Mortifying Specific Sins in Christian Spiritual Growth
Mortifying specific sins is a central aspect of Christian spiritual growth, often understood as part of the broader process of sanctification. Sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit, bringing a believer's entire nature increasingly under the influence of new, gracious principles implanted during regeneration [1]. This process involves dying to sin and living to righteousness, a concept rooted in Christ's bearing sins in His body on the cross [2].
The call to "mortify therefore your members" in Colossians 3:5 refers not to the physical body, but to the "body of sin" or indwelling sin, which consists of sinful actions often performed by the members of the natural body [9]. This mortification is a continuous struggle against the sinful nature that all human beings are born with, even though the godly fight against it [3]. Sin is not merely an action but can be understood as a love of self, dishonor to God, and disobedience [5]. Deliberate sins are often committed with an insolent or arrogant attitude, representing rebellion against God [6].
The New Testament frequently emphasizes the need to put to death sinful practices. For example, Matthew Henry interprets 1 Peter 4:1 as an exhortation to the mortification of sin, drawing a parallel between Christ's suffering in the flesh and the believer's resolve to put sin to death [11]. Similarly, 2 Corinthians 7:1 encourages believers to "perfect holiness in the fear of God," which includes "dying unto sin, or mortifying it" [12]. This ongoing battle against sin is crucial because God's anger is a necessary response to sin, as depicted throughout the Old Testament and affirmed by Paul in Romans 1:18 [7].
While believers are called to mortify specific sins, the presence of sin does not mean one is "of the devil" in the same way as those who commit sin habitually. Augustine, as cited by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, distinguishes that while one who commits sin is "of the devil" by imitation, the devil does not "beget" children in the same way God begets those born of Him [4]. Even after regeneration, believers may still commit actual sins, and acknowledging this does not make God a liar, but rather recognizes the ongoing struggle with a corrupt nature [8]. The ultimate goal of this spiritual growth is for believers to become mature in the Lord, fully like Christ, through the transforming work of the Spirit [10].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sanctification — Involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Rom. 6:13; 2 Cor. 4:6; Col. 3:10; 1 John 4:7; 1 Cor. 6:19). It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work (1 Cor. 6:1”
- I Peter “I Peter 2:24 (BSB) — He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.””
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
- Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3:13: beguiled--cajoled by flattering lies. This sin of the first pair was heinous and aggravated--it was not simply eating an apple, but a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters--a preference of the creature to the Creator.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1:10: Parallel to Jo1 1:8. we have not sinned--referring to the commission of actual sins, even after regeneration and conversion; whereas in Jo1 1:8, "we have no sin," refers to the present GUILT remaining (until cleansed) from the actual sins committed, and to the SIN of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us. The perfect "have . . . sinned" brings down the commission of sins to the present time, not merely sins committed before, but since, conversion. we make him a liar--a gradation; Jo1 1:6, "we lie"; Jo1 1:8, "we deceive ourselves"; worst of al”
- Colossians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Colossians 3:5: Mortify therefore your members,.... Not your bodies, as the Ethiopic version reads, nor the members of the natural body, but of the body of sin, indwelling sin; which as a body consists of various members, which are parts of it, rise out of it, and are used by it, as the members are by the body; and intend the sins of the flesh, or sinful actions, which are generally performed by the members of the natural body, in which the law of sin is, and by which it operates; so that the mortification the saints are here exhorted to, in consideration of having a spiritual lif”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:13: 4:13 The goal of ministry is for the whole Christian community to understand and experience the Christian faith more deeply and gain a deeper knowledge of God’s Son. In this way, believers will be mature in the Lord (see 1 Cor 2:6; 14:20; Phil 3:15; Col 1:28; 4:12; cp. Heb 5:14; Jas 1:4; 3:2). The standard of maturity is Christ himself; the Spirit’s transforming work is to make people fully like Christ (Rom 8:29).”
- 1 Peter (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Peter 4:1: The apostle here draws a new inference from the consideration of Christ's sufferings. As he had before made use of it to persuade to patience in suffering, so here to mortification of sin. Observe, I. How the exhortation is expressed. The antecedent or supposition is that Christ had suffered for us in the flesh, or in his human nature. The consequent or inference is, "Arm and fortify yourselves likewise with the same mind, courage, and resolution." The word flesh in the former part of the verse signifies Christ's human nature, but in the latter part it signifies m”
- 2 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 7:1: These verses contain a double exhortation: - I. To make a progress in holiness, or to perfect holiness in the fear of God, Co2 7:1. This exhortation is given with most tender affection to those who were dearly beloved, and enforced by strong arguments, even the consideration of those exceedingly great and precious promises which were mentioned in the former chapter, and which the Corinthians had an interest in and a title to. The promises of God are strong inducements to sanctification, in both the branches thereof; namely, 1. The dying unto sin, or mortify”