Romans 3:23

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Friday, 15 March 2013

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,… Romans 3:23

Guilty! Paul laid out a clear and concise argument demonstrating that all people, both Jew and Gentile, are under the same condemnation. There is no person who has attained to God’s glory, either innately or through works, that can expect to be exempt from His righteous judgment.

Every person ever born was born through man who originally traces back to Adam. Thus, without even committing any misdeeds, we have already inherited his sin. As we are in a continuum of time which is ever moving forward, we cannot go back before Adam to reverse the fall. David’s words from the 51st Psalm remind us that we were “sinful at birth.”

And as shown, not only did we inherit sin, we have added sin upon sin thus further separating us from the glory of God. This verse today, taken in conjunction with John 3:18, clearly lays out our hopeless state –

“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already,…” John 3:18

The following truths are revealed – 1) All people, Jew and Gentile alike, inherited sin which separates us from God. 2) Our inherited state condemns us. There is nothing we need to do to be condemned, it is a fact of our birth. 3) There is no way for us to improve our station before God; our works cannot please Him and only further condemn us.

Were it up to us, all hope of reconciliation and restoration would be futile. But as we’ve seen and as we will continue to see, God has done the work for us. He has restored the bridge over the chasm. He has worked salvation by Himself. All of it has been done by Him and all of it will glorify Him. It is Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! All hail the name of Jesus!

Life application: When you look at others don’t forget today’s verse, but instead remember it and use it as a tool to prompt you to tell them about Jesus. Without Jesus, they will never know peace and reconciliation with God, but will instead be eternally separated from Him. Your words and your actions toward them may have eternal consequences, so don’t be silent about Jesus.

Lord God Almighty, I know that I have sinned and acted in a way which sets me against You. There is a chasm between us which I could never cross, but in Your goodness You sent Your Son, Jesus, to restore the breech. Now I know He can put His divine hand upon You and His human hand upon me and make peace between us once again. Thank You for Jesus. Amen.

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