Romans 3:23–24
Bible Verses. Also called Romans 3:23-24, Rom 3:23-24, For all have sinned, Come short of the glory of God, Being justified freely by his grace.
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Scripture quotation from the King James Version (KJV). Read this chapter
Romans 3:23–24 is a passage stating that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, yet are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Because it brings together universal human sinfulness and justification by grace, it is frequently used in evangelism.
About this articleAI draft from a Korean source. Notes on Korean Protestant practice. No sources listed. Not yet reviewed by a person.
- Origin
Drafted by AI from the Korean church.wiki article, then translated and adapted for English readers on 5 November 2026.
- Perspective
Includes notes on Korean Protestant practice; other traditions are noted where they differ.
- Sources
None listed yet. The article draws on the biblical text and general reference works. Add a source
- Review
Not yet reviewed by a person. Last edited by a person: never. Translation updated 5 November 2026. Edit history
Context
In Romans 1:18–3:20, Paul argues that Gentiles and Jews alike are under sin, arriving at the conclusion "There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10). A turn begins in 3:21 with the words "But now," as Paul declares that "the righteousness of God without the law is manifested." Verses 23–24 stand at the heart of this section. Verse 25 goes on to say that God set forth Jesus "to be a propitiation," and verse 26 concludes that God is "just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."
Interpretation
- "Come short": The Greek verb hystereō means to lack or to fall short, and it appears here in the present tense. It is read as describing not merely a single past act of sin but an ongoing condition of falling short of the glory of God. Some interpreters connect "the glory of God" with the image of God that humanity bore at creation.
- "Freely" and "by his grace": The two expressions restate the same idea, emphasizing that justification has nothing to do with human merit. The passage is a principal basis for the Reformation principles of sola gratia (grace alone) and sola fide (faith alone).
- "Redemption": The Greek apolytrōsis refers to the release of a slave upon payment of a price. The term evokes both the redemption of the Exodus and the imagery of the emancipation of slaves.
Debates and Issues
Protestants have understood justification as a forensic declaration of righteousness, whereas Roman Catholics have understood it to include the process of actually being made righteous by grace. Another long-standing question is whether hilastērion in verse 25 should be rendered "propitiation," which appeases the wrath of God, or "mercy seat" or "means of expiation," which covers sin. The former rendering emphasizes a penal substitutionary understanding, while the latter emphasizes the connection with the mercy seat (the cover of the Ark of the Covenant) in Leviticus. See also the article on Atonement.
Perspective: Korean Protestant practiceHow this idea is used in Korean churches, kept from the original Korean article.
In Korean churches, Romans 3:23 serves as the first verse of the so-called "Romans Road" method of evangelism, which explains the gospel by moving through Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, and 10:9–10 in turn. It is frequently cited in evangelism training materials and gospel tracts as the verse that explains human sin.
Related Passages
See also 6
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