Who Needs Salvation

In Romans 3 we read, “There is no one righteous, not even one, there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, together they have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness, not even one” (Romans 3:10 – 12 NET). Reading a little further we find, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 ESV). From these verses it is clear that all have sinned and before God are seen as unrighteous and thus unfit for heaven.

Before we go any further, there are two words we should define. They are sin and righteous or righteousness. The Bible looks at sin as a transgression, which means “to step across” or “to go beyond a set boundary or limit”. To sin is to step across a boundary or limit that has been set by God. Another way of looking at sin is, “to miss the mark”. We aim to accomplish something good for God, but we fall short of the goal. In either case we have not met the requirements God has set for us. Righteousness is the state of moral perfection required by God to enter heaven. This moral perfection is a standard set forth by God known as the law of God. Breaking any tiny part of that law is seen as a transgression or the crossing of a boundary. We are seen by God as guilty and unfit for heaven.

Consider the stained glass window shown. Consider all the pieces of glass that make up the window. If just one glass is broken the window is broken. Breaking just one law, once in one’s lifetime leaves one guilty before God. It is thus easy to see that everyone is guilty before God and is in need of salvation.