Our society is caught in the throes of great anxiety and uncertainty. Many feel caught, as in, “still caught” in the situations and circumstances of life. In this anxious environment, how do we move beyond “still” as in “still caught” to a life of faith and growth in the things of God? We do so when we recognize every circumstance in life is a divine opportunity to experience God’s grace, love and provision.
Three times in the fourth and fifth chapters of the Book of Romans, the word “still” is used. Each occasion provides insight into the human condition in which humans find themselves as they come before God.
• Romans 4:11 NKJV – “while still uncircumcised”
• Romans 5:6 NKJV – “while we were still without strength”
• Romans 5:8 NKJV – “while we were still sinners
Still Uncircumcised
In the first case, Abraham became the father of faith while he was “still uncircumcised” (Rom 4:11,12). To this day, he is the father of faith for all who believe, even those who exist in an uncircumcised state. Paul made the point that it was not the condition of having experienced religious circumcision that saved him, but the simple matter of exercising faith in God, and that while he was still in a state of uncircumcision.
Although there is much controversy about what circumcision is and means, it at least seemed to be an act performed to seal one’s faith in the eyes of other people; an external religious act to confirm something hopefully authentic in one’s inner being. Water baptism carries something of the same meaning in New Testament order, an external act confirming the internal act of faith. However, often religious acts like circumcision or water baptism become a mere religious symbol empty of meaning. Therefore, “circumcision” has somewhat become a symbol of religious actions that somehow do not convey actual spiritual impact upon a person.
Therefore, we might say that to be “still uncircumcised” represents a beginning point for experiencing personal redemption and entering into the pilgrimage of faith; what Paul called believers into when he said, “to walk in the steps of faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised” (Rom 4:12). This is a desirable place to begin the pilgrimage of faith; that is, unencumbered by religious circumcision issues, the kind of external things put forward by religion that often keep individuals from discovering true faith. Each of us should start from where we are, “still uncircumcised,” and seek out simple faith in Christ, even as Abraham did.
For religiously raised people, often encumbered with religious circumcision issues that hinder truth faith, it might be wise to seek to return to a place where you are “still uncircumcised”, if you will, and pursue God’s love and Christ’s redemptive work from that vantage point.
Still Without Strength
In the second case, Paul refers to the fact that ‘when we were still without strength, Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom 5:6). People, especially American people, try to be strong, usually exerting all their personal talents and abilities to appear strong and capable in all circumstances. For many, it is a shame to appear weak and without strength. It often seems one must develop adequacy for all situations and believe that only the strongest will survive and succeed. Indeed, the American dream is often seen as the American success story.
Yet, to be “without strength” is a good place from which to begin and continue the spiritual pilgrimage. It was while the human race was still without strength, in the fullness of time, that Christ died for the ungodly.
Paul said to the Corinthians, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God” (2:1), but that “I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (2:3-5).
In moments of great weakness, Paul claimed God said to him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness, therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me " (2 Cor 12:9). He concluded his testimony by saying, “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (12:10).
Compare our sense of weakness at times with how Christ Jesus experienced weakness. “For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you” (2 Cor 13:4 NKJV).
In the same way it was said of Old ‘Testament priests, “He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins” (Heb 5:2-3). Hebrews 5:6-8 highlights this very same thing about Jesus: “"You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek, who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” Therefore, “we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb 4:15-16 NKJV).
Still Sinners
In the third phrase, we lift out the words “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). He did this to “demonstrate His own love toward us.” The fact that people are “sinners” speaks to the obvious fact that people often sin many times.
“Sin” (Gk: hamartia) means to “miss the mark.” Other Greek words in Romans five are also used, meaning such things as ignorance, to go aside from the path, or unwillingness to hear. The taint of original sin, extending to man's whole nature, inclines him to act in opposition to the will of God. Every concession to his corrupt desire, in thought, word, or deed, is actual sin. But while in this place of being still sinners, God acted on our behalf.
We must accept the fact that sin is a part of life. The human tendency is to come up short. “Sin is to fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:10). Spouses sin and fail one another. Parents sin and wound their children. Children sin and fail to obey. Friends sin and fail in friendship. We must neither encourage sin or minimize it. We must simply accept it as a human frailty.
God’s response to sin, even blatant sin, was to love. God the Father sent Christ to deal with the “sin” issue on the cross. God the Son sent the Holy Spirit to help us deal with the “sins” issue, day-by-day, moment-by-moment. When I fail my wife (and God and myself), I need my wife to love me, and forgive me. When my wife fails, she needs me to love her, and forgive her.
Summary
So, when we find ourselves in these three conditions, still uncircumcised, still without strength, and still sinners, we come to Christ Jesus who connects us continually with God’s love. We will find peace, strength and redemption in the fullness of God’s love, Christ’s provision and the Spirit’s leading.
Phil 1:9-10 – “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent.” NKJV
Exodus 14:13 – “And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. NKJV
Numbers 9:8 – “And Moses said to them, "Stand still, that I may hear what the Lord will command concerning you." NKJV
Ruth 3:18 – “Then she said, "Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day." NKJV
2 Chronicles 20:17 – “You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you." NKJV
Psalms 4:4 – “Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah” NKJV
Psalms 23:2 – “He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.” NKJV
Psalms 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” NKJV
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