"For there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:22, 23.
That is one of the hardest truths man has to learn. We are apt to think we are just a little better than our neighbors. If you want to find out who and what man is, go to the third chapter of Romans, verse 10, and there the whole story is told. "There is none righteous, no, not one." "All have sinned, and come short." All.
We are told that "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9. We do not know our own hearts; not one of us has any idea how bad our own heart is. We have a heart in rebellion against God by nature, and we do not even love God unless we are born of the Spirit.
I can understand why men do not like this third chapter of Romans. It is too strong for them. It speaks the truth too plainly. But I have noticed that the medicine we do not like is the medicine that will do us the most good. If we do not think we are as bad as the Word of God says, we must just take a closer look at ourselves.
God has given us the law to measure ourselves by, and by this most perfect rule "all have sinned, and come short," and "there is no difference." God, being a perfect God, had to give a perfect law, and the law was given not to save men, but to be used to measure them.
I believe hundreds and thousands stumble here. They try to save themselves by trying to keep the law, but it was never meant to save men. The law has not saved a single man since the world began.
Some think if they have only done one or two very little sins, God won't notice them because other men have broken every one of the Ten Commandments! No matter; they are both guilty; they have both broken the law. The law demands complete and perfect fulfillment, and if you cannot do that, you are lost, as far as the law is concerned. "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." James 2:10.
And the law of God is that no man shall go into the kingdom of heaven with one sin on him. He that has broken the least law is guilty of all. "Then, is there any hope for me?" you say. "What is to become of me? If all this is true, I am a poor lost soul. I have committed sin from my earliest childhood."
Thank God, my friends, this is just where the gospel comes in. "He (God) hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin." 2 Corinthians 5:21. "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:5, 6.
You ask me what my hope is. It is, that Christ died for my sins, in my place, and therefore I can enter into life eternal. You ask Paul what his hope was. "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures." 1 Corinthians 15:3.
This is the hope in which all the glorious martyrs of old died, in which all who have entered heaven's gate have found their only comfort.
Christ died for me; that is my hope of eternal life. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1. If you ask me what you must do to share this blessing, I answer, go and deal personally with Christ about it. Take the sinner's place at the foot of the cross. Strip yourself of all your own righteousness, and accept Christ's. Let Him put on you His perfect robe of righteousness. Receive Him by simple trust as your own Savior.
Thus you inherit the priceless treasures that Christ has purchased with His blood. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God." John 1:12. I have the authority of His Word for telling you that He "will in no wise cast out." John 6:37.