Captivity Led Captive

Ascension preaches unto us that Christ has not only ascended up on high but also that He has led captivity captive.

In times past, prisoners were drawn along behind the victory chariot of the winners of the battle. In this manner the heaven-ascended King has bound all of His enemies behind his victory chariot. Which enemies? In the first place, the power of sin under which we have cast ourselves. Subsequently, there is Satan, for He has broken into the house of the strongman well armed to rob him of his goods. He has captured the world; therefore, He could say to His Church, “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Also, hell must fall under His might. That is why Paul could say, “O grave, where is thy victory?” To name a few more, He has also taken away the sting of death. He carries the keys of hell and of death. He has bound all of these enemies to His victory chariot.

Why is it written that He has led captivity captive? It is because theses enemies have taken us captive. Satan has captured us because we became his prey in paradise. Death has captured us, for the wages of sin is death. Hell has us in its grip, for we have made ourselves worthy of the righteous judgment of God.

As children of Adam, we have become prisoners of Satan, sin, death, and hell.

Have you already become acquainted with the need of your soul? By nature, we do not realize this. It is necessary that our eyes are opened for the terrible reality of our spiritual captivity. By means of the discovering light of Word and Spirit, we learn to know ourselves as such prisoners. What a horrible discovery! That is not how the Lord has created us. It points us to our heaven-high guilt. Has it become your distress and sorrow that you have sinned against a good doing and righteous God? How we then try to deliver ourselves. We are followers of the Covenant of Works and try to make ourselves right with a holy God, but that will lead to failure.

Have you already learned to see by the light from above that you lie under the power of the enemies because of your own guilt and that you can never deliver yourself? There is no longer any escape because you have delivered yourself to these enemies. Then it becomes true, “Oh, great compassionate One, can a poor sigher, a crier still be heard? Is there yet a hearing ear?”

The head bruised

Pay attention now—He has led captivity captive. Ascension preaches unto us that that He has been the Victor. Do you not have any defense against the attacks of Satan? The heaven-ascended Christ has bruised his head. Do you not have any power against the temptations of the world? Christ has conquered the world. Do you go bowed down under the burden of your sins? Christ has carried away the burden of sin from an innumerable multitude. Do you fear death? He is the Victor over death. He has slain all the enemies. He is the Victor over all the powers and mighty ones. He has ascended up into heaven with all of these enemies bound to His victory chariot. Is that not a rich message? Now it may be proclaimed to those that are bound that there is opening in their prison and that He has taken captivity captive. He ascended up into heaven full of honor, and the prison became His spoils.

The burden of sin

Are you such a captive? Do you not know how you may be delivered from the might of your deadly enemies? Perhaps at one time you had the courage that it would be possible, even for you, but it is already so long ago. Pay attention now to this ascended King. Would He not have power to deliver you? Stretch out your bound hands unto Him. Would He not have power to release your bound hands? Bring your complaint unto Him. Would He be powerless to release you? What a wonder when our eye is opened for Him who was the Victor over all of His enemies. For Him there is no enemy that is too mighty. It is the message from the ascended Saviour, “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.”

It has become Ascension Day; therefore, for Him there are only slain enemies. That is also so for the Church who may be comprehended in Him. Woe is our portion if we still always stand for our own account, for then we will sink away with all of His enemies into the eternal night. The call still goes forth from the King who has ascended into heaven.

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