Why is Romans 3:23 the first step for salvation?
Romans 3:23 is the first step because it reveals the universal need for salvation: all have sinned and come short of God’s glory. Until a person sees themselves as God sees them, they cannot grasp redemption or faith in His blood.
Les teaches that Romans 3:23 is the verse he always maintains is the first step for salvation. The reason is that we have to recognize our need and see ourselves as God sees us. The verse declares that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and Les stresses everyone, no one has ever been anything but. Once that need is acknowledged, Les moves to redemption. He explains redemption as losing control of a piece of property and then buying it back. God lost the human race when Adam fell, and immediately He put the process of redemption in motion, buying us back with a price—His own blood. Romans 3:25 speaks of propitiation through faith in His blood, and Les notes there was power in that divine blood.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;