For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, – Romans 3:23
Marvin Vincent was a professor of New Testament exegesis in New York a century ago. In his commentary on today’s verse, he begins, “A plum tree bears plums because it is a plum tree.” The inborn sinful nature of every human places him or her in rebellion against the will of God. Vincent wrote, “Sin will take you farther than you ever thought you’d stray; Sin will leave you so lost, you think you’ll never find your way; Sin will keep you longer than you ever thought you’d stay; Sin will cost you more than you ever thought you’d pay.” The disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden introduced the sin nature to human existence. The “all” in today’s verse means all, no exceptions.
Sin holds you in bondage to evil. Many in the United States make light of this, joking or even bragging about it. Satan has convinced them that sin is just something Christians have made up to draw them away from “really enjoying life their way.” Movies, television shows, and certain news items paint sin as entertaining. This a trap! Sin has its price. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). To overcome the sin nature you were born with requires being born again through the gift that God has given—His Son, Jesus, and the ransom price paid for you at the cross.
The glory of the Lord has drawn a very distinct line, and your life is either on one side of it or it is on the other. God is holy and cannot condone sin. Ignorance is no excuse, as the eternal law is written on the human heart (Romans 2:15). However, God has provided a legal pardon. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Those who have been born again are not immune to sin in this life. Be sensitive and watchful, staying close to the Lord to keep clean accounts with Him. Pray for the many who have been led astray by the sins in American culture to turn to the Savior. Pray for God to strengthen and deliver believers who are struggling.
Today’s Verse: Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Romans 3:9-26
9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
13 “Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 in their paths are ruin and misery,
17 and the way of peace they have not known.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
