Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
— Colossians 3:5-7
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 out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
— Matthew 15:19-20
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
— Romans 8:4-6
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
— Ephesians 4:30
Consider the Dangerous Symptoms of, and Recognize the Danger Signs of Any Unmortified Lust, by John Owen. The following contains Chapter Nine of his work, “Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers”—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
Having established general principles for mortification, we now turn to specific guidance for those struggling under the burden of a persistent sin. Before engaging in the work of mortification, it is essential to examine whether the sin in question carries any particularly dangerous symptoms. If so, a mere ordinary effort will not be sufficient—extraordinary measures must be taken.
I. Symptoms of a Dangerous Lust
A sin that has taken deep root in the heart can be especially difficult to mortify. The following symptoms indicate that a lust is particularly dangerous and requires urgent and decisive action:
1. Long-Standing Presence and Growth in the Heart
If a sin has been present for a long time, gaining strength without being vigorously opposed, it has become a deep-seated disease in the soul. Like an untreated wound that festers and spreads infection, an unmortified sin corrupts the whole person.
Have you allowed worldliness, ambition, or greed to consume your thoughts for an extended period?
Have you tolerated impure thoughts or desires without decisive action against them?
If so, your spiritual condition is dangerous. A sin that has been left unchecked for many years will not be easily cast out. It becomes intertwined with the affections, dulling the conscience and making the heart comfortable with its presence. Such a person may not even recognize the sin for what it is—it has become familiar, like an old friend.
This was David’s lament when he said, “My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness” (Ps. 38:5). When sin is allowed to grow unchecked, it spreads and infects every part of the soul. If this is your condition, ordinary repentance will not be enough. You must take extraordinary measures of humiliation and renewal in the Spirit.
2. Self-Deception and Excuses for Sin
Another sign of a deeply rooted sin is when the heart begins to excuse or justify its presence rather than seeking its mortification. This can happen in several ways:
a) Seeking Comfort in Past Experiences of Grace Instead of Fighting Sin
When convicted of sin, rather than attacking it with the weapons of the gospel, some people look back on past experiences of God’s grace for reassurance. Instead of mourning over their present corruption, they search for evidence that they are in a good spiritual condition despite their sin.
Now, reflecting on past mercies and recalling God’s faithfulness is a good and necessary practice in its proper place. However, if this is done not to fuel repentance but to excuse sin, it is a dangerous deception. The Jews in Jesus’ time relied on being “Abraham’schildren” while continuing in their sin, refusing to repent.
A heart that looks for assurance without a commitment to repentance and mortification is in a perilous state. True faith does not cling to past experiences as an excuse to continue in sin but seeks Christ afresh in repentance and obedience.
b) Misusing the Doctrine of Grace to Excuse Sin
Some people, when convicted of sin, immediately appeal to God’smercy instead of taking up the battle against their corruption. They reason within themselves, like Naaman when he asked for permission to bow in the house of Rimmon, saying, “I will obey God in everything else, but in this one thing, may the Lord be merciful to me.”
This is a dangerous self-deception. It turns the grace of God into an excuse for continuing in sin, rather than seeing grace as the power for overcoming sin. The apostle Paul warned against this when he asked, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?”(Rom. 6:1). A heart that clings to sin while presuming upon God’smercy is in great danger.
3. Frequent Defeat by Sin
When a particular sin frequently overcomes a person’s will, even if it does not lead to outward action, it reveals that sin has gained dominion in the heart. A person may resist sin up to a certain point but then find himself continually yielding to it in thought, desire, or internal consent.
It does not matter whether the sin is actually carried out outwardly—
if it regularly gains the victory in the heart, it has already succeeded. Jesus taught that lust in the heart is already adultery (Matt. 5:28), and hatred in the heart is already murder (1 John 3:15).
If this is the case, your condition is serious. Even if you are surprised by sin, you are still responsible for guarding against its opportunities. If you frequently fall into the same sin, it reveals a failure to be watchful, and continued neglect will only strengthen sin’s hold on your soul.
4. Resisting Sin Only Out of Fear of Punishment
A sure sign that sin has gained power in the heart is when a person fights against it only because of fear—fear of shame, consequences, or judgment—rather than because of a deep hatred for sin itself and love for God.
True believers oppose sin because it is evil, because it grieves the Spirit of God, and because it is an offense against the love of Christ. Joseph resisted temptation not out of fear of consequences but because he asked, “How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” (Gen. 39:9).
But if a person’s only motivation in resisting sin is fear of hell, shame, or punishment, then sin still holds his heart captive. His reluctance to sin is not because he loves righteousness but because he dreads the consequences. This is a sign of a legalistic spirit rather than a heart transformed by grace.
If you find that you only resist sin because of fear, be warned: fear will not hold out forever. If your love for God and hatred of sin do not grow, fear will eventually fail you, and you will fall.
5. God’s Chastisement for Neglecting Holiness
God sometimes allows a believer to struggle with a particular sin as a means of discipline for other failures in his spiritual life.
Have you been neglecting prayer?
Have you been careless in your walk with God?
Have you resisted past convictions about other sins?
If so, then your present struggle may be God’s way of awakening you. The church in Isaiah cried out, “Why have you hardened us from the fear of your name?” (Isa. 63:17). When believers persist in carelessness, God may allow them to experience the power of sin to humble them and bring them back to full obedience.
Examine yourself: if your present struggle is connected to a history of spiritual neglect, then repentance must go beyond this one sin—youmust return to full obedience in every area of life.
6. Resisting God’s Convictions and Warnings
Another warning sign is when a person has already resisted God’s efforts to correct him.
God often deals with believers in mercy, convicting them through: Personal convictions from the Holy Spirit.
Providential warnings—difficult circumstances meant to wake them up.
Preaching of the Word—directly addressing the sin they struggle with.
If God has already been speaking to you about your sin—perhapsthrough repeated sermons, personal readings of Scripture, or painful circumstances—and you have ignored those warnings, then your situation is even more serious.
To resist the Spirit’s conviction repeatedly is to harden your heart and invite greater judgment. If you have ignored past warnings, you must repent immediately before your heart becomes too hardened to hear God’s voice at all.
II. The Need for Extraordinary Measures
If any of these symptoms describe your battle with sin, do not assume that ordinary repentance will be enough. A half-hearted effort will not defeat a deeply rooted sin. Extraordinary measures must be taken.
You must:
Seek God with urgency—fast, pray, and plead for the Spirit’spower.
Fully examine your life—not just the sin you struggle with, but all areas of obedience.
Renew your love for Christ—the greatest weapon against sin is a deeper love for your Savior.
Do not delay. Sin never weakens itself; it must be put to death. If you recognize these symptoms in yourself, now is the time to act. Do not give sin another moment of power in your life.
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