All have sinned.....

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Grazer #E2H on September 26, 2013 at 8:52am

That God is perfect and we are not is one way I take it

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Colby on September 26, 2013 at 11:02am

How do we take this?  

All people are sinners. There's no ambiguity here.  This is a main and plain teaching clearly set forth in God's Word.  All of us, believers and unbelievers alike, without exception, are sinners.  We all fall short of God's glory (his standard is perfection: perfect obedience to his laws).  

 

Here the Apostle Paul, addressing the church at Rome, is quoting from Scripture -- specifically, Ecclesiastes 7:20:

• "Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins." (NIV)
  
  
• "Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins."  (NLT)

 

This message, "there is no one who does not sin," is repeated in 1 Kings 8:46 (ESV).

 

Returning to the New Testament, the same message is found in First John 1:8-10 (ESV):

• "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."
  
  

What else?  Well, to follow sound hermenuetics, it's helpful to read this verse in context so that the meaning intended by Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is clearly stated without any spin on my part.

• In the preceding verse (22), Paul writes: "We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are" (NLT).

• In the following verse (24), Paul states that those who place their faith in Christ are
  "justified by his grace as a gift,through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (ESV).

Let's look at some more biblical passages that support and are aligned with this main and plain teaching:

• "For it is by grace you have been saved,through faith—and this is not from yourselves,
  it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast" (2:8-9, NIV).
• "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1, NIV).
• "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ..." (Romans 5:8-10, NIV).

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tammy on September 26, 2013 at 12:16pm

That all have sinned & short of the glory of God

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Colby on September 26, 2013 at 12:40pm

Tammy,

True.  With few words, plainly spoken, you say what I took far too many paragraphs to say.  :-)

Most Bible verses aren't intended to be read alone and stand alone.  They need to be read in context.  Otherwise, God's intended meaning can be twisted and misunderstood.  But this verse is an exception. Like John 3:16, it's so direct and clear as to intent and meaning that it can stand alone.

Colby

 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tammy on September 27, 2013 at 11:24am

Colby, when have you ever known me to waste my words? LOL

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Colby on September 27, 2013 at 4:59pm

Never!  You dole out words like they were precious nuggets of gold.

• ▶ Reply