This is a question that many people wonder about. What does the Bible say about whether God hears and answers the prayers of those who do not believe in Him or are living in unrepentant sin?
First, it is clear in Scripture that sin hinders our prayers from being heard by God. Isaiah 59:2 says, “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” When we cling to sin in our lives and do not repent, Scripture indicates that this will affect our relationship with God in such a way that He will not hear our prayers.
However, that does not mean that God completely ignores each and every prayer uttered by an unbeliever or someone engaged in sin. The passage in Isaiah seems to indicate that ongoing, unrepentant sin is what forms a strong barrier between us and God. But Scripture gives us examples of times when God graciously heard and responded to the prayers of people who were not necessarily believers or were engaged in sin.
In Genesis 20, Abraham lies to Abimelech about his relationship with Sarah, pretending she is his sister rather than his wife. But when Abimelech takes Sarah into his household, God speaks to him in a dream and keeps him from sinning against Abraham and Sarah. Abimelech had prayed to God for guidance despite not really knowing God’s ways at that point. And God mercifully heard his prayer and kept him from sin.
Another example is in Acts 10 and 11, where Cornelius, a Gentile centurion who did not yet know God but prayed and gave alms, has his prayers heard by God (Acts 10:4, 31). God even sends Peter to Cornelius in response to his prayers to teach him about Jesus Christ. This shows that God is willing to hear sincere prayers even from those who do not believe in or know Him yet.
So Scripture indicates that God can and sometimes does hear and respond to prayers, even of those who do not believe in Him or are caught up in sin. However, there are a few important things to understand about this from a biblical perspective:
1. God hears prayers based on His mercy and grace, not human merit.
God is omniscient and sovereign over all things. He certainly hears all prayers in the sense of being aware of them. But Scripture indicates that God is selective in what prayers He chooses to respond to. God hears and responds to prayer based on His mercy and grace, not on human merit or worthiness (Exodus 33:19).
No one inherently deserves to have his or her prayers answered by God. But in His divine wisdom and according to His sovereign will, sometimes God mercifully chooses to hear and respond to prayers as an act of grace. So it is only by God’s mercy that He ever hears anyone’s prayers, not just because people cry out to Him.
The examples of Abimelech and Cornelius show this principle. God did not have to hear or respond to their prayers. But by His grace, He chose to do so and reveal Himself to them in those situations.
2. Those who come to God must believe He exists and rewards those who seek Him.
While God sometimes graciously hears prayers apart from faith or obedience, Scripture does link prayer with faith. The author of Hebrews writes, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). Jesus Himself said, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24).
While God is not obligated to hear anyone’s prayers, Scripture indicates that those who come to Him must at least believe in His existence and His role as the Rewarder and Giver of good gifts. God is more inclined to respond to those who approach Him with sincere faith, because faith pleases Him.
The examples of Cornelius and Abimelech show that God sometimes brings people to saving faith in response to their prayers and gifts of charity (Acts 10:4, 31). But in His wisdom, God usually requires that people begin to seek after Him and have some basic faith before He grants many of their requests.
3. Persistent, repentant prayer pleases God.
Sincere, persistent prayer coupled with repentance seems to be a factor that inclines God to hear and respond. In Luke 18, Jesus tells a parable about a persistent widow who keeps pleading her case before an unjust judge until finally he grants her request (Luke 18:1-8). Though God is not unjust like the judge, Jesus explains the point is that God “will give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night” (v. 7) and says, “will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily.” (vv. 7-8).
The psalmist similarly writes that the Lord is “near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth” (Psalm 145:18) and says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear” (Psalm 66:18). So God’s people are encouraged to pray sincerely, persistently, and in repentance before God.
4. God invites all people to come to Him through Christ.
Not only does God sometimes graciously hear and respond to the prayers of unbelievers or those caught up in sin, He invites all people to come to Him on the basis of Christ’s atoning death and resurrection. Passages like 1 Timothy 2:5-6 and 2 Peter 3:9 make clear that God desires “all people to be saved.” Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
God’s desire is for all people to repent and turn to Him for salvation through Jesus Christ by faith. When we come to God through Christ, we can have confidence that He hears us. “This is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15).
So in summary, while God sometimes graciously chooses to hear the prayers of unbelievers or those engaged in sin, the Bible indicates that His hearing is not automatic or guaranteed. Persistent, repentant prayer coupled with faith pleases God. And God invites all people to come to Him through Christ, at which time they can have confidence He will hear their prayers.
5. Those who have experienced salvation can freely come to God in prayer.
Scripture gives assurance that those who have repented of their sin and trusted in Christ’s atoning work on the cross for salvation can freely, confidently approach God in prayer. Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” The veil separating us from God’s presence has been torn down through Christ’s sacrifice, giving those who believe in Him access to come freely into God’s presence (Matthew 27:51).
Ephesians 3:12 declares that in Christ “we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.” And Jesus himself said, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13). God promises to hear and answer the prayers of His children who have put their faith in Christ for salvation. Our prayers are made acceptable to God through the merits and intercession of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:26-27, 34).
Of course, even believers need to continually examine themselves and repent of ongoing sins in order to maintain fellowship with God (1 John 1:9). But through Christ, those who have experienced salvation can have the privilege and confidence of being heard by God when they call upon Him in prayer.
6. Examples where God heard prayers of unbelievers or those in sin
In addition to the examples of Cornelius and Abimelech mentioned earlier, Scripture contains other examples of times when God graciously heard and responded to the prayers of unbelievers or those engaged in sin:
- The people of Nineveh – When Jonah preached coming judgment, the pagan people repented, prayed, and fasted, and God heard their prayer and relented (Jonah 3:5-10).
- Nebuchadnezzar – God heard the pagan king’s prayer of praise and his reason returned (Daniel 4:34-37).
- The prodigal son – Jesus’ story illustrates God’s loving response to a wayward child’s prayer of repentance (Luke 15:11-32).
- One of the criminals on the cross – Jesus tells him, “Today you will be with me in paradise” in response to his prayer (Luke 23:42-43).
- The sinful tax collector – Jesus says his prayer was heard over the self-righteous religious leader (Luke 18:9-14).
These examples reveal that while God sometimes chooses to hear prayers apart from saving faith or complete righteousness, He is also willing and desires to grant mercy and forgiveness to all who sincerely call out to Him.
7. What should believers do regarding prayers of unbelievers?
Based on the principles and examples from Scripture, here are a few things believers can do in regard to prayers of unbelievers or those engaged in sinful lifestyles:
- Have compassion and pray – We should have compassion as God invites all people to come to him through Christ. We can pray for their salvation.
- Share the gospel – God uses the faithful preaching of the gospel to draw people to salvation and prayer.
- Encourage repentance and faith – Like John the Baptist and Jesus, we can call people to repentance and faith in Christ (Matthew 3:2; 4:17).
- Explain the power of prayer through Christ – We can explain the confidence we have in prayer through Christ.
- Be gracious and patient – Recognize that it is only God who grants repentance and salvation in His timing (2 Timothy 2:25).
- Examine yourself – Make sure you are practicing heartfelt persistent prayer and maintain fellowship with God.
While emphasizing that true confidence in prayer comes through Christ, believers should graciously point people to the mercy and grace of God, who invites all sinners to come to Him.
8. Key principles summarized
To summarize some key principles from Scripture about whether God hears and answers the prayers of unbelievers or those living in sin:
- God sometimes graciously chooses to hear prayers apart from saving faith and obedience, but this is not guaranteed or automatic.
- God hears prayers based on His divine mercy and grace, not human merit.
- Those who approach God must believe He exists and rewards the diligent.
- Sincere, persistent, repentant prayer coupled with faith pleases God.
- God desires all people to repent and come to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
- Those who believe in Christ can freely and confidently approach God’s throne of grace in prayer.
- Believers should graciously call people to faith in Christ while trusting God to grant repentance.
In all things, we can be confident that God hears the prayers of His people through the intercession of His Son. And He mercifully invites all sinners to come to Him in faith and repentance.