Article - We Have all Fallen Short

We Have all Fallen Short

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; - Romans 3:23

One of the problems of our society today (especially amongst the younger generation) is the tendency for us to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. In many educational circles, “self-esteem” has been the mantra. Sadly, this has created a generation of narcissists that think that they are the center of the universe and are accountable to no one. This mentality has also deceived people into thinking that they deserve rewards, accolades and attention regardless of their qualifications or behavior.

Spiritual narcissism has crept into many of our churches. Sound doctrine has been replaced with the idea that we are able to do something to procure our eternal salvation. God-centered theology has been replaced with the philosophy that all men have some degree of goodness within them and only need to be reformed in order to be fit candidates for eternal salvation. Both of these ideas are foreign to the teachings of scripture.

In the above passage, the Apostle Paul writes that we all have fallen short of God’s glory. He teaches the doctrine of total depravity, which means that all of us have failed and deserve nothing more than eternal punishment because of our disobedience of God’s commandments. The short statement, “For all have sinned,” negates any ideas that we have the ability to act in such a way that warrants eternal rewards. The failure to meet God’s glory also destroys any thought of man having any degree of goodness in his/her own nature. Our sins have convicted us. James writes, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all (2:10).” If we commit only one sin in our lifetime, we deserve eternal hell as our just punishment. The reality is that we transgress God’s righteous law on a regular basis. All of us are guilty sinners with no hope of reformation!

When we sin, it means that we have missed the mark. The mark that we have missed is the glory of God. Be not mistaken, God will receive his just glory. Scripture teaches us that everything was created to bring glory unto the Lord. But when we sin, we are essentially thumbing our nose at the Creator and saying that his laws and commandments are worthless. We are placing our desires above his direction and therefore coming short of his glory. This is the makeup of all mankind; even God’s elect before being born again of the Spirit.

The sinful, depraved nature of man necessitates redemption from one who is able to fulfill God’s righteous law in order for them to be fit subjects for fellowship with God. In Romans 3:24-25, Paul writes of the work of Jesus that was done in order to save God’s elect from their deserved wrath. “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;” He redeemed us through his blood that was shed on Calvary’s cross. The one who knew no sin was made sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). We who have sinned and come short of the glory of God have been justified (judged not guilty) before God because of Jesus. It is my prayer that we would meditate upon this monumental doctrine and give credit where credit is due. All praise and glory belongs to the Lord! It is not our work that saves us, but the sovereign power of God almighty. Let us all live humbly before our heavenly father.

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastormichael@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.