The Mortification of Sin (For Teens)

An English Puritan pastor and theologian, born in 1616. He went to Oxford University at about twelve, later became Dean of Christ Church and Vice-Chancellor of the university, and was a chaplain to Oliver Cromwell. In 1662 he was put out of the Church of England with some two thousand other ministers, and he went on leading and writing until his death in 1683. He is remembered as one of the greatest English theologians.

It comes from a Latin word meaning “to put to death”. Owen takes it from Romans 8:13: “if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” It means steadily weakening and fighting the sin in your heart, with the help of the Holy Spirit, so that it loses its grip on you.

No, never. Owen was against harsh practices that punish the body, and said real change is the Spirit’s work in the heart, not something you can beat into yourself. Killing sin never means harming your body. If you are hurting yourself, or feel you deserve to be hurt, please tell a trusted adult or a doctor today.

Owen says you cannot kill any sin in your own strength; it is the Spirit’s work, and Christ has enough to help you. God also uses people. If a habit feels out of control, such as pornography, alcohol, vaping or drugs, telling a trusted adult, a youth leader or a doctor is a wise and brave step, not a failure of faith.

Owen says no: sin is not completely destroyed in this life, even in the best Christians. But you can see real, steady victory, with a sin growing weaker and you growing stronger, and one day Christ will finish the work completely.

No. Owen wrote for ordinary believers, and he says it is the duty of the best Christians too. Pride, envy, anger, lying, gossip and laziness need fighting just as much as the sins that everyone notices.

No. It is a retelling for teenagers in plain modern words, drawn from across Owen’s book and keeping his own sentences where they say it best. The full Mortification of Sin is also available.