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Bible verse
Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
What it means
Paul levels the ground here. Every one of us, no matter how respectable, has missed the mark and fallen short of God's radiant goodness. This is not meant to crush us but to free us from pretending. There is no scorecard to climb. The bad news makes the good news precious, for the very God we failed sent His Son to bear our shortfall. Christ died so that sinners, all of us, could be brought home and made new.
Romans 3:23 at a glance
| Reference | Romans 3:23 |
|---|---|
| Book | Romans |
| Chapter to read it in | Romans 3 |
| Topic | repentance |
| Passages linked to it | 10 |
| Translation on this page | King James Version (public domain) |
Read it in context
Read it beside its neighbours. These are the passages readers most often set next to this one.
- Ecclesiastes 7:20
- 1 John 1:8-10
- Romans 3:9
- Galatians 3:22
- Romans 11:32
- Romans 3:19
- 1 Thessalonians 2:12
- 2 Thessalonians 2:14
- 1 Peter 4:13
- Romans 5:2
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY.
Questions people ask
Where do I find Romans 3:23?
It is in Romans, in Romans 3. Reading the whole chapter shows who is speaking, to whom, and why.
What other passages go with Romans 3:23?
Readers most often set it beside Ecclesiastes 7:20, 1 John 1:8-10, Romans 3:9, Galatians 3:22. Each is listed under Read it in context.
How can I pray Romans 3:23?
Read it slowly once, then say it back to God in your own words, one phrase at a time. Stop on the phrase that stays with you and stay there. You can also ask the family of God on The Living Bread to pray it with you.
Pray this
Jesus, our Shepherd, nothing about Romans 3:23 is hidden from you. We bring you Romans 3:23, repentance. Make us people who love one another there. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Live this
Where to begin this week.
- Read all of Romans 3 today, not only the one verse.
- Write Romans 3:23 where you will see it, and read it aloud at the start and end of the day.
- Tell one person what this verse means to you, and ask what verse has carried them.
Where this fits in the walk with Christ
Nothing here is a finish line. It is one door into a life with Christ and with His people.
Read it, pray it, live it
On The Living Bread you can read the whole chapter, save this verse, ask Simon to explain it, pray it over your life, and share it with someone who needs it today.
