Praying for Loved Ones to be Saved

          Yesterday, we established through scripture, that from the beginning, God elected
     His people to salvation (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14), and appointed them to eternal life
     (Acts 13:48), according to His pleasure and will, to the praise of His glorious grace
     (Ephesians 1:5b-6a).

          In spite of God's election, Paul prayed that fellow Jews would be saved (Romans 10:1).
     He set an example for us to pray for our loved ones' salvation.


          However, some may ask "what's the point of praying for someone's salvation if God
     "unilaterally" regenerates someone and unconditionally chooses whom He will save?"
     (In other words, if God is sovereign, why bother?).

                                                                         *****

          Michael Horton of White Horse Inn blog answers:

         "Our confessions teach that God works through means.  Though the Father has chosen
     unconditionally some from our condemned race for everlasting life in His Son, the elect
     were not redeemed until He sent His Son "in the fullness of time," and they are not justified
     until the Spirit gives them faith in Christ through the gospel.

         "I like to reverse the question above.

                                 'Why would anyone pray for the conversion of their
                                   loved one if God were not sovereign in dispensing
                                   His grace?'

         "If God is not sovereign then He could reply,

                                'Look, I've done my part, now the ball is in your court."

          (Some say that it's not fair that God 'forces someone to repent and believe' against his
     will).

          Horton continues his answer:

          "God does not 'force anyone to repent and believe.'  In effectually calling us, the Spirit
     does not coerce or force our will, but frees it from its bondage to sin and death.  Faith is
     entirely the gift of God and entirely the free response of a human being who has been made
     alive by the Spirit through the gospel.

          "Since God does use means (including our prayers) to accomplish His purposes, it is a
     good thing indeed that Christians are asking God to bring their loved ones to saving faith
     in Christ.

          "And it's a good thing that God can in fact answer that prayer, isn't it?"

                                                                *****