Anchor My Faith

Previous Lesson
Next Lesson
Author: Stephen Weller
1,053 words, 6 minutes read time

All Have Sinned BUT Redemption Is Available

²³ For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:23 – 24 ESV)

God told Adam, in Genesis 2:17, not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because if he did, he would die. Adam disobeys and eats of the fruit, causing his spiritual death and all those who would be his offspring. To allow the earth to be populated, God allowed Adam and his offspring to live in the flesh for a length of time. That length of time allowed for population growth, and it also provided time for God to put in place a plan of redemption.

All are born spiritually dead and in need of being born spiritually. As spiritually dead people, Ephesians 2:1 – 3 (ESV) describes our life: ¹ “You were dead in the trespasses and sins ² in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— ³ among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body (flesh) and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”

Living in sin, we were clearly falling short of the glory of God, ⁴ “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— ⁶ and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4 – 7 ESV).

It is by his grace that we are justified (Titus 3:7) as a gift. To be justified is to be vindicated or to be made acceptable. Since the law requires the death penalty for our sin, to be justified someone would have to die in our place who had lived a perfect life according to the law. God sends his Son as the person we know as Jesus to live that perfect life and then as the perfect sacrifice, dies on the cross in our place, taking upon himself our sin and in exchange covering us with his righteousness, making us acceptable before God. Thus, we are redeemed through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Father, thank you for such a wonderful plan of salvation. I pray that each one of my readers has been born spiritually and if not that they would come by faith, humbly to Jesus to receive the gift of eternal life.

The Following Addendum Is Provided by ChatGPT

Summary Theme

Justification by Grace Through Redemption in Christ

Summary Paragraph

In Epistle to the Romans 3:23–24, the apostle Paul the Apostle presents a foundational truth of the gospel: all humanity stands equally guilty before God, having fallen short of His glory. No one can claim righteousness by personal merit. Yet, in the same breath, Paul reveals the hope of salvation; sinners are justified freely by God’s grace through the redemption accomplished in Christ Jesus. This justification is not earned but given, rooted entirely in God’s mercy and made possible through the sacrificial work of Christ. These verses unite the universal problem of sin with the universal offer of grace, forming a cornerstone of Christian doctrine.

Discussion Questions with Extended Answers:

1. What does it mean that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”?
   Answer:
   This phrase emphasizes the universality of sin. Every person, regardless of background, status, or effort, has missed the mark of God’s perfect standard. “Falling short” suggests not only past failure but an ongoing inability to attain God’s glory through human effort. It removes any basis for self-righteousness and places all people on equal footing before God, completely dependent on His mercy.
2. What is meant by being “justified”?
   Answer:
   To be justified means to be declared righteous in God’s sight. It is a legal or judicial term indicating that God, as judge, pronounces a sinner not guilty. Importantly, this declaration is not based on the individual’s own righteousness but on the righteousness of Christ credited to them. Justification changes a person’s standing before God instantly and completely.
3. How is justification described as a gift of grace?
   Answer:
   Justification is described as “freely by his grace,” meaning it is unearned and undeserved. Grace is God’s favor given to those who do not merit it. There is no human contribution that can earn justification; it is entirely a gift. This highlights God’s initiative in salvation; He provides what humanity cannot achieve on its own.
4. What is the role of redemption in Christ Jesus?
   Answer:
   Redemption refers to the act of being set free by paying a price. In this context, Jesus Christ is the one who paid that price through His sacrificial death. Humanity was in bondage to sin, but Christ’s work purchases freedom and restores believers to God. Redemption explains how justification is possible; God remains just while providing salvation through Christ’s atoning sacrifice.
5. How do these verses shape our understanding of the gospel message?
   Answer:
   Romans 3:23–24 captures both the problem and the solution of the gospel. The problem is universal sin; the solution is God’s gracious justification through Christ. These verses teach that salvation is not about human achievement but divine provision. They call for humility (recognizing sin) and faith (trusting in Christ alone), forming the core response required for salvation.
6. Why is it important to hold both verses (23 and 24) together?
   Answer:
   Verse 23 without verse 24 leads to despair, as it highlights only human failure. Verse 24 without verse 23 can lead to a misunderstanding of grace, minimizing the seriousness of sin. Together, they present the full gospel: humanity’s desperate need and God’s gracious provision. This balance ensures a proper understanding of both the depth of sin and the greatness of God’s grace.