Does God Answer The Prayers Of Unbelievers?

[enoob57]

 

 

God hears all prayers, even those of a sinner, but He does not personally respond to any except those of repentance.

 

 

Just out of curiosity! After this blanket statement you've made above Here... does it bother you at all that God has

taken the time to write all these verses down saying different?

Jn 9:31-32

31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.

NKJV

Job 35:12-13

12 There they cry out, but He does not answer,

Because of the pride of evil men.

13 Surely God will not listen to empty talk,

Nor will the Almighty regard it.

NKJV

Ps 34:15

15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

And His ears are open to their cry.

NKJV

Ps 66:18

18 If I regard iniquity in my heart,

The Lord will not hear.

NKJV

Pr 15:29

29 The Lord is far from the wicked,

But He hears the prayer of the righteous.

NKJV

Pr 28:9

9 One who turns away his ear from hearing the law,

Even his prayer is an abomination.

NKJV

Isa 1:15

15 When you spread out your hands,

I will hide My eyes from you;

Even though you make many prayers,

I will not hear.

Your hands are full of blood.

NKJV

Jer 11:11

11 Therefore thus says the Lord: "Behold, I will surely bring calamity on them which they will not be able to escape; and though they cry out to Me, I will not listen to them

NKJV

Eze 8:18

18 Therefore I also will act in fury. My eye will not spare nor will I have pity; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them."

NKJV

Mic 3:4

4 Then they will cry to the Lord,

But He will not hear them;

He will even hide His face from them at that time,

Because they have been evil in their deeds.

NKJV

Love, Steven

 

 

 

The question pivots upon the definition of a sinner.

 

In the OT salvation was corporate.

In the NT salvation is private/personal.

 

Prior to Jesus' death upon the cross, salvation meant being a Hebrew or Jew.   If one was a member of that group, one was selected for salvation.  Animal sacrifices provided the payment for sin offered on behalf of the group.  But these sacrifices were never meant to be permanent.  They were temporary and had to be offered constantly.

 

When Jesus died on the cross, His sacrifice was permanent.    It ushered in the New Covenant announced by God, that He would work personally with the heart of man.  Salvation didn't depend upon group membership, only the blood of Christ.  

 

'Sinner', is defined as one who is not covered or justified by a sacrifice.  

In the OT a sinner is one who is not a Hebrew/Jew.

In the NT a sinner is one who has not accepted the sacrifice for sin provided by Jesus.

 

What then of works?  We are saved for good works, not by them.

 

Christianity is unique among all religions in that saving grace is offered by God through the blood of Christ.

Nothing need be done in terms of works.  One need only accept Christ.

 

All other religions state that eternal rewards depend upon works - being a good boy or girl.  Under these conditions, 'goodness' is best defined as behavior acceptable to a group of men - not God.  A law abiding citizen, for example, may never go to jail for an offense and may even receive awards and accolades from his fellows for good works, but all his certificates will not allow him admission through the gates of Paradise.

 

The Bible never allows for that sort of self-righteousness.

 

Neither personal righteousness nor prayers nor good works of any kind will be accepted by God unless a man is first justified by the blood of Jesus.

 

Everybody else is a sinner.

 

and that's just me, hollering from the choir loft... 

 

 

A simple No would have sufficed -  sinner has only one definition 'One who has sinned'... Love, Steven

[Floatingaxe]

 

The John 9 reference is only showing the words of a man and what he was taught---not what God says.

Did you not read all the OT Scriptures that specifically say what this man was reiterating?  Love, Steven

 

 

Yes, and because I know the Lord, I know that He hears all prayer, because He is constantly aware of all people at all times, but He does not always heed the prayers of a sinner---He responds to repentance, however. Do you not know this about our wonderful God?

 

The man in John 9 was not speaking as a righteous person, but was speaking as a man who had been raised in the Torah, and he was addressing men who would relate to such an idea: Pharisees.

[enoob57]

 

 

The John 9 reference is only showing the words of a man and what he was taught---not what God says.

Did you not read all the OT Scriptures that specifically say what this man was reiterating?  Love, Steven

 

 

Yes, and because I know the Lord, I know that He hears all prayer, because He is constantly aware of all people at all times, but He does not always heed the prayers of a sinner---He responds to repentance, however. Do you not know this about our wonderful God?

 

The man in John 9 was not speaking as a righteous person, but was speaking as a man who had been raised in the Torah, and he was addressing men who would relate to such an idea: Pharisees.

 

I cannot know The Lord apart from His Word and the Holy Spirit Who teaches said Word to me... so your argument is with The Word which says He does not hear the prayers of a

sinner and not with me   Love, Steven

[marvalusxoxo]

Again... how perfect and marvelous are the works of God and how amazingly without error are His precepts. His word is the only truth and yes indeed He does answer prayer yet the answer is according to His will not according to mine and my own wishes and desires. Many fail to see that He is God and He says that  He is who He is  and also He knows what is best for us. We sadly may failed to see the answer to prayers because we are expecting Him to answer according to what we desire not according to His will. Thank you Lord for being who You are; our God of it all! may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

[Floatingaxe]

 

 

 

The John 9 reference is only showing the words of a man and what he was taught---not what God says.

Did you not read all the OT Scriptures that specifically say what this man was reiterating?  Love, Steven

 

 

Yes, and because I know the Lord, I know that He hears all prayer, because He is constantly aware of all people at all times, but He does not always heed the prayers of a sinner---He responds to repentance, however. Do you not know this about our wonderful God?

 

The man in John 9 was not speaking as a righteous person, but was speaking as a man who had been raised in the Torah, and he was addressing men who would relate to such an idea: Pharisees.

 

I cannot know The Lord apart from His Word and the Holy Spirit Who teaches said Word to me... so your argument is with The Word which says He does not hear the prayers of a

sinner and not with me   Love, Steven

 

 

 

He hears, but doesn't answer---or heed, or listen with attentiveness---unless it comes from the repentant heart, enoob! How else does God give ear to the sinner except through that?  Understand the context of that man in John 9, who was not coming from a regenerated heart, but was parroting what he learned through religion. I never argue with the word...just with those who don't get the word.

 

He hears everyone, and hears---shâma---which denotes a 'careful consideration'---the earnest and contrite heart.

 

[enoob57]

 

He hears, but doesn't answer---or heed, or listen with attentiveness---unless it comes from the repentant heart, enoob! How else does God give ear to the sinner except through that?  Understand the context of that man in John 9, who was not coming from a regenerated heart, but was parroting what he learned through religion. I never argue with the word...just with those who don't get the word.

 

He hears everyone, and hears---shâma---which denotes a 'careful consideration'---the earnest and contrite heart.

 

 

 

All of God ways extend out of our understanding... like choosing someone who has not yet become! As this is important for our hearts to consider as

we always (or nearly always) try to pull God down into our realm of acceptability and grasp... There are literally infinite number of ways God can  

accomplish His Will in all things because a unbounded God requires unbound place!

Pr 28:9

9 One who turns away his ear from hearing the law,

Even his prayer is an abomination.

NKJV

This 'IS' wisdom I suggest you give it proper heed! For no abominations enter into God! As you have said clearly that it does!  Love, Steven

[Guest shiloh357]

Not supported by scripture?

 

Did you not read my quote of Jesus' own words?

 

I'll write them again, just in case you missed them.

 

"Unless a man is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God."

 

This is a prerequisite from the mouth of Jesus Christ saying that repentance and the second birth must preceed a relationship of prayer.

 

God hears all prayers, even those of a sinner, but He does not personally respond to any except those of repentance.

 

The spiritual principle here is that the relationship must be restored first before consistent prayer life begins.

 

Some responses to the thread's initial question imply an exception to the rule of salvation by the blood of Christ and repentance.

 

There is no exception whatsoever.

 

If you believe this too rigid, then your ideology is mistaken.  Many things in life are equally rigid.  Whether we like it or not we must learn to live with them.

The facts of spiritual life are no less rigid.    God does not respect man simply because man is self-important.  God thinks and acts and does according to His own designs and will.  That which has been revealed to man is man's responsibility to accept.

 

There is no salvation apart from the blood of Christ and repentance of sin. 

 

If the reader disapproves of Biblical intent and Jesus' own words, then I suggest he take it up with the author.

 

and that's just me, hollering from the choir loft...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry but I am operating from God's own self-disclosure in the Bible, and Jesus was the revelation of the Father.  Jesus heard and fulfilled requests from nonbelievers.  He healed heathen people's children and servants.  He heard and answered the prayer of Cornelius a partical proselyte to Judaism.  

 

Their requests were not denied.  I am not saying God will answer every prayer of an unbelievers and there are types of unbelievers God will not listen to at all.  

 

God cannot be put into a box.  To say that God will not answer a prayer of an unbeliever unless it is a prayer for salvation is simply not in the Bible.

[Floatingaxe]

This 'IS' wisdom I suggest you give it proper heed! For no abominations enter into God! As you have said clearly that it does!  Love, Steven

 

 

Nonsense. I haven't. Are you saying that God is unaware of what people say, even those who do not know God yet are determined to speak to Him?

[enoob57]

Do a study on the Holiness of God it will reveal much about this topic... but God is so separate from

all evil that we have the complete end of all that sin has been around and a totally New Heaven and

New Earth where only righteousness dwells...

1 Pe 1:13-21

13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is

to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming

yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be

holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct

yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with

corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,

19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed

was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you

21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your

faith and hope are in God.
NKJV

Rv 20:11-12

11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven

fled away. And there was found no place for them.
NKJV

This is why God completely burns up His original creation there was no place found for that which has

been next to sin

Jude 22-23

22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction;  23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of

the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
NKJV

Love, Steven

[Floatingaxe]

The witness of this thread is here for all to review   Love, Steven

 

 

 

That's right. There is a distinct witness to God's not being taken unawares by anyone, being omniscient  and omnipresent and all, and then there are those who flatly state that God shuts His ears to all voices that belong to the unrighteous.

 

Sadly, He hears the prayers of those which are directed to idols, as well as those calling on His name. Remember Aaron and the gold calf (Exodus 32)? Yet His mind and heart are turned toward His own, whom He favours.