"For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayer: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil." (1 Peter 3:12)
How could Peter write this? Are God's ears open to our prayers, or is his face against us?
Why doesn't Peter talk about "the righteous who do evil"?
If the doctrines of Free Grace Theology are true, then the "righteous" are just a sub-class of those who do evil! So how can Peter tell us at the same time the face of the Lord is against such people, and then again, that His eyes are over them, and His ears open to their prayer?
"Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (James 5:16,17)
"If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!" (Psalm 66:18-20)
The Bible teaches that we have access to the throne of God through the blood of Jesus. Can we have access to the throne of God to be heard while we cherish sin in our hearts? Can we have boldness with God while we do evil?
"My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment."
(1 John 3:18-23 NKJV)
I think the teaching of the Bible is pretty clear, both in the Old and New Testaments. If you want your prayers to be heard, and to get prayer answers, you must first submit your whole life to God. You can't expect God to listen to you if you have not given your life to God. And if you want to be a slave to sin, an evildoer, then do not assume you are righteous just because some preacher tells you that you are righteous "by grace through faith". If the face of the Lord is in fact against you, and your prayers do not get answered, do not be content for things to stay that way. Look to Christ, and give up your sins, especially your determination to direct your own life without reference to the Holy Spirit or Christ. Let Him be the Lord and Master of your life. Align yourself with His Kingdom. Only then, are you going to see what God can really do in your life, and through your life. Only then will you be part of the Kingdom of God.