Overcoming Sin & Temptation

I can't over recommend this book, its awesome, for any and every Christian. There are some things you don't hear out there in churches about your fight against sin, how to overcome, how to mortify it, how to "take away all that invigorates the flesh"(in the words of Owen). I have read all the other versions, the oldish English, the new type printed by banner of truth, and even the paraphrased ones, but this beats them all it sets your mind working and your heart pumping its a tool for good in the hands of God. How I would wish that every Christian read it every year, it will help you on the road to living a holy life before God. The Editors have done a good work I had the works of Owen, it was hard to read but with the changes that have been made, this is easier and you lose none of the inclinations to thought that characterises all of Owens works and with thought comes passion "While I mused the fire burned" Ps.39:3 it is only as we think on this truths that our passion for God begins to rise, that is why the puritans works have always helped unto Godliness because they make us "muse". Get this, read it, muse on it.

I recently spent five grueling hours (grueling for a hopelessly out of shape bookworm) climbing a steep, winding mountain trail. Why? That was the only way I could see the view from the top of Mount LeConte. There were no shortcuts; I just had to put in a lot of hard work. But once I completed my quest and saw the view, I would have spent double the effort if necessary: what I saw was THAT spectacular. The same can be said of reading the great Puritan theologian John Owen. It is HARD work, and a lot of it. So facing a 466 page anthology containing his 3 books on sin seemed more daunting than climbing LeConte, but I am pleased to report that the view is even more spectacular: it is life-changing. This anthology, put together by Justin Taylor & Kelly Kapic, is not an abridgement: aside from some spelling updates and a few footnotes you've got the original manuscripts. There is an excellent introduction to Owen and his thought, as well as overviews of each of the three books. In the back are extremely detailed outlines of each book, as well as several indexes and a glossary of antiquated words (there are plenty of words Owen uses that will make you scratch your head so you will find yourself frequently consulting it!). As stated before, this is an anthology of three different works by Owen. The first is his famous Mortification of Sin. I had read and reviewed an abridged version earlier this year, so I was interested in seeing how I would fare reading the original. Strangely, I actually like the original language better, it seemed more piercing and powerful. The second book, Of Temptation, concerns itself on the nature and danger of temptation, and our duty against temptation and how to accomplish it. Owen simply amazes me: whereas most of us would exhaust our intelligent explanation of "temptation" in a few sentences, he spends eighty pages poring over the Scriptures, mining deep to bring insight that is both wise and cutting. The last book, Indwelling Sin, is the longest and most thorough. Seventeen chapters that bring insight after insight on every page on the nature of the enemy within us, concerning its nature, power, and effect in our lives. It has been said that once you finish reading what Owen says about a subject, you are convinced that he has covered it all. You may wonder, is it really worth reading over 400 pages on sin? And I will tell you, yes, it is hard work, but it is well worth the view. And just as I am planning on climbing LeConte again next year, I am going to reread this book next year as well, for I am sure that God has much more to teach me from its pages.

John Owen has been a stern, difficult, challenging teacher, but a much needed one for my life. Several years ago I purchased Volume 6 in the Banner of Truth edition of the Works of John Owen, "Sin and Temptation." This volume is weighty in content and thought. But Owen, unlike anyone else I had ever read, was able to address the issues of sin and temptation in my life like no other writer has been able to do. Numerous theologians and scholars whom I respect hold Owen in high esteem. I believe their estimation of Owen's worth is correct. Justin Taylor and Kelly Kapic have done a marvelous service to Christians and the world in general with their updated edition of three of John Owen's works on sin and temptation. Overcoming Sin and Temptation includes three of his works: "Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers," "Of Temptation: The Nature and Power of It," and "Indwelling Sin." The only work not included in this volume that appears in the Banner of Truth volume is "A Practical Exposition of Psalm 130." Perhaps Taylor and Kapic will tackle that project next. Taylor and Kapic's work is significant for at least five reasons. 1. They have provided us with an unabridged but updated text. Spelling is modernized and Americanized, mistakes from previous editions are corrected, and archaic words are updated. 2. The work is footnoted to define essential and difficult words. This will help the reader with comprehension. 3. All the Greek, Hebrew, and Latin words and phrases and transliterated and translated for the reader. A great example of this is on page 48 where the reader who has no knowledge of Greek will be greatly helped in the discussion with the transliterations and translations. 4. The General Index and Scripture Index at the end of the work is fabulous. All books ought to have indexes like this. Pastors and teachers will be well served in sermon and lesson preparation. 5. The most important feature of this updated work are the outlines for all three of Owen's books at the end of this edition. The reader should begin here and orient himself to the flow of Owen's thought. In fact, much can be gained by reading just the outline. Thank you, Taylor and Kapic, for making this valuable contribution to the study of Owen.

Charles Spurgeon called John Owen the "Prince of the Puritans." During the 17th century, Owen's writings included "The Mortification of Sin", "Of Temptation", and "The Nature, Power, Deceit, and Prevalency of Indwelling Sin". These three classic works have just been republished by Crossway in a book called, "Overcoming Sin and Temptation", edited by Justin Taylor and Kelly Kapic. John Owen's writing considers sin seriously, as something that "paralyzes the will." The book contains a call to rise mightily against sin. The comfort of a Christian's spiritual life depends on this. Reading this book will help you in your Christian living. Owen's words are edifying because the insight he gives on Christian life applies to problems that exist today. However, I want to be careful about praising an author just because he is no longer living. Ecclesiastes 7:10 says, "Do not say, `Why were the old days better than these?' For it is not wise to ask such questions.'" Previous generations have a lot to teach us, but we should not let that replace our need to have spiritual mentors and templates who are alive and live close to us today. Owen is considered a spiritual hero by many. My first exposure to John Owen was two years ago when I was a student at Oxford University. I remember seeing a portrait of him somewhere, probably in the Great Hall of Christ Church College, where he was the dean. Then last year I visited Bunhill Fields and saw Owen's tomb. At that time I had not read anything by him. So I was excited to read this book last week. In Owen's language, you need to "be killing sin or it will be killing you." There is no safety against sin but by constant warfare (p. 52). His reason for writing addresses a something that is a problem in every age, mainly the general disability of dealing with temptation among professing Christians. From the get-go, he clearly demonstrates his reliance on the Scriptures. The preface of his book begins: "What is here proposed in weakness, I humbly hope will answer the spirit and letter of the gospel, with the experiences of them who know what it is to walk with God, according to the tenor of the covenant of grace." I especially liked his description of what mortification is. It is a habitual weakening of sin, a constant fighting and contending, and (my favorite) consists in frequent success. Having just finished reading the first of the three sections, I am looking forward to reading more of Owen.