Faithful Steward Ministries and FSM Women's Outreach

by JOHN OWEN  – Jan 3rd

Chapter 1

AN EXPOSITION OF ROMANS 8:13

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. —Romans 8:13

1. Foundation in Romans 8:13

So that my contribution of directions for mortification in believers may be orderly and clear, I will lay the foundation in the words of the apostle, “If ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Rom 8:13). I will focus on the great evangelical truth and mystery contained in them.

The apostle, having restated his doctrine of justification by faith, and the blessed state and condition of them who are made partakers of it by grace (vv. 1-3), proceeds to improve it to the holiness and consolation of believers.

Among his arguments and motives unto holiness, the verse mentioned contains one from the opposite events ⁽⁶⁾ and effects of holiness and sin: “If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die.” What it is to “live after the flesh” and to “die,” I shall no otherwise explain than as they fit in with the sense of the latter words of the verse, as before proposed, since that is not my present aim or business.

In the words peculiarly designed for the foundation of the ensuing discourse, there is, First, a duty prescribed: “Mortify the deeds of the body.”

Secondly, the persons are denoted to whom it is prescribed: “Ye”—“if ye mortify.”

Thirdly, there is in them a promise annexed to that duty: “Ye shall live.”

Fourthly, the cause or means of the performance of this duty is the Spirit: “If ye through the Spirit.”

Fifthly, the condition of the whole proposition, in which duty, means, and promise are con-tained: “If ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

(6) events – consequences.

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