Besides, faith itself, as acted on the death of Christ, hath a peculiar efficacy
unto the subduing of sin: for, “beholding” him thereby “as in a glass, we are
changed into the same image,” 2 Cor. iii. 18; and that which we peculiarly
behold, we are peculiarly transformed into the likeness of.  And, moreover,
it is the only means whereby we actually derive from Christ the benefits of
our union with Him.  From thence we have all grace, or there is no such
thing in the world; and the communication of it unto us is in and by the
actual exercise of faith principally.  So it being acted with respect unto
His death, we have grace for the killing of sin, and thereby become
dead with Him,
crucified with Him,
buried with Him,
as in the testimonies before produced.
This is that which we call the application of the death of Christ unto us,
or our application of ourselves to the death of Christ for the
mortification of sin.

-John Owen, Works, Vol III, p 563