Romans 11:29

King James Version (KJV)

For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

For the gifts and calling of God, etc. - The gifts which God has bestowed upon them, and the calling - the invitation, with which he has favored them he will never revoke. In reference to this point there is no change of mind in him; and therefore the possibility and certainty of their restoration to their original privileges, of being the people of God, of enjoying every spiritual blessing with the fullness of the Gentiles, may be both reasonably and safely inferred.

Repentance, when applied to God, signifies simply change of purpose relative to some declarations made subject to certain conditions. See this fully explained and illustrated by himself, Jeremiah 18:7-9.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

For the gifts - The favors or benefits which God bestows on men. The word χάρισμα charismaproperly denotes any benefit which is conferred on another as a mere matter of favor, and not of reward; see Romans 5:15-16; Romans 6:23. Such are all the favors which God bestows on sinners including pardon, peace, joy, sanctification, and eternal life.

And calling of God - The word “calling” κλῆσις klēsishere denotes that act of God by which he extends an invitation to people to come and partake of his favors, whether it be by a personal revelation as to the patriarchs, or by the promises of the gospel, or by the influences of his Spirit. All such invitations or callings imply a pledge that he will bestow the favor, and will not repent, or turn from it. God never draws or invites sinners to himself without being willing to bestow pardon and eternal life. The word “calling” here, therefore, has not respect to external privileges, but to that choosing of a sinner, and influencing him to come to God, which is connected with eternal life.

Without repentance - This does not refer to man, but to God. It does not mean that God confers his favors on man without his exercising repentance, but that God does not repent, or change, in his purposes of bestowing his gifts on man. What he promises he will fulfil; what he purposes to do, he will not change from or repent of. As he made promises to the fathers, he will not repent of them, and will not depart from them; they shall all be fulfilled; and thus it was certain that the ancient people of God, though many of them had become rebellious, and had been cast off, should not be forgotten and abandoned. This is a general proposition respecting God, and one repeatedly made of him in the Scriptures; see Numbers 23:19, “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he not said, and shall he not do it? hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” Ezekiel 24:14; 1 Samuel 15:29; Psalm 89:35-36; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18; James 1:17. It follows from this,

(1) That all the promises made to the people of God shall be fulfilled.

(2) that his people need not be discouraged or desponding, in times of persecution and trial.

(3) that none who become his true friends will be forsaken, or cast off. God does not bestow the gift of repentance and faith, of pardon and peace, on people, for a temporary purpose; nor does he capriciously withdraw them, and leave the soul to ruin. When he renews a soul, it is with reference to his own glory; and to withdraw those favors, and leave such a soul once renewed to go down to hell, would be as much a violation of all the principles of his nature as it would be to all the promises of the Scripture.

(4) for God to forsake such a soul, and leave it to ruin, would imply that he did repent. It would suppose a change of purpose and of feeling. It would be the character of a capricious being, with no settled plan or principles of action; no confidence could be reposed in him, and his government would be unworthy the affections and trust of his intelligent creation.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

Of all judgments, spiritual judgments are the sorest; of these the apostle is here speaking. The restoration of the Jews is, in the course of things, far less improbable than the call of the Gentiles to be the children of Abraham; and though others now possess these privileges, it will not hinder their being admitted again. By rejecting the gospel, and by their indignation at its being preached to the Gentiles, the Jews were become enemies to God; yet they are still to be favoured for the sake of their pious fathers. Though at present they are enemies to the gospel, for their hatred to the Gentiles; yet, when God's time is come, that will no longer exist, and God's love to their fathers will be remembered. True grace seeks not to confine God's favour. Those who find mercy themselves, should endeavour that through their mercy others also may obtain mercy. Not that the Jews will be restored to have their priesthood, and temple, and ceremonies again; an end is put to all these; but they are to be brought to believe in Christ, the true become one sheep-fold with the Gentiles, under Christ the Great Shepherd. The captivities of Israel, their dispersion, and their being shut out from the church, are emblems of the believer's corrections for doing wrong; and the continued care of the Lord towards that people, and the final mercy and blessed restoration intended for them, show the patience and love of God.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

29. Gifts. Gr. charismata, “gifts of free grace” (see on chs. 5:15; 6:23).

A minister. Gr. diakonos, “servant” (see on ch. 13:4).

Calling. For the nature of God’s call see on ch. 8:30.

Without repentance. Gr. ametamelÃ„â€œta, “unregretted.” The only other NT occurrence of this word is in 2 Cor. 7:10. God has not changed His mind about Israel. The nation failed and was rejected (see on Matt. 21:33-46), but a remnant will be saved. God is not sorry that He called and gave gifts to the seed of Abraham (see Num. 23:19; 1 Sam. 15:29; Ps. 89:34-36; Eze. 24:14; Titus 1:2; Heb. 6:18; James 1:17). Men may fail, and God may vary His method, but He never abandons His purpose. Paul expresses this truth as a reason for believing that God still offers pardon and salvation to the people whom He called and chose and on whom He has showered so many blessings (Rom. 9:4, 5).

Of the circumcision. Literally, “of circumcision.” This is understood by some commentators to mean that Jesus was “a minister of circumcision,” in the sense that He was a minister of the covenant of which circumcision was the sign and seal. Others interpret the passage to mean that Christ came to minister to “those who had been circumcised,” the Jews. For this meaning of “circumcision” see Rom. 3:30; 4:12; Gal. 2:7; Eph. 2:11. Christ came first of all to minister to the “house of Israel” (Matt. 15:24).

Paul’s purpose in Rom. 15:7-12 is to emphasize the universality of the grace of God in Christ, as exhibited toward Jews and Gentiles alike. Christ was willing to submit to whatever might be necessary to meet His fallen creatures where they were, to do everything possible to restore and save them. Therefore Christians, whether Jews or Gentiles, strong or weak, should be willing to receive one another, as Christ has received them (v. 7), to be considerate of one another’s weaknesses and failings (v. 1), and to do whatever will build up and edify (v. 2).

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Ellen G. White
This Day With God, 31.3

As a nation the Jews refused to receive Christ. He had led them in their travels, as their invisible, infinite Leader. He had communicated His will to them, but in the test they rejected Him, their only hope, their only salvation, and God rejected them. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). To all who receive and obey the conditions, God's gifts flow steadily, without repentance, without recall. God has imparted His gifts to man to be used, not according to hereditary or fanciful ideas, not according to natural impulses or inclination, but according to His will.... TDG 31.3

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Cross References

Related Verses

Numbers 23:19

Hosea 13:14

Malachi 3:6

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