Knowing too Little about Sin
Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 10:42 AM by David Zavadil
As I have continued in reading the classic The Mortification of Sin by John Owen, I was struck by a thought he brought out on page 76 of the version I am reading. Owens writes:
It is to be feared that very many have little knowledge of the main enemy that they carry about with them in their bosoms. This makes them ready to justify themselves and to be impatient of reproof or admonition, not knowing that they are in any danger (2 Chron. 16:10).
How many of us really think about our sin? I am not speaking about dwelling on how we can commit our sins or wallowing in guilt over our sins. I am speaking about looking at our sins as if a general seeking to win a war. We spend too little time going beyond the outward observances of our sins and fail to get to the heart of the matter. What is the root cause of my sin? What moves me in that direction? What things set of those thoughts? We see the symptoms but we fail to diagnose the real problem. As Owen points out, this failure to bring true diagnosis leads to a failure to properly deal with or sin. Instead of mortifying our sinfulness, we justify it, we deny that it is a problem.
To properly deal with any problem, you must learn everything you can about the issue. The same holds true for our dealing with sin. We do not need to learn how to sin, but how the sin takes hold so that we can properly put it away, mortify that sin. How much do you know about those lusts that plague you? How do you begin to fight the sin that torments you? Comment and help us all learn to mortify our sin.
Edited on: Thursday, December 20, 2007 10:45 AMPosted in Commentary (RSS), Fear of God (RSS), Ministry (RSS)
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