but its success in its actions. But success is the greatest evidence of
CHAPTER 7.
The captivating power of indwelling sin - The prevalence of sin, when from itself, when from temptation – The madness that is in sin.
THE third thing assigned to this law of sin in its opposition to God and the law of his grace is, that it leads the soul captive: Romans 7:23, "I find a law leading me captive to the law of sin." And this is the utmost height to which the apostle in that place carries the warring of the remainders of indwelling sin; closing with a complaint of the resulting condition of believers, and an earnest prayer for deliverance from it: Verse 24, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from this body of death?"
1. It is not directly the power of the law of sin that is here expressed, but its success in its actions. But success is the greatest evidence of power, and leading captive in war is the height of success. None can aim at greater success than to lead their enemies captive. So the Lord Christ, on his victory over Satan, is said to "lead captivity captive," Ephesians 4:8, - that is, to conquer him who had conquered others; and this he did when "by death he destroyed him that had the power of death, that is, the devil," Hebrews 2:14. Here, then, a great power of sin in its warring against the soul is revealed. It so wars as to "lead captive;" which it could not do unless it had not great power, especially against that resistance of the soul.
2. It is said that it leads the soul captive "to the law of sin." God orders things so, and gives out such supplies of grace to believers, that they shall not be made a prey to particular sins, that should compel them to serve it and have dominion over them, that they should be slaves to it. This is what David prays so earnestly against: Psalm 19:12, 13,
"Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright."