---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is the Spirit alone that can mortify…"
description: "\"It is the Spirit alone that can mortify sin; he is promised to do it, and all other means without him are empty and vain. How shall he, then, mortify s..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/john-owen-1415_easier_it-is-the-spirit-alone-that-can-mortify_1487718.jpg"
---

#  It is the Spirit alone that can mortify sin; he is…

![“It is the Spirit alone that can mortify sin; he is promised to do it, and all other means without him are empty and vain. How shall he, then, mortify sin that has not the Spirit? A man may easier see without eyes, speak without a tongue, than truly mortify one sin without the Spirit.” quote by John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/john-owen-1415_easier_it-is-the-spirit-alone-that-can-mortify_1487718.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/john-owen-1415_easier_it-is-the-spirit-alone-that-can-mortify_1487718.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/john-owen-1415_easier_it-is-the-spirit-alone-that-can-mortify_1487718.jpg)

> “It is the Spirit alone that can mortify sin; he is promised to do it, and all other means without him are empty and vain. How shall he, then, mortify sin that has not the Spirit? A man may easier see without eyes, speak without a tongue, than truly mortify one sin without the Spirit.”

[John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Only the Holy Spirit can truly overcome sin; human effort alone is futile without divine aid.

**In simple terms:** Spirit needed to defeat sin.

Key Takeaway

Rely on the Spirit for moral victory.

Themes

spirituality sin faith

Mood

reflective serious

Type

theological inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal repentance
- spiritual counseling
- church teaching

Key Concepts

theology divine agency

Questions to Reflect On

- How can one discern the Spirit’s work in moral struggle?
- What practices nurture dependence on the Spirit?

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[Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Vain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vain/)

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