Still Out Of Context After All These Years

You probably didn't hear Paul Simon just now singing "Still Crazy". That's my fault. I wish my voice came through my typing more clearly. On second thought it's better this way.

Pastor Bob was preaching last weekend and on his way to his point he mentioned that "We're all sinners. If you don't believe me check your bible. Romans 3:23 says 'All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.' "

If there was a contest to see which bible verse is most often taken out of context (a context contest?) I'm starting to think Romans 3:23 wouldn't win, because I might be the only one who would vote for it. Everybody else in the world seems to believe, like Pastor Bob evidently, that the verse says, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Be patient with me, k?

Yes, those words are in Romans 3:23. But there's also another word there, right at the front of the verse. It's the word "for".
Lots of people like to say, "What's the therefore there for?" That little trick helps you maintain context. But what about the for? What's THAT there for?

Paul is in the middle of a long argument trying to make the case that righteousness comes only in gift form. It's by grace through faith. For everybody, even the Jews. Let's take one baby step back, and look at the verse from just a bit farther away. From here, you can see that starting at verse 22 and continuing through 24 the context is already coming into view.

"There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ."

Pastor Bob wasn't wrong (well actually I think he was, but that's deeper and for another time) he just needed to present some context. Instead of using this verse to convict people, it should be presented the way Paul intended: It's Good News, man! It's the gospel! You can't earn righteousness or be justified by your works, it's all grace. Even if you're a Jew. Even if you're not. No matter who you are, it's all God's grace. There's no difference, none of us can earn it but we can all receive it through the redemption that came through Jesus Christ. Preach it Paul!

All my love,
derifter