Does God hear the prayers of unbelievers?

[Guest shiloh357]

Scripture calls those not in covenant with God (unbelievers) sinners, wicked, transgressors, world, reprobate, dog, unholy, those that commit iniquity, etc.

That is not true. Not all unbeleivers are "wicked." The Bible is very specific as to who or what is wicked. Wicked people are inordinately evil and unremorseful. You cannot put all sinners in that category and the Bible certainly does not.

What is evident in Scripture is those who are of God and those who are not of God. There is no degrees to sin, nor is one a half-sinner and half-saved. One is either of God or not of God.

You are being hung up by synonyms and semantics.

No, I am just unwilling (unlike you) to go beyond what the Bible says, and project some blanket label on all sinners.

[~Shalhevet~]

How can you pray if you don't believe?

[Guest shiloh357]

How can you pray if you don't believe?

I have kown sinners who believe in God. They call out to him in desparation when all else has failed.

No one is advocating that a sinner can or even would have active daily prayer life. There are biblical examples of Jesus granting the requests of sinners and even the prayers of a nonChristian Gentile are described in the Bible as a "memorial" before the Lord. So, there is biblical precedent for a sinners prayers being heard and even answered by the Lord.

[~Shalhevet~]

How can you pray if you don't believe?

I have kown sinners who believe in God. They call out to him in desparation when all else has failed.

No one is advocating that a sinner can or even would have active daily prayer life. There are biblical examples of Jesus granting the requests of sinners and even the prayers of a nonChristian Gentile are described in the Bible as a "memorial" before the Lord. So, there is biblical precedent for a sinners prayers being heard and even answered by the Lord.

Sinners are different than unbelievers. I assume when you say unbelievers, we are talking about atheists, pagans, etc. Believers are sinners and they're prayers are most definitely heard. Unbelievers, on the other hand, I'm really not sure. Like I said, how can they pray if they have nothing to pray to? More specifically, how do they pray for forgiveness if they don't believe they are living in sin?

[Smalcald]

I think we are talking about people who have a concept of the true God but have ignored Him in their life. But now for whatever reason they call out to God, they do believe in God.

You are correct though a fully convinced non-believer or someone who was fully convinced in paganism or something would think praying to God would be foolish and silly and would never do it honestly. The act of prayer is itself an act of faith at some level.

I do think that there are many many souls out there who are in the middle in the process of either moving toward God or away from God but not converted to full faith in Christ yet.

[wyguy]

But I don't think we can put God in a box and say yes or no 100% either way. God is under no obligation to anyone. That he listens to us at all is an act of His benevolent grace.

Now that really got right to the heart of the matter for me!

I mean, if you think about it, we are either unbelieving, lost sinners, or believing, saved sinners. Either way, we remain sinners until death.

[Rick-Parker]

God only hears prayers that come through Jesus Christ, as with all things. Without the Cross, there is no fellowship with God.

[wyguy]

God only hears prayers that come through Jesus Christ, as with all things. Without the Cross, there is no fellowship with God.

Well, like a few have already pointed out, God, being omniscient, hears and knows everything. But answering the prayers of unregenerated sinners is a whole other matter...

[Guest shiloh357]

Sinners are different than unbelievers. I assume when you say unbelievers, we are talking about atheists, pagans, etc.

All men are born sinners. All of us are sinners before we get saved. The Bible makes no distinction between unbeliever and sinner. It does make a distinguish the wicked from other sinners, though.

Believers are sinners and they're prayers are most definitely heard.

The Bible never calls believers "sinners." When a person trusts Christ their status is changed from sinner to saint.

Unbelievers, on the other hand, I'm really not sure. Like I said, how can they pray if they have nothing to pray to? More specifically, how do they pray for forgiveness if they don't believe they are living in sin?

Unbelievers are classified in the NT as those who do not have Christ. I know plenty of nonChristians who believe in God, but have not accepted Christ. You need to study a bit more as you are in error in your terminology.

[Guest shiloh357]

God only hears prayers that come through Jesus Christ, as with all things.

The Bible doesn't say that, unless you have Scripture on the issue I am unaware of.

Acts 10:4 seems to suggest that you are mistaken.