Do you mortify?

October 2nd, 2025
by John Thweatt

“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.”
(Col 3:5-6 ESV)

John Owen said,

“The Work of the Holy Spirit, Who is planted in our hearts, also opposes the lusts of the flesh (Gal 5:17). This whole work is done by degrees, and it is to be carried on towards perfection all our days.

Thus it is the constant duty of believers to render a death blow to the deeds of the flesh, that they may not have life and strength to bring to bring forth their destructive influence.”

This flies on the face of Western Christianity today. We’d rather play with our sin than give it a death blow. We excuse it, justify it, and even sanctify it! I was in a conversation with a pastor a few years ago about a culturally accepted sin and the pastor said, “That word doesn’t mean what you think it means.” My reply was, “That word has meant the same thing for 2,000 years…why has it suddenly changed.”

Owen asked a great question “Do you mortify? Do you make it your daily work? You must always be at it while you live; do not take a day off from this work; always be killing sin or it will be killing you.”

I wonder what it would be like if we opened our conversations with fellow Christ followers with that question. Can you imagine, “Do you mind if I ask you a personal question? Do you mortify?”

The truth is if we aren’t actively killing sin it is killing us.