11:29 Does this mean that the gifts and calling of God are without repentance for all Christians?
11:29 Does this mean that the gifts and calling of God are without repentance for all Christians?
No! The gifts and calling of God are without repentance only in relation to Israel as the nation sovereignly chosen by God in order for His purposes in the earth to be fulfilled in Jesus (CP 9:4-5 with Gen 49:10; Mic 5:2; Mt 2:3-6; Lu 2:11). There are many in the contemporary church however who believe that Ro 11:29 applies to all Christians, but that is not correct as scriptures clearly prove (CP Judg 16:20; 1Sam 16:14; 18:12; 28:15-16; Hos 9:12).
King David also knew that it was possible to have God's gifts and calling revoked, for he prayed to God not to remove the Holy Spirit from him (CP Psa 51:10-12). Ro 11:29 must be kept in the context in which it was spoken, and the context clearly refers to Israel and God's purposes for her, not the gifts of the Spirit and the calling of God upon Christians in the New Testament church (CP Ro 11:1-2, 12, 23, 26-29 with Isa 59:20-21; Jer 31:31-40; 32:37-42; 33:19-26; Eze 36:22-30; 37:15-28; He 8:8-12).
Throughout Romans chapters 9-11 Paul is discussing Israel's relationship with God and his assertion in 11:29 is merely the reason he gives to demonstrate the veracity of V28 (CP V28-29).
This teaches simply that Israel's rejection of the gospel and antagonism toward God did not cause God to totally reject Israel. He has merely set Israel aside temporarily and given the gospel to the Gentiles until His purpose has been fulfilled in the Gentiles (CP Ac 13:44-47 with Ro 11:25).
See also comments on Ac 13:48, Ro 9:30-33, 10:4, 10:6-11, 10:12-13, 10:18-21, 11:1-10, 11:2, 11:4, 11:7-10, 11:16, 11:17-24, 11:32, 11:33-36; Rev 12:1-5, and 12:6 and author's studies The Old Covenant - Fulfilled in Christ and Completely Abolished in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 1), and Israel in God's eternal Purpose in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 2).