1 Timothy 2:1
1 I exhort [parakaleo] therefore, [oun] that, first [proton] of
all, [pas] supplications, [deesis] prayers, [proseuche] intercessions, [enteuxis] and giving of thanks, [eucharistia] be made [poieo] for [huper] all [pas] men; [anthropos] KJV-Interlinear
1 First of all, then, I urge that
entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all
men, NASB
Christians are not limited
for to pray for believers only, for family only, for loved ones only, or for those
who they know only, but for all of humanity, including unbelievers.
The worst possible result
of anyone's life is the Lake of Fire. That is by far the worst place, and to be sent
there to stay forever, and is an unbelievably horrendous destiny.
So, prayer must include
the evangelization of unbelievers everywhere, such that they might hear the
gospel, and receive Christ as their savior, by believing in Jesus Christ.
Even if they do nothing
more in their life regarding God, or Christ, or their own spiritual life, they
will at least be saved and will be in heaven.
That is far better than the alternative.
Someone suggested once
that unbelievers in humanity, unlike the angels who were condemned, really are
at a disadvantage, when it comes to understanding reality and the repercussions
of their unbelief.The Bible teaches
that no one has an excuse for unbelief.
And when unbelievers die, they go to Torments, a temporary place, before
they go to the Lake of Fire.
At the end of human
history, at the end of the Millennium, they will all be brought before the
Great White Throne for their final judgment.
One has to believe, that many will cry out to Christ, having spent their
time in Torments, and ask for forgiveness, and that cry will be in the form of
belief and therefore they will be saved at their very last opportunity, while
some, perhaps most, will continue in their defiance and then be judged and
sentenced to the Lake of Fire.
Unbelief in ones life is an extremely risky decision, because you might
not have that last opportunity.Time
spent in Torments, just might drive ones attitude deeper and deeper into hate.
Whatever Gods plan is,
we are commanded to pray for unbelievers.
It may very well be that our prayers will be answered and many will be
saved.It may very well be that these
prayers will be answered at the end of history.
Moses prayed for unbelievers,
Num. 14:19, Samuel prayed for unbelievers, 1 Sam. 7:3-5, 1 Sam. 12:23, Jeremiah
prayed, Jer. 7:12-16, 14:10-11, Daniel prayed, Dan. 9:17-19, Stephen prayed as
he was being stoned to death, Acts 7:59-60, Paul prayed, Rom. 9:1-4, Rom. 10:1,
Jonah prayed because he did not want them to be saved and was later rebuked for
his selfishness, Jonah 4.
Salvation is not
restricted for the elite only.Salvation
is not restricted of the law abiding citizen only. Salvation is not restricted
for one culture or one race, or one group only.
Salvation is available
to everyone.Personality, sins, social
status, wealth, talent, looks, culture, race, color, whatever, are all
irrelevant.
Christians are
commanded to not be prejudiced, to not be judgmental, to not exclude anyone
regardless of whether you know them or not, whether you like them or not, whether
you have an opinion or not.
The rules of salvation
are defined by God, not you.
And those rules are simply,
Believe in Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. And that is all.
There is no requirement
for penance, for works, for making up for mistakes or sins, or anything. Belief is all that is required, and all that
counts in salvation.
And once you have
believed in Christ, then your salvation is sealed and permanent and forever.
You can
not lose it.You can not throw it away. No one can take it from you.
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