I would like to start a new thread based on this article. The original can be found at:
http://biblehelp.org/prayperson.htm
(Use by permission of author)
Is it even Biblical to Pray for a Person’s Salvation?
Recently, someone told me that it is not Biblical to pray for someone’s salvation. He said that the Bible instructs us to pray for more laborers, but it never instructs us to pray for the salvation of specific individuals. This got me curious, so I started taking a closer look at this subject. When I asked others about their thoughts, I got responses ranging from, “Yes, of course. God desires that we intervene on the behalf of others,” all the way to, “Definitely no; what ARROGANCE!!!!”
The Bible, of course, has to be our final authority. So, what does it say … ?
[NOTE: I did not include the rest of the article because of its length. It is, however, very important to read the rest of the article to understand the discussion being made on this thread. The article can be found at: http://biblehelp.org/prayperson.htm :
Discussion
NewIf you were told that,
If you were told that, probably talked to a hyper-Calvinist.
Paul didn’t ask for prayer for an utterance to be given him so he could make known the mystery of the gospel and then serve caramel apples. Eph 6:19.
Paul also prayed for the salvation of Israel in Romans 10:1. So it would be foolish to think that Paul would pray for the salvation of his Jewish nation but it is verbotten in the remainder of scripture to pray for the lost elsewhere. (And of course, for the Calvinist, if irresistible grace determines the fate of all, and this fact was known to Paul, why would he pray for their salvation?)
Moreover, if Philippians 4:6 says “…but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” what if my request is that my loved ones be saved? Is my request wrong?
Dr James Ach
What Kills You Makes You Stronger Rom 8:13; 7:24-25
Do Right Christians, and Calvinisms Other Side
Newa monergistic prayer vs a synergistic prayer
Actually, you are confusing Calvinism (monergism) with non-Calvinism (synergism) here.
Since the monergist (myself and many others) recognize that it is God alone who saves and not God and man working together, with man having the final say in whether or not he is saved (the synergistic view). AND
Since no man can know who the elect are, AND
Since Christ himself, in His high priestly prayer, prayed for those “you gave to me” (John 17:6), and did not “ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,” (John 17:20).
We most assuredly may and should pray for specific individuals to be saved.
As the spoken Word (Romans 10:14-15) is the means by which the elect come to faith, so also prayer for the lost is a means by which God accomplishes His purpose in the salvation of His people.
There was a tract put out years ago by the agency that became Moody Press that said something similar to:
God voted for you
Satan voted against you
You must cast the deciding vote
Although I cannot find a link to that tract, both a Mormon and a Church of Christ site reference the argument.
Since the synergist insists that God has made salvation POSSIBLE for all men without exception, AND
Since man’s decision for Christ is the determining factor in his salvation.
It is actually the synergist who is theologically inconsistent when HE prays for the lost, as he is asking God to DO something more for that individual than God has done for all men without exception.
A prayer for any lost individual is a MONERGISTIC prayer!
CanJAmerican - my blog
CanJAmerican - my twitter
whitejumaycan - my youtube
NewMissed you John, hope you
Missed you John, hope you have more time to hang around now. Excellent summary of the issue.
Why is it that my voice always seems to be loudest when I am saying the dumbest things?
Newthanks
Chip,
I skim the threads almost every day but little time to engage!
CanJAmerican - my blog
CanJAmerican - my twitter
whitejumaycan - my youtube