Results 1 - 4 of 4
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Praying for the 'World'. | Matt 5:44 | Sonlit | 163551 | ||
Please bear with me, as I am brand new to this forum and am not quite sure of even how to check if my question has already been asked. I am an 'older Christian' and have been raised and taught in the same church for 40 years. Our doctrinal statement has been the same this entire time. We have been blessed with a new pastor. He is a graduate from the Master's Seminary and I am being made aware of Biblical questions I have never thought to ask and my soul is searching for answers. I don't want to debate...I only want to learn. With this said, I came across a verse from John 17:9 that reads "My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you." This is Jesus talking to His Father. Did Jesus know at that time who was His Father's and who wasn't? If Jesus didn't pray for the 'world', should we? Or should our prayer be for the elect only? Is it futile to be praying for someone to be saved when 'before the foundations of the world' they were already known. I use to hold on to that verse "God is not willing that any should perish" like a bulldog on a bone. But I am now being taught that that verse is really saying "God is not willing that any of HIS CHOSEN should perish" I can't tell you how this has changed my prayer life, my view of my heavenly father. It really has shaken my foundation. I will be grateful for any and all responses. | ||||||
2 | Praying for the 'World'. | Matt 5:44 | Morant61 | 163556 | ||
Greetings Sonlit! As far as John 17:9 is concerned, it is helpful to look at the context. Jesus is not praying for 'all' the elect in this prayer. He is specifically praying for the disciples. So, I would read more into this passage than it says. :-) It does not say that it is inapporpriate to pray for the world. It simply says that at that moment, Jesus was praying for His disciples, not the world. Context is always essential. For instance, you mentioned that God is not willing that any should perish. Where does the verse say anything about 'His Chosen'? I know that there are many who would like this verse to say this, but the simple fact is that it does not. :-) Should we pray for the world? John 3:16 tells us how much God loved the world. Mark 16:15 tells us to go into the world and preach the gospel. Mt. 5:14 describes us as the light of the world. John 3:17 tells us that Christ came to save the world. Given these clear statements of Scripture, I cna't imagine that God would be upset if we prayed for the world. :-) Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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3 | Praying for the 'World'. | Matt 5:44 | Sonlit | 163570 | ||
Thank you Tim, actually, I did wonder where the intrepretation of the verse God is not willing that any should perish came from, but I find it hard to disagree with a scholar of the Word. I believe I read this in John McArthur's study notes, somehow that seems to hold so much more weight than my feeble opinion. I am really searching for truth and have come up against some doctrinal teaching that has literally brought me to tears. I never really knew before that God created people purposefully for hell. I recently had to teach this to the children at our church, and it just happened to be the Sunday before we burried my mother-in-law. There was no indication in her life that she made a profession of faith and I couldn't grasp the concept that God made her for hell. There are so many more unanswered, soul-tearing concepts confronting me. And yet....and yet, I am CONVINCED that God is all loving, sovereign, good, and trustworthy. I rest in this. |
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4 | Praying for the 'World'. | Matt 5:44 | Morant61 | 163576 | ||
Greetings Sonlit! It is certainly much better to rest in what Scripture actually says than in what someone claims that Scripture means. :-) I am sorry to hear about your mother-in-law. May God's grace sustain your family! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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