Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭8‬-‭9‬, ‭12‬-‭13‬, ‭17‬ (NIV) “Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone. You can’t work your way into God’s approval, no matter how disciplined, successful, or “good” you think you are. Only Jesus lived perfectly, and only Jesus offered His perfect life as a sacrifice in exchange for our condemned lives. Through repentance and faith, we are forgiven, adopted into God’s family, and indwelt by His Spirit—the guarantee of our eternal inheritance.

But here’s the truth men often overlook: salvation isn’t the finish line. It’s the starting point. The Spirit now works in us to sanctify us, making us holy and ready for eternity with God. And this demands something from us: obedience.

Paul makes it clear—we are under obligation, but not to the flesh. The flesh only leads to death. Our obligation is to the Spirit, to live by Him, to put to death sin, and to walk in obedience. True Christianity is not passive. It is active. It proves itself by fruit, by holiness, and by sacrifice.

For men today—distracted by chasing money, status, or comfort—the call is clear: kill sin before it kills you. Stop excusing disobedience. Stop pretending holiness doesn’t matter. If you belong to Christ, the Spirit of Christ lives in you, and His power enables you to obey.

And yes, obedience comes with suffering. Jesus was hated for claiming to be the only way to God, and you will face resistance if you boldly live and speak the same truth. But suffering with Christ is also the path to sharing in His glory.

Brothers, this is what it really means to be a child of God:

• Living by the Spirit, not the flesh.

• Obeying God’s Word in every area of life—home, work, church, community.

• Bearing the cost of following Jesus, while holding fast to the reward that is coming.

• Working for the mission of God—making disciples and expanding His family.

This is true Christianity. Anything less is counterfeit.

So the question is—are you living like a child of God, or just calling yourself one?