A BELIEVER CAN SANCTIFY THEIR UNBELIEVING SPOUSE

PROCLAMATION

“For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her husband.  Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.”  1 Corinthians 7:14 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in the church at Corinth.  In this chapter Paul tells them about marriage.  He is responding to a matter which was presented to him in a letter.  They said, “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” (1 Corinthians 7:1)  Paul told them that each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and that each woman should do so with her own husband. (1 Corinthians 7:2-5)  He said that those individuals who were unmarried should stay unmarried.  However, if they cannot control themselves, then they should marry, because it is better for them to marry than to be consumed with passion and lust. (1 Corinthians 7:8-9)  He also told them that the married believer provides some covering for their unbelieving spouse.  Then he told them that whatever status they were in when they came to Christ, that they should remain in that status. (1 Corinthians 7:17-24)  Paul spends the remainder of the chapter addressing his concerns with marriage.

 

APPLICATION

With respect to marriage, it is much better for a believer not to be “unequally yoked” and married to a non-believer. (2 Corinthians 6:14)  However, if a believer is married to a non-believer, it is better for them to stay married and not to divorce their spouse just because he or she is a non-believer.  The non-believing spouse, and any children born to their union, are blessed because of the believing spouse. (1 Corinthians 7:12-14)  Marriage is a Divine institution. (Matthew 19:5-6 and Mark 10:6-9)  Hopefully, the believer will live such a life that they can lead their non-believing spouse to Christ.  However, if the non-believing spouse chooses to leave the marriage, the believer should let them go.  It is better to live alone in peace. (1 Corinthians 7:15)