22 … for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus …
Equality—no discrimination by age, sex, sexual orientation, religion, economic status or any other distinguishing characteristic or behavior. In guilt before God, there is complete equality across the board, involving every human being who has ever lived or is alive today or ever will live. “All have sinned…” Lest anyone miss this abundantly made clear point, Paul repeats himself in different words with the same meaning. Earlier in this chapter, he asserted, “All are under sin” and, “There is none righteous, not even one … All have turned aside … There is none who does good, there is not even one” (3:9-12). In the political vernacular of years gone by, “Read my lips.” He simply cannot say it any clearer.
Yet, many today continue to grasp onto some shred of hope that God will credit them with at least some of their good works. Of course, they say, no one is perfect—and in that they agree with Paul. However, their imperfection (they reason) is simply being human, and after all, we are all human—as though that is a legitimate excuse. They cling to some sense of righteousness because they give to a charitable cause and have not murdered anyone. To this, Paul says, “There is none who understands” (3:10). They just don’t get it! They fall short of the glory of God.
In a bit of understanding for people who reject this message, there is terror of the heart involved. If I were an unbeliever, the thought of falling short of God’s glory, of what He expects from us (we were made in His image to live up to His standard of glory)—that thought would strike absolute horror in the consequential thought of failing in the life purpose for which I was created. This would be sheer hell—in every way. The soul shrinks back from that, and thus the unbeliever who refuses to honor God with gratitude (Rom 1:21) makes every effort to achieve righteousness on his own merits—thus not needing to be thankful to God, since God (in this thinking) has nothing to do with it.
The irony of eternal magnitude is that the very thing the unbeliever seeks (to be justified before God) is available for free—all that’s required is to acknowledge God, recognize his own failure, and humbly receive the free gift (see John 1:12). There is no other way to be made right before God! He redeems the penitent from his bondage of rebellion. This is not a waving of the hand, but the displaying of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross.
Lord, thank You for the free gift of justification through Jesus’ death.
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