The Ultimate Submission: Becoming a Captive of Christ

In any martial arts dojo, a student learns that outsiders often misunderstand some of the most powerful truths. A block is not just a defense but a potential strike; a soft redirection can overcome brute force; true mastery begins with absolute submission to the fundamentals and the teacher. The same is true of Scripture. Some passages, when glanced at casually, can lead to significant misunderstandings.

One such passage is Ephesians 4:8-10, a text that has been mistakenly used to suggest that after His crucifixion, Jesus descended into Hell to preach to the dead. This idea, however, has no biblical foundation. Today, let's step onto the mat of God's Word and grapple with this text. We'll find that its true meaning is far more profound: it's not about a journey to the underworld, but about Christ's ultimate victory and our glorious new identity as His willing captives.

The verse that causes confusion is verse 9: "(Now this, 'He ascended'—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?)" (Ephesians 4:9, NKJV).
The phrase "lower parts of the earth" is the key. Some have interpreted this as Hades or Hell. But the original Greek, tes ges, simply refers to the earth itself. The contrast here isn't between Heaven and Hell, but between the heights of Heaven and the humility of earth. The "descent" Paul is talking about is the Incarnation—the moment God the Son came down from His heavenly throne to take on human flesh. As Jesus Himself said, "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven" (John 3:13).

Furthermore, the idea of Jesus going to Hades contradicts His promise on the cross. To the repentant thief, He declared, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). Jesus promised an immediate entry into Paradise, a place of blessing with the Father, not a detour through a realm of torment or waiting. The parable of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16 makes it clear that Paradise ("Abraham's bosom") and Hades are two entirely separate and impassable realms. Christ’s spirit went to Paradise, just as He promised.

So, if Paul isn't talking about a trip to Hell, what is his point? He's highlighting the magnitude of Christ's victory! He quotes Psalm 68, a song of triumph, to make his case: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men" (Ephesians 4:8).
This is the language of a victorious king returning from battle with the spoils of war. But who or what did Christ lead captive? It wasn't people from Hades. He led "captivity" itself captive. The great enemies that held all of humanity in a spiritual death grip—sin and death—were decisively defeated, disarmed, and paraded as conquered foes.

Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus broke the power of our ultimate captor. And like any victorious king, He then distributed the spoils of His victory to His people. These "gifts" are the leaders—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers (Ephesians 4:11)—given to equip His followers for service and build them up into a unified, mature fighting force.

This brings us to a profound paradox. Before we knew Christ, we were captives to sin. That was our natural state, our default stance. As Jesus stated, "...whoever commits sin is a slave of sin" (John 8:34). We were born into bondage to a cruel master.

Salvation is the great exchange. Christ, our Champion, defeated our captor. We are set free from the tyranny of sin, not to be aimless, but to joyfully enter into service to Him. A warrior is never without a master. The only real choice is whichmaster you will serve. Will it be the old, defeated tyrant of sin, or the new, victorious King, Jesus Christ?
To be a "captive for Christ" is to become a slave to righteousness. This isn't a cruel bondage; it's a willing, loving submission to our Creator's perfect will. It's trading chains of iron for the bonds of love and loyalty. As Paul writes, "But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life" (Romans 6:22).

The Way of the Captive Warrior: Four Disciplines for a Christ-Centered Life
How do we live out this new identity as willing captives of Christ? It requires the same dedication and discipline as mastering a martial art. It’s a daily practice. Here are four core disciplines grounded in Scripture.

Discipline 1: Captivate Your Mind
The battle is won or lost in your mind. This is the mental guard stance of the Christian warrior. We must actively seize control of our thoughts, refusing to let them run wild, and forcing them into alignment with Christ's truth.

The Command: "casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5).
The Method: "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true... noble... just... pure... lovely... of good report... if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things" (Philippians 4:8).

Discipline 2: Captivate Your Heart
What you love is what you serve. A captivated heart desires God more than anything the world can offer. Just as a martial artist's focus in kata determines their skill, your heart's focus determines your spiritual strength.

The Principle: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21).
The Practice: "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2).

Discipline 3: Captivate Your Will
Love for Christ is an active verb. A captivated will expresses its love and loyalty through joyful obedience. It’s the difference between knowing the techniques and living the art. It's shifting from "What do I want?" to "What does my Master command?"

The Connection: "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15).
The Priority: "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams" (1 Samuel 15:22).

Discipline 4: Captivate Your Ears
In the chaos of battle, a warrior must be able to distinguish their commander's voice from the enemy's shouts. We are constantly bombarded by voices. A captive of Christ intentionally trains to discern and follow only one. This familiarity comes from time in the "dojo" of Scripture and prayer.

The Promise: "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me" (John 10:27).
The Warning: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God..." (1 John 4:1).

Your Ultimate Act of Service
In the martial arts, the goal of submission to a master is to one day embody the art so perfectly that every action is done with purpose and excellence. Our life in Christ is the same
"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ" (Colossians 3:23−24).
To be a captive of Christ is the ultimate freedom. It is to be captured by grace, bound by love, and submitted to the greatest Master in the universe. This is our highest honor and our greatest purpose. This is the victory we walk in.