Indwelling Sin ranks high among Owen’s works, with rare insight into the experience of the Christian soul. The basis of the treatise is taken from Romans 7:21, where indwelling sin in believers is in the character of “a law,” whose seat is the heart and whose nature is enmity against God. Sin acts consecutively in withdrawing the mind from what is good, through positive opposition to God, by ensnaring the soul in captivity, and lastly by filling it with hatred to the principles of holiness. The power of indwelling sin is seen in its deceitfulness, developed in three stages using James 1:14-15: the mind is withdrawn from obedience; the affections are enticed; and actual sin is then committed. Its power in the believer’s soul is seen further by observing its effect in unregenerate persons, its resistance to moral law, and our fruitless attempts to subdue it in our own strength. Owen’s goal is that we become vigilantly watchful in consistently opposing sin and successful in waging war with sin through applying the sin-conquering truths of Christ’s gospel. Many consider this book (together with his Mortification of Sin and Temptation) essential for Christians of all ages who desire to walk with the Lord in true biblical holiness.
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