What is the truth? Christ told us we have all fallen short of the glory of God. A misshapen belief became of this that we are failures and all have failed. But was this truly what God was trying to say to us in that verse? Romans 3:21-26 teaches us,
"But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus."
When Paul said that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, he did not mean we have all failed. Paul was saying that no matter what sin you have committed it is forgiven by Christ's death on the cross! If you have faith in Jesus Christ and believe, which means to obediently follow God, then you are justified and forgiven! No longer is your sin held against you, no matter what the sin may be! The point here wasn't that we have all failed or fallen short, but that we are all forgiven and justified by Christ no matter our past sins.
What about when we disobey Christ after knowing Him? Does that then make you a failure? Jesus knew that Peter would deny Him three times. Yet Jesus entrusted His children, disciples of Christ, to him! Jesus did not seem to think that Peter's sins when knowing Him as savior was a failure.
Paul was a man who knew what it was to sin. Paul said he was the worst of sinners! That what he wanted to do, he didn't do, and the sin he didn't want to do, he did! But yet Paul was able to teach us that we are not failures but over-comers! In Romans 8:31-39 records Paul's lesson for us,
"31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Paul believed that we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus! The truth is we are not failures, nor have we failed. We are conquerors and even better than conquerors, we are the friends of Christ! As so Christ termed us with loving endearment. There is only One who can bring a charge against those who know Christ, that one person is God. People can accuse us, remind us of our sins and mistakes, but they cannot make a final decision on it! God is the only one who can pass judgment on our actions. What is God's judgment? To condemn us? No! God justifies us! God knows that our obedience after the sin or mistake changes our hearts, brings fruit, bring glory to Him, and helps us to overcome temptation! God sees the end prize that He has in store after our mistakes!
A mistake does not equal a failure. Only the giving up of trying to do right in a situation where we have sinned or made a mistake equals a failure. That is because we refuse to hear God's voice and continue to obey. We step out of obedience and relationship with God then. But if we come back and try to do what is right, we have not failed!
When we do right after a sin or mistake we have triumphed over a temptation or stronghold of Satan! This is how we become more than conquerors in Christ Jesus! By obeying Him, doing what is right despite our past mistakes, and never giving up thus overcoming Satan.
Let us do what is right now matter our mistakes! Let us overcome Satan so we will be given the crown of life! Let us run the good run as though we were running for the only prize! Let us Praise God who justifies us despite our mistakes! We have a life to do what is right and overcome our mistakes! Praise God for that!
2 comments:
I think a lot of people use that verse in Romans as an excuse to sin, or as some form of comfort when they're walking in sin... that ALL have fallen short, so "I'm not so bad after all" this kind of thinking is dangerous especially if you try to justify your sin instead of repenting of it.
I really like this post.
You hit the nail on the head! We have all sinned and we can move on and do right. But its not to be used as an excuse to continue in sin.
Thanks!
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