Romans 3:23
Memory Verse
For all have sinned and fallen short of the proper opinion of God (Romans 3:23).
After God renovated the earth for biological life in Genesis chapter one, He examined His work and declared it good (Genesis 1:31). This statement also includes Adam (Genesis 1:27). When God made Adam, Adam was created in His likeness and image. “Likeness” relates to Adam being a rational being who possesses a spirit. “Image” refers to the garment of light that surrounded Adam (1 Timothy 6:16; 1 Corinthians 2:11). In Genesis 6:5, humanity is described as completely lacking. Every thought of the human heart was continually evil all day. This sharply contrasts with God’s first statement about humans.
The term “glory” means to have or hold a proper opinion. God’s opinion of Adam at creation was good. But through his own choice and action, Adam did not meet God’s opinion of him. Rather than seeking God’s advice, as he had for the past 100 years, Adam chose his own path after Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Through Adam’s trespass, he became separated from God in his spirit (Romans 5:17). His sin brought death into the world (Romans 5:12). This corrupt nature and its condemnation passed to all men (Romans 5:13), because all sinned in Adam (Romans 5:12; Genesis 5:3).
“For all sinned” refers to one moment in time. This phrase does not focus on personal sin, but on Adam’s act. He ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, fully aware he should not. Since all sinned in Adam, all have been made to fall short of God’s opinion of humans. “Fall short” is a passive term. The subject is acted upon, not acting. This means we are deficient not by personal actions, but because of Adam’s sin and trespass.
To imply that God expects man to live up to His glory is to ignore both Scripture and reason. God shares His glory with no one (Isaiah 42:8; 48:11). Thus, Paul is not stating we fall short of God’s glory. Since God shares His glory with no one, how can God then expect a created being to live up to His glory? Some will modify this to imply being righteous; however, righteousness and glory are not synonymous. All have been caused to fall short of God’s opinion of mankind.