Audio commentary on this verse

Note 5 at Rom. 3:23: As explained in note 1 at Romans 3:9, page 755, this is one of the pivotal doctrines of scripture. Jesus only came to save sinners (1 Tim. 1:15). Unless an individual acknowledges that he is a sinner, he cannot be saved. Romans 4:5 says that God justifies the ungodly. Therefore, until a person admits he is ungodly, he cannot be saved.

A person has to be stripped of all other means of salvation (Jn. 14:6) before he can receive Jesus as his Savior. That was the purpose of the Old Testament law (see note 4 at Rom. 3:19, p. 757) and that is the argument that Paul has given in Romans 1:21-23. Therefore, the truth of universal guilt before God that is expressed in this verse is true in all its applications.

However, in context, this verse is just a stepping stone to an even greater truth that is expressed in verses 24-26. Because the whole world is guilty before God, He has provided one way of salvation for everyone. In the same way that everyone is guilty, so everyone has already been justified freely by God's grace.

That does not mean everyone is saved. Everyone has had the sacrificial offering of Jesus made for his sins by grace (1 Tim. 4:10; 1 Jn. 2:2) but grace alone doesn't save. We have to put faith in what God has provided for us by grace (Eph. 2:8). Therefore, although the price has been paid for the sins of the whole world, only those who receive it by faith will benefit from the salvation that Jesus offers.

Note 6 at Rom. 3:23: The Greek word that was translated "glory" here is "doxa," and according to W.E. Vine, it means "the manifested perfection of His character, especially His righteousness of which all men fall short." A simple way of saying this is that all men fall short of Jesus. Jesus is the glory of the Father (Jn. 1:14; 2 Cor. 4:6; Heb. 1:3; Rev. 21:23).

A common mistake that people make is comparing themselves with other people (2 Cor. 10:12). Nearly everyone has heard, "if the hypocrites down there at church make it, then I'll make it." The only thing that is wrong with that thinking is that the hypocrites down there at church aren't God's "measuring stick." Everyone is going to be compared to Jesus, the glory of God, and therefore, everyone will come up short. We all need a savior.