Romans 6:23 // Self-made Man

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

Much has been made of this verse, but I will make it again. Death is quite a universal thing, there is nobody on earth today who is guaranteed to avoid death. Wages are defined as payment for work done. By doing sinful works we have earned our own death. If I do a good thing surely this is commendable but it doesn't change the fact that I also deserve death. If I died when I first sinned, as I justly ought to have, then I would not be able to do these good things I may have done later. So once I sin, everything I do after that is on borrowed time anyway, it is not to my credit. Anyway, as a creation I am obliged to do good doing it is not to my credit even if I (somehow) did it before I sinned (Luke 17:10).

But Jesus of Nazareth did not sin. Ever. Not only that, he did not need to do good or keep God's law for his own survival. Jesus is God, and as such he answers to no one and for him choosing to do good is purely to his credit, he does not owe the world anything. Let me explain this. We talk about a self-made man, I think Jesus was the only one in history, but I'll get to that.

Imagine a rich man, who left home young and started working two jobs. Once he had some savings he invested them, and his money began to multiply. Soon he began to buy up successful businesses and his wealth multiplied as his guidance caused them to expand and become even more profitable. This man never asked for anything for nothing, he acquired his riches by his hard work and intelligence. We would call him a self-made man. But this is entirely false. Many people work for him every day, if they died suddenly he would be ruined. Clever men set up the companies that he bought, and made them successful enough for him to invest in them. Many people worked hard for years to make his investment stocks profitable. Somebody gave him his first job, before he had any known skills or experience and before he had a chance to prove his good work ethic. His parents gave him everything for years, and even gave him some of what he needed to become the great man he did. They also brought him into the world in the first place. All along the way, God was there behind the scenes. Opening the womb, germinating the plants for food, keeping the sun in place for human survival, sending the rain for drinking, giving forgiveness to the hearts of every man and thus allowing the survival of civilisation. Nobody is a self-made man or woman.

Except Jesus. Jesus was not created, there was never a time that he did not exist. As the commander of Jehovah's angelic armies he co-ruled the universe but willingly came to earth on a mission to save you and me. Why Jesus came may always be a mystery, we call it love, but what does 'love' even mean?What does it really mean?

Jesus never chose to do wrong, not as a supernatural being, not as a natural man. He did not need to  ever die. He did not need to ever forgive anyone. He did not need to go hungry or sleep with a blanket that was too thin. He did not need to put up with bullying. He certainly did not need to be falsely accused of a crime against God (himself!) and tortured and executed for it. But Jesus chose all these things so that no matter what you have done, you can be his friend, you can change. Jesus will change you if you let him, but he needs to be in control. Jesus does not want anyone to claim to be a self-made man. He wants every person to acknowledge the truth, I am a Jesus-made man, so I can return to the manufacturer for repairs, the only person who has the tools to fix me.

Jesus can.