Les Feldick Bible Study

Who has sinned and come short of the glory of God according to Romans 3:23?

According to Romans 3:23, all people have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The verse applies universally: not only Gentiles and not only Jews, but the whole human race is included. Every person is guilty of sin and falls short of God's glory, making justification by grace necessary.

In Romans 3, the teacher contrasts mere belief that Jesus is the Christ and Son of God with the cross. Romans 3:23 says all have sinned—not just Gentiles, not just Jews, but the whole human race—and come short of the glory of God. Verse 24 follows: we do not have to stay short, because we are justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation through faith in His blood. Grace is the total opposite of works.

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

More Questions

What does Romans 3:23 mean when it says all have come short of the glory of God?

Romans 3:23 shows that all have come short of the glory of God — people cannot meet God's criteria and in no way can claim to be good enough to enter God's heaven, which is why he starts the plan of salvation there.