But I see another law in my members, battling against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Truth to Learn
Because of the battle within us, we become captured by our sin nature, but confession sets us free.
Behind the Words
“Members” is from a Greek word we have seen before. It is melos, meaning “a limb or other part of the body.”
The word translated “battling against” is antistrateuomai, which is a compound word made up of anti, meaning “against” and strateuomai, which means “to make war (or battle) against a specific enemy.”
“Bringing me into captivity” is from aichmalotidzō, which means “to be taken away as a captive and made a prisoner of war.”
Meaning Explained
In verse 21 Paul said that he perceives an unwritten law that brings out evil in him whenever he is determined to do what is right. In verse 22 he said there is another law that he delights in: the Law of God. These are the two forces that are warring within him and within all of us. As we saw in the previous verse, these two forces are the “inner man” (the intellect of man) and the “old man” (the sin nature).
He now goes back to referring to these two opposing forces as laws, calling them the “law of my mind” (the intellect) and the “law of sin” (the sin nature). He aptly describes the conflict that occurs between these two as warfare. And, you will notice that Paul is astute enough to recognize that this is a warfare that is going on within his body. The two opposing forces have taken up residence in his (and our) physical body. These two opposing forces, these two laws, are at war specifically against each other and the battlefield is within our body.
He also recognizes that the law of sin is taking him captive and making him a prisoner of war. Hence, Paul is telling us that as the law of his mind, which delights in the Law of God (that is, obedience to God), and the law of sin (the sin nature) clash, the sin nature captures him, leads him away as a captive, and makes him a prisoner of war. In other words, his sin nature gains dominion over him.
I believe that this completely describes the battle that every Christian faces daily. We want to be obedient to God, we are determined to be obedient to our Heavenly Father and to please Him. But instead, we find ourselves succumbing to “the sin which so easily ensnares us” as Hebrews 12:1 calls it.
I don’t know about you, but I find that I get almost angry with myself knowing what I should do and, instead, doing what I know I shouldn’t do. As hard as I try I can’t overcome this enemy and it makes me feel guilty! Thank goodness for confession.
Application
Let us give thanks to God that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin! Though “our sins are like scarlet,” His blood washes them away completely so that we appear to God “as white as snow.” And we get that cleansing through confession, daily, hourly, minute-by-minute confession. For He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us – every time!
Now that’s grace!
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved
