Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 28, 2011

For the elect, “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable”

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 11:25-32.
 
“25  For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;  26  and so all Israel will be saved;  just as it is written,
 
“THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION,
HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.”
27 “THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM,
WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.”
 
28  From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers;  29  for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.  30 For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 31  so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy.  32  For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.”  Romans 11:25-32. 

————————–

For the elect, both Jews and Gentiles, “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable”.  God does not “give and take”.  God does not base his actions on our reactions.  God does not fall out of love with His elect.  “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”  James 1:17. 

“9  “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10  Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11  Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken;  truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.”  Isaiah 46:9-11.
                                  

Here is what Article 11 of The Canons of Dordt state about “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable”. 

Article 11.  And as God himself is most wise, unchangeable, omniscient and omnipotent, so the election made by him can neither be interrupted nor changed, recalled or annulled;  neither can the elect be cast away, nor their number diminished. 

In conclusion, Ephesians 1:3-8 describes these irrevocable gifts and calling.  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.   …”

Posted in Uncategorized

«
»

Categories