1. Romans 11:29 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Can God’s redemptive plan be resisted?

Romans 11:29 (ESV)

29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

No, for in Romans 11:29 the apostle Paul writes: For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. When God calls someone, he never nullifies that call. Through unbelief someone may reject grace and become hardened when it comes to hearing God’s call, but that in no way hinders God’s redemptive plan and power. We ought to continue to appeal to unbelievers on the basis of God’s gift of grace and his calling. This provides Paul with a sound basis for doing everything in his power to use his mission among the Gentiles to make his kinsmen envious and to win them back. He already highlighted Israel’s calling and the gifts of grace awarded to this people at the start of this chapter (see Romans 9:4–5). This first causes him great grief over Israel’s unbelief but now move them to hope for Israel’s return to be accomplished by the power of God.1