Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
When the Bible uses the word "all," it uses it collectively, thus the meaning would be "all without exception," or it uses the word "all" specifically to mark someone or something out.
The Greek word pas often translated by our English word all, means individually, each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things or everything or everyone.
In light of this the above verse discloses a tremendous truth. Does the word all refer to some or everyone? Are all people sinners or just some?
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Once again according to the scripture have all (everyone) sinned or just some? The verse answers the question if we look further.
According to verse 12, death has entered into the world by sin. Therefore, sin carries the penalty of death. In other words, death is caused by the presence of sin.
Now it woud be logical to conclude without doubt that when a person dies it's because of this sin that one man allowed to enter into the world. For if there were no sin there would be no death and since all mankind dies sooner or later all mankind has sinned.
Sin weakened the body and compromised the aging process all mankind were born with. Thus man's life cycle was severely damaged by this one man's sin.
Romans 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
Who was the first man? Adam, right?
Once again the scriptures provide us with the answer to our question.
Then the one man spoken about in Romans 5:12 was Adam. It was because of Adam's transgression that sin was able to enter into the world and sin leads to death. There is no way around it.
1 Corinthians 15:21-22 21For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
God did not abandon mankind because of Adams transgression. Because of His great love, He sent His only begotten Son to save us from our sins and replace everlasting death with everlasting life.
Ephesians 2:1-3 1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
This is how we come from the factory. All mankind is built this way. We all are flesh and bones. This is our default setting and unless we choose different, we will die this way.
Verse 1 teaches us we all were dead in trespasses and sin and verse 2 goes on to tell us that we walked according to the course of this world.
The word "walked" means to conduct one's life. When a child is born, he or she is born with the sin of Adam. Every person who has ever walked the face of the earth was born with the sin of Adam.
Why? Because Adam is the earthly father of mankind.
Acts 17:24-26 24God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
The only exception to this was Jesus Christ because God fathered the Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 1:26-35 26And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
God provided a way to redeem mankind from the sin he was born with through Jesus Christ. What a lovely believing woman Mary was.
Her response is recorded in verse 38.
Luke 1:38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
This is why all mankind with the exception of Jesus Christ has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
The book of Ephesians shows us that we all walked and lived according to this age which is currently ran by the devil. It further goes on to tell us that we were by nature children of wrath.
Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
In times past we were mostly concerned with fulfilling the lusts and desires of the flesh. This is our default setting. Consequently, this was not pleasing to God and if uninterrupted would result in eternal death.
Romans 8:5-8 5For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
The carnal mind is enmity, hatred, or hostility against God. Every child that was ever born is born in the flesh. When Adam sinned and disobeyed God, he cursed mankind.
As a result of this, all of mankind with the exception of Jesus Christ our savior was born lacking the ability to please God.
Jesus Christ was the only exception, the only one who could please God because God was his father.
Matthew 3:13-17 13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Now all mankind is born with the curse of Adam's sin. This is also referred to as the old man.
Ephesians 4:17-24 17This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: {blindness: or, hardness} 19Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20But ye have not so learned Christ; 21If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
To be continued…