Dave Hunt is a favorite Christian author of mine, and the author of many books including What Love Is This? Hunt is also noted for the book Debating Calvinism in which he and ardent Calvinist defender James White go toe-to-toe on the doctrines of grace. Hunt writes in a manner making complex topics easy to understand. He does, however, like the KJV – but … I guess … I can forgive him for that. Below is Hunt’s response to a Calvinist question posed in The Berean Call in which unconditional election is inferred.
Calvinist’s Question
In your February 2001 Berean Call newsletter, you stated that a sovereign God does not overcome a person’s free will in regard to justification. But, if God has not irresistibly overcome my will, why did I believe in Christ and someone else didn’t? If I’m able to believe the gospel without God regenerating me first, couldn’t I take credit for believing and boast in heaven?
Hunt’s Answer
Salvation is a free gift of God’s grace for which Christ paid the full price on Calvary. Have you ever taken credit for any gift someone has given you? Wouldn’t it be equally absurd for a helpless, lost sinner to take any credit or to boast for simply receiving God’s free gift of eternal life?
God has provided salvation in Christ [and freely] offers it. Man is responsible to accept or reject [salvation].
- John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life.
- Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.
- Rev 22:17 And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
In salvation, God shows no favoritism.
- John 3:16 [God] so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
[God wouldn’t] command us to repent if we couldn’t.
- Acts 17:30 God commands all men everywhere to repent.
Why do some believe, and others do not? Either God has from eternity past predestined some to heaven and others to hell – or God has given man the ability to choose so that from his heart he can believe in Christ [and receive] God’s love.The Bible leaves no doubt which of these is true. It declares God’s desires.
- 1 Timothy 2:4 all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
- 2 Pet 3:9 God isn’t willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
https://www.thebereancall.org/
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