#30 What Baby Zeke Taught Us About Sin, Separation, and Freedom

We kept the awkward cold open on purpose—because today’s conversation starts messy and turns miraculous. Justin is back after an emergency C-section and a week in the NICU with baby Ezekiel (“Zeke”). Out of that whirlwind, he shares a gospel reframing that changes how you think about sin, shame, and why white-knuckling never sets you free.

Richard and Justin unpack Romans 5 and Titus 2 through a powerful NICU analogy: sin isn’t a slap-on-the-wrist for “spilling the milk”—it’s a condition you were born into. Separation from God isn’t Him arms-crossed at the door; it’s a Father whose heart breaks while He moves heaven and earth to bring you home. The punchline? Your first and most powerful prayer isn’t “I’ll try harder.” It’s one word: “Thank You.”

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why behavior-first strategies keep you stuck—and what identity-first freedom looks like
• How Romans 5 reframes sin as condition, not condemnation (and why that matters for p*rn)
• The one-word prayer that ends the shame spiral and jump-starts real transformation
• How grace actually trains you (Titus 2) to say no to ungodliness without hating yourself
• A simple way to practice gratitude that rewires your reactions in the heat of temptation