Theological glossary · FaithLogic

Mortification (of sin)

The believer's ongoing, Spirit-empowered 'putting to death' of remaining sin — the negative side of sanctification, paired with 'vivification', coming alive to righteousness.

Latin mortificatio, 'a putting to death'; from Romans 8:13, 'if by the Spirit you put to death (thanatoō) the deeds of the body'.

Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:5 ('put to death therefore what is earthly in you'); Romans 6:11; Galatians 5:24; Ephesians 4:22; 1 Peter 2:11.

A major theme of Puritan spirituality — John Owen's Of the Mortification of Sin (1656) is the classic treatment ('be killing sin or it will be killing you'). It is active and lifelong, using the ordinary means of grace, and is empowered by the Spirit and grounded in the believer's union with Christ's death (Rom 6).

Neither passive ('let go and let God') nor self-powered: 'you put to death' (the believer's action) 'by the Spirit' (his power). Its counterpart, vivification, is the cultivation of the fruit of the Spirit and love for God.

The balance of effort and rest; the 'higher life' / Keswick critique that struggle-language underplays victory by faith.

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