1 Corinthians 7:12-15

[Acceptance]

"To the rest I say (not the Lord): if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she is willing to go on living with him, he should not divorce her; and if any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he is willing ot go on living with her, she should not divorce her husband. For the unbelieving husband is made holy through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy through the brother. Otherwise your children would be unclean, whereas in fact they are holy. If the unbeliever separates, however, let him separate. The brother or sister is not bound in such cases; God has called you to peace. For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband; or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?"

In reading this verse, it says you do not need to believe in Christ to go to be acceptable to God, but only need to be married to someone who believes in Christ. Whatever does this mean?

 

[CeCe]

If you back up to verse 10, you'll see that this passage is in regard to keeping the marriage vows. Sometimes after marriage a husband or wife will become a believer. Verse 14 says that the unbelieveing spouse is sanctified--which simply means "set apart". This is not the same thing as being saved.

The unbelieving spouse is exposed to the teachings of Jesus through the believing spouse. (if that makes sense).

Now fast forward to verse 16, which reads: 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? This shows that it is the possibility of a future event and that simply being married to a believer does not save the unbelieving spouse.