Calvin's Dilemma: God's Sovereignty vs. Man's Free Will

Sovereignty versus Free Will. Can the centuries-old divide be resolved—biblically? Drawn from Dave Hunt’s masterful work on the subject, What Love Is This? Calvinism’s Misrepresentation of God, this long-awaited installment in the “easier-to-read” paperback series provides an invaluable and highly accessible examination of one of the most hotly-debated topics among evangelicals today. The apparent tension between God’s sovereignty and man’s free will has been a point of study and discussion—and, sadly, of contention—among sincere Christians for centuries. Some have taken the approach of C. I. Scofield, that these are two truths that must both be accepted but that cannot be reconciled. “Both are wholly true, but the connecting and reconciling truth has not been revealed.” Likewise, W. L. Pettingill wrote, “God insists upon His sovereignty and also upon man’s responsibility. Believe both and preach both, leaving the task of ‘harmonizing’ with Him.” R. A. Torrey agreed that we should not “try to explain away the clear teaching of the Word of God, as to the sovereignty of God [and] the freedom of the human will....” Thus, Calvinists are faced with a dire dilemma when it comes to presenting the gospel. If man’s only choice is to reject God unless he has been predestined to be sovereignly regenerated, why should one bother sharing the “good news” at all? Unfortunately, neither Calvin nor many of his followers today have been willing to accept both sides of this biblical teaching. As readers of this volume will discover, Calvinism denies what so many great evangelists have recognized is vital for “whosoever will” to hear. In Calvin’s Dilemma, Dave Hunt skillfully demonstrates the essential balance that is required to bridge this divide biblically.