This may sound surprising, but the best thing a man can do for himself is to realize he is a sinner. While some men may appear to struggle with sin more than others, at the end of the day, we all have sinned. We all will face the earthly consequences and the eternal outcome of our sin. Because of our old, sinful nature, we sow to satisfy our flesh when tempted. When a man goes outside the will of God, the outcome is sin. Temptation is where sin begins. Then, the outcome of yielding to our flesh leads to sin, and sin leads to death.
When man disobeys, that’s sin. The final outcome of sin is death.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
Sin always starts with the temptation of our flesh.
After desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
James 1:15
Sin has two types of consequences: earthly and eternal. On earth, sin may lead to a failed business, a failed marriage or poor health. Sin lived out, without the saving grace of Jesus as its covering, means eternal separation from God. Yes, without our sins being washed away through the saving grace that comes from Christ alone, eternal death and permanent separation from God are inevitable. So, if we as men have all sinned and face the same outcome for the sins we’ve committed no matter how big or small, what hope do we have? None–apart from Jesus.
When we admit the truth that we are all sinners in need of a Savior, believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that God raised Him from the dead, and accept Him as our Lord, our sins are washed away and the penalty for those sins is removed.
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:12
Jesus took the penalty for our sins when he died an excruciating, public death on a cross over 2,000 years ago. When Adam and Eve sinned in The Garden of Eden, we inherited not only their sin nature but also the penalty for sin. The shadow of Adam’s sin–which leads to death–followed all men until God in His love sacrificed His Son to take our sin penalty. Now, all we have to do is, by faith, put our trust in Jesus as our Savior.
Like Abraham in the Old Testament believed God, becoming the father of many nations and a man who the Lord used to achieve greatness for Him, we have this same hope. When we as men accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior through repentance and faith in Him, we no longer sit under the cloud of sin and its consequences. We are justified by faith. The chains of sin are broken and removed from our life.
You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
Romans 6:18
When we accept this great Gift of salvation by putting our faith in Jesus’ finished work on the cross, God seals us as His children with the Holy Spirit–His Spirit. From the moment we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we have the very Spirit of God living in us. Not just as our seal as sons (Ephesians 1:13-14) but also as our Hope and Holy Guide. This is the same Spirit of God living in us who calls out, “Abba, Father!” (Galatians 4:6).
As children of God, we no longer have the shackles of sin dragging us to an eternity in hell. As children of God, we must understand we have an enemy. While our eternal home is secure, this enemy wants to wreck what God is trying to rebuild. Temptation is never from God (James 1:13). As His children, we must not give into the power of our flesh. Through the blood of Christ, we have been saved, yet we still live in a body made of flesh, so we must turn from satan’s temptations and sow the seed of righteousness.
Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.
Hosea 10:12
When we do God’s will, we sow the seeds of righteousness in both our lives and those around us. We are men of God called to do the will of God. While we recognize who we were before we met Jesus, we now celebrate who we are in Jesus. And we can know we are children of God, sealed with His Spirit. This is our garment to be worn and held in honor and celebration. And, yes, we practice righteousness. What kind of righteousness?
Be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.
Philippians 3:9
All our sins are covered by Jesus’ blood. And the Spirit of God seals us and marks us as men of God and children of the Most High, equipping us to walk out our journey and calling while on this earth. So, we seek His will. We read His Holy Word. We pray for help. We long for His return. We stand in the gap for our friends and families.
As men, our calling and purpose are significant. We live out our faith, sowing the seeds of righteousness as we walk according to His will. And we wait patiently for the Great Harvest that He promises those who don’t lose heart and keep on serving Him.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9
Have a blessed day!
Stephen L. Thomas