[Steve Myers] The apostle Paul made many allusions to life in the first century, especially right here in Rome. I’m standing right by the Coliseum and Constantine’s Arch, and there’s an interesting passage that I think Paul alludes to that’s in Ephesians 4:8. Now, what they would do when these arches were built, they would ride through in triumphant victory, and oftentimes they would bring the spoils of war right with them. Many times, they would tie up those people that they had captured and put them on display as they marched through the streets.

Well, that allusion comes to mind in Ephesians 4:8, where Paul references that to Christ when he says, “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive” (KJV).

Now that can bring some, I think, extra meaning for you and I – not just a physical captivity where slaves were brought and displayed, but you and I have the opportunity for our captivity – our captivity – to be led captive. And we are captive to our sins. And yet, because of the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, our sins can be led captive through Him. We’re given power over our sins through God’s Holy Spirit. I mean, what an amazing reference that Paul has as he quotes the Psalms (Psalms 68:18), as well.

And so, I think that’s something we can always keep in mind – that through Christ, we don’t have some just physical victory, but we have a spiritual victory because Christ has led captivity captive.

That’s BT Daily. We’ll see you next time.