Chapter 2: Gospel
Something my dad says is, “Everything is a piece of crap waiting to break.” It sounds a bit cynical, but if we’re honest, it’s true. Cars break down. Appliances stop working. Phones crack. Roofs leak. Nothing in this world stays perfect forever.
The same is true about us.
In the second chapter of The Titus Ten: Foundations for Godly Manhood, the author writes about the brokenness of manhood. He says, “This primarily happens in one of two ways: aggression or passivity.” He illustrates this with the story of Adam and Eve in the garden.
God gave Adam a clear assignment. Genesis 2:15 says he was placed in the garden to “work it and keep it.” That wasn’t just about farming; it was about responsibility, leadership, and protection. Adam was called to steward what he had been given and guard it well. But in Genesis 3, that calling breaks down.
The serpent tempts Eve, and Adam is there. He doesn’t step in. He doesn’t speak up. He doesn’t lead. That’s passivity. Then when God confronts him, Adam says, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me fruit” (Genesis 3:12). That’s aggression by blame-shifting and avoiding responsibility.
In one moment, we see both extremes: a man who failed to act, and then a man who refused to own up to his failure. This is where broken manhood began, and we still see it today.
This is where the book of Titus brings hope. Titus chapter 2 shows us that the grace of Jesus is not just forgiveness; it is a whole new way to live. In other words, brokenness is not the end of the story. “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” (Titus 2: 11-12)
In the Bible, Jesus is often called the “Second Adam” (Romans 5:19, 1 Corinthians 15:45). Where Adam failed, Jesus succeeded. Where Adam hid and blamed, Jesus obeyed and surrendered. Even in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus chose to be obedient by saying, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)
When we as men follow Christ, passivity turns into courage. We stop avoiding responsibility and start stepping into it. We speak when we should speak and lead where we are called to lead. And aggression turns into humility. Instead of blaming, we learn to take responsibility for our actions. We become men who can say, “I was wrong,” because our identity is secure in Christ.
This is the work of the gospel in our lives. Not perfection, but transformation.
The Bigger Picture: The gospel restores manhood.
The Bigger Picture 