The unbelieving husband

[tomarin]

What does it mean in 1st Corinthians 7:14, “the unbelieving husband is sanctified”?

 

[fellowChristian]

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source **sanc·ti·fy **

1.To set apart for sacred use; consecrate.
2.To make holy; purify.
3.To give religious sanction to, as with an oath or vow: sanctify a marriage.
4.To give social or moral sanction to.
5.To make productive of holiness or spiritual blessing.

 

[fellowChristian]

1 Corinthians 7
14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.

15Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace.

16For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

17Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk And so I direct in all the churches.

 

[ALLFORHIM]

Well, I live this every day. My husband is not a true christian in that he could care less about going to church and has not given his life to Christ–yet

IMO this passage means that the believer in the household needs to act like it, be a good witness for Christ to their spouse. By this behavior the spouse will see there is something different about their wife/husband. This may lead the spouse to a true belief in Christ. In effect it hopefully will lead to the spouse giving his/her life to Christ.

Also, if there is a believer in the household–then the whole household is blessed by default–however–that doesnt mean they are automatically saved. Each person still has to make their own profession of faith. It just may be easier because there is already a believer in the household(hopefully)showing fruit of the spirit for the spouse to see. Plus, they benefit from whatever blessings the believing spouse receives.(whatever that may be).

I have been really concentrating on being a better witness to my husband in the past year and I do see little changes in him.

You know how Im being a good witness—I KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT!!!(most of the time ) I live by example:thumbsup:

 

[guanophore]

Well, I live this every day. My husband is not a true christian in that he could care less about going to church and has not given his life to Christ–yet

IMO this passage means that the believer in the household needs to act like it, be a good witness for Christ to their spouse. By this behavior the spouse will see there is something different about their wife/husband. This may lead the spouse to a true belief in Christ. In effect it hopefully will lead to the spouse giving his/her life to Christ.

Also, if there is a believer in the household–then the whole household is blessed by default–however–that doesnt mean they are automatically saved. Each person still has to make their own profession of faith. It just may be easier because there is already a believer in the household(hopefully)showing fruit of the spirit for the spouse to see. Plus, they benefit from whatever blessings the believing spouse receives.(whatever that may be).

I have been really concentrating on being a better witness to my husband in the past year and I do see little changes in him.

You know how Im being a good witness—I KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT!!!(most of the time ) I live by example:thumbsup:

I agree with all you say, and blessings to you for your faithful witness!

However, I think there is also more to it than that. Remember that God sees the married as “one”, and what God has joined, let not man put asunder. If one member of the union is sanctified, then in God’s eyes, that is shared by the other.

Remember also Abraham’s pleading for Lot,a nd the city of Sodom. God said He would spare the unrighteous for the sake of the righteous.

I agree with you that each must face God of his own accord, and that each will be judged according to his deeds. But I also see witness in scripture where whole households were saved on the basis of one believer.

So, don’t underestimate the power of your chaste and holy live, because you may not only be witnessing to HIm, but you are also conveying sanctifying grace through the bond of marriage, and making intercession for sins.

There is no way to KNOW if he will be saved, but we labor with hope!

 

[tomarin]

Well, I live this every day.

same here. we were both secular people when we dated and married. now having a child has made me see things in a new light. but she is still the same person as before. that’s why i was interested in what the corinthians passage meant.

one thing i’ve noticed since renewing my faith is that the constant struggle for moral supremacy that is at the heart of most marriages has taken a nosedive as i’ve tried to turn the other cheek to perceived slights, practice love and forgiveness and try to be less selfish and help her more with whatever is burdening her. consequently there’s a lot less tension around the house. now if she happens to lose her temper at me for some reason she immediately feels bad and apologizes. it’s as if i now have the upper hand without even desiring it.

 

[tomarin]

I agree with all you say, and blessings to you for your faithful witness!

However, I think there is also more to it than that. Remember that God sees the married as “one”, and what God has joined, let not man put asunder. If one member of the union is sanctified, then in God’s eyes, that is shared by the other.

Remember also Abraham’s pleading for Lot,a nd the city of Sodom. God said He would spare the unrighteous for the sake of the righteous.

I agree with you that each must face God of his own accord, and that each will be judged according to his deeds. But I also see witness in scripture where whole households were saved on the basis of one believer.

So, don’t underestimate the power of your chaste and holy live, because you may not only be witnessing to HIm, but you are also conveying sanctifying grace through the bond of marriage, and making intercession for sins.

There is no way to KNOW if he will be saved, but we labor with hope!

i think you’re on to something. i also thought the passage implied more than “it’s a blessing to be married to a christian”. but i wanted more clarification, which is why i posted.

 

[ALLFORHIM]

I may ask my minister more about this passage.

I agree with you guys. Guan–what you say seems right.

My hubby and I were also both secular when we married. When I accepted christ 11 years ago–I didnt change right away–it was gradual.

In the last 4 years I have changed ALOT!! He has noticed.

You should watch the video series called Love and Respect. It is by Emmeritt Eggrich. He is hysterical and right on the money.

He is a born again christian, but really only talks about biblical marriages and how males think and how females think.

I took the series through Sunday School by myself(Hubby doesnt go to church) IT WAS AWESOME!! It convicted me on how I need to be more respectful to my hubby even though I dont want to Because of my changing(KEEPING MOUTH SHUT)He is changing too

What you are doing or not doing to your wife is working apparently. The more loving and respectful you are to her(even when you dont want to be)the more responsive she will be.

I have 2 children and I raise them spiritually alone. My hubby’s morals are more worldly then mine so it does make it tiresome.
Sometimes I have to take my kids asside and tell them that what daddy did or said was not Godly and we need to help him understand that. sigh Im tired just writing about it. I helped write a book about spiritually single moms but it might be good for you too!! I’ll get back to you on the title. I didnt write it I just gave some help with ideas.

 

[JimG]

I have been really concentrating on being a better witness to my husband in the past year and I do see little changes in him.

You know how Im being a good witness—I KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT!!!(most of the time ) I live by example:thumbsup:

I think you are spiritually wise. The way you live your life will be a better witness to him than any amount of apologetics or argumentation.

 

[ALLFORHIM]

I think you are spiritually wise. The way you live your life will be a better witness to him than any amount of apologetics or argumentation.

AMEN too that!!!

 

[fellowChristian]

I agree with all you say, and blessings to you for your faithful witness!

However, I think there is also more to it than that. Remember that God sees the married as “one”, and what God has joined, let not man put asunder. If one member of the union is sanctified, then in God’s eyes, that is shared by the other.

Remember also Abraham’s pleading for Lot,a nd the city of Sodom. God said He would spare the unrighteous for the sake of the righteous.

I agree with you that each must face God of his own accord, and that each will be judged according to his deeds. But I also see witness in scripture where whole households were saved on the basis of one believer.

So, don’t underestimate the power of your chaste and holy live, because you may not only be witnessing to HIm, but you are also conveying sanctifying grace through the bond of marriage, and making intercession for sins.

There is no way to KNOW if he will be saved, but we labor with hope!

I agree. I thought the whole context was self -explainable:blush:

Ephesians 5
31"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church

**1640 **
Thus the marriage bond has been established by God himself in such a way that a marriage concluded and consummated between baptized persons can never be dissolved. This bond, which results from the free human act of the spouses and their consummation of the marriage, is a reality, henceforth irrevocable, and gives rise to a covenant guaranteed by God’s fidelity. The Church does not have the power to contravene this disposition of divine wisdom.146

**1643 **
"Conjugal love involves a totality, in which all the elements of the person enter—appeal of the body and instinct, power of feeling and affectivity, aspiration of the spirit and of will. It aims at a deeply personal unity, a unity that, beyond union in one flesh, leads to forming one heart and soul; it demands indissolubility and faithfulness in definitive mutual giving; and it is open to fertility. In a word it is a question of the normal characteristics of all natural conjugal love, but with a new significance which not only purifies and strengthens them, but raises them to the extent of making them the expression of specifically Christian values."152

More on what the Catholic Church teaches about Matrimony you’ll find here in the Catachism (Latin for Echo)

THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY
usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt3art7.htm