The Holy Spirit is the Great Sovereign Cause of the Mortification of Indwelling Sin

[Chapter 3]

Other remedies are sought in vain!

"Duties are excellent food for an unhealthy soul; they are no physic (remedy, relief, medicine) for a sick soul... Spiritually sick men cannot sweat out their distemper with working"

Why papists can never truly mortify any one sin:

• Many of the ways and means they use and insist upon for this end were never appointed of God for that purpose (e.g. vows, penance, monastery)
• These things that are appointed of God as means are not used by them in their due place and order - such as praying, fasting, watching, meditation, and the like (2 Tim 3:7)

Why mortification is the work of the Spirit:

• He is promised of God to be given unto us to do this work
• We have all out mortification from the gift of Christ, and all the gifts of Christ are communicated to us and given us by th Spirit of Christ: "Without Christ we can do nothing"  (John 15:5)
• Vicariam navare operam = God sends the Spirit "to perform the work on his behalf."

How the Spirit mortifies Sin:

• By causing our hearts to abound in grace and the fruits that are contrary to the flesh
• By a real physical efficiency on the root and habit of sin
• By bringing the cross of Christ into the heart of a sinner by faith

If the Spirit alone mortifies sin, why are we exhorted to mortify it?

• All graces and good works which are in us are his
• It is still an act of our obedience

Owen, John, Kelly M. Kapic, and Justin Taylor. "Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers." Overcoming Sin & Temptation. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2006. Print.