Why is every person separated from God in their natural state?
Scripture declares every person is separated from God in their natural state because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Having fallen short, no one can meet God's standard on their own. This universal sinfulness causes the separation.
Les explains that Romans 3:23 says, “for all, every human being has sinned and come short of the glory of God.” That is why every human being in his natural state is separated from God—he has fallen short and cannot meet God's standard. But Les says we are not left in hopelessness. Verse 24 moves on to say that even though all have sinned, we can be justified freely by His grace through the redemption, or buying back, that is in Christ Jesus. Les connects this to Scripture's recurring theme of something owned and lost: Israel was God's covenant people, but because of the brothers' sin Joseph ended up in Egypt; while Joseph was there and the brethren were in rebellion, God lost His chosen people and had to buy them back. Exodus is a book of redemption, accomplished through the blood of the Passover lamb, and Les says it is the same way with us today. We rest on the blood of the Lamb, even as Gentiles in this Age of Grace.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
More Questions
What does Romans 3:23 say about every human being's natural state?
Romans 3:23 teaches that every human being has sinned and come short of the glory of God, so every person in his natural state is separated from God because he has fallen short and cannot meet God's standard.