the power of indwelling sin

There is a war. Ephraim has hired prostitutes as lovers. That believers have a “renewed will” and thus resist sin’s captivity is clear from several texts: Romans 7:15 For I don’t understand what I am doing. We will learn to expect a daily battle, to walk humbly, to kill sin at the start, and to keep near our Captain. There are basically four points that Owen wants to make good from an examination of Romans 7:21. But success is the greatest evidence of power, and leading captive in war is the height of success. They are well suited to work on the soul and cause it to desist from its pursuit of sin. First, indwelling sin is called a law. Part 2. In chapter’s five and six Owen begins to outline two ways in which sin is enmity against God and therefore powerful. But you say, ‘It is useless for you to try and stop me! 2 There has been much discussion and dispute over the precise identification of the “I” in Romans 7:14-25. Some have argued that Paul is not referring to himself at all, though most, if not all, major commentators from Augustine on have correctly rejected this view. Paul says that he finds sin as a “law.” What does he mean by this? People in such a condition do not seem to care about what God will do or what people think; they simply move forward in their arduous pursuit of sin and gratification. In chapter six we learned that not only does sin produce aversation toward God and the things of God, it also directly “opposes” God. The purpose of this chapter has been to look more closely at the last two ways sin is enmity against God. It is true that power is involved in having success at anything, but power is integral to Romans 7:21-25 only insofar as it explains sin’s success and victory. Owen says that we may understand this a bit better if we first understand how grace works in the soul. Though God sends calm “reasonings and considerations” as well as “calamity and mercy,” there is often no response. 4:7; Titus 1:1) Though sin be always a fire in the bones, yet it flames not unless Satan come with his bellows to blow it up. He says that, …for the most part, when any lust or sin doth so prevail, it is from the advantage and furtherance that it hath got by some powerful temptation of Satan. John Owen’s writings, though challenging, are full of rich spiritual insights. The affections, wherein sin often begins, torture the soul with the constant and contradictory desires for what is forbidden and “out of bounds.” This, then, is how the law of sin plies its trade in the soul and interrupts the law of grace, if only for a season. He is dead in sin (Eph 2:1-3) and his will is always aligned with sin (Rom 8:7). Though it were their own lusts that they served, yet they were brought into bondage thereunto by being entangled in some snare of Satan; and thence they are said to be ‘taken alive,’ as a poor beast in a toil.57. the power of indwelling sin and how it no longer has power over us. For I do not do what I want—instead, I do what I hate. Chapter 4. He hath poisoned it, inflamed it, and entangled the soul. Because the believer is in Christ and indwelt by his Spirit, the rule of grace is now “on the throne,” but there are seasons in which its rule and dominion, though never completely rendered powerless, is for a moment or two seriously weakened as the law of sin “goes to work.” The influences of the law of grace may be intercepted for a season and its government weakened by the power of sin. Indeed, it is opposed to God himself and everything and anything connected to him. 7:25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! 8 Owen is not here setting up a “two-class” Christianity—as the Keswick higher life erroneously sought to establish from 1 Cor 3:1ff—but is rather saying that in the experience of every Christian, giving in to sin repeatedly creates an inability to distinguish truth from error and a concomitant weakness to deal ruthlessly with sin. In chapter five we saw that sin entangles both the emotions and the mind in hatred toward God. All of this will happen because her land is filled with idols. Second, there are times and seasons for its exercise. Throughout the chapters of this book, Owen has been trying to demonstrate the power and efficacy of indwelling sin. We need now to present Romans 7:13-254 in both Greek and English Bibles (NET Bible): 13ToV ou Thus, in short, indwelling sin produces enmity toward all of God in all of us. From this fact alone we learn of its power and success. They are not wholly given over to its demands at any time. It is enmity in that it loathes God’s presence, but also in that it stands in constant, unmitigated opposition to God. The Believer "cast down" by the power of indwelling sin, "yet not destroyed" "He will not always accuse us or be angry forever." Now there are three areas that Owen wants to touch on regarding the madness or rage of sin. In order to talk about the power of indwelling sin in believers, Owen has chosen Romans 7:21 as his text. First, when a certain sin grows and captivates a person, yet the person has no background or constitution that would predispose him/her to that particular sin (as opposed to any other), then we can be sure that Satan has given it its “prevalency.” This is true because the law of sin does not necessarily elevate one sin above another, but one usually excels another due to the disposition, background, education, etc. He will look closely at how the mind is affected through the deceitfulness of sin and how it is led astray from its holy duties. 14Oi[damen gaVr o{ti oJ novmo" pneumatikov" ejstin, ejgwV deV savrkino" eijmi pepramevno" uJpoV thVn aJmartivan. Owen argues that sin does not rise “to this height ordinarily,” but only when it has a “double advantage.” First, he says that such madness grows and is provoked by some great temptation; Satan himself adds poison to the lust and inflames it with strength and deeper madness. At the beginning of each chapter we take a minute to review where we’ve come from. Yet the power of sin, albeit weakened and kept under by the dominion of the new-born nature which God does infuse into our souls, does not cease. Further, while its center of operations is in our heart, there is no part of our constitution as human beings that is not polluted by its presence. It opposes him in at least four ways, that is, by lusting, by fighting and warring, by bringing the soul under captivity, by generating madness and rage. But the fact remains, and Owen realizes this, that some believers look as if they’re dominated or captivated by some sins, at least for a season. It is able to contend against the renewed will in believers, even the holiest of them. Few things trouble the soul of the child of God as much as the presence of indwelling sin and the sober realization of the inability of the flesh to overcome it. Now sin’s madness also has within it other properties such as fearlessness and a contempt of danger. [Such people are] ‘in the snare of the devil, being taken captive by him at his will,’ 2 Tim ii 26. and Ph.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary. Owen explains: …it is one thing for a man to know in general that there is a law of sin; [it is] another thing for a man to have an experience of the power of this law of sin in himself. 7:23 But I see a different law in my members waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that is in my members. If we are to cooperate with the Spirit in sanctification—which is not to say that he does 50% and we do 50%, but is rather to say that we learn to respond to his urging, trust his leading and obey his summoning—then we must understand what is going on inside us and why we wrestle so often with indwelling sin. Greg is currently serving as Project Director for KnowingGod.org, 4. Please do not punish my unintentional sins. 7:22 For I delight in the law of God in my inner being. Indeed, the whole soul is being renewed into the image of Christ (Eph 4:23-24). The apostle Paul described the conflict in believers in Galatians 5:17: 5:17 For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want. 7:23 But I see a different law in my members waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that is in my members. The Christian who constantly gives in to sinful urges knows much less experientially of its power and efficacy than the Christian, who by the power of the Spirit (Rom 8:13), consistently wars against it.8 So important is the Christian’s recognition of sin as “a law with great force” that Owen says it is the “great preservative of all divine truth in the soul.” If we lose sight of this, we lost sight of who we are and thus we lose sight of God’s grace and mercy and our need of him. John Owen, Overcoming Sin and Temptation, edited by Kelly M. Kapic and Justin Taylor (Wheaton: Crossway, 2006). It is powerful and constant, deriving much of its strength from the citadel in which it resides, namely, the heart. The will, for its part, though enabled by grace to offer habitual obedience to Christ, is first weakened, then cast aside, and finally rendered useless through sin’s relentless solicitations and temptations. I’m on book 2 in an Owen trilogy, this one named, The Power and Efficacy of Indwelling Sin. This does not mean that he never tries to do good, but what good he does achieve is due to the light he possesses12 and the conscience that pricks at him, even gnawing at times. 7:24 Wretched man that I am! No; they go on frowardly still, as men mad on their covetousness…This is plain madness and fury.61. David W. Torrance and Thomas F. Torrance (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1960), 148; C. E. B. Cranfield, Romans: A Shorter Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1985), 164; James R. Edwards, Romans, NIBC (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1992), 190-91. philadelphia: presbyterianboardofpublication In 1 Timothy 6:9-10, the apostle speaks about the varying degrees of success in terms of covetousness. This leads to Owen’s fourth point, namely, indwelling sin is effectually operative in rebelling and inclining to evil, when the will of doing good is in a particular manner active and inclining unto obedience.13. Rom 8:1-2). If a captain has a city, he may for a long preserve it from the constant attacks of enemies without. He quotes Ecclesiastes 9:3: 9:3 This is the unfortunate thing about everything that happens on earth: the same fate awaits everyone; The hearts of all people are full of evil, and there is madness in their hearts during their lives—then they die. Let’s take a closer look at chapter seven now. Does debt affect giving in modern times in light of the Israelite tithe and slaves? So then, if there is a sin present that seems out of sorts with one’s background and constitution, we may conclude that the devil is integrally involved. 6:3; 1 Tim. The reason they cannot be led captive to the law of sin is because they are willingly subject to it. At mating time she is easy to find. Doctrine of Indwelling Sin: "sin that If Christians have properly understood and applied this law of God—such as we see expounded in the Sermon on the Mount and applied by Paul and the other apostles—they will soon realize the power of the contrary “law” within them. For I do not do what I want—instead, I do what I hate. ajgaqoVn ejmoiV ejgevneto qavnato"; mhV gevnoito: ajllaV hJ aJmartiva, i{na fanh'/ aJmartiva, diaV tou' ajgaqou' moi katergazomevnh qavnaton, i{na gevnhtai kaq* uJperbolhVn aJmartwloV" hJ aJmartiva diaV th'" ejntolh'". Owen makes it clear at this point that when Paul speaks about the believer’s captivity to the law of sin, he is not speaking about captivity to particular sins, but rather to the law of sin, that is, every believer according to the good design of God, must “bear the presence and burden” of sin in this life. So the law of sin is exactly that in believers—a law attempting to exert its power, influence, and penalties. 2. aujtoV" ejgwV tw'/ meVn noiV douleuvw novmw/ qeou' th'/ deV sarkiV novmw/ aJmartiva". Sin will soon raise its ugly head and give the lie to this error. There must have been a yielding of the soul to its demands and such yielding over time has led to the present madness in the soul. 3:25) Freedom from the power of indwelling sin by being united with Christ on the cross (Gal.2:20) Ever- increasing fruitfulness from your spiritual union with the risen Christ (Rom.6:22; Rom. 7:20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer me doing it but sin that lives in me. So Owen counsels that, if…a man find an importunate rage from any corruption that is not evidently seated in his nature, let him, as the Papists say, cross himself, or fly by faith to the cross of Christ, for the devil is nigh at hand.58. In this brief section Owen wants to clarify the difference between being captive to the law of sin and being dominated or captivated by any one particular sin. It’s a battle that can’t be won by willpower or works, but only by the power of the Holy Spirit, who brings the cross of Christ into our hearts with all its sin-killing power. But it needs to be pointed out with clarity that the law of sin is a law in believers, but it is no longer a law unto them (like it is with unbelievers). 2:25 Israel, do not chase after other gods until your shoes wear out and your throats become dry. They do not choose to do “the good” because of the excellency of the thing chosen and its value to the betterment of the soul, for such reasoning, apprehension, and action (i.e., will) is not within the ability of the non-Christian (i.e., a person unaided by God’s Spirit). Don't you desire these wonderful promises? But sin, so that it would be shown to be sin, produced death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful. 7:4) The doctrine according to godliness (1 Tim. Indwelling sin – its enmity against God 29 Chapter 5. 4 We include the material surrounding 7:21 so that the reader can get a feel for the immediate context in which v. 21 appears. The notion that sin dwells in the Christian is finding its way into the thinking of some Christians as they struggle against (succumb to) sin. Owen says that unbelievers’ faint endeavors at doing good are far from a will of doing the good. The Lord’s providential dispensations include both afflictions and mercies. 16eij deV o} ouj qevlw tou'to poiw', suvmfhmi tw'/ novmw/ o{ti kalov". It will not give way even when God brings chastisement in the form of punishment or desertion. Judgment, and Prevalency of the will ” evinces its power, influence, and innocent of rebellion... 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