Different Kinds Of Prayer (Part 13)

THE DAILY WORD
By Jim Seekamp

Thursday August 13, 2009

Acts 16:31 is one of the most widely misinterpreted verses in all of the Bible.

Acts 16:30-34 (NIV)
30. He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31. They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." 32. Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.
33. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God--he and his whole family.

People tend to take verse 31 out of it's setting and try to make it say that everyone in your family is promised salvation because you are saved. If we look more closely we'll see how ridiculous and unscriptural that idea is. The jailer had simply asked how he could be saved, and Paul replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-- you and your household."
He meant that if the jailer believed in the Lord Jesus, he would be saved, and if the rest of his household chose to believe in Jesus also, they would be saved too! There was no promise that the rest of his family would actually choose to receive Jesus; they all had a free will.
In verse 32 we see that the Word of God was spoken to all in the household; so they all had the choice to receive it or not. Then in verse 34, we see that all of them chose to believe in Jesus and be saved; but they all had a free will, and could have chosen not to! If they had been forced into salvation because the jailer got saved, God would have broken His own Word by showing favoritism:

Acts 10:34,35 (NIV)
34. Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35. but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right."

The Bible also tells us that not even a husband or wife-- the very core of the family-- who is married to an unbeliever is guaranteed their partner's salvation:

1 Corinthians 7:15,16 (NIV)
15. But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16. How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

God desires ALL to be saved; without favoritism, which should motivate us to pray for the salvation of family, leadership, and "all men":

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NIV)
1. I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- 2. for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4. who wants ALL men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

God extends salvation to ANYONE who will confess Jesus Christ as Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead! (Romans 10:9) It is God's will that ALL be saved, but God's will is not being done on the earth! People die and go to hell every day because they reject the salvation that was bought for them, that they could have accepted!
Jesus took the sin of the whole world, but it won't do anyone any good unless they accept it:

1 John 2:2 (NIV)
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD.

John 3:16-18 (NIV)
16. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

According to John 3:18, people condemn themselves by not believing in Jesus with their own free will! We know all men have a free will because God's will is that all men be saved; yet not all people get saved! God does not have control of the earth; He just knows beforehand what will happen, since He Himself is outside of time, having created it, and therefore can see all time at once. (That is explained in previous Daily Words)

That should motivate us to pray for people's salvation! The Lake Of Fire is an awful place to spend eternity! We are blessed to be saved; but let's not stop there! Let's pray for others to open their hearts and receive! When we pray for someone, God will send believers along the person's path and give them more opportunities to receive! He'll HOUND them with the Gospel if we'll just pray!

PRAYER
Thank You Father for purchasing salvation for all mankind. Help me to remember to pray for people that have not yet received Your free gift of salvation. Help me understand Your Word so I can know you better and allow you to govern every area of my life.
In Jesus Name, Amen.

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