Knights Becoming and a Lady in Waiting

This Train is Bound for Glory

For all have sinned and and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:23

Okay, here's another verse that most people know, but that did a special little click for me yesterday.

"For all have sinned...".  Okay, yes, that one gets mentioned a lot.  It doesn't diminish its truth any, but I don't have any lightbulb moments (currently) for that one.

The real part that hit me was this:  "... and fall short of the glory of God."

Well, duh!

I have to wonder who was showing so much hubris that the writer had to state, clearly, that we cannot reach God's glory.  If you look at the meaning behind this word do/ca, then it is even more absurd to think we could ever reach God's glory.

1. splendor, brightness
2. magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace
3. a most glorious condition or exalted state

All of those definitions just make me more aware of my human fraility and failings.  I am not splendid and rarely even bright (anyone who leaves the house with two not potty-trained children and one wet wipe cannot claim a high score in the brightness department).  I am not magnificent and, although I strive for excellence, dignity, and grace, I often fall far short.  I am most certainly not in a "most glorious condition or exalted state" (except to my little Princess, who thinks I'm better than "This Little Piggie").

Isn't it odd, though, that with all that failure, we rarely go on to the next verse?

... and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:24 (emphasis mine)

Why, oh why do we not go on to the next verse??  This is the verse where all the promise is!  This is the verse with the redemption, the justification, the salvation in it!

Yes, we are all miserable sinners who can never even dream of reaching God's glory on our own... but we are also justified, freely and through none of our own doing, by His grace and His redemption.

For all have sinned, well short of God's glory, and have been brought into grace through the freely-offered redemption that came from Jesus Christ.

I don't think I'll ever look at Romans 3:23 the same way again.

Untitled Comment

8:51 PM, Apr. 24, 2006 .. Posted by nsremom

Thanks for posting your thoughts. I liked reading your post today. :)