w h a t c h r i s t i a n l e a d e r s
a r e s a y i n g a b o u t t h i s b o o k
TIM LAHAYE
Author of more than 50 books
including co-author of the Left Behind Series
“To suggest that the merciful, longsuffering, gracious and loving God of the
Bible would invent a dreadful doctrine like Calvinism, which would have us
believe it is an act of ‘grace’ to select only certain people for heaven and, by
exclusion, others for hell, comes perilously close to blasphemy. And that is
why I congratulate Dave Hunt for writing this excellent clarification of the
doctrine that has its roots more in Greek humanism, from where it originated,
than it does in Scripture. This book could well be the most important book
written in the twenty-first century for all evangelical Christians to read. It
will help you know and love the real God of the Bible who clearly says of
Himself, ‘It is not My will that any should perish but that all should come
to repentance.’ Calvinism is a far cry from the God of the Bible who loves
mankind so much that He sent His only Son to save whosoever calls on Him
for mercy in the name of His resurrected Son, Jesus Christ. Every evangelical
minister should read this book. If they did, we would see a mighty revival of
soul-winning passion that would turn this world upside down as multitudes
saw the real God of the Bible, not the false God of Augustinianism and
Calvinism.”
CHUCK SMITH
Pastor, Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa
“Dave Hunt has done it again. Even as his books, The Seduction of Christianity
and A Woman Rides the Beast have stirred the Christian community into taking
a serious look at the aberrant teachings of some Pentecostals and the Roman
Catholic church, so now in his latest book on Calvinism, he brings to the
light the teachings of John Calvin, which are bound to cause ripples through
the entire church, and send many back to a serious study of tulip in light of
God’s Word. He has researched the origins of the teachings of Calvinism and
thoroughly documents his findings. It is a must-read for those who are serious
in their desire to understand the influence that Calvin has had and continues
to have on the Evangelical church.”
ELMER L. TOWNS
Dean, School of Religion, Liberty University
“Dave Hunt has given exact details to show the agonizing faults of Calvinistic
abuses that most people have not considered. I would like for all of my students at
Liberty University to read this in-depth analysis. It seems that each year Calvinism,
like dandelions, comes in the spring. Students get wrapped up in arguing the issues
of Calvinism. Those students who don’t like aggressive soul-winning use their view
of Calvinism to defend their position. Those who are aggressive soul winners attack
the weaknesses of Calvinism. Very little of their discussions are grounded in the
truth of the Word of God. In the final analysis, their arguments are like weeds, i.e.,
dandelions that bear no fruit. May many read this volume to ‘be no more children,
tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of
men, and cunning craftiness,’ but may they be grounded in the Word of God.”
WILLIAM MACDONALD
Author of more than 80 books in 100 languages including the
Believer’s Bible Commentary and True Discipleship
“This book exposes traditional Calvinism for portraying God in a totally
unscriptural manner. Professed Calvinists will want to rethink their position when
they realize the Biblical truths that are at stake. This book will stand as a definitive
work on the subject.”
DR. CHUCK MISSLER
Founder, Koinonia House
“The character of God has been totally misrepresented by our common
denominational traditions. Dave Hunt continues his intrepid commitment to
revealing the truth—however unfashionable or politically incorrect it may be
deemed. Blindfold your prejudices and be ready for a stunning and desperately
needed perspective on this highly controversial area. Here is another essential for
the serious student of God’s Word.”
ARNO FROESE
Executive Director, Midnight Call Ministry • Editor, Midnight Call
“Rarely has anyone undertaken the exhaustive task of detailing and documenting
the misconception of God’s sovereign grace as has Dave Hunt. Reading this
work should convince even the most staunch Calvinist to recognize the flawed
philosophical theology of preselection as an attempt to eliminate man’s capacity
to exercise his free will, which reduces God’s sovereign love to an act of a mere
dictator. This book needs to be read by every communicator of the Gospel in
defense of the fundamental principles of God’s grace.”
JOSEPH R. CHAMBERS, DD, DSL
Pastor, author, and radio host
“This incredible book by Dave Hunt is imperative in our generation of ‘class
warfare.’ It is hard to believe that the Christian world has its own system of
‘apartheid.’ That’s exactly what hyper-Calvinism represents, and this book exposes
the horror of spiritual apartheid for what it really is. Calvinism makes our Heavenly
Father look like the worst of despots and I join Dave in declaring Him: Not Guilty!
The biblical revelation of redemption leaves no one uninvited.”
JIM CUSTER
Right Start Ministries
“I am glad to see Dave deal with a tough subject, supply materials that many of us
have not accessed until now, and challenge the Biblical basis for tulip.”
BOB WILKIN, PH.D.
Founder and Executive Director, Grace Evangelical Society
“Dave Hunt has given us a fascinating exposé of modern five-point Calvinism
that is both highly readable and practical. I especially enjoyed the section on
perseverance and assurance of salvation.”
HARRY BOLLBACK
Co-founder with Jack Wyrtzen of Word of Life International
“As a biblicist, I find this to be a refreshing biblical review of things which for many
years have brought confusion to believers. We’ve allowed words and ideas of men
to determine our positions. This book reminds us to listen to what the Word of
God has to say.”
JOE JORDAN
Executive Director Word of Life Fellowship, Inc.
“Dave Hunt’s treatment of the age-old controversy over election and predestination
in his book, What Love is This? Calvinism’s Misrepresentation of God, is not only
thought-provoking but also brings the reader to focus on a scriptural viewpoint
in this very thorny theological issue. Many times theology is approached
philosophically and not biblically, and this approach will bring havoc in the
Church. In Dave’s book, we are challenged to go back to the Scriptures as we
evaluate the workings of God on this all-important subject of salvation. This is
definitely a book that causes us to reflect on how we formulate our doctrine.”
B E N D • O R E G O N
w w w. t h e b e r e a n c a l l . o r g
C ALVINISMʼS
MISREPRESENTATION
OF GOD
LOVE ?
W H A T
T IS H I S
U P D A T E D A N D E X P A N D E D
DAVE HUNT
WHAT LOVE IS THIS?
Second Edition — eBook Version
Published by The Berean Call
Copyright © 2004
International Standard Book Number (eBook): 1-928660-18-5
Second Edition ISBN (Print): 1-928660-12-6
First Edition ISBN (Loyal Publishing): 1-929125-30-5
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from
The Holy Bible, King James Version (kjv)
Used by Permission
Printed in the United States of America
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any
means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise—without prior written permission.
The Berean Call
PO Box 7019
Bend, Oregon, 97708-7019
Contents
A Brief Word ...... 13
1 Why This Book? ...... 15
An Issue of Great Importance (18) • Aggressive Promotion (20) • A Challenge to Remain Silent (22)
2 Is Biblical Understanding Reserved for an Elite? ...... 25
Is Calvinism So Difficult to Understand? (26) • Making Certain of Accuracy and Fairness (27) • An
Appeal for Open Discussion (28) • The Most Compelling Reason (30) • Facing a Real Dilemma (31)
3 John Calvin and His Institutes ...... 35
How Much Calvin in Calvinism? (37) • How Much Catholicism in Calvinism? (38) • Early Life and
Conversion (40) • Calvin’s Institutes (42) • Basic Elements: Sovereignty and Predestination (43) •
Depravity and “Mystery” (45)
4 Calvinismʼs Surprising Catholic Connection ...... 51
Augustine and the Use of Force (52) • Augustine’s Dominant Influence (53) • Is Calvinism Really a
Protestant Belief? (55) • Drawing from a Polluted Stream (56) • An Amazing Contradiction (58) • The
Role of the Latin Vugate (60) • The Geneva and King James Bibles and Protestant Creeds (61) • The
New Geneva Study Bible and Reformation Truth (63) • The Necessity to Clarify Confusion (63)
5 Irresistibly Imposed “Christianity”...... 67
From Constantine to Augustine (68) • From Augustine to Calvin (69) • Calvin’s Triumphant Return
(71) • Tyranny in Geneva (72) • Don’t Cross Dr. Calvin! (74) • Irrational Behavior (76) • Good
Intentions Gone Astray (76) • The Hopelessness of Imposed “Godliness” (78) • Servetus: The Arch
Heretic (79) • The Torture and Burning of Servetus (80) • The Failure of Attempted Exonerations (81)
• Calvin’s Self-Justifications (82) • Does the Christian Life Conform to Culture? (84)
6 Arminius, Dort, Westminster, and Five Points...... 89
Character and Conduct Comparisons (90) • Arminius and His Teachings (91) • The Break with Calvinism
(93) • Arminianism and State Churches (95) • Synods, Assemblies, Councils, and Confessions (97) •
The Five Arminian Points (98) • The Growing Controversy (99) • The Great Synod Of Dort (Dordrecht)
(102) • Fruits of the Synod of Dort (103) • The Westminster Assembly (104) • Lessons to Be Learned
(107) • Defining Calvinism (108)
7 Total Depravity ...... 113
Calvinism’s Undeniable Irrationality (114) • Depravity Equals Inability? (117) • What Ability Is
Needed to Receive a Gift? (118) • Born Again Before Salvation? (120) • The Disturbing Consequences
(122) • Which Comes First, Salvation or Faith? (124) • Biblical Support for Total Depravity? (126) •
Is There a Bias at Work? (128) • Is God Sincere? (129) • Calvin’s Inconsistency (130) • Faced with
a Choice (131) •
8 The Solemn Issue: Godʼs Character...... 135
Choice and Human Responsibility (136) • What God Is This? (137) • A Question not of Sovereignty
but of Character (139) • Not a Question of Obligation (140) • Why Does God Strive? (141) • Caught
in a Maze of Contradictions (142) •
9 The Truth about Human Depravity...... 145
When Does “All” Not Include “All”? (146) • Two Conflicting Views (147) • When Is Depravity Not
Total? (148) • The Emperor’s Clothes Again? (149) • When You’re Dead, Are You Dead? (150) •
Leopard’s Spots, Man’s Skin Color—Like Sin? (152) • “Thy Faith Hath Saved Thee” (153) • Simple
Confusion Over Inability (154)
10 A Distorted Sovereignty...... 157
A Commendable but Mistaken Zeal (158) • Freedom to Rebel but Not to Repent? (159) • Confronting
a Vital Distinction (160) • Hear it from Calvin and Calvinists (161) • Limiting God (162) • An
Irrational Position (163) • Is This the God of the Bible? (164) • A Merciless Sovereignty (165)
11 Sovereignty and Free Will ...... 169
A Serious Contradiction (170) • What About Ephesians 1:11? (172) • An Important Distinction (173)
• What a Sovereign God Cannot Do (174) • God Can Neither Tempt Nor Be Tempted (175) • What
God Cannot Do to Save Man (176) • Free Will Does Not Conflict With God’s Sovereignty (177) • Setting
the Record Straight (178)
12 Foreknowledge and Manʼs Will ...... 181
Creator and Creation (182) • God’s Continual Protection (183) • The Problem of Evil (184) • Why
Doesn’t God Stop Evil and Suffering? (186) • Practical Consequences of Denying Free Will (188) • The
Horrible Consequences of Calvinistic “Sovereignty” (189) • Love: The Missing Ingredient (191) • The
Failure of Attempted “Explanations” (192) • Differentiating Foreknowledge from Predestination (193)
• Foreknowledge as Proof (195) • What About Man’s Will? (197) • Confusion Where Clarity Is Needed
(198) • What Scripture Says About Free Will (199) • Do Outside Influences Destroy Free Will? (200)
• Foreknowledge and Man’s Will (201) • Augustine on Free Will (202)
13 Erasmus and Luther in Debate ...... 207
A Few Relevant Facts (209) • Contradictions, Contradictions . . . (210) • Credit Where Credit Is Due
(211) • Erasmus of Rotterdam (213) • The Forerunner of the Reformation (214) • Finally, the Open
Antagonism (215) • A Hopeless Strategy (217) • Luther’s Provoked Response (218) • Is the Will
Really in Bondage? (220)
14 The Bondage of the Will? ...... 225
An Awkward Duel (226) • To What Is the Will in Bondage? (228) • The Will Must Be Willing (229) •
A Prejudicial Misuse of Scripture (230) • Forcing Scripture to Say What it Doesn’t (231) • Confusing
the Issue (232) • More Irrelevancy (233) •
15 Unconditional Election ...... 237
Unconditional Election: The Heart of Calvinism (239) • Calvinism’s Unbiblical View of Sovereignty
AGAIN (240) • Does God Cause Man to Sin? (241) • Are “Tempting” and “Testing” Meaningless
Terms? (242) • Incapable and Predestined, Yet Accountable? (243) • A Strained and Unwarranted
Redefinition of Words (244) • Who Are the Elect, and Why? (245) • Perplexing Indeed! (247) •
Scripture and Conscience Are United Against It (247) • What “Justice” Is This? (249) • Evading the
Issues (250) • No Escape by Semantics (251) • In Summary (252)
16 Is Salvation Available to All? ...... 257
Sovereignty and Salvation (258) • Christ Defines “Whosoever” (259) • Illustrating a Point (261) •
Misunderstanding a Biblical Illustration (261) • “As Many as Were Ordained to Eternal Life Believed”
(263) • The Context Is Clear (264) • Predestination to Salvation—or Not? (265) • Giving God a Bad
Name (266) • A Strange “Mercy” and “Kindness” (268) • Denying a Clear Contradiction (269) •
Biblical Mercy, Kindness, and Grace (270)
17 Foreknowledge and Predestination/Election...... 273
Perverting Predestination (274) • The Role of Predestination in Calvinism (275) • Where Is God’s
Love? (276) • Distorting a Metaphor (277) • A Simple Exegesis (279) • The Essential Function of
Foreknowledge (280) • Why Not Accept the Simplest Meaning? (281) • More Redundancies and
Nonsense (282) • A Closer Look at Election (283) • The Five Pertinent Scriptures (284) • Calvin’s
Fallacious Arguments (285) • Some Important Distinctions (286) • Ridicule and “Mystery” (288)
18 Limited Atonement...... 293
Honoring God’s Love Is Heresy? (294) • The Doctrine Clearly Stated (297) • Key, Yet Controversial,
Even Among Calvinists (298) • Why Aren’t All Men Saved? (300) • Salvation Is for All (302) • An
Unwarranted Assumption (304) • Sense or Nonsense? (305)
19 Abusing Godʼs Word...... 309
Faith Is Essential (310) • What About “Double Payment”? (311) • Was “Some” of Christ’s Blood
Shed in Vain? (312) • Redemption Through His Blood (313) • Particular Atonement? (314) • The
Gospel Is Personal (316) • Changing the Meaning of “World” (317) • Ingenious but Irrational (319)
• What About 1 John 2:2? (320) • To Whom Did John Write? (322) • What About the Meaning of
“The Whole World”? (323)
20 Understanding Pivotal Scriptures...... 327
Salvation Is Not the Subject (328) • “Two Nations...and Two Manner of People” (329) • What About
the Individuals? (330) • What About Pharaoh? (331) • “Whom He Will He Hardeneth” (333) • Clay,
the Potter, and Vessels of Wrath (335) • John 3:16–17 Revisited (337) • Christ Died for All (339) •
God Has Two Wills in Conflict? (340) • “All Men” Means All "Classes” of Men? (342)
21 More Pivotal Scriptures ...... 347
What About 2 Peter 2:1? (348) • Understanding 2 Peter 3:9 (350) • Are the Elect in Danger of
Perishing? (351) • What About 1 Timothy 4:10? (352) • Grasping at Straws (354) • Hiding the Truth
(356) • God’s Infinite Love Expressed through Paul (358) •
22 Irresistible Grace...... 361
The Serious Consequences of Sovereignty Misapplied (362) • What Love, Compassion, and Grace
Is This? (364) • A Longsuffering God (365) • A Foundational Misunderstanding (367) • More
Contradictions (369) • Irresistible Grace and the Gospel (370) • A Classic Oxymoron (372) • The
“Two Conflicting Wills” Theory Revisited (373) •
23 The Calvinistʼs Irresolvable Problem...... 379
No Explaining Away (382) • What Does Christ Teach? (384) • What About God’s Love? (384) •
Was Paul Wrong in His Passionate Concern? (385) • What God Is This? (386) • The Darkest Side of
Calvinism (387) • This Is Election? (388) • Left with Unanswered Questions (389)
24 When Grace Isnʼt Grace...... 393
God the Puppet Master (394) • A One-Sided Emphasis (396) • A Continuing Cover-Up (397) •
Unbiblical and Unreasonable (399) • Demeaning the Great Commission (401) • Building Upon a
“Dead” Foundation (402) • A Subtle Surrender to Materialism (403) • Adding to the Confusion (404)
• Irresistible Grace and Spiritual Death (405) • Seeking an Understanding (406) • The “Spiritually
Dead” Hear and Believe (408) • “Limited” Irresistible Grace? (409) • The Libel Against God Clearly
Stated (411)
25 Grace and Human Responsibility...... 415
A Troubling Tendency (416) • The Overwhelming Testimony of Scripture (417) • The Calvinist’s Best
Foot Forward (419) • The Burden of Proof (421) • Those Who “Draw Back Unto Perdition” (422) •
Is It All a Charade? (424) • Except the Father Draw Him: What Does that Mean? (425) • Eisegetical
Illusion (425)
26 Calvinismʼs Errors Are Serious...... 429
Infant Baptism and Circumcision (430) • Was Calvin Really the Great Exegete? (431) • Tolerating
Calvin’s Errors (432) • Finding the “Unavailable” Exegesis (433) • Human Responsibility (436) •
The Universal Thirst that Only God Can Quench (437) • More Contradictions (439)
27 Persuasion, the Gospel, and God...... 441
Calvinism and Evangelism (443) • Another Favorite Verse (444) • The Simplicity of What John Says
(445) • Staggering Deductions (446) • Directly Contradicting Scripture (449) • Confusing Man’s
Faith with God’s Work (450) • Is Faith, or Salvation, the Gift of God? (452) • We Must Believe—God
Doesn’t Believe for Us (453) • The Biblical Order: Faith Brings Salvation (454) • To Whom Is Salvation
Offered? (455) • The Serpent and Christ (457)
28 When Is “Love” Not Love?...... 461
Did Christ Really Weep Over Jerusalem? (462) • Disagreement in the Ranks (462) • Contradictions,
Contradictions.... (464) • Kinds or Aspects of Love? (465) • Christ Is Speaking as the God of Israel
(467) • Is There a Real Battle for Souls? (469) • Luther’s Astonishing “Answer” (470) • That
Inescapable Will Again! (471) • “Where Is Boasting Then?” (472) • Man Is Meaningless Without a
Will (474) • Commissioned by God to Persuade Men (475) • Paul’s Fervent Preaching and Example
(476) • The Bottom Line (477) • God Contrasted with False Gods (478)
29 Perseverance of the Saints ...... 481
An Endemic Uncertainty of Salvation (482) • Disagreement on a Vital Point (484) • Uncomfortable
with Jesus? (486) • The Gospel: God’s Power unto Salvation (488)
30 A Calvinistʼs Honest Doubts ...... 491
Enter a Troubling Uncertainty (492) • Growing Confusion (493) • What “Regeneration” Was This?
(494) • A Victim of Subtle Deception? (495) • The Impact of “Unconditional Election” (496) •
“Limited Atonement” Adds to His Despair (497) • “Irresistible Grace”—the Final Blow (498) •
Turning to Calvin for Help (499) • What “God” Is This! (501) • Is There No Way of Escape? (503) •
“Hyper-Calvinism?” What’s That? (504) • Where’s the Difference? (505) • Contradictions...and Double
Talk (506) • Stifling a Most Troubling Thought (508) • Calvin’s Weakness as an Apologist (509)
31 Resting in Godʼs Love...... 513
The Central Issue: God’s Love (515) • Hell: Whose Choice? (517) • Perseverance of the Saints? (518)
• More and More Unanswered Questions (520) • To God Be the Glory! (521) • Desperation—and
Enlightenment (522) • A Forgotten Challenge (523) • The Turning Point (524) • Calvinism’s Last
Stand (525) • The Final Question (527) • Assurance for Eternity (529)
A Final Word ...... 533
Bibliography ...... 535
Scripture Reference Index...... 555