Does God Hear the Prayer of Sinners?

Prayer in the Bible The Bible teaches many important lessons about prayer The Bible teaches many important lessons about prayer God answers prayer God answers prayer But, who should pray and what should he pray for? But, who should pray and what should he pray for?

What Does John 9:31 Teach? Background Background –Jesus healed a blind man (Jn. 9:1-12) –The Pharisees believed Jesus was a sinner for breaking the Sabbath (Jn. 9:16,24,28) –The blind man was talking about a sinner who was hardened and would not be heard by God (Jn. 9:31; Psa. 34:15-18; [1 Pet. 3:15]; 66:17-20; Prov. 15:29; 21:27; 28:9: Isa. 1:15; 59:1-2) –Some passages that speak of praying for forgiveness refer to Jews who were in a covenant relationship with God (Lk. 18:13-14)

What About Saul and Cornelius? Saul (Acts 9) Saul (Acts 9) –He was a religious man and he prayed (9:11) –Prayer, however, did not save him (9:6,18; 22:10,16; note: he was not told to pray; he did that on his own) Cornelius (Acts 10) Cornelius (Acts 10) –He was a devout man, feared God, generous, prayed always, and his prayer was heard (10:1-4,31; note: we do not know what he prayed for, or if his prayer was granted) –Prayer, however, did not save him (10:5,6,22,34-35,48; 11:14-15; 15:7; see 16:13ff)

What About the “Sinner’s Prayer”? No sinner outside of Christ was ever instructed to pray for salvation No sinner outside of Christ was ever instructed to pray for salvation Salvation of the non-Christian was never conditioned upon prayer Salvation of the non-Christian was never conditioned upon prayer Denominational practices… Denominational practices… –“Come down and pray through at the mourner’s bench and get saved” –“Go forward at the altar call and pray” –Praying is “calling on the name of the Lord” (Answer: Acts 2:21,37,38,41-42; 22:16; Rom. 10:13-16; Mt. 7:21)

What About the “Sinner’s Prayer”? Salvation for the non-Christian sinner is not conditioned upon prayer, but… Salvation for the non-Christian sinner is not conditioned upon prayer, but… –Hearing the gospel (Mk. 16:15-16; Rom. 10:17) –Believing in Jesus (Jn. 8:24; 20:31) –Confessing Jesus (Rom. 10:9-10) –Repenting of sin (Lk. 24:47; Acts 17:30) –Baptism (Acts 2:38; 22:16) –Living faithfully (Mt. 28:18-19)

What About the “Sinner’s Prayer”? What should he pray for? Should he pray for… What should he pray for? Should he pray for… –Grace? No (Tit. 2:11) –Love? No (John 3:16) –Holy Spirit? No (Gal. 3:2) –Desire? No (2 Pet. 3:9) –Reconciliation? (2 Cor. 5:18-20) –Light? No (2 Cor. 4:4) –Faith? No (Rom. 10:17) –Salvation? No (James 1:21) –Power? No (Rom. 1:16)

What About the Sinful Christian? A Christian can sin as to be lost A Christian can sin as to be lost What is he to do? Repent, confess it and pray (Acts 8:22-24; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:1; 5:16-17) What is he to do? Repent, confess it and pray (Acts 8:22-24; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:1; 5:16-17) Who can pray for forgiveness? Who can pray for forgiveness? –The OT child of God (Mt. 6:9,12; Lk. 8:13-14) –The NT child of God (see above)

The Kind of Sinner God Will Hear God will not hear the hardened sinner God will not hear the hardened sinner God will hear the penitent sinner outside of Christ, but not to save him (Acts 10:31) God will hear the penitent sinner outside of Christ, but not to save him (Acts 10:31) –God can respond to a sinner’s prayer outside of Christ like he did with Cornelius –Sinners outside of Christi who seek to know truth will be given an opportunity through God’s providence to find it (Jn. 7:17)

The Kind of Sinner God Will Hear God will hear the penitent sinner in Christ to save him God will hear the penitent sinner in Christ to save him –Jesus intercedes for his own (Heb. 7:25 [10:21]; 1 Jn. 2:1) –Children have a Father to pray to (Mt. 6:9,12) –The erring child of God must have a right heart when praying for forgiveness (2 K. 20:5; Psa. 6:9; 145:18-19; 1 Pet. 3:12; 1 Jn. 3:22; 5:14-17)