Everyone I know has an opinion about manhood. Our culture is searching for manhood, is redefining manhood, and is actually reacting in positive ways to false views of what it means ‘to be a man.’ As Christians, we need to hear the concerns that our culture is voicing and then look to God’s word to see what scripture actually teaches about manhood; just because something has been traditionally true of the Christian subculture, it does not therefor follow that it is true of Christ and his Word.

The most helpful way for us to think about manhood is to contrast Adam with Jesus. Jesus is “the last Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45) and Adam was “a type of the one who was to come” (Romans 5:14). Jesus is the true and greater Adam – where Adam fails, Jesus succeeds. Let’s look at Adam’s failure in Genesis 3 and then contrast it with the character of Jesus. 

1. Men Reject Passivity

Genesis 3 tells us that Eve “took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her.” This happened after Eve had had a long conversation with Satan about whether she should obey God’s word or not. Where was Adam this whole time? he “was with her” being silent! I know that one of the most unloving things I can do to my wife is to leave her out to dry when she is stuck in some conversation that she doesn’t want to be in. All men are tempted to be passive like Adam.

In contrast, Jesus rejects passivity altogether. Intercession is acting on behalf of another. He intercedes for the woman caught in sin (John 8) and he “lives to make intercession” (Hebrews 7:25) for his people! Christlike manhood is about standing in the gap on behalf of others, rather than being cowardly and passive out of fear of conflict.

2. Men Teach God’s Word Accurately

One of the issues we see in Genesis 3 is Eve misunderstanding God’s word to Adam. God says to Adam (before Eve is created) regarding the tree, “you shall not eat of it,” (2:17) however, when the serpent asks Eve what God said, she answers “you shall not eat of it…neither shall you touch it” (3:3). She added to God’s word! Communication is all about what is received, not what is given. Thus, Adam failed to pass on God’s Word to Eve. Adam blew it and this contributed to his wife being led astray.

In contrast, we see Jesus who “is the exact imprint of his [the Father’s] nature” (Hebrews 1:3), is himself the Word of God in the flesh; full of Grace and Truth (John 1: 14, 17), and who perfectly reveals the character and will of the Father (John 14:9). Jesus perfectly imparts and manifests the Word of God to his disciples, such that they, when filled with the Spirit were able to do “even greater works” (John 14:12) than he did! Christlike manhood is about being accurate and faithful with God’s Word so as not to mislead, but rather properly empower, those whom we are influencing. Men must work at knowing God’s word and work at being clear in communicating it.

3. Men Take Responsibility for Their Failures

Adam has the nerve to not take responsibility for his actions. “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree” (Genesis 3:12). Adam blames his wife “she gave me the fruit” and God “whom you gave to be with me.” God gives Adam a blessing and instead he is ungrateful and blames the giver of the blessing and the blessing herself! I see this often in men today who blame the way women dress for their lust, they blame the school system for their failure, and they blame they boss for their termination.

Now, Jesus never did anything wrong, so he doesn’t need to “take the blame” for anything that he did. Rather, we see Jesus be an even stronger contrast: he takes the blame for what he didn’t do – he suffers on behalf of those who should have suffered. He takes the blame on behalf of others and dies as their substitute. Jesus takes responsibility for others’ problems and sins. Before we can even aspire to take responsibility for others, we need to take responsibility for ourselves and our own shortcomings. Biblical manhood is about taking ownership of your sin and mistakes and their consequences.

4. Men Have Dominion over Creation

Adam was put in the garden to have dominion over it (Genesis 1:26-28). However, a created being, the serpent, ends up having dominion over him. He was supposed lead creation, but instead he was led by creation. He was supposed to serve and protect creation (Genesis 2:15), but instead God kicks him out of creation and has to protect creation from him (3:24).

In contrast, Jesus perfectly rules over creation with gentleness. In the beginning of his ministry, rather than being led by Satan, Jesus is led by the Spirit, resists temptation, and leads Satan in a bible study (Matthew 4). Jesus calms the storm, drives out demons, and heals what is broken (cf. Matthew 8-9). Likewise, we as men are to lead creation: we must control our biology. When we are led by the Spirit we have the authority to lead our own bodies. Men have the authority to reject lustful impulses because they are image bearers (Genesis 1:28) and they have the ability to reject their lustful impulses because they can be filled by the Spirit (Romans 8:13). No excuses: “theology can conquer biology” (John Piper). You can be led like creation and by like Adam, or lead creation and by like Christ.

5. Men Are Dependent on the God of Grace

Adam sins and then experiences shame. What does he do? He tries to fix it himself by making some DIY clothing that sucks (Genesis 3:7). Rather than going to God, who had already demonstrated himself to be a blessing, gracious God (Genesis 1:28), Adam wants to rectify the situation without God. God, being rich in mercy, blesses Adam and Eve anyway and provides them with better, leather clothes (Genesis 3:21).

Obviously, Jesus does not need to receive Grace. Yet, what he does demonstrate perfectly to us is complete dependance on the Father: Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing” (John 5:19). Likewise, we must be dependent on God and his grace. Christlike men do not attempt to “get themselves clean” or “pull themselves up by their bootstraps”, but rather are dependent on God’s grace. Real men receive grace, rather than, in pride, seeking to fix themselves and their situations on their own. “Just as I am without one plea // but that your blood was shed for me // and that thou bidst me come to thee”

What type of man will you be today? Will you be like Adam or like Jesus?

“put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV)