Sanctification/Salvation of Families by only one's righteousness’? [Archive]

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Flynmonkie

7th January 2006, 03:45 AM

arunma

7th January 2006, 03:53 AM

Here are two commentaries on the verse that I find helpful.

Adam Clarke:

The unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife - Or rather, is to be reputed as sanctified on account of his wife; she being a Christian woman, and he, though a heathen, being by marriage one flesh with her: her sanctity, as far as it refers to outward things, may be considered as imputed to him so as to render their connection not unlawful. The case is the same when the wife is a heathen and the husband a Christian. The word sanctification here is to be applied much more to the Christian state than to any moral change in the persons; for ἁγιοι, saints, is a common term for Christians - those who were baptized into the faith of Christ; and as its corresponding term קדושים kedoshim signified all the Jews who were in the covenant of God by circumcision, the heathens in question were considered to be in this holy state by means of their connection with those who were by their Christian profession saints.

John Wesley:

For the unbelieving husband hath, in many instances, been sanctified by the wife - Else your children would have been brought up heathens; whereas now they are Christians. As if he had said, Ye see the proof of it before your eyes.

Unfortunately, the commentators don't say the same thing. Perhaps the verse can be taken both ways: it could be a claim that an interfaith marriage is perfectly clean in God's eyes (assuming that the believing spouse came to faith after the marriage), and that as a result, the children of this marriage may be raised as believing Christians.

Dmckay

8th January 2006, 01:28 AM

The term for sanctification means literally "set apart" in the case of the passages you have cited the unbelieving spouse, for the sake of the believing spouse is "Set apart". In this case it does not mean that they are saved by proxy because of their relationship with a believer, but rather that they are placed in a special dispensation in which they are much more likely to come to Christ. There are other aspects of this sanctification which Paul addresses as well.

Consider the immediate context of the 1 Corinthians 7 passage. Paul is dealing with questions regarding divorce and marriage. I believe that Paul is fielding questions here which have arisen because of his earlier teaching about the believer's body being united to the Body of Christ and that if they participated in the use of temple prostitutes that they were in effect uniting Christ in a defiling act.

I have had believers tell me that they thought that since they were an unbeliever when they married or that because they were saved after they were married they should be able to get a divorce. In the context Paul is saying that they are not free to divorce an unbelieving spouse because they are now a believer. In fact he says that if they make the unbelieving spouse depart (divorce) that they are to remain celibate or return to their spouse.

A variation on this is the thought that if I am a believer and my wife is an unbeliever, that when we have sexual relations it is a uniting of Christ in defilement. Paul is saying that the act of marriage unites the husband and wife in a special relationship. We know from 2 Corinthians 6:14 "Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?" that believers and unbelievers are not to marry. But in the case of one of the members becoming a believer after the marriage the Lord sets apart the unbelieving spouse for the sake of this sacred relationship. The sexual relations between the believer and the unbeliever are no longer considered defiling. Nor are any of the children that may occur as a result of this relationship considered defiled, rather they are holy (sanctified) in G-d's eyes and may well come to a saving knowledge of Christ because of the loving influence of the believing parent.

Paul does go on to say, however, that if you are the believing spouse and your unbelieving spouse wishes to depart (divorce) from you, don't try to force them to stay, and that in this case the believing spouce who was left is no longer bound. Paul explains further in verse 16 "For 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?"

The Proverbs and Psalms passage are basically saying the same thing, that a man of integrity who truely walks with G-d will have a powerful impact upon the lives of his children and their desire to come to Christ. I'm sure that you have known Pastors or deacons who have children who unholy terrors. I know that I have. In every case where I have had the opportunity to get to know these men the problem with the children was the phoniness of the father. Saying and doing one thing in public and another thing in the confines of the home are one of the quickest ways I know to drive the children away from the Lord. On the other hand, a man of G-d who has integrity is the same in his actions and speech no matter who his audience might be.

Joykins

8th January 2006, 01:41 AM

It brings to mind some of the mass conversions of the early middle ages...when Vladimir of Kiev converted to Christianity, he had everyone in the kingdom baptized. The same was often true if a local chieftain was converted, everyone he was responsible for was baptized and expected to be a Christian from there on out. We think primarily of individual salvation in this day and age but I'm not sure it was the ancient point of view.

ZiSunka

8th January 2006, 09:50 PM

Ok, I have heard over and over that "the husband is santified through the wife" Children are santified though the "righteous" parents etc..It had been explained to me before but I am a bit confused again. I am being led to believe that this denotes "salvation" in some way. :scratch: But it makes no sense that this would be true that your unbelievieng husband or children would be saved by "default"? I thought it meant that God would impress on their hearts but I have a hard time understanding the full meaning of this. Can anyone explain it to me? :help:

Scripture that has been presented to me

1 Corinthians 7:14
14For 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.

Proverbs 20:7
7The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

Psalm 112:1-2
1Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
2His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

etc..

When I first met Joe, he wasn't saved. He got saved by me witnessing to him through my life, the things I did, the way I talked. He was saved through my faith.

When I got to know his parents more, I found out that his mom was a Believer when they first met at a dance for Catholic singles, but his dad didn't have faith, he just went to the dance to find a Catholic wife. It wasn't until after they were married that he came to faith in Christ through his wife's faith, by the way she lived her life and by the workings of God in their lives through her faith.

My dad was a Believer when he married my Believer mom, but his wasn't living the Christian life and being sanctified until he married mom and saw through her example how to really BE a Christian. He didn't start to change into a new person until my mom showed him there was more to faith than just walking an aisle and reading the Bible. My dad said he didn't know anything about being loving or showing love until me met my mom.

I could go on and on with examples of people who were saved and sanctified through their relationship with other people, notably their spouses or significant others.

Flynmonkie

8th January 2006, 10:03 PM

I could go on and on with examples of people who were saved and sanctified through their relationship with other people, notably their spouses or significant others.

Yes! I have this experience too! I was a “backslidden” believer, and my husband was not a believer. I witnessed months of spiritual warfare and God working in him and myself. Finally resulting in his acceptance. To this day I witness it still. I became involved in thought on this and am researching exactly what this means; there are so many variations. But like you said before I believe it is from my experience either by our example of a Christian attitude or walk, or by some unknown working of the HS that "jumpstarts" the other be it child or family or friend or spouse.

I don't think proxy will ensure ones acceptance of Christ. But if you believe Gods promises...in viewing all the scripture I am accumulating - it is a very thin line. That is what I am trying to distinguish. (Keeping apart from universalism and being clear in my responses!)

Joykins

8th January 2006, 11:58 PM

I could go on and on with examples of people who were saved and sanctified through their relationship with other people, notably their spouses or significant others.

I have seen this through my parents' relationship. My mom was a believer and my father was a non-religious Jew. He got saved when I was very small and is a real man of God now. :amen:

Flynmonkie

9th January 2006, 12:02 AM

I have seen this through my parents' relationship. My mom was a believer and my father was a non-religious Jew. He got saved when I was very small and is a real man of God now. :amen:
How can anyone whom witnesses this NOT believe God exists? Isn't He just awesome??!!! :prayer: