A DEPRAVED, CORRUPTED MIND: John Owen
Scripture teaches that man’s will and heart’s desires are corrupt and depraved. This is seen as weakness or impotence and leads to stubbornness and obstinacy. The whole soul lies in a state of spiritual death. Spiritual darkness is in all men and lies on all men until God, by an almighty work of the Spirit, shines into men’s hearts or creates light in them. (Mat 4:16; Joh 1:5; Act 26:18; Eph 5:8; Col 1:13; 1 Pet. 2:9)
The nature of this spiritual darkness must be understood. When men have no light to see by, then they are in darkness. Blind men are in darkness, either by birth or by illness or accident. A spiritually blind man is in spiritual darkness and is ignorant of spiritual things. There is an outward darkness on men and an inward darkness in men. Outward darkness is when men do not have that light by which they are enabled to see. So outward spiritual darkness is upon men when there is nothing to enlighten them about God and spiritual things (Mat 4:16; Psa 119:105; Psa 19:1-4, 8; 2Pe 1:19; Rom 10:15, 18).
It is the work of the Holy Spirit to remove this darkness by sending the light of the gospel. On the other hand, inward darkness arises from the natural depravity and corruption of the minds of men concerning spiritual things. Man’s mind is depraved and corrupted in things that are natural, civil, political, and moral, as well as in things that are spiritual, heavenly, and evangelical. This depravity is often held back from having its full effects by the common grace of the Holy Spirit.
So, man’s mind being darkened, he is unable to see, receive, understand, or believe to the saving of his soul. Spiritual things, or the mysteries of the gospel, cannot bring salvation without the Holy Spirit first creating within the soul a new light by which they can see and receive those things.
However brilliant the mind may be and however brilliant the preaching and presentation of the gospel might be, yet without the Holy Spirit creating this light in them, they cannot receive, understand, and agree with the truths preached and so will not be led to salvation (Eph 4:17-18).
So, the unregenerate “walk in the vanity [futility] of their mind” (Eph 4:17). The natural inclination of the unregenerate mind is to seek those things that cannot satisfy. It is an unstable mind. The unregenerate understanding is darkened and cannot judge things properly (Joh 1:5). The unregenerate heart is blind. In Scripture, the heart includes the will also. Light is received by the mind, applied by the understanding and used by the heart.
“If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness,” said Jesus, “how great is that darkness” (Mat 6:23).
What the eye is to the body, the mind is to the soul. If the mind sees the glory and beauty of Christ and His salvation presented in the gospel, it will excite the heart to desire them as truly good and the will to receive and embrace them. But if the mind is ignorant of the gospel, or is blinded by prejudice, then the heart will not be roused to desire Christ nor the will be urged to embrace Him. If the mind is deceived, both will and heart will be deceived also. Where the mind is depraved, so will the heart be.
We see, therefore, how important are the words of Jesus when He said, “Ye must be born again” (Joh 3:7).
John Owen (From The Banner of Truth Trust)
The nature of this spiritual darkness must be understood. When men have no light to see by, then they are in darkness. Blind men are in darkness, either by birth or by illness or accident. A spiritually blind man is in spiritual darkness and is ignorant of spiritual things. There is an outward darkness on men and an inward darkness in men. Outward darkness is when men do not have that light by which they are enabled to see. So outward spiritual darkness is upon men when there is nothing to enlighten them about God and spiritual things (Mat 4:16; Psa 119:105; Psa 19:1-4, 8; 2Pe 1:19; Rom 10:15, 18).
It is the work of the Holy Spirit to remove this darkness by sending the light of the gospel. On the other hand, inward darkness arises from the natural depravity and corruption of the minds of men concerning spiritual things. Man’s mind is depraved and corrupted in things that are natural, civil, political, and moral, as well as in things that are spiritual, heavenly, and evangelical. This depravity is often held back from having its full effects by the common grace of the Holy Spirit.
So, man’s mind being darkened, he is unable to see, receive, understand, or believe to the saving of his soul. Spiritual things, or the mysteries of the gospel, cannot bring salvation without the Holy Spirit first creating within the soul a new light by which they can see and receive those things.
However brilliant the mind may be and however brilliant the preaching and presentation of the gospel might be, yet without the Holy Spirit creating this light in them, they cannot receive, understand, and agree with the truths preached and so will not be led to salvation (Eph 4:17-18).
So, the unregenerate “walk in the vanity [futility] of their mind” (Eph 4:17). The natural inclination of the unregenerate mind is to seek those things that cannot satisfy. It is an unstable mind. The unregenerate understanding is darkened and cannot judge things properly (Joh 1:5). The unregenerate heart is blind. In Scripture, the heart includes the will also. Light is received by the mind, applied by the understanding and used by the heart.
“If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness,” said Jesus, “how great is that darkness” (Mat 6:23).
What the eye is to the body, the mind is to the soul. If the mind sees the glory and beauty of Christ and His salvation presented in the gospel, it will excite the heart to desire them as truly good and the will to receive and embrace them. But if the mind is ignorant of the gospel, or is blinded by prejudice, then the heart will not be roused to desire Christ nor the will be urged to embrace Him. If the mind is deceived, both will and heart will be deceived also. Where the mind is depraved, so will the heart be.
We see, therefore, how important are the words of Jesus when He said, “Ye must be born again” (Joh 3:7).
John Owen (From The Banner of Truth Trust)
