What is Your Business?

The choicest believers, who are assuredly freed from the condemning power of sin, ought yet to make it their business all their days to mortify the indwelling power of sin. So the apostle, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth. (Col 3:5). To whom does he speak? Such as were “risen with Christ (v. 1); such as were “dead” with him (v.3); such as whose life Christ was and who should “appear with him in glory” (v.4). Do you mortify? Do you make it your daily work? Be always at it while you live; Cease not a day from this work; Be killing sin or it will be killing you. Your being dead with Christ virtually, your being quickened with him, will not excuse you from this work. And our Savior tells us how his Father deals with every branch in him that bears fruit, every true and living branch. “He purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit” (John 15:2). He prunes it, and that not for a day or two, but while it is a branch in this world. And the apostle tells you what was his practice; “I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection” (I Cor 9:27). I do it, says he, “daily; it is the work of my life. I omit it not; this is my business.” And if this were the work and business of Paul, who was so incomparably exalted in grace, revelations, enjoyments, privileges, consolations, above the ordinary measure of believers, where may we possible bottom (find a basis for) an exemption from this work and duty while we are in this world? From Overcoming Sin & Temptation, John Owen, edited by Kelly M. Kapic and Justin Taylor, (Wheaton: Crossway Books), p. 50