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

[IceAndFire1328]

I would 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)

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: biblehelp.org/prayperson.htm ]

[Cindy_Skillman]

Whatsoever things you desire, when you pray, believe you receive them and you shall have them. If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you will and it will be done for you. Do you want your adult child to be saved? Do you desire it? Bing. You can pray asking God for anything you, as one of His children, desire. If you want your friend, adult child, mayor, president/PM/whatever, favorite musician . . . to be saved then that’s something you desire. Pray for it.

We do and pray for a lot of things the bible doesn’t mention . . . blogging, for example. The bible says nothing about it, yet many of us blog anyway. Many of us pray about things like, “Father, should I get this particular used car or not?” “Father, would this be a good job for me to take?” “Father, is it okay if I buy this puppy?” Seriously, I think that a lot of times He may not have a preference as to whether you take this job or that, but then on the other hand, maybe He does. I don’t think He minds our asking. Not everything in life is prescribed in scripture; that’s why we need a personal on-going communication with Him via the Holy Spirit.

[Craig]

Sorry, I haven’t read the article, but Paul prays for the salvation of his fellow Israelites.

Romans 10:1
(HCSB)
“Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God concerning them[a] is for their salvation!”

[sturmy]

Cindy said:-

I don’t think He minds our asking. Not everything in life is prescribed in scripture; that’s why we need a personal on-going communication with Him via the Holy Spirit.

Mmm I tend to agree. I’ve never been a great fan of the idea of formula prayers. Surely we can pray what’s on our hearts at the time. It’s up to God what he does with it but I believe there’s great relief in sharing what’s on our mind regardless what it is…
besides as it’s God’s desire that all are saved surely praying for someones salvation is simply agreeing with His desires too!
S

[JasonPratt]

For example, 1 Timothy 2:1 says, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people.” When God tells us to pray for all people; what do you think He want us to pray for? Should our prayers for the unbelievers be that they stay healthy, become financially prosperous, and have a happy home life? Clearly, the primary need of the unbelievers is their salvation. Therefore, the primary thing we should pray for when we are praying for the unbelievers is to ask God to salvage and redeem their lives.

St. Paul himself follows up his urging with the rationale that “this is ideal and welcome in the sight of our Savior, God, Who wills that all persons be saved and come into a realization of truth.”

So if we’re petitioning and interceding for all people in our prayers in a way that is welcome in the sight of God on the ground that He wills all persons to be saved, that can only be true if we’re praying for those people’s salvation. (And Paul has specific people in mind for everyone to pray about even though he doesn’t name them, those being the Imperial leaders and governors! – there aren’t many people in the category of “kings and all the ones being in superiority”, and Timothy’s congregation would have known them all by name individually.