Romans 3:23
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Romans 3:23 KJV declares that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God," emphasizing the universality of human sinfulness and spiritual need before God. This verse is foundational for doctrines such as original sin, total depravity, and justification by grace. Its keywords—sin, all, glory of God, fallen short, human condition—are essential for understanding the gospel, repentance, and salvation through Christ. Romans 3:23 provides a vital scriptural reference point for discussions on grace, redemption, and the necessity of faith in Jesus Christ.
Summary
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 3:23 encapsulates Paul’s sweeping argument in the early chapters of Romans: every human being, Jew or Gentile, shares equally in the condition of sin (Greek: ἥμαρτον, hēmarton, aorist verb 'to miss the mark'). The phrase 'come short' (Greek: ὑστεροῦνται, hysterountai) means 'to lack,' 'to fall behind,' or 'to be destitute,' and in this context refers to humanity’s universal inability to attain or reflect God's 'glory' (Greek: δόξα, doxa)—His perfect righteousness and moral excellence. Theologically, this verse undergirds the doctrine of universal sin (see also Ecclesiastes 7:20 [https://www.chabad.org/library/bible\_cdo/aid/16408/showrashi/true/jewish/Chapter-7.htm], Romans 5:12 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A12&version=KJV]), and establishes the need for divine justification (Romans 3:24). Within Reformed traditions, it's used to support the doctrine of total depravity—our absolute dependence on God’s grace for salvation. The 'glory of God' here is interpreted not merely as heaven but the standard of God’s holiness that humanity can’t reach apart from Christ (cf. John 1:14; Hebrews 1:3; https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A14&version=KJV, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+1%3A3&version=KJV). Thus, the verse is crucial for understanding atonement and the necessity of Christ’s redeeming work.
Romans 3:23 is a humbling mirror. It reminds us that regardless of how ‘good’ we seem outwardly, every soul—yours and mine—shares a core need. We have all fallen short. There’s a peculiar freedom and relief in admitting this. God is not surprised by our failings; rather, He invites us to come to Him as we are, rather than as we wish we were. When we confess our inability to reach His glory on our own, we encounter His mercy. Today, let this verse silence voices of pride and shame alike, and open your heart anew to the profound truth: God’s grace abounds exactly where our efforts fail. It is in our confessed weakness that we truly discover the majesty of Christ's sufficiency.