What is the conclusion of Paul's argument in Romans 3:23?
Paul concludes that all have sinned and come short in glory, so the whole race is utterly sinful and rebellious. He grouped the immoral, moral, and religious together and declared there is no difference—all are unprofitable—because all have sinned.
Les explains that in the first three chapters of Romans, God used the Apostle's pen to prove the whole race as utterly sinful, utterly rebellious, and utterly opposite to the things of God. Paul built the case against the gross immoral person, then the moral person, then the religious person, and put all three categories together, saying there is no difference: they are all unprofitable, for all have sinned. That great conclusion is Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and come short in glory.” From there, Paul goes into chapter 4 and lays out justification by faith, as Abraham believed God and it was accounted unto him for righteousness, and then chapter 5, “therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God.”
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
More Questions
What does Romans 3:23 say about all people?
According to Romans 3:23, every person ever born into the human race has sinned and come short of the glory of God.