July 18, 2023
We must hate all sin, as sin, and not just that which troubles us. Love for Christ, because he went to the cross, and hate for sin that sent him there, is the solid foundation for true spiritual mortification. To seek mortification only because a sin troubles us proceeds from self-love.
John Owen, The Mortification of Sin
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We must be careful not to fall into the mindset of only hating sins that presently agitate us. Christ shed his blood for all sin, so we must hate all sin equally. Sometimes we fall into this line of thinking: “I’m not worried about [x] sin right now because [y] sin is worse and is my main focus.” This is a self-centered view, where we don’t detest sin as a whole but only try to clear our conscience; it will never lead to killing sin at its root. Universal hatred of sin and complete obedience to Christ in all areas is the foundation on which mortification must be built.