May 23, 2009

"The Gracious Gifts" - Rom. 11:29

"God's gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable." (Romans 11: 29)

Notice the plurality of God's beneficence, "ta charismata," or "the gracious gifts."

What is included in this category, styled "the gifts of God" (KJV)? What, if anything, is excluded?

Is salvation included? Is it one of "the gifts"? What about faith and repentance? What about calling?

Though "calling" is named specifically apart from "the gifts," it is not therefore excluded from the category of "the gifts."

The Arminian who denies that faith and repentance, and every other grace of salvation, is a "gift" of God, must exclude them from "the gifts" of Romans 11: 26.

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