The difference between the sinner and the wicked‏

Matthew 27:38
38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.

The above scripture testifies that two thieves were crucified with Jesus. Both thieves had committed same kind of crimes, but only one thief was saved at the last moment, as the other thief refused to repent.

The Bible says very clearly that there is no salvation for the wicked.Matthew 13:49-5049 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

However sinners always have a hope as Jesus says He came to this world for their salvation.
How do we distinguish a sinful man from a wicked man?

Well, we cannot do this by comparing the sin which is committed by a sinful man with the sin of a wicked man as both commit sin in the same manner. But, if it is impossible to call a man who has committed sin to repentance by any means, such man is identified as wicked.

One thief who was crucified with Jesus was not willing to repent over his sins even when he was at the death but he railed on Jesus. However the other thief who was also crucified with Jesus repented for his sins by accepting that he deserved punishment.
Luke 23:40-41
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

Thus the thief who repented, received salvation as a sinful man and the other thief was condemned to hell as a wicked man. What Jesus says in the below scripture further reveals that those who have committed sins, but still can be called unto REPENTANCE are called 'SINNERS'.
Matthew 9:13
,,,for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Jesus has asked us to pray for salvation of those who persecute us. However, if we find someone continually persecuting us even after many prayers on their behalf, such persecutors are falling to the category of the wicked. When we identify the wicked, it is our responsibility to bring the matter before God against them as king David in order that God saves us from such wicked people by doing the justice on our behalf.

We should not be ignorant to think that this kind of prayer is not right for the people in the New Testament because Jesus Himself has condemned the wicked with words such as 'adulterous generation - Mat 3:7', 'generation of vipers - Mat 12:39', 'faithless and perverse generation - Mat 17:17' and 'evil generation - Luke 11:29'.