Praying for Salvation

[satz]

Hi all, i m kinda new here so apologies if this qn is kinda elementary.

What are your views on praying for the salvation of our unconverted friends, in view of the fact that God has not chosen all? How do you guys reconcile these two facts?


Opinions kindly appreciated!

 

[lkjohnson]

Absolutely pray for the salvation of your unconverted friends and family, especially family. One of the things we must understand is that while the preaching of the Word is very important, people are saved more by our prayers than our preaching.

 

[Puritan Sailor]

There is no conflict in praying for the salvation of our friends. We are praying to a God who has the power to save any whom He wishes. Arminians have no such assurance when they pray for their friends. They can only hope that their friend will "make a choice" with his "free will" so his prayer is uttered in vain to a God who can't answer it, that is if they were consistent in their theology. Thankfully, many Arminians are not consistent with their theology and God hears their prayers despite their misunderstanding of salvation.

 

[blhowes]

The apostle Paul prayed for those who were unconverted.

Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Rom 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

 

[VanVos]

Interesting how do we reconcile this with 1 John 5:16 and the sin on to death. Is the a point when we should stop praying for someone.?

VanVos

 

[Contra_Mundum]

(beat me to the punch)
God uses means. He doesn't tell us when, where, and how, just that he does, and we must obey the command to use them. Then he works in and through them.

 

[Saiph]

Not only pray for them, ask God to prove Himself by converting them. Dare Him to save them.

[quote:0a70b4e9e5]
Psalm 2

[b:0a70b4e9e5]Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? [/b:0a70b4e9e5]

The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, [saying],

Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou [art] my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

[b:0a70b4e9e5]Ask of me, and I shall give [thee] the heathen [for] thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth [for] thy possession. [/b:0a70b4e9e5]

Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish [from] the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed [are] all they that put their trust in him.
[/quote:0a70b4e9e5]


[quote:0a70b4e9e5]
Psa 22:27

All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
[/quote:0a70b4e9e5]


[quote:0a70b4e9e5]
Isa 45:20 - 25

Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye [that are] escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god [that] cannot save.
Tell ye, and bring [them] near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? [who] hath told it from that time? [have] not I the LORD? and [there is] no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; [there is] none beside me.
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else.
I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth [in] righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
Surely, shall [one] say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: [even] to him shall [men] come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.
In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.
[/quote:0a70b4e9e5]

The eschatological and revelatory calling of the church:

[quote:0a70b4e9e5]
Isa 42:6 -7
I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, [and] them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

[/quote:0a70b4e9e5]

 

[Me Died Blue]

Patrick and Paul, you both beat me to it! As Patrick pointed out, we are praying to God with the mindset that He absolutely can sovereignly save them, and doesn't have to wait for them to "open the door of their hearts" to Him. Furthermore, whenever people ask me this question, I tell them what you mentioned, Paul: that God predestines means just as well as end, and that if He has predestined my friend to be saved, perhaps He has predestined my prayers for that person as one of the precise means by which to save them.

In Christ,

Chris

 

[satz]

Thanks for all the replies guys!

 

[robot]

Pray, and keep faith. I prayed for my friend for months, and he finally came to Christ last month! Pray that I'll be able to find him a good church, and that he'll be baptized and stand firm in faith.