True to the Bible

Irresistible grace is only irresistible if you already accept the rest of TULIP. Hunter Davis and Brent Bolerjack unpack why that doctrine depends on total depravity, unconditional election, and limited atonement—and why the Bible may be saying something very different.

Using John 6 as the centerpiece, they tackle the verses Calvinists most often cite, then examine passages that seem to challenge the doctrine: Titus 2:11, Romans 5, Hebrews 2:9, Revelation 22:17, Matthew 23:37, Acts 7:51, John 5:39, and more. Along the way, they ask questions that make this debate hard to ignore: If God does not offer grace to everyone, can He still say He loves everyone? If people are truly “unable,” why does Scripture keep calling them to come, turn, believe, and live?

Hunter leads a direct, scripture-focused critique of irresistible grace and its place in Calvinism’s broader framework. Brent adds thoughtful perspective on grace, salvation, and the corporate language in John 6, helping explore where the arguments rise or fall.

In this episode:

This conversation goes beyond a theological label to consider who God is, what the gospel offers, and whether grace is offered to all or reserved for a few. If you’ve wrestled with Calvinism, human responsibility, or the meaning of God’s love, this episode offers a scripture-centered discussion to consider.

Perfect for Christians, Bible students, and anyone exploring the five points of TULIP.

Hunter Davis gives an overview of Habakkuk, an often-overlooked Old Testament book set during a troubled period in Judah’s history. He explores the prophet’s honest questions: Why does God allow wickedness to flourish, and why would He use Babylon—a nation even more wicked—to judge Judah?

The episode follows Habakkuk’s conversation with God, highlighting the promise that “the righteous will live by faith” and the assurance that God remains sovereign and will ultimately bring justice. It concludes with Habakkuk’s prayer in chapter 3, where he remembers God’s past faithfulness and chooses to rejoice in the Lord despite the hardship ahead.

A concise introduction to Habakkuk’s themes of evil, justice, faith, and finding joy and steadiness in God when circumstances are bleak.

Limited atonement is the first point many Calvinists drop—and for good reason: once you start reading the text closely, the arguments can be hard to defend. Hunter Davis and Brent Bolerjack tackle the “L” in TULIP, asking whether Jesus died only for the elect, why John Calvin himself may not fit modern Calvinism, and what the Bible says about Christ’s payment for sin.

They unpack the theology behind limited atonement and examine assumptions that often come with it—such as confusing payment with forgiveness, or interpreting “all” to mean only “all types” or “all the elect.” Along the way, they discuss appropriation, propitiation, and the difference between Jesus paying for sin and that payment being applied to a person.

The conversation explores passages including 1 Timothy 2, Hebrews 2:9, Isaiah 53:6, 1 John 2:2, and 2 Peter 2:1. Hunter and Brent consider how these verses relate to limited atonement, including the language of Christ as the propitiation for “the whole world” and the “Master who bought” false teachers.

If you’ve wondered why four-point Calvinism exists, why limited atonement is often the first point people drop, or how the modern doctrine compares with Calvin’s own words, this episode offers a Bible-focused discussion of one of the most debated points in Calvinism.

The conversation closes with a reminder to look to Scripture rather than a theological system—and to share the message that Jesus loves people, died for them, and offers eternal life to those who believe.

Romans 9 through 11 changes completely once you stop assuming election always means eternal salvation. Hunter Davis and Brent Bolerjack tackle one of Calvinism’s most debated points, **unconditional election**, and make the case that Paul is talking about **service, corporate calling, and God’s use of nations**, not simply who gets saved.

The conversation starts with the hard questions behind Romans 9—Jacob and Esau, Pharaoh, mercy, compassion, and the potter and the clay. But instead of reading those passages as proof that God arbitrarily chooses individuals for heaven or hell, Hunter and Brent trace the same imagery back to **Jeremiah 18**, where the clay is spoiled and remade. That shift opens up a bigger idea: God can use human failure, rebellion, and even rejection to accomplish His purposes.

You’ll hear them break down:

Hunter and Brent also push back on replacement theology and revisit the remnant of Israel, the church age, and the mystery of Jews and Gentiles forming one body in Christ. Along the way, they raise a fascinating question: if God can take a spoiled vessel and still make something beautiful, what does that say about how He works through history, disobedience, and even judgment?

If you’ve wrestled with Romans 9 to 11, the language of election, or the tension between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility, this episode offers a fresh framework for thinking through these passages.

 Three End Times Views Explained in Under 10 Minutes

What are the main differences between premillennialism, postmillennialism, and amillennialism? In this episode of *True to the Bible Podcast*, Hunter Davidson offers a quick overview of the three views and how each interprets the thousand-year reign, biblical prophecy, and the events surrounding Jesus’ return.

The episode compares the more literal approach of premillennial dispensationalism with the more symbolic interpretations of postmillennialism and amillennialism. Hunter explains how the views differ on whether the world will grow better or worse before Jesus returns, and how they understand the tribulation, the rapture, Israel, and the 70 weeks of Daniel.

If end-times passages in Daniel, Ezekiel, or Revelation have felt confusing, this episode offers a concise starting point for understanding the different perspectives.

Hunter Davis and Brent Bolerjack continue their series on Calvinism by examining unconditional election through Ephesians 1 and Romans 9. They ask who is being chosen, what they are chosen for, and whether these passages refer to individuals or to a people as a whole.

In their reading of Ephesians, the hosts argue that “us” refers to the church in Christ—a community of Jewish and Gentile believers chosen for a shared purpose. They emphasize that the passage describes this group as called to be holy, adopted through Jesus, and a witness to God’s glory. They point to verse 13, where people hear the gospel and believe, as part of the discussion about how someone becomes part of that group.

Turning to Romans 9, Hunter and Brent consider Jacob and Esau, Pharaoh, and the potter-and-clay imagery. They suggest these passages are best understood in the wider context of God’s purposes for peoples and nations, including Israel and the Gentiles, rather than as a straightforward account of individuals being chosen for heaven or hell. They also discuss how God can accomplish his purposes through human decisions without needing to force every choice.

The conversation offers a thoughtful, scripture-focused framework for considering election, predestination, God’s sovereignty, and human responsibility. The hosts close by previewing a continuation of the discussion in Romans 11.

Unconditional election is not as simple as “God chooses some people for heaven and others for hell.”

Hunter Davis and Brent Bolerjack break down the Calvinist doctrine of election by asking the questions most Christians never slow down long enough to ask: who is being chosen, chosen by whom, and chosen for what?

If you’ve ever heard election taught as a blanket statement about salvation, this conversation will challenge that assumption. Hunter and Brent unpack why many passages are read as if they are automatically about eternal life, when the Bible often uses election language for something different—service, calling, corporate identity, and God’s purposes for a people rather than only an individual.

**In this episode, you’ll discover:**

- Why corporate election matters and how individualistic Bible reading can distort interpretation  

Brent walks through key Old Testament examples, including Israel in Deuteronomy 7 and the corporate language of Ephesians 2, showing how God chooses groups to represent Him, serve Him, and carry out His purposes.

Hunter pushes the conversation further by asking how Calvinist theology affects motivation, virtue, obedience, and personal responsibility. What happens if a person’s eternal destiny is fixed in a way they cannot influence? What do Jesus’ invitations and warnings mean if people are unable to respond? And how should believers understand God’s sovereignty without reducing people to puppets?

If you want a thoughtful, biblical way to examine election, predestination, free will, and Calvinism, this episode is an important place to begin. In the next episode, the conversation continues with a closer look at Ephesians 1, Romans 9, and Romans 11.

Total Depravity: What Does Calvinism Actually Mean

Total depravity is one of the most misunderstood parts of Calvinism—and this conversation shows why.

Hunter Davis and Brent Bolerjack unpack what the doctrine actually claims, where many Christians unknowingly agree with only part of it, and why the real issue is not whether sin affects every part of us, but whether a person can respond to God before regeneration.

For listeners trying to make sense of TULIP, this episode cuts through the confusion. Hunter and Brent examine the common assumption that spiritual deadness means total incapacity, then explore the passages Calvinists often use to defend the doctrine—including Romans 1, Ephesians 2, Romans 8, John 6, 1 Corinthians 2, and more.

**In this episode, you’ll discover:**

- Why faith is not the same thing as works in Romans 4  

Brent Bolerjack brings a clear theological defense of the non-Calvinist reading, while Hunter Davis pushes the conversation toward the practical question underneath it all: if God is drawing, convicting, and revealing Himself, what exactly is humanity unable to do—and what are people still able to do in response?

If you’ve ever heard “total depravity” used as shorthand for “man cannot respond to God at all,” this episode will sharpen your understanding and encourage you to reexamine the scriptures for yourself.

When suffering hits, the question is not just “Will God be glorified?” but “Does His love still meet me here?” Hunter Davis and Jacquelyn Davis explore a tension many believers quietly wrestle with: the difference between God’s glory and God’s love, and why getting that balance wrong can be especially painful in the middle of a trial.

Jacquelyn brings a deeply personal perspective shaped by years in ministry, missionary work, burnout, and member care. She opens up about what it felt like to pour her life into serving God, then face depression, identity loss, and the difficult question: If God is glorified no matter what, what is my life actually for?

Together, Hunter and Jacquelyn unpack:

- Why John 3:16 and Philippians 2 matter when considering what motivated Christ

This episode offers a thoughtful, pastoral way to understand suffering—one that protects God’s holiness without portraying Him as distant or uncaring. Hunter and Jacquelyn remind hurting people that they are not merely pieces in a cosmic plan, but individuals invited into a real relationship with a loving Father.

Whether you are walking through pain, counseling someone who is, or trying to understand how God’s glory, human choice, suffering, and redemption fit together, this conversation offers encouragement and hope. Healing is not linear, but the God who redeems is still at work.

## **EPISODE DESCRIPTION - Ready to publish**

Calvinism raises a question that changes everything: if God is sovereign, does that mean He authors every choice, every sin, and every outcome? Hunter Davis and Brent Bolerjack push into that tension and make the case that God's sovereignty is bigger than control, and far more hopeful than a system that leaves believers guessing.

Using Genesis 50:20, Joseph, Pharaoh, Saul, and the warning passages in Hebrews, Hunter and Brent unpack where they believe Calvinism goes too far - especially when it turns warnings meant for believers into tests of whether someone was ever truly saved. Along the way, they challenge the idea that salvation can be measured by enough fruit, enough consistency, or enough visible proof.

You'll discover why they think Calvinism can backload the gospel with works, blur the line between salvation and discipleship, and create a cycle of doubt that keeps believers rechecking their status instead of resting in Christ. They also dig into church discipline, persistent sin, and why some theology can quietly push struggling Christians toward fear instead of restoration.

Hunter and Brent also tackle the bigger implications: can this framework unintentionally give people license to sin, make them question God's goodness, or leave them unsure whether His love is really for everyone? Those are the stakes of the conversation, and they matter if you've ever wrestled with assurance, election, warning passages, or what it actually means to be saved.

If you want a serious, scripture-driven critique of Calvinism that stays focused on the text and the practical consequences for real believers, this episode will sharpen your thinking and give you fresh language for one of the most contested debates in Christianity.