“Be killing sin, or it will be killing you.”

This Reformed Christian unisex crewneck sweatshirt from Calvinist Apparel carries John Owen’s classic charge to mortify sin, framed by an upright sword piercing a skull and an open book of Scripture, intertwined with green vines and red roses, set against black.

A Puritan’s charge

John Owen, the great Puritan theologian, wrote that believers must be killing sin, or it will be killing them. Drawing from Romans 8, which calls believers to put the deeds of the body to death by the Spirit, Owen’s work on mortifying sin remains one of the most searching accounts of the Christian’s ongoing fight against indwelling sin. This design puts that charge on your chest: dramatic, historic, and impossible to miss.

The design

• Sword, skull, and open book: A central composition of an upright sword piercing a skull and an open book of Scripture, the means by which sin is put to death.
• Vines and roses: Green vines and vibrant red roses intertwined through the piece, life breaking through even where the theme is death to sin.
• Distressed white typography: “Mortify Sin” across the top, with Owen’s maxim, “Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you,” along the circular border.
• Black background: A high-contrast palette that gives the whole design its weight.

A charge with history

The phrase “mortify sin” comes from Romans 8, and John Owen (1616–1683) built an entire treatise around it, On the Mortification of Sin in Believers. His maxim, quoted on this design, has become one of the most repeated lines in Reformed and Puritan circles.

Details

• Gildan 18000 unisex heavy blend crewneck sweatshirt
• 50% cotton, 50% polyester
• Medium-heavy fabric
• Loose fit; runs true to size
• Ribbed knit collar that keeps its shape after washing
• No itchy side seams
• Printed direct-to-garment (DTG)
• Sizes S–3XL

A great gift for

Reformed believers, pastors and seminarians, students of Puritan theology, and anyone taking sin seriously.

Be killing sin.

FAQ

What does “mortify sin” mean?

It means putting sin to death. The phrase comes from Romans 8, which calls believers to put the deeds of the body to death by the Spirit’s power.

Who is John Owen?

John Owen (1616–1683) was an English Puritan pastor and theologian. His treatise On the Mortification of Sin in Believers is one of the most influential works on fighting indwelling sin.

Is this a Reformed or Calvinist design?

Yes. John Owen was a Puritan and Reformed theologian, and this design is made for Reformed Christians who want to wear his charge.

Who makes this sweatshirt?

Calvinist Apparel, a Reformed Christian apparel brand based in Las Vegas, Nevada.