Romans 3:22b-24 For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
God shows no partiality and judges fairly. God will judge each person according to the light that person has. Paul has already shown that everyone is in the same category as guilty before God’s laws. Verse 23 is his summary statement that prepares for the solution of v. 24. Everyone has committed acts of sin and the result of falling short of God’s plan for humanity. God’s plan is for humanity to be in His holy presence in relationship like Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. However, sin separates us from God. We cannot cross the separation on our own power, and so God offers the solution in Jesus Christ. This solution is a gift of grace. We do not deserve it. It is a response of God’s love. It came through Jesus’ death on the cross. Redemption describes a payment or cost involved in this. The cost was the life of Jesus. It cost Him total obedience even to the point of death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-11). The result was the offer of grace to all people.
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