Do you know the definition? Do you know what it means? More important… do you know how it applies to you? Webster’s definition says: “not possible to revoke”. Well, that’s not helpful, is it? Synonyms: irreplaceable, irrecoverable, irredeemable, irreversible… this I interpret to mean a done deal, can’t and won’t be undone. Thankfully, scripture gives a more thorough description to help us:
“for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable [for He does not withdraw what He has given, nor does He change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call].”
(Romans 11:29, AMP)
Does this help a bit more? Probably the caveat is our own definitions, experiences, understandings, descriptions of ‘gifts’ and ‘calling’. But when we couple this verse in Romans and remember God’s words in Malachi 3:6 this becomes powerful. Never forget that if God calls you to it… He always equips you for it. Even when you don’t ‘feel’ it, as you take that step in obedience, you discover that whatever you felt was lacking is overflowing.
“And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that, always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;” (2 Corinthians 9:8, AMP)
Two areas are identified in Romans: gifts and calling. We read about gifts in a number of places: 1 Corinthians 12 talks about the spiritual gifts given to man and what they are and how they function.
“However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if prophecy, in proportion to one’s faith; if service, in the act of serving; or the one who teaches, in the act of teaching; or the one who exhorts, in the work of exhortation; the one who gives, with generosity; the one who is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Romans 12:6-8 AMP)
These verses in Romans aren’t always accorded the same degree of importance as the verses in 1 Corinthians… and yet, these too are considered as gifts to the body. There are other places in scripture that indicate the role of gifts… but it is we who accept the mantle and walk in the gift for others.
I would argue that the importance and purpose of the gifts can be seen in Ephesians 4:11-13, AMP as these verses identify some of the offices. As you read them, just as with the gifts, not one is placed in superiority over another. Man, on the other hand, has. Bottom line is that everything is done so that we are enabled, equipped to provide our part in helping the body grow into the Lord’s church (without spot or wrinkle).
“And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”
We’re still working on this. This is why they are still irrevocable. We need the gifts and offices, realizing our individual calling so we can aid in attaining maturity.
