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Hoyte Nelson's Poems/ Reflections & Biblical Essays
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Essay Without Repentance! “For
the gifts and calling of God are without (repentance) irrevocable”] (Romans
11:29). (The
NASV is used unless otherwise indicated) Introduction:
We could ask the question, of what is he speaking: “without repentance?” (kjv)
Is Paul referring to the fact that God never changes His mind; therefore, His
promises are irrevocable!” Let
us consider the question, what is “repentance?” Well, is it not an
about-face, a turning around, a change of direction; it could be said that it is
a change of heart. So what is the Apostle saying? He is saying that God has not
changed His direction (Purposes) about any decision that He has ever made. How
could one ever feel secure about His salvation if, in fact, God just might
change His mind? [One
might look at a conditional promises that are based upon man’s obedience, and
say that God had changed His mind, but no, the condition of the promise was not
met by those to whom it was given; as was often the case with Israel in their
times of disobedience. If, however, they had been obedient, God would have
honored His word as promised]. It is quite another matter when it comes to our
salvation. Thank God our salvation is not based upon that which we do, but upon
that which God has done for us in the sacrifice of His Son upon the Cross. If we
could have earned, or accomplished our salvation by anything that we might have
done, then Jesus Christ would not have had to die upon the Cross! When Jesus
prayed there in the Garden of Eden, “Father,
if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be
done” (Luke 22: 42). That cup was filled with my sin and your sin; but as
Isaiah prophesied: “Yet it
pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him
to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his
seed, he shall prolong his days, and
the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
He shall see of the travail of his soul, and
shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify
many; for he shall bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53: 10,11; kjv). Let
us look at the “gifts” of God in relationship to our salvation: “The
gifts and calling of God are without repentance:” 1).
The gift of Salvation is without repentance. He will never changes His mind,
ever, about the gift He has given us. (Our salvation) This could not be a true
gift if our salvation depended upon our good deeds, but because our salvation is
a free “gift” of God; it is called, “eternal life.” That is why the gift
is never earned: “For by grace are you
saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it
is the gift of God: Not of works,
lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2: 8,9; kjv). Then the question is raised,
“but what about our sin?” Permit me to illustrate this truth: There were two
men, John and Joe; both lived to be ninety years of age. John lived a wicked
life, but just before he died, he was saved. Joe, on the other hand, was saved
early in his life and walked faithfully with the Lord until the very end
(almost), but just before he died, he committed a wicked deed, and in the midst
of this deed, he died. The question is, did either of them go to heaven? The
answer is a resounding YES! They were both saved because of that which Jesus had
done for them on the cross of Calvary; Yet, neither were saved because of what
they had done. Truly, without Jesus, both would have paid for their sin in
judgment, but because they were saved by the grace of God through faith in
Christ Jesus; they both went to heaven. (That’s what the cross was all about).
Paul said, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to
His mercy He has saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of
the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). People often look upon “sin” as being the
problem; no, the sin problem was settled (paid
for), at the cross; the problem is the rejection of the payment. Both John and
Joe accepted the payment, as illustrated above. Not of works lest someone should
brag about it). If our Salvation depended upon our works, when then would we
ever know that we had done enough, or when could we be good enough? I repeat:
“For by grace have we been saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves,
it is the gift of God; not of work lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians
2:8,9). But
what about the “spiritual gifts” referenced in 1Corinthains that God has
promised to His children; can we count on Him to fulfill His promises? Yes we
can, for “the gifts and callings of God are without repentance.” (text) We
are admonished in the scripture to desire the best gifts, (1 Corinthians 2: 31),
but we must remember that it is God who makes the choice as to what gift we are
to receive. Paul said, “…giving to each one individually just as He wills” (1 Corinthians 12: 11). For example, we might
desire to be a preacher, but the gift is not ours to choose. God Himself makes
all the choices as to what gift He has chosen for each of us. Trust Him!
2). The “callings” of God are “without
repentance.” Remember, we are not talking about our repentance, (though this
is important), but about God’s repentance concerning His gifts and calling to
us. Neither the angels of heaven, nor the demons of hell can change God’s mind
about even one of those whom He has called "in Christ Jesus," whether
to salvation, or to special service; God is faithful. We may have our moments of
doubt, but God changes not. Jesus said, “No
man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will
raise him up at the last day” (John 6: 44). God calls through the witness of
His Word, and by the power of His Spirit. I share with the reader God’s final
invitation found in the last chapter of the book of the Revelation just before
we come to the end of the Book, “Revelation
22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say,
Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the
water of life freely.” This is God’s final call. It
is a fact that Jesus Christ is the object of God’s eternal purposes, and that
these purposes were determined from eternity; not only that Christ would die
upon a cross for our sins, but that the gospel message would be proclaimed to
the end of the earth. (Mathew 18: 19) Now, to bring the question as to our
“call to salvation” into focus, let me say this. In view the fact that time
is an eternal now with God, and that
there is just one way of salvation, and the fact that this way is through the
promised made to Adam, renewed with Abraham, and fulfilled in Christ: this is
our only hope! Although is was all
determined from eternity, it is in time (our time) that God extends the
“call” to salvation through the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul
said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel (of Jesus Christ), for it is the
power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” (Romans 1: 16). And
again Paul asked, “How then will
they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him
whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?” (Romans
10: 14). In conclusion, I ask the question: Have you trusted
in His grace, and in His grace alone for your salvation? I repeat, “For by
grace are you saved, through faith, and that not of yourself, but it IS the gift
of God.” (Amen!) |