Meet Jay Snyder

I grew up believing that my salvation could be found in works, which got me nowhere in my walk with God. I was constantly falling short of perfection and never felt adequate enough for God’s love. The reality was that God didn’t want me to work for my salvation. He made it very clear in these three verses that I always would fall short of His righteousness.

The Law and Prophets discussed a time when the righteousness of God would be fulfilled in a promised Person who would satisfy God's righteous standard. This would be a time when individuals could become fully right with God through relationship with this Person. Paul described how this time of fulfillment had now come in verse 21! Man could become righteous, not of his own accord (Ephesians 2:8-9), but rather in the form of a gift of God. Righteousness simply means being right with God, which, as seen in verse 23, humans will never be able to do because of sin.

In verse 22, Paul expands on righteousness. He explains that righteousness is found “through faith in Jesus Christ.” Not by the Law, but by faith! Paul then explains that this faith in Christ is “for all who believe. For there is no distinction.” This means that anyone, whether Jew or Gentile, can have faith in Christ (Romans 1:16) and be given the gift of salvation.

Verse 23 is one of the central ideas of the gospel. Sin entered the world when Adam and Eve disobeyed God in Genesis 3. God, in His perfection and holiness, cannot disregard sin. Therefore, every single person on this earth will “fall short of the glory of God.”

Paul explains in these three verses that man will always fall short of God because of our sinful nature. However, he declares that we can find redemption and righteousness through our faith in Jesus Christ. Christ's righteousness is available for all persons on this earth who put their trust in Him for salvation! I missed this point growing up, but this truth has radically changed my life and informs my walk with the Lord.