The Core Of The GospelSample

Sin: The Problem Of Man

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Warren Wiersbe, in his book Be Daring, wrote, “In 1973, Dr. Karl Menninger, one of the world’s leading psychiatrists, published a startling book, Whatever Became of Sin? He pointed out that the very word sin has gradually dropped out of our vocabulary, as he puts it, ‘the word, along with the notion.’ We talk about mistakes, weaknesses, inherited tendencies, faults, and even errors; but we do not face up to the fact of sin.”

The Bible teaches us that our fundamental problem is sin. Our fundamental human problem is not education, poverty, drugs, politics, pollution, or war. The problem is deeper. The problem is in us. The problem is our bent towards sin. 

That’s why God did not send an educator, scientist, businessman, or statesman to the planet. God sent a savior because our greatest need is for a savior. Unless we realize and acknowledge our sin, we will never look to a savior. 

There is no more succinct statement of sin in the Bible than Romans 3:23. God is clear: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The problem is universal—all have sinned. We are inclined to compare ourselves with others who seem to be worse sinners.

We can always compare ourselves to drug lords, murderers, and human traffickers, but they’re not the standard. Jesus Christ is the standard, and we all fall short of that high standard.

John Stott, in his book The Message of Romans, quotes Bishop Handley Moule: “The harlot, the liar, the murderer, are short of it [God’s glory], but so are you. Perhaps they stand at the bottom of a mine, and you on the crest of an Alp; but you are as little able to touch the stars as they.”

Not one of us attains the glory of God. 

Not one of us reflects the perfect character of Christ. 

Not one of us can touch the stars. 

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”