{"id":3337,"date":"2015-07-28T00:00:28","date_gmt":"2015-07-28T07:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/?p=3337"},"modified":"2015-07-28T00:02:14","modified_gmt":"2015-07-28T07:02:14","slug":"0729-your-calling-is-irrevocable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/2015\/07\/28\/0729-your-calling-is-irrevocable\/","title":{"rendered":"7\/28: Your Calling is Irrevocable (\u8bd789:19-29 \u7f5711:11-32 \u4ee3\u4e0a4:9-5:26)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u8bfb\u7ecf\uff1a\u8bd789:19-29 \u7f5711:11-32 \u4ee3\u4e0a4:9-5:26<\/h2>\n

Your Calling is Irrevocable<\/h2>\n
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My father, like many Jews, never lived in Israel. The Jewish people are scattered all over the world. In 1947 the state of Israel was re-established. Around 7.5 million people live in Israel today, of whom approximately 6 million are Jews. There are many other Jews still scattered around the world today. What does the future hold for the Jewish people?<\/p>\n

I like how Eugene Peterson translates the New Testament passage for today using the term \u2018insiders\u2019 for the Jewish people and \u2018outsiders\u2019 for the non-Jewish people.<\/p>\n

Many individual Jews over the years have become Christians. In fact, all the very earliest Christians were Jewish \u2018insiders\u2019. But now the vast majority of Christians are non-Jewish \u2018outsiders\u2019. What does the future hold for the \u2018insiders\u2019?<\/p>\n

The key to Paul\u2019s understanding lies in Romans 11:29: \u2018For God\u2019s gift and his call are irrevocable.\u2019 The apostle Paul is not introducing new teaching. It is a theme that runs throughout the Bible as we see in today\u2019s passages.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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1. God\u2019s covenant with his people will last forever<\/h2>\n

Psalm 89:19-29<\/a>We see in the covenant with David that God\u2019s gifts and his call are irrevocable.<\/p>\n

God called \u2018a young man\u2019 from among his people (v.19c). He gave him gifts. He \u2018bestowed strength\u2019 (v.19b). He \u2018anointed\u2019 him (v.20b). He promised that his love would be with him (v.24a) and that he would maintain that love to him forever: \u2018My covenant with him will never fail<\/em>. I will establish his line forever<\/em>, his throne as long as the heavens endure<\/em>\u2019 (vv.28b\u201329).<\/p>\n

This promise was originally given to David (2 Samuel 7:12\u201316). It is repeated many times (Jeremiah 30:9; Ezekiel 34:23; 37:24 and here). Then later, in the book of Isaiah, what was promised to David is promised to Israel: \u2018I will make an everlasting covenant with you<\/em>, my faithful love promised to David\u2019 (Isaiah 55:3b).<\/p>\n

Paul shows clearly that all this has been fulfilled in Jesus. He writes, \u2018We tell you the good news:What God promised our ancestors he has fulfilled for us<\/em>, their children, by raising up Jesus<\/em>\u2019 (Acts 13:32\u201333). He goes on to quote Isaiah 55:3, \u2018I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David<\/em>\u2019 (Acts 13:34).<\/p>\n

God promises that he will maintain his love for you <\/em>forever and that, through Jesus, you inherit all the blessings promised to David.<\/p>\n

Father, thank you for your faithful love for David, for Jesus, and for us. Today, like David, I call out to you, \u2018You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Saviour\u2019 (Psalm 89:26).<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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2. God\u2019s promises to Israel will prevail<\/h2>\n

Romans 11:11-32<\/a>As we have seen, in Romans 11 Paul is answering the question, \u2018Has God rejected his people?\u2019 His answer is, \u2018No, no, no\u2019: \u2018God\u2019s gifts and his call are irrevocable\u2019 (v.29). As The Message<\/em>version puts it, \u2018God\u2019s gifts and God\u2019s call are under full warranty \u2013 never cancelled, never rescinded\u2019 (v.29, MSG).<\/p>\n

Yet Paul still grapples with the apparent reality that most have not accepted Jesus. He speaks about them \u2018stumbling\u2019 (v.11) and experiencing a \u2018hardening\u2019 (v.25). They are now like olive branches that have been \u2018broken off\u2019 (v.17). In this passage he tries to explain how this can fit with the unbreakable promises that God has made to the Jews. He highlights three key points:<\/p>\n