A Calvinist's Honest Doubts; A Book Review

A Calvinist's Honest Doubts - By Reason and God's Amazing Grace
by Dave Hunt

"Experience shows that the reprobate are sometimes affected in a way similar to the elect, that even in their own judgments there is no difference between them... Not that they truly perceive the power of spiritual and the sure light of faith; but the Lord the better to convict them, and leave them without excuse, instills into their minds such a sense of his goodness as can still be felt without the spirit of adoption.
Still... the reprobate believe God to be propitious to them, inasmuch as they accept the gift of reconciliation, though confusedly and without due discernment... Nor do I deny that God illumines their minds to this extent, that they recognize his grace; but that conviction he distinguishes from peculiar testimony which he gives to his elect in this respect, that the reprobate never obtain to the full result or the fruition. When he shows himself propitious to them, it is not as if he had truly rescued them from death, and taken them under his protection, he only gives them a manifestation of his present mercy. I the elect alone he implants the living root of faith, so that they preserve even to the end."

Those were the horrifying words that Al read from John Calvin's Instititues lll. How could he believe in a God who seemed to take pleasure in deceiving people and damning them to hell? Or, should he believe in God at all?

Al had grown up in a devout Roman Catholic family, but shortly after his marriage to Jan, Al began to question the teachings of Catholicism because of the obvious contradictions between his Church and the Bible. Al got saved and was baptized as a believer, and he was able to lead his "new age" wife to Christ shortly there after.
Al and Jan faithfully served the Lord for eight years, their children were growing in the Lord, they prayed and studied the Word of God as a family.
God had really done a beautiful thing in Al's family's hearts and lives.

Al attended a small men's Bible study at his Church. Slowly, and almost unnoticed the doctrine of Calvinism was introduced. Al was eager to learn more about this seemingly deeper understanding. So, he got himself a Geneva Bible edited by R. C. Sproul. At first Al loved this new doctrine, and read all he could about Calvinism, but soon it began to trouble him very much. Most Calvinist's rejected the whole idea of "free will".
But those questions were soon forgotten in his excitement.

Al wanted Jan to understand this "new truth" also, so he began to study T.U.L.I.P more in depth. But soon he became very confused, how could he know he was one of the elect? This question began to trouble him night and day, he could get no rest!
He took his concerns to his pastor, but he just gave Al more books on Calvinism to read. But the more he read the less assurance he had. Al got to the place after reading Calvin's Institutes III, that he began to doubt everything he knew about Jesus Christ. Especially after finding out that Calvin said he knew he was one of the elect because of his Roman Catholic infant baptism. Should he return to his former faith?

Finally, Al decided to go talk to his wife about it again. He asked Jan how, since she had the ability to get saved, how did she know that sometime in the future she wouldn't decide to reject Christ - even in heaven? Jan told him that there would be nothing that could tempt me away from my Lord, no one is more wonderful than Him! Al then wanted to know why Satan rebelled...? Her answer was this; "Yeah, but he was never redeemed... never bought with the blood of Christ... He had no basis for loving God, no gratitude to Christ for dying in his place..."
Al said he didn't want to argue, but that he just wanted to know the truth. Jan told him "You really want to know the truth? Jesus said 'Thy Word is truth... I am the truth... the resurrection and the life...' He promised believer's eternal life... that we would never perish. I believe Him. That's all I need to know... it's that simple."

Al finally got it! He had assurance for eternity! And, God so loved the world, and is not willing that any should perish!
"We simply believe God's Word in all things, and we are therefore certain that we are saved and He in coming back to take us to His Father's house of many mansions to fulfill His promise 'that where I am, there ye may be also'. (John 14:1-3)"

"A Calvinist's Honest Doubts" is a very honest straight forward book on the errors on Calvinism, and where it may lead. The emphasis on the love of God for all men is beautiful! This book is a wonderful synopsis on Dave Hunt's book "What Love is This?" I loved it! :D