FOR THE UNBELIEVING HUSBAND IS SANCTIFIED BY THE WIFE.
Question: According to 1 Corinthians 7:14,is it true that if an unbeliever marries or gets married to a believer,then the unbelieving spouse is considered as being righteous?
1 Corinthians 7:13_14;
“And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not,and if he be pleased to dwell with her,let her not leave him.
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 they are holy.”
ANSWER:It should be clear to us that no one is considered to be righteous because of another’s righteousness.The Bible says that every one will bear their own burden and each one shall give account of him/herself to God on that day(Galatians 6:5, Romans 14:12).
Does the verse mean that even if one marries or gets married to a believer, while still a sinner, shall be considered righteous?And that if the unbelieving partner dies he or she will go to heaven?The answer is NO!To understand well on this subject, re-read the following verses;
1 Corinthians 7:12-16;
“But to the rest speak i, not the Lord.If any brother has a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him,let him not put her away.
And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
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 they are holy.
But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart.A brother or sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
FOR WHAT KNOWEST THOU,O WIFE, WHETHER THOU SHALT SAVE THY HUSBAND?OR HOW KNOWEST THOU, O MAN, WHETHER THOU SHALT SAVE THY WIFE?”
If two settle in marriage as husband and wife while still unbelievers,and then one of them later accepts Christ as their Saviour,Paul advised that the one who’s born again should not leave to go and be married to another person.Instead,they should continue living together for as long as the unbelieving spouse is willing to be with them.The unbelieving partner may be easily won unto your faith when they see your good deeds and righteous living.It is because of this that Apostle Paul said,”For how do you know,wife, whether you will save your husband?Or how do you know, husband,if you will save your wife?”
Listening to testimonies of how some marriages turned to God,they reflect the truth of what Paul said.In one,it is the husband who got saved first,and following their relationship with Christ, the wife was also drawn to salvation.In another,the wife accepted Jesus first, and because of her righteous living,the husband was won and therefore believed in Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.
However,if in such a marriage only one gets saved,it does not mean that their spouse now automatically gets saved too.They may be together as a couple for as long as they live, and the unbelieving partner could probably die while still a sinner.But this happens less often.If the believing spouse continually and diligently intercedes for their partner and lives a life which pleases God,then the other may be drawn to salvation.
The Bible forbids a Christian from marrying a non-believer.Presently,many marriages experience conflicts and breakups just because some Christians make wrong decisions.They do not obey the Lord’s instruction concerning marriage which says that we should not be yoked with the unbelievers.(2 Corinthians 6:14)
Your security ought first to be in your and not in the family.Therefore,if you are yet to marry or get married,let your faith be the standard of identifying the right partner.For those who are already in marriage where you are the one who is born again and your spouse is not,you have a duty to pray for them, teaching them the Word and living uprightly,so they may be won through your good deeds.
God bless you.
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