Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Romans 3:23

"for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;" — Romans 3:23 (ASV)

The reason all must come to God through faith in Christ is that “all have sinned and fall short of [or ‘lack,’ cf. Mark 10:21] the glory of God.” This “glory” (GK 1518) cannot refer to God’s final glory (cf. 5:2), since even believers, for whom the sin problem has been solved, lack the future glory now. Rather, glory must be associated with the divine presence and the privilege that the human race originally had of direct communion with God. This ever-present deprivation is depicted in the restriction of God’s glory to the holy of holies in the tabernacle and in the denial of the right of access to that glory except through the high priest once a year. God’s glory is the majesty of his holy person. To be cut off from this fellowship is the great loss occasioned by sin.