Hello, John and Doves,
I have been thinking for some time of how best to use the time allotted to us until Christ returns for His own.
We
must pray for the salvation of others in our “oikos” [Gr: sphere of
influence; circle of family, friends, and acquaintances].
"Likewise
the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray
for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings
too deep for words."
Romans 8:26 ESV
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For you:
The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let the one who hears [that's you, Doves] say, "Come!" Let the one who is thirsty [that's your relative] come; and let the one who wishes [again, we say that it is your relative] take the free gift of the water of life.
Revelation 22:17 NIV
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For your relative:
It is written,
9"The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."
John 1:9-13 ESV
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"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."
2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV
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4"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Ephesians 2:4-10 ESV
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I
believe you know the usual scriptures for salvation. Even if your
relative is in a coma, he can hear you. He just will not respond very
well at all.
Nevertheless, it is written,
"Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear."
Isaiah 59:1 NIV
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Again, it is written,
For
I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for
good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
The question is, will your relative respond gratefully to a gracious God?
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Theological discussion on John 6:44...
~Blessings,
Mike