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Featured Does God Hear The Prayers Of The Unsaved?

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by Piper, Sep 8, 2023.

  1. Piper

    Piper Active Member
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    Psalm 66:18


    If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.
     
  2. 37818

    37818 Well-Known Member

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    Well, it does seem the promise of Joel 2:32, ". . . that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: . . ." Re:Roman 10:13, changes this per God's own promise.
     
  3. Dave G

    Dave G Well-Known Member

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  4. 37818

    37818 Well-Known Member

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  5. Deacon

    Deacon Well-Known Member
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    Yes, he certainly does hear the prayers of the unsaved

    Acts 10:31 (LSB)
    ...‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.​

    Rob
     
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  6. Marooncat79

    Marooncat79 Well-Known Member
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    Again Prov 15:8
     
  7. Alan Gross

    Alan Gross Well-Known Member

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    Joel indicates that the being saved or deliverance promised was from temporal calamities that are mentioned previously, in context.

    saved or delivered:

    Gill on Joel 2:32; "from those miseries and calamities before described, from the impending ruin and destruction of the city; and so it was, that those that believed in Christ, that were in the city, had an intimation of it beforehand, and removed from thence to a place called Pella F23, and so escaped being involved in the common calamity:"

    That is the direct interpretation, then if there is an 'application' after the direct interpretation, then those who would be said to call on the Lord would still intend those who already have salvation.

    "... the deliverance and salvation Joel speaks of, is of a "remnant whom the Lord shall call", Joel 2:32; and designs the remnant according to the election of grace, whether among Jews or Gentiles, whom God calls by his efficacious grace; between which call and eternal glory, there is a certain and inseparable connection.

    Gill on Joel 2:32; "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call."

    Barns Notes: "That calling on God whereon salvation depends, is not in words only, but in heart and in deed. For what the heart believeth, the mouth confesseth, the hand in deed fulfilleth, The Apostle saith,
    "No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Spirit"

    Romans 10:13; "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

    Then, the process of being preached the Gospel is described;

    The preachers that are sent then preach the Gospel are they are then given the ability to hear, then to believe and then call, etc.

    14; "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?
    and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
    and how shall they hear without a preacher?

    15 "And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

    16 "But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord,
    who hath believed our report?

    17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

    Proverbs 15:8;

    The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD:
    but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

    Proverbs 15:29;

    The LORD is far from the wicked:
    but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

    We have to go by what the Book says.

    John 9:31

    “Now we know that God heareth not sinners:
    but if any man be a worshipper of God,
    and doeth his will, him he heareth.


    10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

    11 There is none that understandeth,
    there is none that seeketh after God.

    No one lost is saved by praying,
    because there are none lost that are righteous
    and none lost that seeks after God.

    "You will not come into me that you might have life." John 5:40.

    There is reason to believe Cornelius was saved, from;

    Acts 10:22 "And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man,
    and one that feareth God, and of good report

    among all the nation of the Jews,
    was warned from God by an holy angel
    to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee."

    Gill: Acts 10:22 Commentaries: They said, "Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you."

    a just man; before God, and in his sight, through the imputation of Christ's righteousness to him; and who was a new man, created in righteousness and true holiness; and lived soberly, righteously, and godly, and did justice between man and man; and so was just in the sight of men, which was very rare in a Gentile, and in a soldier:

    and one that feareth God; the true God, the God of Israel, and worshipped him, both internally and externally; for both sorts of worship are included in the fear of God:[/QUOTE]
     
  8. Silverhair

    Silverhair Well-Known Member

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    If God did not hear the prayers of the unsaved then no one would be saved.
     
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  9. 37818

    37818 Well-Known Member

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    So then do you think Paul's quote in Romans 10:13 is in error?
     
  10. Silverhair

    Silverhair Well-Known Member

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    It is the clearest statement in God's word of who can be saved.
     
  11. Alan Gross

    Alan Gross Well-Known Member

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    The interpretation of deliverance from temporal calamity also involved God's Elect remnant being delivered from that calamity, also, where they were spared and able to be Spiritually saved, before, during, or after the calamity.

    The remnant who were part of the temporal deliverance would be safe to be called, Spiritually, in salvation.

    The teaching of Roman's 10 is that a preacher is sent, they preach the Gospel, the sinner is enabled to hear and then believe the Gospel and those souls who are now saved, then call upon the name of the Lord.

    Paul's emphasis is on the Spiritual salvation of the remnant who was delivered from temporal calamity and he gives a fuller explanation of what Spiritual salvation entails and it is not by initially "calling upon the name of the Lord".

    The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation, not "calling".

    Again, Paul describes the process of Spiritual salvation involves the preacher being sent, preaching the Gospel, the sinner being enabled to "hear" the Gospel by the Holy Spirit and then "believe".

    Those that are saved and now believe will THEN "call upon the name of the Lord", as evidence to them and others that they have received the New Birth.
     
  12. canadyjd

    canadyjd Well-Known Member

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    God “hears” all, knows all. Are you asking if God responds favorably to the (general) prayers of someone that is not in a right relationship with Him? It depends, imo, if the prayer is consistent with God’s will… same as with a born again Christian.

    Or….. are you asking if God responds favorably to a repentant lost person asking for forgiveness? Yes, of course.

    Salvation is a work of God from start to finish. We do, however, respond to the work of God Holy Spirit (conviction of sin, drawing, conviction of the truth of Jesus and Him crucified) with repentance and faith in Jesus (Who He is and what He did).

    I don’t believe there is a specific prayer that must be said to be “saved”. Just respond as God Holy Spirit leads you, and you will be just fine.

    peace to you
     
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  13. Deacon

    Deacon Well-Known Member
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    Alan Gross, I would like a clear, direct answer to the following questions:

    Is being a just, honorable person and a person who fears God, enough to grasp salvation?

    Can a person be saved without hearing the gospel?​

    Rob
     
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  14. Marooncat79

    Marooncat79 Well-Known Member
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    Why?
     
  15. Marooncat79

    Marooncat79 Well-Known Member
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    There is no prerequisite of prayer to salvation

    the command is to repent and believe
     
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  16. kyredneck

    kyredneck Well-Known Member
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    ...ew, Alan, be bery bery careful, it sounds like you're getting close to Primitive Baptist distinctions between Eternal and Gospel Salvation.
     
    #16 kyredneck, Sep 9, 2023
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2023
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  17. kyredneck

    kyredneck Well-Known Member
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    :)...my name's not @Alan Gross, but this is such a good question I just can't help myself.,

    "Being a just, honorable person and a person who fears God" (like Cornelius, Acts Of The Apostles 10:34-35) means that God has already wrought within that person APART from hearing the gospel, or, 'coming to the light'. John 3:8 happens all the time.

    20 for every one who is doing wicked things hateth the light, and doth not come unto the light, that his works may not be detected;
    21 but he who is doing the truth doth come to the light, that his works may be manifested, that in God they are having been wrought.` Jn 3

    ...and, how long does it take to 'save' someone with the gospel?:

    16 Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee. 1 Tim 4

    How much 'teaching' did it take to finally get Timothy and his flock 'saved'?
     
    #17 kyredneck, Sep 9, 2023
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2023
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  18. Silverhair

    Silverhair Well-Known Member

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    So what you are saying is that one confessing their sins and expressing their trust in Christ for their salvation is not prayer? Then what would you call it?
     
  19. Silverhair

    Silverhair Well-Known Member

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    If one does not ask to be saved then why would they be saved?
     
  20. Marooncat79

    Marooncat79 Well-Known Member
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    We should be asking God to forgive us our sins and save us through the Gospel


    There is no where in scripture where any asked Jesus into their heart
     
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