What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
— Romans 6:21
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
— Romans 6:23
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
— 1 Corinthians 9:27
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 Vigour and Comfort of Our Spiritual Lives Depend on Our Mortification, by John Owen. The following contains Chapter Four 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.
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
— Romans 8:13
The final principle I will emphasize is this:
Our spiritual strength, vitality, and peace are closely tied to our ongoing mortification of sin.
Every believer desires two things in their walk with God:
1. Spiritual strength and vitality—the ability to walk in obedience with energy and delight.
2. Peace and assurance—the inner confidence of God’s love and favor.
Much of our struggle in the Christian life stems from feeling weak in our obedience or lacking peace and comfort in our relationship with God. While these blessings ultimately come from God’s sovereign grace, the presence of unmortified sin can significantly hinder them.
1. Mortification Is Not the Source, but It Removes Obstacles
We must be clear: mortification itself does not create spiritual joy or peace. God alone grants these blessings according to His will (Isa. 57:18-19). Even the most faithful believers may experience seasons of deep distress despite diligently mortifying sin, as we see in the life of Heman (Psalm 88).
However, mortification plays a crucial role in our spiritual health. In the normal course of God’s dealings with us, our strength and comfort depend on whether we are actively battling sin or allowing it to thrive.
2. Unmortified Sin Weakens and Darkens the Soul
Every sin that remains unmortified does two things:
1. It weakens our soul, draining spiritual strength.
2. It darkens our soul, robbing us of peace and assurance.
Sin Drains Spiritual Strength
When David allowed sin to fester in his heart, he described the impact:
“There is no soundness in my flesh… I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart” (Psalm 38:3,8).
Unchecked sin exhausts the soul, making spiritual duties burdensome and draining our desire for God. This happens in several ways:
1. Sin entangles our affections.
If sin is tolerated, it competes for our love and devotion. Instead of being able to say wholeheartedly,“Lord, you are my portion” (Psalm 119:57), our hearts are divided. Sin weakens our delight in God.
2. Sin distracts our minds.
The thoughts of a believer should be filled with God’s truth, but when sin is allowed to remain, our minds become preoccupied with sinful desires or the guilt of past failures. We may try to resist sin outwardly, yet inwardly, our thoughts return to it again and again.
3. Sin hinders our duties.
A man driven by ambition spends his energy pursuing success rather than seeking God. A person caught in worldliness is more concerned with possessions than prayer. Lust, pride, greed— each sin pulls the heart away from communion with God.
Sin Darkens the Soul
Not only does sin weaken us, but it also creates a barrier between us and the assurance of God’s love. It is like a thick cloud that blocks the light of God’s face.
When sin is given room to grow, it:
Destroys our sense of peace with God.
Clouds our understanding of adoption and grace.
Makes our prayers feel cold and ineffective.
A believer with an unmortified heart will often cry out to God for comfort but find no relief. Until sin is confronted, the soul will remain restless.
3. Mortification Strengthens and Revives Spiritual Life
Just as weeds choke out a healthy plant, so sin chokes the work of grace in our hearts. Mortification removes what hinders growth, allowing faith, love, and joy to thrive.
Picture a neglected garden. The flowers are still alive, but overgrown weeds make them weak and hard to find. Likewise, when sin is not mortified, our spiritual graces become feeble. We may have faith, but it is not strong. We may have love for Christ, but it is not vibrant. However, when the heart is cleared of sin’s entanglements:
Faith flourishes—it becomes strong, active, and fruitful. Love grows—affections for God deepen and overflow into joyful obedience. Zeal increases—our delight in worship and service becomes fresh and powerful.
A heart that is being purified daily will find it easier to delight in God. The soul will be ready for prayer, eager for the Word, and confident in God’s presence.
4. Mortification and Assurance of Salvation
Mortification also provides strong evidence of genuine faith. Many struggle with doubts about their salvation, wondering if they truly belong to Christ.
Scripture teaches that an unmortified life is incompatible with true faith:
“If you live according to the flesh, you will die” (Romans 8:13).
But the ongoing battle against sin is a mark of sincerity. It shows that a person is not at peace with sin but is engaged in the fight. A Christian may struggle deeply, but if they are actively resisting sin, they can have confidence that the Spirit is at work in them.
Jesus said,“Every branch in me that bears fruit, the Father prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:2). This pruning—painful though it may be—is proof of belonging to Christ.
Conclusion: The Path to Spiritual Vitality
If you long for a strong, vibrant, and peaceful walk with God, you must take the battle against sin seriously. Unmortified sin will drain your strength and rob you of joy. Unchecked sin will darken your understanding and weaken your assurance. But mortifying sin will clear the way for spiritual growth, deepen your love for Christ, and strengthen your peace with God. Let us, then, make it our daily aim to put sin to death, that we may truly live.
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