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