifixion is not only the foundation of our salvation but also the source of our strength to overcome sin.
1. Christ Died to Destroy Sin
Sin entered the world through the temptation of the devil, and it continues to thrive through his influence. But Christ came to destroy the works of the devil. “He gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14).
Christ’s death ensures that sin will not have the final word. He purifies His people, not only forgiving them but transforming them. He gave Himself to cleanse and sanctify His church, making her holy and blameless (Eph. 5:25-27). This purification happens in stages, but it is guaranteed by His finished work.
This is why Scripture repeatedly attributes our washing and cleansing to the blood of Christ (1 John 1:7; Heb. 9:14; Rev. 1:5). His blood is the remedy for sin, freeing our consciences from guilt and breaking sin’s grip on our hearts. This is the goal of mortification—to remove the power of sin so that it no longer reigns in us. And this is precisely what Christ accomplished through His death. His cross is the source of every supply of grace and strength we need to overcome sin.
2. Our Union with Christ in His Death
Paul explains this reality in Romans 6:2-6. If we belong to Christ, we are “dead to sin.” This means:
We are united with Him in His death. Sin no longer has dominion over us. We are called to live in newness of life. Paul argues that because we are baptized into Christ, we are also baptized into His death. Our old selves—our sinful nature—were crucified with Him. This doesn’t mean we no longer struggle with sin, but it does mean sin has lost its rule over us. Just as Christ died and was raised, so we also are raised to newness of life. This is why we must look to Christ’s death in our fight against sin. His death not only provides forgiveness but also imparts power to overcome. When He died, He broke sin’s hold over His people.
3. How to Act in Faith on Christ’s Death Faith in Christ’s death has two key aspects:
A. Expect Power from Christ’s Death
Believe that there is real power in the cross to mortify your sin. When you feel overwhelmed by temptation, remind yourself that Christ’s death has already secured victory. His death is not just an example— it is the source of divine strength to resist sin. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).
When discouragement comes, do not rely on your own strength. Turn to Christ, trusting that His death provides the grace you need to fight sin. Even when you feel weak, His power is made perfect in weakness.
B. Seek to Be Conformed to Christ in His Death
Paul exhorts believers in Galatians 3:1 to keep their eyes fixed on Christ as crucified. This is not just about remembering historical facts—it means looking to Christ’s sufferings in faith, drawing strength from them. Here’s how you can do this practically:
Meditate on Christ’s suffering—See Him in the garden, burdened with sorrow. See Him on the cross, bleeding for your sins. Apply His blood to your heart—Let the reality of His sacrifice humble you and stir you to holiness.
Daily renew your mind in this truth—Let Christ’s death be the lens through which you see your sin, your struggles, and your fight for holiness. The more your soul is shaped by Christ’s crucifixion, the more power you will have to overcome sin.
Final Encouragement
Faith in Christ’s death is the key to mortifying sin. He has secured victory, and His grace is sufficient. If you struggle, do not rely on yourself. Go to the cross. There, sin is defeated. There, strength is found. There, your hope is secure.
The Role of the Holy Spirit in Mortifying Sin
The work of putting sin to death is entirely dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit. Though mortification is our duty, it can only be truly carried out and accomplished by the Spirit in every stage of the process. Consider these key aspects of the Spirit’s work in this great task:
1. Conviction of Sin
The Spirit alone fully convinces the heart of the depth of sin’s evil, guilt, and danger. Without this conviction—or if it remains weak— there will be no lasting change. The natural heart, even in believers, seeks to evade or excuse sin. Until the Spirit overpowers these self deceptions with clear and undeniable conviction, mortification will not be effective.
Christ promised that the Spirit would “convict the world concerning sin” (John 16:8). Mere intellectual awareness that something is sinful is not enough. Many people acknowledge sin in theory but remain unchanged because their hearts are not fully gripped by its seriousness. The Spirit exposes sin’s true nature, silencing every excuse, revealing its deceits, and leaving the soul no escape from its burden. Without this deep conviction, all efforts at mortification will be in vain.
2. Revealing Christ’s Fullness for Our Help
Only the Spirit can open our eyes to see Christ as our all-sufficient Savior. He alone shows us that in Christ there is not only forgiveness, but power to overcome sin. Without this revelation, the soul either turns to false remedies or falls into despair. The Spirit directs us to the fullness of Christ, strengthening our faith in Him as the answer to our struggle (1 Cor. 2:8).
3. Establishing Our Expectation of Deliverance from Christ
One of the most crucial means of mortification is maintaining a firm expectation that Christ will provide deliverance. It is the Spirit who strengthens our faith to trust in Christ’s power and willingness to free us from sin. Without this expectation, our efforts to fight sin will be weak and uncertain (2 Cor. 1:21).
4. Bringing the Power of Christ’s Cross into Our Hearts
The Spirit applies the work of Christ’s crucifixion directly to our hearts, making its sin-killing power effective in us. Scripture teaches that believers are “baptized into Christ’s death” (Rom. 6:3) and that “by the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the body” (Rom. 8:13). It is through the Spirit that the reality of Christ’s death works within us to destroy sin at its root.
5. Producing Ongoing Growth in Holiness
The Spirit is both the beginning and the completion of our sanctification. He continually provides fresh grace and strength to pursue holiness while weakening the power of sin (Eph. 3:16-18). Without His ongoing work, we would soon grow weary and fall back into old habits.
6. Empowering Us in Prayer
The Spirit strengthens our prayers, giving them power and effectiveness. Prayer is one of the most vital means of mortifying sin, yet without the Spirit, our prayers will lack life and fervency. He is the “Spirit of supplication” (Zech. 12:10), enabling us to pray with deep longing and sincerity, even when we can only“groan with sighs too deep for words” (Rom. 8:26). When Paul struggled with his thorn in the flesh, he turned to God in prayer, seeking deliverance. Though he was not immediately freed from his trial, God’s grace was sufficient for him. Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, sustaining us in prayer and enabling us to persevere until sin is truly mortified.
Final Encouragement
The entire work of putting sin to death depends on the Spirit. He convicts us of sin, reveals Christ’s power, strengthens our faith, applies the cross to our hearts, grows us in holiness, and empowers us in prayer. Without Him, all our efforts will be fruitless. Therefore, rely fully on the Spirit. Seek His help daily. Yield to His guidance. Only through His power will sin be truly mortified, and holiness be truly established in our lives.
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