All Have Sinned

Let's Get Real - Scripture Day 324
February 17, 2016

God knows that none of us are perfect, and he us extremely merciful to us...

"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.

This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."

Romans 3:23-26 ESV

RANDY: When it talks about God passing over former sins, I think this has 2 meanings, one historical and the other in our lives...

1) Historical meaning - the Old Testament saints had a relationship with God before Jesus had paid for their sins. They could look forward to the coming Messiah, and they could offer sacrifices to God for their sins, but neither was enough to actually save them from spiritual death. So God, chose not to judge anyone until after Jesus had come and paid "once, for all" the sins of the world.  

This is not to say that all people from before Christ are saved, or that today all people are saved. This passage clearly says the gift of salvation is received by faith. In other words, if people did not trust in God before Christ or since Christ, neither would be saved.

2) Meaning in our lives - As a child, we sin, starting very young in life. Often we commit sins at a young age without realizing that we are violating God’s laws. We may think that we are upsetting mom or dad, but until we realize that there is a God and that he even has laws, we already are violating them.

At the age we finally realize that God is real and we start to feel the real weight of our sins, we reach what the Jews called, "the age of accountability." 

Prior to this time, we committed sins, that God simply passed over.  Had we died prior to reaching an age where we could understand the reality of God, both the Jews of the Old Covenant and Jesus also taught that children would inherit the kingdom of God. In Jewish culture that age of accountability  is roughly 13 years of age.

Once we reach the age where we understand that God is real and has real laws, it then is our choice to have faith or not and thus choose to accept or reject the gift of salvation. 

God’s desire is that "all would come to know Him".  He realizes that mankind is stubborn and disobedient, and he knows many will choose to reject him. But the gift is still waiting for each person who will humble themselves and pray for forgiveness and begin the process of repentance of sins.

God bless you and help you in your walk with him...