Reflection on Rom 3:23-24

Here the Word of God says clearly that all have sinned. Naturally, little children cannot sin because they are not able to discern sin; however, they are already programmed for sin and it is only a question of time before it manifests itself. It means that all have been infected with the spiritual poison of original sin and, as a consequence, all fall short of the glory of God. This is a sad reality. But there is another reality too. The reality of God’s love. God has given His Son for our salvation. So we are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. This verse is preceded by the words: “…now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets.” The righteousness of God means that God justly punished the sins of us all, and Jesus Christ voluntarily took upon Himself the just punishment that we deserve. The righteousness of God means that the just price for sin was paid, and whoever receives the good news of the Gospel by faith – i.e. the good news that Jesus Christ paid the price for our sin – justly obtains the glory of God. This is for all who believe. On the one hand, the Scripture speaks about righteousness, which means that we justly obtain eternal glory in heaven because Jesus has already paid for us. On the other hand, it says that we are justified freely by His grace. Jesus paid the just price for our sin, and so we are given the most precious gift of eternal life freely! Of course, we can either accept justification by faith or reject it through unbelief. That is why it is so important to repent of our sins daily at least in a short act of contrition by calling on the name of Jesus. We do so in our prayer stops seven times a day, when we repeat the words “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, have mercy on me!” with our spiritual eyes fixed on the five wounds of Christ on the cross.

Download: Reflection on Rom 3:23-24