Romans Chapter 3 Vs. 23

 

The Righteousness of God Through Faith 

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Rom 3:23


all have sinned... One must know and confess he is a sinner before he can be saved (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 3:19; Rom. 10:9-10; 1Jhn. 1:9).

We Conclude That 

1. All have sinned (Romans 1:18-3:18, 3:23).

2. All are guilty before God (Rom. 3:19-20).

3. The law cannot justify anyone (Rom. 3:20).

4. The law only condemns (Rom. 3:20).

5. God has provided redemption by faith in Jesus Christ (Rom. 3:21-26).

6. All boasting is excluded and man is helpless to save himself (Rom. 3:27).

7. People are justified only by accepting God’s plan of redemption (Rom. 3:28).

short of the... This refers to original glory (Gen. 1:26-28; Psm. 8:1-9; Rev. 21-22).


Paul explained that “no difference” existed among human beings because all have sinned. The Greek is literally, “all sinned” (pantes hēmarton). The same two Greek words are used in Rom. 5:12. Since the entire human race was plunged into sin with Adam, all (whether Jews or Gentiles) are sinners. It is impossible to say there is a “difference,” that the Jews’ privileges (Rom. 2:12-21; 3:1) exclude them from God’s condemnation.

Not only did all sin, but also all fall short. This single Greek verb is in the present tense, stressing continuing action. It can be translated “keep on falling short.” The simple fact is that as a sinner not a single human being by his own efforts is able to measure up to the glory of God. God’s glory is His splendor, the outward manifestation of His attributes. God desires that humans share that splendor, that they become like Him, that is, Christ like (cf. “glory” in Rom. 5:2; 2Cor. 3:18; Col. 1:27; 2Thes. 2:14). Yet their sin keeps them from sharing it. This is not just the heathen, but the Jew, as well. No one can live completely free of sin. Our justification in Jesus is (justification meaning: just as if we had never sinned). We have sinned, but we are not guilty, because we have been washed in the blood of the Lamb (Jesus Christ).

These last two verses contain a parenthetical comment explaining that God can bestow His righteousness on all who believe, Jew or Gentile, because all men, without distinction, fail miserably to live up to the divine decree.

“All have sinned”: Paul has made this case beginning with Rom.1:18 – 3:20.