Is it even Biblical to Pray for a Person’s Salvation?

[IceAndFire1328]

Iwould like to start a new thread based on this article. The original can be found at:

biblehelp.org/prayperson.htm
(Use by permission of author)

Isit even Biblical to Pray for a Person’s Salvation?​

It isnot uncommon for a Christian to ask other Christians to pray for the salvationof someone they are concerned about. Although this concern for the person’s eternal destiny is commendable,is it Biblical; will God answer these prayers?

If youwere to survey Christians with this question, you would get a large variety ofanswers ranging from “Yes, of course. God desires that we intervene on the behalf of others,†all the way to,“Definitely no; what ARROGANCE!!!!â€

Afterdoing a great deal of research on this subject, I’ve come to the conclusionthat there are two main reasons why people feel we should not pray for someoneelse’s salvation. They are:

1. Wedon’t have the right to make that type of decision for someone else

2. Godhas never instructed us to pray for the salvation of others

[NOTE: I did not include the rest of the articlebecause of its length. The authorcontinues on and addresses the two points listed above. Please go to biblehelp.org/prayperson.htm tosee the rest of the article.]

 

[Messenger]

God commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:39).

The highest good that we can have for ourselves is salvation, and that is what we should earnestly desire for anyone else.

Luke 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

We don't know who are all the ones God had chosen from the foundation of the world to become His children (Ephesians 1:4; 2 Timothy 1:9), but our praying is an opportunity to speak with God and make our requests known regarding anything He has laid on our heart (Philippians 4:6). And so we can pray "not my will, but thy will" be done" (1 John 5:14). We can always appeal to God for His mercy, whether it be for ourselves or others we care for. He knows what's on our heart before we even ask Him (Matthew 6:8).

Jude 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

TGBTG!

 

[Jake]

Iwould like to start a new thread based on this article. The original can be found at:

biblehelp.org/prayperson.htm
(Use by permission of author)

Isit even Biblical to Pray for a Person’s Salvation?​

It isnot uncommon for a Christian to ask other Christians to pray for the salvationof someone they are concerned about. Although this concern for the person’s eternal destiny is commendable,is it Biblical; will God answer these prayers?

If youwere to survey Christians with this question, you would get a large variety ofanswers ranging from “Yes, of course. God desires that we intervene on the behalf of others,” all the way to,“Definitely no; what ARROGANCE!!!!”

Afterdoing a great deal of research on this subject, I’ve come to the conclusionthat there are two main reasons why people feel we should not pray for someoneelse’s salvation. They are:

1. Wedon’t have the right to make that type of decision for someone else

2. Godhas never instructed us to pray for the salvation of others

[NOTE: I did not include the rest of the articlebecause of its length. The authorcontinues on and addresses the two points listed above. Please go to biblehelp.org/prayperson.htm tosee the rest of the article.]

Although we are not the deciding One, the Bible tells us to bring all our petitions to God and not to cease from praying, with this in mind, if we did not have influence, then why would God instruct us to do these things?

 

[Messenger]

To God Be The Glory!

 

[Doulos Iesou]

Iwould like to start a new thread based on this article. The original can be found at:

biblehelp.org/prayperson.htm
(Use by permission of author)

Isit even Biblical to Pray for a Person’s Salvation?​

It isnot uncommon for a Christian to ask other Christians to pray for the salvationof someone they are concerned about. Although this concern for the person’s eternal destiny is commendable,is it Biblical; will God answer these prayers?

If youwere to survey Christians with this question, you would get a large variety ofanswers ranging from “Yes, of course. God desires that we intervene on the behalf of others,” all the way to,“Definitely no; what ARROGANCE!!!!”

Afterdoing a great deal of research on this subject, I’ve come to the conclusionthat there are two main reasons why people feel we should not pray for someoneelse’s salvation. They are:

1. Wedon’t have the right to make that type of decision for someone else

2. Godhas never instructed us to pray for the salvation of others

[NOTE: I did not include the rest of the articlebecause of its length. The authorcontinues on and addresses the two points listed above. Please go to biblehelp.org/prayperson.htm tosee the rest of the article.]

This is a VERY easy question to answer, and the answer is YES!

Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. Romans 10:1

Paul here prays on behalf of his fellow kinsman according to the flesh.. that is the Israelites who do not believe in the Messiah.. for their SALVATION. If that weren't enough let's look at another text.

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 1 Timothy 2:1

The context of this passage that we pray and make ἐντεύξεις (intercessions, petitions) this has the meaning that we pray for the will of God on their behalf, that his desire be realized in their life. What is God's desire? We find the answer to that within the direct context in v.4 where Paul declares that God desires that all men be saved and come unto a knowledge of the truth. We pray for the salvation of all men, because we are God's ministers of reconciliation that works through us and appeals through us to the world to be reconciled to him.

We absolutely pray for the lost!

Hope this helps,
Servant of Jesus

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

I believe that, as Paul prayed "that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ," that we must pray that "a door for effective service" be opened for us to share the gospel with that person, and while there is no biblical example for praying for another's salvation, it is clear from the Bible that God desires all men to be saved. Obviously not all will be, but nonetheless, His desire is our utmost concern, and we should heed that desire in effectively challenging others to consider Christ.

 

[Doulos Iesou]

I believe that, as Paul prayed "that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ,"

Yes he did pray this way, he also prayed for the salvation of the Jews! See Romans 10:1.

that we must pray that "a door for effective service" be opened for us to share the gospel with that person, and while there is no biblical example for praying for another's salvation,

Yet... Paul says this...

Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.

The THEM is the unbelieving Israelites whom he had just described in Romans 9 and he prayed to God for what?.... THEIR SALVATION. Yet you are claiming that there is no biblical example for praying for another's salvation... Please.. reconsider this conclusion..

it is clear from the Bible that God desires all men to be saved.

Indeed! I am not a Calvinist, and we shouldn't respond to Calvinistic teaching by going to the extreme of not praying for the salvation of the lost.

If you have family that doesn't know the Lord you DO pray for their salvation, I know this because I am the only person in my whole family who follows Christ.

Obviously not all will be, but nonetheless, His desire is our utmost concern, and we should heed that desire in effectively challenging others to consider Christ.

Yes, not just to appeal to them to be reconciled, but we make petitions and intercessions to God on their behalf for their salvation.

Your opinion on this matter is blatantly counter to Biblical teaching, I hope you reconsider.

Hope this helps,
Servant of Jesus

 

[cgl1023]

I am taught that the true way to 'love your enemies...' ( 5) is to pray for that individual's salvation. If we are unable to do this little for others, our Christian life is of no value.