Fruitful Living
From slaves of sin to slaves of God Almighty
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ – Romans 5:1.
INTRODUCTION
Humans are depraved. That means our entire personalities and beings are enslaved to sin. The Christian identifies with Christ’s crucifixion, accepting His death as victory over sin. As symbolised in baptism, the old depraved self is dead for the Christian rather than a slave to sin. God accepts the Christian and forgives sin because of Christ’s death and His grace. The Christian continues to struggle with sin, repenting and seeking forgiveness for sins committed; but the direction of life is obedience to Christ and death to sin.
The resurrection is the sure proof that God has power over death and sin. To live in slavery to sin means to deny the power of Christ’s resurrection. We have earned sin’s wages and deserve to die. In His love and grace, God has given us eternal life through Jesus Christ. When the power of His resurrection works in our lives, we conquer sin and its temptations, living for God’s righteousness. We will sin, but we must not easily excuse sin. God has provided the power to live for Him and not to be enslaved but let the power rule our lives.
Paul begins Romans 5 by focusing on the present benefits of peace, hope and love from God, all benefits that a believer can count on every day. God doesn’t save us by grace only to make us then try to live for Him in our own power. God’s grace is given to help us stand today, tomorrow, and on that future day when we will stand before His throne. Paul also describes how God redeemed us when we were at our worst, which demonstrates just how great His grace is.
In Romans 6, Paul discusses reasons that Christians can no longer think and live in the old ways of sin. Believers have died to the old life by being baptised into Jesus’s death and raised into new life through His resurrection. We serve a new Master who has freed us from bondage to sin and empowers us to grow in faith, thus producing the spiritual fruit that shows we have eternal life. Through our obedience, we display Christ and His character to the world. Only by allowing Christ to live in us can we truly have an impact for the Kingdom of God.
Peace and Hope
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. – Romans 5:1-11
Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.
To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.
To be continued
By Dr. Joyce Aryee, the author
1. Introduction
Bismillāhi-r-Raḥmāni-r-Raḥīm.
All the praises and thanks be to Allah, we ask for His countless blessings upon the Holy Prophet Mohammed s.a.w., his household, companions and those who follow the cause till the last day.
Our topic today — “Building responsible men for tomorrow” — could not be more relevant.
Across the world and in our dear Ghana, we are witnessing a crisis of masculinity: moral decay, social irresponsibility, and a growing disconnect between manhood and accountability. The Holy Qur’an reminds us that; “Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.”(Qur’an 13:11)
Responsibility, therefore, begins not in the parliament, not in the mosque, but within the self — in the heart and the mind of each man who decides to live by principle and faith.
2. Understanding the theme let us unpack the theme itself: “Building responsible men for tomorrow.”
To build means to construct, to shape, or to strengthen. It suggests a deliberate, continuous process— one that requires foundation, materials, and commitment. In this context, we are not building structures, but characters — men whose lives reflect honesty, service, and leadership.
The word “responsible” comes from the root respondere, meaning “to answer.” Yes, the word “responsible” comes from the Latin root respondere, which means “to answer” or” to respond,” and is made up of re- (“back,” “again”) and spondēre (“to pledge”). This original sense highlights the idea of being “answerable for” or “obligated” to something, retaining the core meaning of a pledge or promise to answer for an action or duty.
• Origin: The Latin verb respondere combines re- (“back” or “again”) with spondēre (“to pledge”).
• Meaning: The combined meaning is “to answer” or “to promise in return”.
• Etymology: This root shows that to be “responsible” is to be able to “answer for” something, retaining the sense of being accountable for a promise or obligation.
In the moral and spiritual contexts, it is to be responsible or answerable to Allah, to family, to society, and to one’s own conscience. It is the ability to make choices and accept their consequences with integrity.
The word “men” here transcends biology. It refers to leaders, fathers, sons, and brothers individuals who must embody purpose and discipline. As Dr Myles Munroe (2002) wisely wrote in. The Principles and Power of Vision, “The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but a life without purpose.” Responsible men live with purpose — guided by principles larger than themselves.
Finally, “tomorrow” symbolises the future — the Ghana, the Ummah, and the world we hope to leave for our children. Every action today shapes that tomorrow.
3. Education and career development: The foundation of responsibility
Education is the foundation of all meaningful progress the seed from which responsible individuals and sustainable societies grow. The Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم emphasised, “Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim” (Ibn Mājah, Hadith 224). This timeless principle underlines that education is not merely a privilege but a duty — a lifelong pursuit that nurtures both the intellect and the soul.
True education extends beyond classrooms and certificates. It encompasses life skills, emotional intelligence, spiritual intelligence, and ethical leadership — the four pillars that shape responsible manhood in the modern world.
In the Ghanaian context, life skills refer to practical abilities such as problem-solving, decision- making, financial literacy, communication, and adaptability. A responsible man should know how to balance work and family, manage limited resources, and engage constructively in his community.
“For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” – Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
Great expectations
Imagine that a message has come about the visit of a great king. This king who is coming to visit your city is of impeccable pedigree – a line of ancestors known for their great leadership qualities. This expected king has a reputation for fairness, justice, kindness, wisdom and generosity. All over town people’s expectations are high. The people know that the king will not just visit and go along His way without leaving them something that will make their lives better so each person in the village has made their own list of things that they will either directly or indirectly ask from the king. The issue of not receiving what is asked for is totally out of the question. The awaited king is not like that. He not only keeps His word. He is one who is compassionate and listens to His people and so wherever He goes He leaves a train of fulfilled dreams and hopes.
The Great King
In Isaiah 9:1-7, we read of the famous prophecy at the coronation of either Hezekiah or Josiah as King of Judah “Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honour Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” The prophecy speaks of the close of the chapter of doom, gloom and melancholy. In verses 2 & 3, Isaiah draws a contrast between the darkness of despair and the joyous salvation which will be ushered in by the coming king, who will be the long awaited Saviour. This passage in Isaiah is quoted extensively at Christmas time because it is the prophecy concerning the coming of the King of Kings and Saviour of the world – the Lord Jesus Christ.
Later Isaiah gives us names which are descriptive of the nature, character and power of this coming King. These names have a very special meaning to us because we know that Jesus has fulfilled every aspect of the prophecy.
By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee
