Do you fall short?

Some people claim that when it comes down to it, they are mostly good. They think their goodness will make God give them entrance into heaven on the last day.

However, the Scriptures say nothing like this. The message of the Bible–in fact–is precisely the opposite. Paul writes the following in Romans 3:23,

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

This verse proves we are all sinners.

The average believer uses this verse as part of the Romans Road to Salvation to say, “You need Jesus because you are included in the all.” But this verse does more than make a statement: it also proves the statement as true.

We are all guilty of sin, as Paul states in the first four words.

But the rest of the verse proves us guilty of sin. We fall short of the glory of God. Paul wrote the following in 1 Corinthians 10:31,

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.

‭‭We are to do everything for God’s glory. As John Piper says, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” Therefore, when we sin it is evidence we are not satisfied in God because sin is not glorifying to God.

Do you sense dissatisfaction in your heart?
Are you mad someone cut you off on the road?
Are you mad your team lost the playoffs?
Are you mad you are alone right now?

These are all things in my life right now that are attempting to steal glory from God. These are things that make me fall short of giving perfect glory to God. These are things i need forgiveness for. These are things Christ died for.

What things in your life are keeping you from giving God the glory He is due?

You see, the good news of Romans 3:23 is that it is found in the midst of a section highlighting the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some translations don’t even make it its own sentence. Paul writes in Romans 3:21-26,

But now, apart from the law, God’s righteousness has been revealed — attested by the Law and the Prophets — that is, God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented Him to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus.

The fact Paul points out that all have sinned is merely to show that the solution to the sin problem is also the same for all. The answer is Jesus. He died on the cross as a propitiation, turning God’s wrath away from us. If you believe in Him and are found in Him, then Christ absorbed the wrath due you. If you refuse to believe, then you will not be found in Him, and you will have to absorb that wrath yourself in hell for eternity.

Believe in Him today! I don’t want to see you face God’s wrath.

Turn to Jesus and strive to live a life that glorifies Him. And when you find your life has gotten off course, repent and resume glorifying God.

In this with you.

Soli Deo Gloria
Solus Christus

Thanks for reading.