Irrevocable

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. – Romans 11.29-32

The gifts and the calling of God cannot be revoked.

That’s powerful stuff.

God says this about His gifts and calling being irrevocable in the context of salvation. You were once disobedient, now you are obedient and have received mercy. I realise that this whole passage can be difficult to deal with. Paul covers some deep issues and who the elect are and who God save, but here one thing sticks out. God does not take back His gift of salvation and His calling to eternal life.

Think about gifts. Think about, maybe, birthday gifts to our children or grandchildren. What kind of gift giver would we be if, after giving them a gift, we took it back because they were bold. What kind of gift would that be? It wouldn’t in fact, be a gift at all. It would be a wage or a reward.

We can’t do anything to earn the gift of eternal life. It is a GIFT. Praise God for His irrevocable gifts and calling. They give us the security we need to keep on keeping on, especially when we mess things up.