Romans 3:23 Meaning — All Have Sinned

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 is short, sweeping, and foundational to the gospel — it levels the entire human race.

The word all leaves no exceptions. Not the obviously wicked only, but everyone — the respectable and the religious included. Whatever our differences in reputation, we share one thing: we have all sinned.

To come short of the glory of God is to fall below the standard of his perfect character — like an arrow falling short of the target. The verse is humbling, but it is not the end of the sentence: the very next verse speaks of being justified freely by his grace. We must see the shortfall before we can treasure the rescue.