Last night at church there were a number of women who were grieving the fact their husbands had not made a commitment to Christ. This brought to mind 1 Corinthians 7:13-14
1Co 7:13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
1Co 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
Here are some scriptures and understanding that came at that time.
When a man is pleased to dwell with his saved wife he is sanctified by the faith of the wife. We are saved by faith. Those two being one in God's eyes means the faith of the wife is imputed to the husband. This is an amazing and challenging concept. In the Old Testament when clean and unclean met, the result was the clean became unclean.
In the new, [now that we are sanctified by the blood of Jesus and not that of animals perhaps] the unclean husband is made clean by the faith of the wife. How, or why, can this be?
Jesus said, "in as much as you have done it unto one of the least of these my disciples, you have done it unto me." Is it possible that God counts a man who is faithful to his wife as being faithful to meeting His needs?
One thing is sure. Paul was sold on teaching that the children of a believer are sanctified and the union that brought them forth is also clean. The best explanation of what this means for the unbeliever is this. If they are faithful in doing what they know to do for their mate it will be accounted to them as unto the Lord. If they are married to, but despise their mate, will the same be accounted to them? God knows.
This knowledge should encourage and liberate husbands and wive's from the drivenness to get their partner saved before they die. Salvation is God's work and the best way given a woman t
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Thanks Michael
Michael,
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts on this. It brings another verse to mind which supports what you are saying.
1Pe 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
1Pe 3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
There is an implication in the word 'won' that the husband is not won. Now the question is, are they won to the Lord, or is it saying won to their wife? Given the context of those who "obey not the word" the answer would be won to the Lord, by being brought into obedience to the word.
In the mean time I am sure the unbeliever is reaping a blessing through the faith of the believer. Is it eternal life? I cannot say. You make some good points. "For now we see through a glass darkly."
The verses you supplied on not believing and damnation do not contradict what I was saying, if the Lord is imputing the faith of the believer to the unbeliever. We all have areas in our lives where we lack faith and yet the faithlessness in those areas does not do away with the faith that saves, even though it dims it or undermines it if not dealt with.
I can see that this discussion is one that may be one of those areas where 2Timoty 2:23 comes into play, "But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes."
The practical side of life and what this means as to how I live it in the presence of an unsaved spouse does not change. Regardless of what the Lord imputes, an unbeliever is missing out on a tremendous life in this life if they do not surrender to the Lord. What happens to them in eternity will certainly be seen in the judgement, and I would not want to assume I was saved because my mate is saved and someone posted a theoretical question on a message board! ;)
Blessings brother,
Tim Reinagel
www.perfectinglove.com
Unbelieving husands
1Co 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
This is about whether it is alright for a holy child of God to be married to an unbeliever. What Paul is saying is that it is OK. The unbeliever is sanctified (set apart) for marriage to his wife, but it doesn't mean he is right with God.
Tim, I am certain that your suggestions, though interesting, really cannot match with the rest of Scripture. "He who believes not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). "that whosoever BELIEVES in Him should not perish" (John 3:16) and so on. We are not saved by doing good works to Christians but by repentance and faith towards God as a response to the work of God in Christ. Otherwise it is salvation by works alone, without faith.
Its better to interpret the above verses in the context of the holiness of marriage. That is what they are about.
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