Indwelling Sin in Believers

John Owen’s Indwelling Sin in Believers is a guide to knowing our enemy, a field-manual for the lifelong war Christ’s soldiers must wage against the sin that remains in them after conversion. Like an experienced general, Owen sets out the strategy and tactics of indwelling sin with unrivalled insight and clarity. Based on Romans 7:21, ‘I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil present with me’, Owen’s work shows that sin is a powerful inward law or principle lodged in the heart whose whole nature is enmity against God. This powerful river, flowing from the Fall, can only be brought under control by regenerating grace. However, sin’s enmity remains in believers after conversion, and the long war against it is one in which all Christians must engage. Though this is a book about sin, it is no less about the all-sufficient grace of Christ. There is much here to strengthen and comfort the believer. Owen never lets us think that we must depend on our own unaided efforts. Nor are we sent to the law for help, since defeating sin is something the law cannot do. Our victory lies in seeing to it that the springs of grace remain open, and that communion with God in Christ remains our joy and delight. This abridgement seeks to make Owen more accessible to present day readers, but carefully retains the essence of his thought and as many as possible of his own expressions. It is a companion volume to The Mortification of Sin and Temptation Resisted and Repulsed, also published by the Trust in the same series.

Publisher: Banner of Truth
Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9781800402218

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John Owen (1616-1683), amongst the best known of the Puritans, was a profound and thought provoking pastor-theologian. His writings continue to be widely read and greatly appreciated to this day.

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‘Outside of scripture, it’s safe to say, this is one of two books that’s had the greatest impact on me. For years I’ve struggled with the idea of remaining sin in the believer. I’ve struggled with how myself, a regenerate believer indwelt with the Spirit, can think some of the things that float through my mind. We are quick say that the believers will continue to struggle with sin until they die, but that is as far as we normally take the conversation. In this great work, Owen handles this deep topic with precision and excellence. Some of the simple truths he conveys has greatly impacted my ability to fight the sin that is still in me without losing heart. Regardless of your view of whether Paul was writing about his regenerate or unregenerate state in Romans 7, this will bless your soul in unquantifiable ways.’ Michael Rangel