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The Nature, Power, Deceit, and Prevalency of the Remainders of Indwelling Sin in Believers
In this work, John Owen discusses indwelling sin in believers. Contrary to many today, Owen held the orthodox view that in this life believers will never be totally free from the bonds of sin.
This Kindle edition contains an active table of contents.
This Kindle edition contains an active table of contents.
214 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1667
248 people are currently reading
913 people want to read
About the author
John Owen
1,346 books399 followersJohn Owen was an English theologian and "was without doubt not only the greatest theologian of the English Puritan movement but also one of the greatest European Reformed theologians of his day, and quite possibly possessed the finest theological mind that England ever produced" ("Owen, John", in Biographical Dictionary of Evangelicals, p. 494)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
March 20, 2025
Enormously rich and genuinely practical
June 29, 2018
Praise Jesus for books like this. Owen applies sharp biblical knowledge to the ever-pressing subject of indwelling sin, chiefly alarming us of its subtleties and danger. Makes me eager to read his ones on mortification and temptation. We definitely need it in Portuguese.
March 24, 2023
Second time reading this book and it was so much better than the first. He genuinely does such a. Good job portraying indwelling sin and how wary we should live of it. Love it, one of my favorites
January 28, 2021
"În cazul păcatului interior, doar harul este ceea ce schimba inima și îndepărtează otrava și împotrivirea neobosită ce există în natură omului și care izvorăște din păcatul lui. Eforturile oamenilor nu fac decât să limiteze erupțiile exterioare ale păcatului"
"In acest sens, am putea sa ne îndreptăm către învățătura Bibliei despre smerenie, dezgust de sine,veghere, sârguință și odihnă în Domnul Isus Hristos."
Fiecare credincios observa că există o lege a păcatului interior cu care el trebuie sa se lupte în fiecare zi. Păcatul interior trebuie tratat cu seriozitate de către fiecare dintre noi.
John Owen ne ajuta să înțelegem cat de puternică este această lege a păcatului interior și cât e de important este să ne cunoaștem inamicul, împotriva cui luptăm și puterea acestuia. De asemenea ne face conștienți cât de neputincioși suntem în fața acestei legi. Dar totuși nu rămânem fără speranță ci ne este reamintit faptul că depindem de Duhul Sfânt, iar "minunăția harului Evangheliei este că Duhul Sfânt schimba natura și principiul interior de viață", ca sa putem lupta, prin puterea Duhului Sfânt, împotriva acestei legi a păcatului interior.
"In acest sens, am putea sa ne îndreptăm către învățătura Bibliei despre smerenie, dezgust de sine,veghere, sârguință și odihnă în Domnul Isus Hristos."
Fiecare credincios observa că există o lege a păcatului interior cu care el trebuie sa se lupte în fiecare zi. Păcatul interior trebuie tratat cu seriozitate de către fiecare dintre noi.
John Owen ne ajuta să înțelegem cat de puternică este această lege a păcatului interior și cât e de important este să ne cunoaștem inamicul, împotriva cui luptăm și puterea acestuia. De asemenea ne face conștienți cât de neputincioși suntem în fața acestei legi. Dar totuși nu rămânem fără speranță ci ne este reamintit faptul că depindem de Duhul Sfânt, iar "minunăția harului Evangheliei este că Duhul Sfânt schimba natura și principiul interior de viață", ca sa putem lupta, prin puterea Duhului Sfânt, împotriva acestei legi a păcatului interior.
July 5, 2021
Timely and refreshing to my soul.
Though I am a Christian, I still find myself sinning. The law of indwelling sin is both in the unbeliever and believer, however, it operates differently in the believer. It's grip loosened and force weakened.
If I learned anything- it is that the river of indwelling sin in our souls can only be weakened by grace and not the law. Not resolve or willpower but grace through communion with Christ.
Though I am a Christian, I still find myself sinning. The law of indwelling sin is both in the unbeliever and believer, however, it operates differently in the believer. It's grip loosened and force weakened.
If I learned anything- it is that the river of indwelling sin in our souls can only be weakened by grace and not the law. Not resolve or willpower but grace through communion with Christ.
June 29, 2019
An excellent book showing forth the deceitfulness and power of sin in the life of the believer. A strong exhortation to humility, self-abasement, watchfulness, and repairing to the Lord Christ at all times.
May 16, 2023
An excellent and truly thorough treatment of the subject. Good stuff for the soul.
Liked it a lot.
Liked it a lot.
September 2, 2018
Monumental, towering, convicting. So many superlatives for this lightly modernized and edited version of John Owen's work, "Nature, Power, Deceit, and Prevelancy of the Remainders of Indwelling Sin in Believers" which we just call 'Indwelling Sin'.
His clarity of thought and highly expert use of language brings biblical concepts to the fore in ways that illuminate and offer powerful insights. Hopefully any reader reading this book will never look at sin the same way again. I know I won't.
PS - I highly recommend the Puritan Paperbacks, modernized versions of the Puritan works. Careful editing and abridgement make these works available to this new generation. Please don't let these books go by the wayside, delve and enjoy. Puritan Paperbacks makes this possible.
His clarity of thought and highly expert use of language brings biblical concepts to the fore in ways that illuminate and offer powerful insights. Hopefully any reader reading this book will never look at sin the same way again. I know I won't.
PS - I highly recommend the Puritan Paperbacks, modernized versions of the Puritan works. Careful editing and abridgement make these works available to this new generation. Please don't let these books go by the wayside, delve and enjoy. Puritan Paperbacks makes this possible.
June 5, 2018
This small book packed a lot in to think about. It's one best read slowly and pondered. I underlined/highlighted a lot! A good, challenging addition to my devotional time.
September 1, 2020
Such a good book that I will read it again very soon. He helps us believers understand the sin/turmoil within and around us.
January 7, 2021
“All the deceit that is in the world in the dealings of man with man is as nothing compared with the self-deception of which the heart is capable”
March 24, 2020
This may be John Owen at his best. The Puritan is known for being incredibly difficult to read, but Kelly Kapic and Justin Taylor so a phenomenal job of translating this piece. In it you will find Owen doing deep theological work by discussing the in dwelling of sin in the life of believers, but he does not simply articulate that this reality without giving applications to the Christian life. Owen spends the last half of the book highlighting how Christians are to fight against their sin nature, which can ultimately be done by the power of the Spirit. The verse that Owen uses for this work is Romans 7:21. In the book you will find John Owen the Puritan exegete Scripture, shepherd, and theologically work through a deep concept. This is a must read for theologians (so everyone per R.C. Sproul) and the lay person seeking to fight sin daily.
August 3, 2024
Excellent treatise on sin nature in the Christian even after regeneration. Owen is always worth the read.
May 24, 2015
John Owen is a master. He is a true doctor of the soul. He has seen the enemy and has pinpointed its location. He shines a bright light upon the law of sin and intricately describes its every move and motive. Overcoming sin's rule and influence in our lives is a life's work. This is definitely a book to read over and over again.
"Keep a constant, humbling sense of this secret aversion to spirituality that lies in our nature. To see its effects is a powerful inducement to walk humbly with God. The fact that, after all the self-disclosures that God has made to us, all the kindness we have received from him, all the good he has done us in all things, there should be such a heart of unkindness and unbelief still abiding in us as to hate communion with him ought to cast us into the dust and to fill us with shame and self-loathing all our days! What have we found in God in any of our approaches or addresses to him, that it should be thus with us? What iniquity have we found in him? Has he been a wilderness to us, or a land of darkness (Jer. 2:31)? Did we ever lose any thing by drawing near to him? Have we not rather received all the rest and peace that we have ever had in this way? Is he not the fountain and spring of all our mercies, of everything desirable? Has he not made us welcome at our coming? Have we not received from him more than heart can conceive or tongue express? What, then, is wrong with our foolish and wretched hearts that we harbour such a cursed secret dislike of him and his ways? Let us be ashamed and astonished at the thought of it, and walk in a humbling sense of it all our days. Let us carry this about with us in our most secret thoughts. And as this is a duty in itself acceptable unto God, who delights to dwell with those who are of a humble and contrite spirit (Isa. 57:15), so it is also a very effective way to weaken the evil we are considering."
"Keep a constant, humbling sense of this secret aversion to spirituality that lies in our nature. To see its effects is a powerful inducement to walk humbly with God. The fact that, after all the self-disclosures that God has made to us, all the kindness we have received from him, all the good he has done us in all things, there should be such a heart of unkindness and unbelief still abiding in us as to hate communion with him ought to cast us into the dust and to fill us with shame and self-loathing all our days! What have we found in God in any of our approaches or addresses to him, that it should be thus with us? What iniquity have we found in him? Has he been a wilderness to us, or a land of darkness (Jer. 2:31)? Did we ever lose any thing by drawing near to him? Have we not rather received all the rest and peace that we have ever had in this way? Is he not the fountain and spring of all our mercies, of everything desirable? Has he not made us welcome at our coming? Have we not received from him more than heart can conceive or tongue express? What, then, is wrong with our foolish and wretched hearts that we harbour such a cursed secret dislike of him and his ways? Let us be ashamed and astonished at the thought of it, and walk in a humbling sense of it all our days. Let us carry this about with us in our most secret thoughts. And as this is a duty in itself acceptable unto God, who delights to dwell with those who are of a humble and contrite spirit (Isa. 57:15), so it is also a very effective way to weaken the evil we are considering."
February 5, 2020
When you think of John Owen you might think of mortification of sin or especially the death of death in the death of Christ. But this is Owen at his near finest. I would couple this Puritan paper back with the one that he did on temptation. If you have not read mortification of sin start there and then the other two I mentioned. It gives us a better idea of our sinful nature and put Romans seven in context. The new man must overcome the old man but he is stronger and has had more practice. Owen has a distinct style of writing that is sometimes lost when you read in abridgment but it is found in here. Owen Not only offers doctrine and things to think about when it comes to sin but he spends more time than he usually does on application. He realizes the objections that some people are going to have And argues them beautifully. It is a call to obedience in prayer which is really the only way we can combat in dwelling sin. Read this over by multiple copies because you were going to wear it out!!!
October 29, 2022
Good tonic. A good reason to read the Puritans is that they quoted a lot of scripture. This helps us to know our Bibles better.
August 14, 2025
If we could replace modern pop-psychology with the puritans, the world would be a better place.
May 28, 2021
Tips on reading
I think one of the ways to comprehend Owen’s writing is to treat sin as an entity by itself and not simply an act of disobedience towards God. In this sense, sin can further elaborate into its nature and its deceitfulness. The indwelling sin then lies within the heart of man and serves as an opposing force to divert the attention of the mind from being obedient towards God. In means of distorting our reasoning such that we become complacent in our duties that causes us to slip into a collaboration with the entity of sin that a man is found guilty of disobedience towards God.
Word of advice
This is indeed a remindful piece of work, but perhaps not for the new believers. A very tedious read and I am personally not even sure how much of what I comprehend is accurate and how much was left unnoticed. This is one of those books that you can’t just simply glance through. The sentences are written in a series of clauses.
In addition, the daunting message of the indwelling sin may tumble new believers in their walk because of the harsh nature of the reality we live in. I can also see how this path brought up by Owen may seem rather morbid and gloomy for many as compared to the commonly portrayed Gospel message of love.
Essence of the message
This is because the emphasis is on the sinful nature within us so as to create a reality check on our lives as believers that we should not be complacent with the conviction of our hearts, lest we end up sliding into the gates of hell. Owen warns us that this is a constant battle that we must always be watchful of. He further indicates that we cannot assume that we can make peace with this law of the sin, there is no middle ground, it is to conquer or to be conquered by it. This is made explicit in his writing as he illustrates the numerous examples in the Bible from Noah to David, how undermining the power of sin can lead us astray. In his writing, Owen also observed the tendency of men to fall into the pleasing message of the gospel but failed to recognise the need to constantly pay wise attention to the sinful nature that is within our hearts. It is as put forth by C.S Lewis – “The safest road to hell is the gradual one – the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts”. Or in Jesus’ own words, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” –
Matthew 16:26 ESV. In this sense, Owen laid out that having this cautious mentality to be wary of the deceitful nature of sin so that we can continue our pursuit to walk closely with God.
Reflection
Despite its technicality, it is definitely a piece worth reading as we grow closer to the Lord. I generally agree with Owen’s view on the 2 necessary parts of the gospel message. 1) The need for repentance by understanding our sinfulness and 2) the glory of God that brings us to salvation.
Though his emphasis on this writing is placed on part 1) which talks about the Indwelling sin that is within us in spite of our conviction to Christ. The contention that he put forth is not whether we need to repent of our sin but the continuity of repentance needed that many may have overlooked after their initial conversion. For the law of the sin is always on the go, acting to oppose and to conquer the soul of man.
Though I sometimes ponder, in the continuum of the Christian faith lies the two extreme poles of hyper grace and hyper repentance. In my own opinion, the posture of repentance cannot be served as the only course of the Christian faith, nor can the forgiveness of God be treated as a dessert that occupies the entire course. The Christian walk can only be rightly understood by not treating the whole banquet as separate courses, by not solely emphasizing God’s mercy, that one starts to indulge in their own sin. Or overcompensates the posture of repentance, that one sees credit in his own work. However, it is in the nature of man that we tend to look forward to the things that favour us and unknowingly forgo the other parts. For some enjoy the appetizer and some prefer the dessert. However, we aren’t in for a particular course but the entire meal. Overemphasis on one part is to discount the whole essence of the Gospel message. In that sense, the glory of God and the grace shown to us can only be fully appreciated by understanding the power of sin and the deceitfulness of it within us and that no human effort could overcome. Such that we remain diligent in our obedience towards God and in the process humble ourselves and seek refuge in Christ.
I think one of the ways to comprehend Owen’s writing is to treat sin as an entity by itself and not simply an act of disobedience towards God. In this sense, sin can further elaborate into its nature and its deceitfulness. The indwelling sin then lies within the heart of man and serves as an opposing force to divert the attention of the mind from being obedient towards God. In means of distorting our reasoning such that we become complacent in our duties that causes us to slip into a collaboration with the entity of sin that a man is found guilty of disobedience towards God.
Word of advice
This is indeed a remindful piece of work, but perhaps not for the new believers. A very tedious read and I am personally not even sure how much of what I comprehend is accurate and how much was left unnoticed. This is one of those books that you can’t just simply glance through. The sentences are written in a series of clauses.
In addition, the daunting message of the indwelling sin may tumble new believers in their walk because of the harsh nature of the reality we live in. I can also see how this path brought up by Owen may seem rather morbid and gloomy for many as compared to the commonly portrayed Gospel message of love.
Essence of the message
This is because the emphasis is on the sinful nature within us so as to create a reality check on our lives as believers that we should not be complacent with the conviction of our hearts, lest we end up sliding into the gates of hell. Owen warns us that this is a constant battle that we must always be watchful of. He further indicates that we cannot assume that we can make peace with this law of the sin, there is no middle ground, it is to conquer or to be conquered by it. This is made explicit in his writing as he illustrates the numerous examples in the Bible from Noah to David, how undermining the power of sin can lead us astray. In his writing, Owen also observed the tendency of men to fall into the pleasing message of the gospel but failed to recognise the need to constantly pay wise attention to the sinful nature that is within our hearts. It is as put forth by C.S Lewis – “The safest road to hell is the gradual one – the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts”. Or in Jesus’ own words, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” –
Matthew 16:26 ESV. In this sense, Owen laid out that having this cautious mentality to be wary of the deceitful nature of sin so that we can continue our pursuit to walk closely with God.
Reflection
Despite its technicality, it is definitely a piece worth reading as we grow closer to the Lord. I generally agree with Owen’s view on the 2 necessary parts of the gospel message. 1) The need for repentance by understanding our sinfulness and 2) the glory of God that brings us to salvation.
Though his emphasis on this writing is placed on part 1) which talks about the Indwelling sin that is within us in spite of our conviction to Christ. The contention that he put forth is not whether we need to repent of our sin but the continuity of repentance needed that many may have overlooked after their initial conversion. For the law of the sin is always on the go, acting to oppose and to conquer the soul of man.
Though I sometimes ponder, in the continuum of the Christian faith lies the two extreme poles of hyper grace and hyper repentance. In my own opinion, the posture of repentance cannot be served as the only course of the Christian faith, nor can the forgiveness of God be treated as a dessert that occupies the entire course. The Christian walk can only be rightly understood by not treating the whole banquet as separate courses, by not solely emphasizing God’s mercy, that one starts to indulge in their own sin. Or overcompensates the posture of repentance, that one sees credit in his own work. However, it is in the nature of man that we tend to look forward to the things that favour us and unknowingly forgo the other parts. For some enjoy the appetizer and some prefer the dessert. However, we aren’t in for a particular course but the entire meal. Overemphasis on one part is to discount the whole essence of the Gospel message. In that sense, the glory of God and the grace shown to us can only be fully appreciated by understanding the power of sin and the deceitfulness of it within us and that no human effort could overcome. Such that we remain diligent in our obedience towards God and in the process humble ourselves and seek refuge in Christ.
October 26, 2025
Helpful, biblical advice on fighting indwelling sin (sin that remains in a believer after conversion).
For more on how to mortify (destroy) sin, Owen refers readers to his Mortification of Sin .
I read the modernized version available free from Monergism. They also have the original at that same link.
Notes
Introductory Essay by Dr. Thomas Chalmers
In this life, we can't overcome sin so much that we're never tempted, but we can overcome it enough to not walk in it. We can't be free of sin's presence, but we can be free of its power.
We must starve, weaken, mortify old nature so it decays.
Rom 7:13-25 describes believer.
Indwelling sin is enmity against God
How to fight natural aversion to God
• Be holy (Ps 57:7; 119:6)
• Guard against aversion, temptation (1 Pet 4:7; Mt 16:23)
• Don't stop fighting (Heb 6:11-12; Lk 18:1; Rom 6:12; 12:12); lean on God Isa 40:31)
• Be humbled by thinking of God's revelations, kindness, good, mercy, and how wrong it is to sin against Him
• Focus on beauty and excellence of spiritual things (e.g., obedience, communion with God), so they're lovely and desirable.
The work of this enmity against God, by opposition
"Members" in Col 3:5; Rom 7:23; Jas 4:1 refers to our affections.
The deceit of sin in drawing the mind away from a due attendance to especial duties of obedience, instanced in meditation and prayer
Duties which weaken sin: prayer (especially private prayer), meditation
Meditate with humble prayer and praise of God’s excellencies, attributes, glory, majesty, love, goodness. Admire and delight in Him.
Meditate on Bible, asking God to help you understand and live by it.
Consider how sin has overcome you, how it’s tempted you, what harm it’s done, and what harm it may yet do. Consider your situation and needs, and pray to God for help (Ps 102).
Search your heart for sin. Recognize its vileness and detest it. Bring it before God, condemning it and mourning over it.
Pray for help to oppose sin (Jas 1:5).
In prayer, engage yourself to God to cling to Him in all things, and to oppose all sin (Ps 119:106).
The deceit of sin, in drawing the mind away from its attendance to particular duties, further revealed
Thoughts to fight sin
• God, Who forbids sin, is great Lawgiver, holy, righteous, sovereign, able to save and destroy. Sin is rebellion against Him (Gen 39:9).
• Law requires punishment for sin (Job 31:23; Heb 10:30-31; 12:29; Mt 10:28).
• Sinning against God is a terrible way to treat Him Who is loving, kind, caring, merciful to you (Deut 32:6; 2 Cor 7:1; 1 Jn 3:1-3).
• Christ’s death and mediation for you (2 Cor 5:14-15).
• Holy Spirit indwells you. Sin grieves Him, defiles His dwelling place, forfeits and despises His comforts.
The working of sin by deceit to entangle the affections
To fight sin, have affections toward heavenly things (God, Christ, grace, glory, gospel, blessedness, and especially Christ’s cross (Gal 6:14). Consider Christ’s sorrows, curse, bloodshed, love for your soul. Meditate on vileness and punishment of sin. Recognize what your sin cost Christ.
Decays in the degrees of grace, which are caused by indwelling sin
Put gospel truths and commandments into practice so they're always fresh to you and motivate you to continue putting them into practice, so they don't seem stale and burdensome.
The strength of sin evidenced by its resistance to the power of the law
The law can't conquer sin (Rom 8:3), it can only aggravate it (Rom 7:9-13). It isn't intended to subdue sin (Rom 8:3).
Promising and vowing to avoid a sin in your own strength (without Christ) can lead to hypocrisy. If you fail to avoid the sin, you become more discouraged to oppose sin, and may give up. If you succeed in avoiding the sin for a time, you may think you've done enough, and allow yourself to give into temptation, or become self-righteous. The best that promising to avoid a sin can do is temporarily restrain some outward manifestation of the sin; it can't weaken the sin's root.
Extraordinary steps to avoid sin (e.g., hours of prayer and fasting, cloistering, pilgrimages, penance, self-torturing discipline) in your own strength (without Christ) are opportunities for other sins, hypocrisy, superstition, spiritual blindness, self-righteousness, pride.
For more on how to mortify (destroy) sin, Owen refers readers to his Mortification of Sin .
I read the modernized version available free from Monergism. They also have the original at that same link.
Notes
Introductory Essay by Dr. Thomas Chalmers
In this life, we can't overcome sin so much that we're never tempted, but we can overcome it enough to not walk in it. We can't be free of sin's presence, but we can be free of its power.
We must starve, weaken, mortify old nature so it decays.
Rom 7:13-25 describes believer.
Indwelling sin is enmity against God
How to fight natural aversion to God
• Be holy (Ps 57:7; 119:6)
• Guard against aversion, temptation (1 Pet 4:7; Mt 16:23)
• Don't stop fighting (Heb 6:11-12; Lk 18:1; Rom 6:12; 12:12); lean on God Isa 40:31)
• Be humbled by thinking of God's revelations, kindness, good, mercy, and how wrong it is to sin against Him
• Focus on beauty and excellence of spiritual things (e.g., obedience, communion with God), so they're lovely and desirable.
The work of this enmity against God, by opposition
"Members" in Col 3:5; Rom 7:23; Jas 4:1 refers to our affections.
The deceit of sin in drawing the mind away from a due attendance to especial duties of obedience, instanced in meditation and prayer
Duties which weaken sin: prayer (especially private prayer), meditation
Meditate with humble prayer and praise of God’s excellencies, attributes, glory, majesty, love, goodness. Admire and delight in Him.
Meditate on Bible, asking God to help you understand and live by it.
Consider how sin has overcome you, how it’s tempted you, what harm it’s done, and what harm it may yet do. Consider your situation and needs, and pray to God for help (Ps 102).
Search your heart for sin. Recognize its vileness and detest it. Bring it before God, condemning it and mourning over it.
Pray for help to oppose sin (Jas 1:5).
In prayer, engage yourself to God to cling to Him in all things, and to oppose all sin (Ps 119:106).
The deceit of sin, in drawing the mind away from its attendance to particular duties, further revealed
Thoughts to fight sin
• God, Who forbids sin, is great Lawgiver, holy, righteous, sovereign, able to save and destroy. Sin is rebellion against Him (Gen 39:9).
• Law requires punishment for sin (Job 31:23; Heb 10:30-31; 12:29; Mt 10:28).
• Sinning against God is a terrible way to treat Him Who is loving, kind, caring, merciful to you (Deut 32:6; 2 Cor 7:1; 1 Jn 3:1-3).
• Christ’s death and mediation for you (2 Cor 5:14-15).
• Holy Spirit indwells you. Sin grieves Him, defiles His dwelling place, forfeits and despises His comforts.
The working of sin by deceit to entangle the affections
To fight sin, have affections toward heavenly things (God, Christ, grace, glory, gospel, blessedness, and especially Christ’s cross (Gal 6:14). Consider Christ’s sorrows, curse, bloodshed, love for your soul. Meditate on vileness and punishment of sin. Recognize what your sin cost Christ.
Decays in the degrees of grace, which are caused by indwelling sin
Put gospel truths and commandments into practice so they're always fresh to you and motivate you to continue putting them into practice, so they don't seem stale and burdensome.
The strength of sin evidenced by its resistance to the power of the law
The law can't conquer sin (Rom 8:3), it can only aggravate it (Rom 7:9-13). It isn't intended to subdue sin (Rom 8:3).
Promising and vowing to avoid a sin in your own strength (without Christ) can lead to hypocrisy. If you fail to avoid the sin, you become more discouraged to oppose sin, and may give up. If you succeed in avoiding the sin for a time, you may think you've done enough, and allow yourself to give into temptation, or become self-righteous. The best that promising to avoid a sin can do is temporarily restrain some outward manifestation of the sin; it can't weaken the sin's root.
Extraordinary steps to avoid sin (e.g., hours of prayer and fasting, cloistering, pilgrimages, penance, self-torturing discipline) in your own strength (without Christ) are opportunities for other sins, hypocrisy, superstition, spiritual blindness, self-righteousness, pride.
March 30, 2020
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” - Sun Tzu
John Owen has provided for us an indispensable field guide for battling the enemy within - sin!
This Banner of Truth abridged work makes Owen's biblical strategies and tactics against indwelling sin even more accessible to the average reader.
The premise of the book is found in Romans 7:21, "I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me."
Owen masterfully exposes what sin is, as well as it's damnable tactics; all the while pointing us to the all-sufficient grace of Christ!
Example: "The mind should always attend to this, a mid all suggestions of the law of sin: it is God that has forbidden this thing; the great lawgiver, under whose absolute sovereignty I am, on whom I am dependent for my life, and in whose hands is my eternal destiny."
One chapter I found particularly wonderful was entitled "God's Bridle on Sin". It was so informative and encouraging that I read it twice.
This book has two companion volumes called "The Mortification of Sin" and "temptation Resisted and Repulsed" that are also Puritan Paperbacks - I highly recommend them to you!
John Owen has provided for us an indispensable field guide for battling the enemy within - sin!
This Banner of Truth abridged work makes Owen's biblical strategies and tactics against indwelling sin even more accessible to the average reader.
The premise of the book is found in Romans 7:21, "I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me."
Owen masterfully exposes what sin is, as well as it's damnable tactics; all the while pointing us to the all-sufficient grace of Christ!
Example: "The mind should always attend to this, a mid all suggestions of the law of sin: it is God that has forbidden this thing; the great lawgiver, under whose absolute sovereignty I am, on whom I am dependent for my life, and in whose hands is my eternal destiny."
One chapter I found particularly wonderful was entitled "God's Bridle on Sin". It was so informative and encouraging that I read it twice.
This book has two companion volumes called "The Mortification of Sin" and "temptation Resisted and Repulsed" that are also Puritan Paperbacks - I highly recommend them to you!
October 22, 2025
Another hit by Owen.
This book reminds us that awareness of sin is evidence of grace. The unregenerate heart doesn’t feel this war. Our battle against sin proves life.
It's a reminder that the battle against the flesh never ends. Even when we seem to have conquered a sin, it still lingers within, waiting for a moment to rise again. He explains that sin is patient, it stirs quietly, gathering strength.
That’s why the Christian life demands constant vigilance and self-examination. This war of the soul is no small task, for Satan prowls like a roaring lion. Owen exposes the subtlety and persistence of sin, calling us to daily watchfulness and dependence on the Spirit.
Fav quote "Through the deceit of sin, gospel grace is abused in many ways, causing the soul to neglect its duties and drawing the mind away from considering the nature results and effects of sin."
Love these Puritan works
This book reminds us that awareness of sin is evidence of grace. The unregenerate heart doesn’t feel this war. Our battle against sin proves life.
It's a reminder that the battle against the flesh never ends. Even when we seem to have conquered a sin, it still lingers within, waiting for a moment to rise again. He explains that sin is patient, it stirs quietly, gathering strength.
That’s why the Christian life demands constant vigilance and self-examination. This war of the soul is no small task, for Satan prowls like a roaring lion. Owen exposes the subtlety and persistence of sin, calling us to daily watchfulness and dependence on the Spirit.
Fav quote "Through the deceit of sin, gospel grace is abused in many ways, causing the soul to neglect its duties and drawing the mind away from considering the nature results and effects of sin."
Love these Puritan works
September 8, 2023
Best book ever on in dwelling sin
If ever there was a book to be read today this is that book! Christians underestimate the power of in dwelling sin within them. John Owen Is not someone who is self deceived. He saw godly men who came to power and were changed into evil doers because of the influence of in dwelling sin. Read it time and time again and then I think we will learn to be vigilant in putting to death the flesh so as to walk under a new master The Spirit of God!
If ever there was a book to be read today this is that book! Christians underestimate the power of in dwelling sin within them. John Owen Is not someone who is self deceived. He saw godly men who came to power and were changed into evil doers because of the influence of in dwelling sin. Read it time and time again and then I think we will learn to be vigilant in putting to death the flesh so as to walk under a new master The Spirit of God!
March 13, 2018
Owen explores sin in a way few would dare to. I'm thankful he did. I can say I understand myself and my enemy (also myself) even better. There is no measure of watchfulness, effort and discipline that will put an end to the war but Owen's treatise provides ample warning and desire to press on, to run the race.
June 14, 2020
Indwelling Sin
Tougher read than usual for me. Format is different than all other books I’ve read. He reasons things out step by step, in almost an outline format. Definitely rich theology. Very sound biblically. Deep scriptural exposition. In all honesty, had to take a break from it for several months because of the writing style / format.
Tougher read than usual for me. Format is different than all other books I’ve read. He reasons things out step by step, in almost an outline format. Definitely rich theology. Very sound biblically. Deep scriptural exposition. In all honesty, had to take a break from it for several months because of the writing style / format.
May 28, 2017
I think John Owens opened my eyes to the weightiness of sin. I think, far too often, that sin can be dealt with a quick "I'm sorry" and then move on. Sin is there, I have little power against it, except through God's word, God's sacrifice, and God's grace.
November 10, 2018
Owen has rare insight on the reality of indwelling sin in believers. He tackles the issue profoundly and thoroughly, without ever sounding judgemental or condescending.
Amazing work, well worth its place among Christian classics.
Amazing work, well worth its place among Christian classics.
November 19, 2024
If you believe you’re doing great as a Christian, read this book and you will soon find out how miserable our posture is in our decaying sinful nature. Finding out may result to awe (for some, not all I suppose) as to how wonderful the grace we have in Christ is as well.
October 24, 2017
It's John Owen. Thus, it is fantastic. From the pages of this Puritan classic, one can get an indepth look at the enemy within and how to combat it. Owen does what Owen does best by giving a breakdown of how sin and the law of sin functions in the life of the believer. I highly, highly recommend this book. Granted, it is written in an older English style, much like one would expect from the Puritan era, but the content is excellent (my only frustration/concern with the book is when Owen refers to the Song of Solomon as a reference to Christ and His love for His people, which I believe is really a forced interpretation. Granted, this was a very minor point of the totality of this amazing book). This is a gem and one that I believe every Christian should read. If one is so inclined, he can partner this with The Enemy Within, by Kris Lundgaard and he'll find that Lundgaard's book basically takes the content of Indwelling Sin in Believers and adapts to modern terminology.
June 19, 2018
A wise and insightful book that every Christian should own and read often.
March 15, 2019
Amazing treatise on the subject. John Owen truly was a physician of souls.
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