Overcoming Sin and Temptation
by John Owen
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Book Summary Information
Author: John OwenEditor: Kelly M. Kapic
Editor: Justin Taylor
Foreword: John Piper
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2006-09-25
ISBN: 1581346492
Number of pages: 464
Publisher: Crossway Books
Book Reviews of Overcoming Sin and Temptation
Book Review: Owen has the Old Man's home address!
Summary: 5 Stars
I just finished this book, for the second time, and my title says it all...well, almost--
Owen has you nailed. Your Old Man has certain strategies for interfering with your communion with our Holy God. Your Old Man wants to flee from His presence, and he will prompt you to sin, forcing you to grieve the Holy Spirit in order to give himself a breather from your fellowship with the One whose holiness he desires to avoid. Your Old Man is you--- the old law, the old principle within you---with all your imagination and creativity, and pet sins that your new man can't seem to shake. Owen will teach you how to recognize, track, and thwart your Old Man's stratagems by prayer and watchfulness.
One noteworthy lesson from Owen will prove familiar to all spiritual warriors, and that is the Old Man's line, "This far and no farther." Sound familiar? "I'll just look at this one thing on the web, but go no farther." "I'll just have dinner with her, no more." May I add here that I've noticed how prominent the word "just" is in the Old Man's lexicon. When you hear it echo in your mind, drop to your knees and start praying, because "it's on!"
Think of this book as critical intelligence on enemy movements and dispositions stolen from enemy headquarters by a stalwart agent of proven worth. You might win without it, but you'll suffer a number of defeats along the way that could easily have been avoided. Our final victory is indeed assured, for He Who has begun a good work in us will finish it unto the day of Christ Jesus Our Lord, but whether you start beating the guts our of your Old Man now or only much later depends largely on how well you now "know thy self," for to know thy self is to "know thine enemy." (See Romans 7)
To wage war while despising critical intelligence is the height of folly, for it is to give your enemy victories that might easily have been yours and is to prolong the suffering needlessly. Sure you have an enemy army without your walls, the Evil One and his minions, seeking to sift and devour you, but you have a tireless enemy within as well, who desperately wants to cooperate with him and throw open your gates to let him in. You must identify this spy, track, pursue, seize and bind him in chains and cast him into your deepest dungeon; but keep watch, for he fights furiously to free himself and turn the tables on you. Owen will show you how to put his neck under your boot, and through prayer and watchfulness keep him there, but it is up to you both to read this book and yet also manage to remember its lessons once the fog of battle descends on your mind in the heat of temptation and obscures your love of Christ.
If you read this work prayerfully, perhaps in conjunction with "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices," by Brooks (ISBN: 0851510027), and "The Christian in Complete Armour," by Gurnall (the full 1244-page version, ISBN: 0851511961), you'll find yourself promoted to officer in His army in no time. Officers enjoy many privileges along with their increased responsibilities, including greater proximity to the Leader and being made privy to more of His counsels.
See J.C. Ryle's "Holiness," too (ISBN: 0967760356), but this one by Owen is the clear winner for crucifying the flesh with its passions and desires.
If you're a purist and desire to read only undistilled versions of Owen and others, insisting on the Complete Works of..., or whatever, be at peace and buy this. It's by no means distilled, and though it is still a little bit of work it is by no means as hard to get through as Death of Death. I too prefer the works in the original, and that is indeed what you're going to get here, but with footnotes to explain archaisms and a few corrections to Owen's errant citations, etc. You can tell the editors love Owen in the original, too. I guarantee you won't regret this purchase.
Stop reading and start buying! For the Christian is from moment to moment, day to day, either advancing or retreating, conquering or being conquered, enslaving his Old Man or being enslaved by him. Put on the whole armor of God, read this intelligence on the ploys of your traitor within, and get on with your conquest!
But be advised, Christian, much is expected from him to whom much has been given. If you study this prayerfully and apply it diligently, by God's grace you will find yourself granted closer communion with God, but the closer you get to Him the less tolerant He will be of your indwelling sins, for their reek will only be that much stronger in His nostrils the closer you get. An ounce of sanctification calls for two, two for a pound, and on until carelessness or unwatchfulness in your daily temptations will result in grieving the Holy Spirit more quickly and more sharply, and more profound setbacks will accrue than before, since to fall from a height hurts more. Therefore be prayerful, be watchful, be precise, dear Christian, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil its passions and desires, for we are commanded to be holy as He is holy, and we are advised that He will be regarded as holy by all who would draw nigh to Him. Attempt this on your own strength and wits, however, and you will fail. You need to learn how, you need to read Owen's work. Studying Owen will indeed require dedication and focus, but the labor is not in vain, for,
"In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and earthenware, and some for noble use and some for ignoble. If any one purifies himself from what is ignoble, then he will be a vessel for noble use, consecrated and useful to the master of the house, ready for any good work." 2 Ti. 2:20f.
Summary of Overcoming Sin and Temptation
The writings of John Owen are a challenge to any reader, to saythe least. His intricacy and complexity are intimidating and hislanguage is downright befuddling at times. However, the depth ofthought and the immense value of Owen's works cannot be quantified.His three classic works on sin and temptation are profoundlyhelpful to any believer who seeks to become more like JesusChrist.
In this volume, the editors have made updates to the language,translated the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew and footnoted difficult orunknown phrases, all without sacrificing any of the wonderfulcontent of Owen's work. It is a uniquely accessible edition of JohnOwen's previously daunting work.
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