John Owen Quotes

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John Owen (1616-1683) was a prominent English theologian, writer, and pastor. His works have had a profound impact on Christian theology, particularly in the areas of predestination and moral theology.

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Famous John Owen Quotes

“It is one thing to fear God as threatening, with a holy reverence, and another to be afraid of the evil threatened.”

Evil One Thing Holy Reverence Threatened Threatening Fear God

Book:The Works of John Owen

Source: The Works of John Owen

“Many there are who, not comprehending, not being affected with, that divine, spiritual description of the person of Christ which is given us by the Holy Ghost in the Scripture, do feign unto themselves false representations of him by images and pictures, so as to excite carnal and corrupt affections in their minds. By the help of their outward senses, they reflect on their imaginations the shape of a human body, cast into postures and circumstances dolorous or triumphant; and so, by the working of their fancy, raise a commotion of mind in themselves, which they suppose to be love unto Christ.”

Source: The Person of Christ

“As among all the doctrines of the gospel, there is none opposed with more violence and subtlety than that concerning our regeneration by the immediate, powerful, effectual operation of the Holy Spirit of grace.”

Spirit Powerful Grace Violence Holy Doctrine Operations Holy Spirit Subtlety Regeneration

Book:The Works of John Owen

Source: The Works of John Owen

“In or towards whomsoever the Holy Spirit puts forth His power, or acts his grace for their regeneration, he removes all obstacles, overcomes all oppositions, and infallibly produces the intended effect.”

Spirit Grace Effects Produce Holy Overcoming Obstacles Holy Spirit Opposition Remove Regeneration

Author:John Owen

“When the Holy Spirit sanctifies believers, he does a complete work in them. He puts into their minds, wills and hearts a gracious, supernatural principle which fills them with a holy desire to live to God. The whole life and being of holiness lies in this. This is the new creation.”

Mind Heart Doe Whole Spirit Lying Desire Principles Creation Holy Believer Whole Life Holy Spirit Holiness Gracious Sanctify Desire To Live

Author:John Owen

“We are never nearer Christ than when we find ourselves lost in a holy amazement at His unspeakable love.”

Lost Christ Holy Worship Amazement Unspeakable

Book:An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews;: With the Preliminary Exercitations

Source: An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews;: With the Preliminary Exercitations

“We are taught in an especial manner to pray that God would give his Holy Spirit unto us, that through his aid and assistance we may live unto God in that holy obedience which he requires at our hands.”

Giving May Hands Spirit Christianity Taught Praying Holy Aids Obedience Holy Spirit Assistance

Book:A treatise on the Holy Spirit and his operations: An exposition of the 130th Psalm

Source: A treatise on the Holy Spirit and his operations: An exposition of the 130th Psalm

“Believers obey Christ as the one whom our obedience is accepted by God. Believers know all their duties are weak, imperfect, and unable to abide in God's presence. Therefore they look to Christ as the one who bears the iniquity of their holy things, who adds incense to their prayers, gathers out all the weeds from their duties and makes them acceptable to God.”

Knows Looks Christ Prayer Duty Bears Holy Weak Add Believer Accepted Obedience Weed Imperfect Acceptable Iniquity Incense God's Presence

Author:John Owen

“It must be observed, that the best of men, the most holy and spiritually minded, may have, nay, ought to have, their thoughts of spiritual things excited, multiplied, and confirmed, by the preaching of the word.”

Men May Spiritual Ought Holy Excited Preaching Best Of Me

Book:Spiritual-Mindedness

Source: Spiritual-Mindedness

“Because he is; that is, because he is an infinitely glorious, good, wise, holy, powerful, righteous, self-subsisting , self-sufficient , and all-sufficient being; the fountain and author of all being and good; the first cause, last end, and sovereign Lord of all; therefore, he is to be worshipped: therefore, are we to admire, adore, and love him; to praise, to trust and to fear him.”

Source: A Discourse Concerning the Holy Spirit: Wherein an Account is Given of His Name, Nature, Personality, Dispensation, Operations and Effects. Also the Nature and Necessity of Gospel Holiness, and the Difference Between Grace and Morality

“The purpose of our holy and righteous God was to save his church, but their sin could not go unpunished. It was, therefore, necessary that the punishment for that sin be transferred from those who deserved it but could not bear it, to one who did not deserve it but was able to bear it.”

Able Purpose Church Sin Bears Holy Deserve Punishment Righteous

Author:John Owen

“Every time we say we believe in the Holy Spirit, we mean we believe that there is a living God able and willing to enter human personality and change it.”

Believe Humans Mean Able Spirit Willing Personality Holy Holy Spirit Human Personality

Author:John Owen