Some Christian traditions say that God does not hear the prayers of unbelievers. But weren’t there people in the Bible who asked God about everlasting life and, as a result, came to faith in Christ and were born again?
A simple survey of the Bible shows that God does hear the prayers of unbelievers and that many unbelievers asked God about everlasting life. Let’s consider five.
The Philippian Jailer (Acts 16:30-31). He is probably the most famous example. He asked, “What must I do to be saved?” While he did not ask that directly of God, he did ask God’s messenger, the Apostle Paul. He received the answer: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.” He understood and believed. While contrary to some Christian traditions, that is undeniably what the Scriptures teach.
The Woman at the Well (John 4:1-26). She had a back-and-forth dialogue with the Lord Jesus Christ. At one point, He invited her to ask Him for the living water, the saving message (John 4:10). Ultimately, she did (John 4:25), and He answered her request (John 4:26). She not only came to faith; she also went into the village and evangelized the people there (John 4:29-30, 42).
The Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-38). The Holy Spirit sent Philip the Evangelist to approach a man of great authority who was returning to Africa after having been in Jerusalem to worship. He was reading from a scroll of Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” So “he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.” He showed him the text he was reading, Isa 53:7-8. He then asked Philip if the prophet was talking “of himself or of some other man?” This man of great authority came to faith in Christ and was baptized by Philip.
Cornelius (Acts 10:1-48). Cornelius was a God-fearing Gentile. He worshiped God in a local synagogue in Caesarea. He “gave alms generously to the people [the Jewish people], and prayed to God always.” Around 9AM, an angel of God appeared to him and told him to send to Joppa for Simon Peter (Acts 10:5). He told Cornelius that Peter would “tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved” (Acts 11:14). Peter came and led Cornelius and his household to faith in Christ. God responded to his active prayer life.
The Macedonian (Acts 16:9). The Apostle Paul had a night vision. He saw a Macedonian man who “pleaded with him, saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’” The result was that many in Europe, including Lydia and the Philippian jailer, came to faith in Christ and were born again. If that was an actual man–which seems likely–then he, too, heard, believed, and was saved.
The Apostle Paul said that God had granted to the Gentiles that they might “grope for Him and find Him (Acts 17:27).”i The Lord Jesus invited people to ask, seek, and knock (Matt 7:7-11). The author of Hebrews said that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Yes, some Bible characters did ask God about everlasting life. We should encourage those to whom we witness to ask God if the simple faith-alone message is true. Invite them to read John’s Gospel and to ask God to guide them into understanding the promise of everlasting life.
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i Many misunderstand Rom 3:11, which alludes to Ps 14:1-13 and Eccl 7:20. No one seeks God apart from God’s drawing. If God were not drawing everyone (John 16:7-11), then no one would seek God. But there are examples in Scripture of believers and unbelievers who seek God. Romans 3:11 is not an absolute statement. In his commentary on Romans, Mounce writes, “Scriptures teach that it is God who takes the initiative. He is the one who seeks us; not the other way around” (p. 109).
