God, Bring In Your Elect, Then Elect Some More...

[seer]

This is what Spurgeon often cried after one of traveling sermons. Much to the distain of many Calvinists - though he was one... but this got me thinking. God is not bound by time - before foundations of the earth God knew and heard every prayer from every elect person - from Adam on... Is it possible that God took those prayers into consideration and elected the prayed for? In other words - could our prayers be the basis, or one of the basis, for God's choices?

[8320john]

This is what Spurgeon often cried after one of traveling sermons. Much to the distain of many Calvinists - though he was one... but this got me thinking. God is not bound by time - before foundations of the earth God knew and heard every prayer from every elect person - from Adam on... Is it possible that God took those prayers into consideration and elected the prayed for? In other words - could our prayers be the basis, or one of the basis, for God's choices?

No.

[seer]

No.

Why not?

[lee_merrill]

Well, Paul is praying for the non-elect!

Romans 10:1 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.

And these were people whom I would say Paul knew would mostly die in unrepentance.

Also, Paul gives a reason for God's choice:

Romans 11:28-29 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.

So "because of the patriarchs," and because God called them, and will not reverse his call. And this is about the enemies in Paul's day, who again, were not what people would think of nowadays as being elect.

But maybe God can choose those he has not chosen...

Romans 11:30-31 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you.

Romans 11:23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

And if faith and repentance are all from God, by his decision, I think we may then hope for them, that God will choose them, after they have not been chosen...

Romans 9:25-26 As he says in Hosea: "I will call them 'my people' who are not my people; and I will call her 'my loved one' who is not my loved one," and, "It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' they will be called 'sons of the living God.'"

Blessings,
Lee

[seer]

Romans 10:1 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.

See, I don't know if it would work that way - I mean in a general prayer for a group. I think it would be more of a personal thing as we pray for loved ones, friends etc... Not that I think God would answer evey request. But He may in fact elect some on the basis of prayer - why not?