Sunday, June 1, 2014

When believer married to unbeliever

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

In I Cor. 7 we receive instruction concerning cases where a believer is married to an unbeliever.

Paul says ... 12But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 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. 15But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.  16For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? 

The first instruction is for the believer to live as a believer ... then if the unbeliever is content to dwell with the believer do so.

But if the unbeliever does not like living with the believer and departs, Paul says let him (or her) depart.  A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases:

This means the believer is no longer in "bondage" to try to please the unbeliever ... Just let the unbeliever go if he (or she) is not content to dwell with you as a believer.

Certainly there could be cases like this.  Perhaps neither of you were believers when you married.  Then one became a believer and no longer wanted to do as was once done.  The believer must live as a believer.  Then the unbeliever chooses whether or not to continue the marriage.  If he (or she) departs, Paul says don't try to hold him (or her).  Let the unbeliever go if the unbeliever chooses to go.  But the believer must continue to live as a believer.