DAVE HUNT’S SCRIPTURE TWISTING

DAVE HUNT’S SCRIPTURE TWISTING

“And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed” [Acts 13:48 – KJV]

Even one of the most bastardized and adulterated versions, the NIV, does better than Hunt in translating this verse. The NIV renders the word “ordained” as “appointed”, which still delineates clearly who is the actor and who is the one acted upon in the sentence. But it seems that even the NIV isn’t liberal enough for Dave Hunt. He would take this verse even farther into the pit. The DHV (Dave Hunt Version) would have Acts 13:48 say this: “As many as ‘disposed themselves’ to eternal life believed.” Dave Hunt inverts the worker and the workmanship. The Bible declares that God is the worker, and we are His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10), but Dave Hunt would call God a liar, declaring that we are both the worker AND the workmanship – and that fallen man, totally dead in sins and trespasses, must “dispose” himself to eternal life in order to be saved.

Dave Hunt’s scriptural gymnastics are parroted by those in the “Christian” media. Marty Stacy of KCRO in Omaha, Nebraska parrots the Dave Hunt mistranslation of this verse (a verse which they MUST attempt to destroy, because in it the Gospel of Grace is plainly declared). Stacy writes: “Many are unaware of the Greek in the verse which might be alternatively translated: ‘and as many as were putting themselves in a position for eternal life, believed’ or ‘and as many as were lining themselves up in a position for eternal life, believed’.

Dave Hunt admits that the Greek word that is translated here is the word TASSO (5021).

I invite everyone here to go to STRONG’s and we will examine the Greek definition of this word.:
(5021) TASSO – a prolonged form of a primary verb (which latter appears only in certain tenses); to arrange in an orderly manner, i.e. ASSIGN OR DISPOSE (to a certain position or lot):–addict, appoint, determine, ordain, set.

In no way can this verse be twisted in the manner in which Dave Hunt and Marty Stacy have twisted it! The respected Matthew Henry wrote it thusly: “Those came to Christ whom the Father drew, and to whom the Spirit made the gospel call effectual, (Rom.8:30). As many as were disposed to eternal life, as many as had concern about their eternal state, and aimed to make sure of eternal life, believed in Christ, IN WHOM GOD HAS TREASURED UP THAT LIFE, AND WHO IS THE ONLY WAY TO IT; AND IT WAS THE GRACE OF GOD THAT WROUGHT IT IN THEM.”

So the declaration is plainly made in this scripture that it is the Father who called these to eternal life, and the Holy Spirit who wrought this work in them. What blasphemy to defile and despise the gift of God and place its origin in man.

Dave Hunt begins his attack with a scurrilous and baseless attack on every God-breathed English Version up to and including the King James Version. Then, as if he has proved some point merely by causing questions and doubts in the mind of Bible students, he still arrives at the same Greek word as the “original” text from which we are to start. But, according to Hunt, we should not heed those mighty men of God, like William Tyndale, who were burned to death for daring to challenge the CATHOLIC interpretation of these scriptures. Hunt cannot have us heed Tyndale (90% of the KJV is derived from Tyndale’s New Testament) because if you believe the Bible, you must declare Dave Hunt a liar. You cannot have it both ways. Either the Bible lies, or Dave Hunt does. Either William Tyndale is a liar, or Dave Hunt is.

A HORRENDOUS ASSAULT ON THE TRUTH

To defend his position on Acts 13:48, Dave Hunt quotes from the noted Greek expert A.T. Robertson: “There is no evidence that Luke had in mind an absolutum decretum of personal salvation…” (Quoted in “What Love is This? By Dave Hunt, page 211). Dave Hunt finishes Robertson’s quote there, and would have us believe that Robertson agrees with his perverted translation of the word. For the record, Hunt is quoting from Robertson in his The Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament. But unfortunately for Hunt, Robertson continues, and in so doing proves that he absolutely DOES NOT agree with Dave Hunt’s proposition:

“It was saving faith that was exercised only by those who were appointed unto eternal life, who were ranged on the side of eternal life, who were thus revealed as the subjects of God’s grace by the stand that they took on this day for the Lord. It was a great day for the kingdom of God.” (emphasis added) – The Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament – Copyright © Broadman Press 1932,33, Renewal 1960.

Why would Dave Hunt lie about what A.T. Robertson believes about Acts 13:48? What was his motive?

…Among the Reformers, to be a Reformer… among the Protestants, generally to be a Protestant; and obtaining their confidence to seek even to preach from their pulpits…

On the back cover, in the “exceptional endorsements” of Hunt’s new book – there is this quote from Hunt’s buddy Tim LaHaye:

“Calvinism… comes perilously close to blasphemy. And that is why I congratulate Dave Hunt for writing this excellent clarification of the doctrine…”

That Dave Hunt chose this quote for the back cover of his book shows that he clearly agrees with Tim LaHaye. So Dave Hunt believes that “Calvinism” (a term concocted by Arminians) is perilously close to blasphemy? Strangely enough, in his last newsletter, Dave Hunt and his partner T.A. McMahon chose to utilize a quote from Charles Spurgeon, a man that, by Hunt’s own judgment, must be a blasphemer. Spurgeon said this about the “nickname” Calvinism:

“I have my own private opinion that there is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified, unless we preach what nowadays is called Calvinism. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism; Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else. I do not believe we can preach the gospel, if we do not preach justification by faith, without works; nor unless we preach the Sovereignty of God in His dispensation of grace; nor unless we exalt the electing, unchangeable, eternal, immutable, conquering love of Jehovah; nor do I think we can preach the gospel, unless we base it upon the special and particular redemption of His elect and chosen people which Christ wrought out upon the cross; nor can I comprehend a gospel which lets saints “fall away” after they are called, and suffers the children of God to be burned in the fires of damnation after having once believed in Jesus-such a gospel I abhor.”

In his Berean Call newsletter, Hunt includes a quote from the great preacher Charles Spurgeon in order to emphasize a point in his continued but feigned attack on the Catholic Church. But let’s examine what Spurgeon has to say about Dave Hunt:

“Men hate election just as thieves hate Chubb’s patent locks; because they cannot get at the treasure themselves, they therefore hate the guard which protects it. Now election shuts up the precious treasury of God’s covenant blessings for his children-for penitents, for seeking sinners. These men will not repent, will not believe; they will not go God’s way, and then they grumble and growl, and fret, and fume, because God has locked the treasure up against them. Let a man once believe that all the treasure within is his, and then the stouter the bolt, and the surer the lock, the better for him. Oh, how sweet it is to believe our names were on Jehovah’s heart, and graven on Jesus’ hands before the universe had a being! May not this electrify a man of joy, and make him dance for very mirth? Chosen of God ere time began. Come on, slanderers! rail on as pleases you. Come on thou world in arms! Cataracts of trouble descend if you will, and you, ye floods of affliction, roll if so it be ordained, for God has written my name in the book of life. Firm as this rock I stand, though nature reels and all things pass away. What consolation then to be called: for if I am called, then I am predestinated.” – Charles Haddon Spurgeon – Predestination and Calling

Interestingly enough, we are not the only ones to call Dave Hunt to task for his prevarications, scriptural gymnastics and overt rascalism. The Arminians are just as mad! In his defense of Jacobus Arminius, Hunt attempts to prove that Arminius actually believed in the security of the believer, the one “Calvinist” viewpoint with which Dave Hunt agrees. The admitted Arminian Dan Corner of Evangelical Outreach recently wrote an open letter concerning Dave Hunt entitled: Dave Hunt’s Dangerous Misrepresentation Of Arminius.

Corner writes:
“Hunt’s dangerous misrepresentation of Arminius is stated on pp. 76, 77: He [Arminius] also, with these words, defended himself against the false charge that he taught the doctrine of falling away: “At no period have I asserted ‘that believers do finally decline or fall away from faith or salvation.'”

It seems that Hunt… actually misread what Arminius wrote, has lifted this statement entirely out of its context, just like he (does) to try to make the Scriptures teach eternal security. The entire context of what Hunt quotes… from Arminius is cited below:

From: Jacobus Arminius, The Works of James Arminius, trans. James and William Nichols [Baker Book House, 1986], Vol. 1, pp. 741, 742. II. With regard to the Second Article, I say, that a distinction ought to be made between power and action. For it is one thing to declare, that “it is possible for the faithful to fall away from faith and salvation,” and it is another to say, that “they do actually fall away”… I subjoin, that there is a vast difference between the enunciation of these two sentences: (1.) “It is possible for believers to decline from the FAITH;” and (2.) “It is possible for believers to decline from SALVATION.” For the latter, when rigidly and accurately examined, can scarcely be admitted;-it being impossible for believers, as long as they remain believers, to decline from salvation. Because, were this possible, that power of God would be conquered which he has determined to employ in saving believers. On the other hand, if believers fall away from the faith and become unbelievers, it is impossible for them to do otherwise than decline from salvation,-that is, provided they still continue unbelievers.”

It is evident to any fair observer that Arminius believed that believers could lose their salvation. So Hunt has a terrible problem in that he is now being shown to be a concocter and a liar from both the proponents of Arminianism and by the proponents of God’s doctrines of Grace.

What could possibly be his motive? A quick check of Hunt’s “exceptional endorsements” shows a veritable “who’s who” of hyper-dispensationalist preachers. Almost all are, strangely enough, Arminian teachers who have somehow stubbornly held on to the doctrine of eternal security for the sake of maintaining their Protestant credentials.

Look where Hunt preaches. He is a regular at Chuch Smith’s Calvary Chapel, and he is embraced by Chuck Missler, Tim LaHaye, Joseph Chambers and Bob Wilkin.

To fully embrace Arminianism would cost Hunt dearly. Remember that one of the goals of the Jesuits is “obtaining their confidence to seek even to preach from their pulpits”.

I stand as a witness to you today that boldly proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the doctrines of Grace will get you banned from the pulpits of America.

DENYING THE FALL

On page 96 of “What Love is This?” Dave Hunt writes: “Never, however, does the Bible suggest that because of Adam’s original sin all of his descendants lack the ability to turn to God…”

Really? Let’s examine scripture:
“the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:5).
“He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not” (John 1:10).
“As it is written There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, THERE IS NONE THAT SEEKETH AFTER GOD.” (Romans 3:10-12)

That there are none that seek after God is biblical fact. Spurgeon said this, “As for seeking after God, and delighting himself in the Almighty, the sinner knows nothing thereof; his sin has killed him towards all desire for God, or love to him, or delight in him. He is to God dead while he liveth.”

Just as Lazarus lay in the tomb as a corpse, dead to God and altogether unable to raise himself, rather he stunk and decayed and the worms ate at his cadaver – so the dead man, totally dead in sins and trespasses is unable and unwilling to come unto God. It is a requirement that for Lazarus to come forth there must be an effectual and irresistable call from God who quickens whom He wills.

The scripture says, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them , because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor. 2:14) But Dave Hunt absurdly claims, “this cannot be speaking of the gospel”! Not speaking of the Gospel? It says plainly in the same verses “that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” The reason that Dave Hunt gives for claiming that this verse is NOT speaking of the Gospel is because, “In scores of places the gospel is plainly offered to the whole world”, but no one has claimed that the Gospel has not been offered to the whole world! What adherents to the doctrines of God’s Grace believe is that, as Jesus clearly says, we can only HEAR (or receive) the Gospel if we are His sheep.

John said that Jesus came into the world as the light but the darkness comprehended Him not. Were you in darkness? If you comprehended Him, if you sought after Him of your own accord, if you believed on Him without the effectual call of the Father and the work of the Holy Spirit – you should know that you make God a liar! But God will not be a liar, though every man be one.

You did not seek after God! But, if you are His, then He most assuredly sought after you. Only the willfully ignorant and prideful would deny that. Though you may rise up your flesh in pride, railing against God’s throne – even so He will not share His glory with another.

Dave Hunt and the Pop-prophecy clan are ever ready to push evangelism as our “Last Days” mission, but what they do not want you to know, is that their Gospel is NOT the Gospel of the Bible. That is why they viciously attack the scriptures for their own purposes.

DOCTRINE DOES MATTER!

Arminianism degrades sin – it stubbornly holds on to the lie that we, as descendents of Adam, are not altogether depraved and lost, without hope in the world and in need of salvation, a salvation that we cannot work on ourselves, but that we must receive as naked and poor paupers at the hand of a merciful God.

Arminianism elevates man – while attempting to dethrone God. It purports that God bestows salvation on those who were “good enough” or “smart enough” to figure it out. The Arminian looks down from the high seats on sinners and says “Oh God, I’m glad I figured it out, unlike those poor fellows.” But the truly repentant sinner says, “God have mercy on me, a sinner”.

Our brother, the faithful Apostle Paul rebukes them thusly:
Paul claims that he was “before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.”

So you might say, “SEE, Paul received mercy because his sin was done ignorantly”. Yet our ignorance certainly places no lien on the mercy of God, lest it be not mercy, but reckoned of debt. Paul will tell us WHY he received mercy, if you will patiently heed him. Let us read further:

“And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with FAITH and love which is in Christ Jesus.”

Paul notes that both faith and love are elements of the gift of grace that he received mercifully from Christ Jesus. Rather than continue in his ignorance, he was forced to admit that he was wrong, and move forward having received the GIFTS of faith and love.
“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”

Paul declares that he is not only a sinner, but the chief of sinners – qualifying him for the gifts of faith, love, repentance, belief and obedience to the Gospel. For surely Christ came to save sinners, not those who have “figured it out”, or concocted enough human faith to “believe”. Either it was the work of God in you, or it was the work of your fallen flesh. Well, which was it? NOW, Paul will tell us why he obtained mercy:

“Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.”

Can it be any clearer to those stiffnecked and prideful squanderers? Paul obtained mercy by the longsuffering of Jesus Christ FOR A PATTERN to show the way that YOU received mercy! Those who believe on him to life everlasting are not credited with the BELIEF! This is the WORK OF GOD that you believe!!! (John 6:29). It is the longsuffering and mercy of God, not your flesh that is to be thanked.

The Jesuit plan to abolish the Reformation, and to enthrone that antichrist Pope in the hearts of man can only be fulfilled in those whose rebellion and aversion to all righteousness has remained unrestrained by the merciful hand of God. The great writer John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim’s Progress, wrote this:

“In a word, they that do continue to reject and slight the Word of God, they are such, for the most part, as are ordained to be damned… Further, who are they that are so tossed to and fro, with the several winds of doctrine that have been broached in these days, but such for the most part, as have had a light esteem of the scriptures; for the ground of error, as Christ saith, is because they know not them (Mark 12:24). And indeed, it is just with God to give them over to follow their own dark blinded consciences, to be led into errors, that they might be damned into hell, who did not believe that the things contained in the Scripture were the truth, that they might be saved and go to heaven.”

I am your servant in Christ Jesus,

Michael Bunker