This scripture gave me so much peace...hoping I interpreted it right...any help appreciated!

[mom2four]

1 corinthians 7: 13-14:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/...14;&version=9;

My husband isn't saved.....since I am now saved, does this scripture mean there is hope that he can be saved through my salvation?

Thanks for any help with this.

[open door]

1 corinthians 7: 13-14:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/...14;&version=9;

My husband isn't saved.....since I am now saved, does this scripture mean there is hope that he can be saved through my salvation?

Thanks for any help with this.

mom2four, i'm just a "layprson", certainly no biblical scholar by any stretch of the imagination, but i think you're right, at lest that's how i interpret it. you are now saved, and "in the light", and will be a light certainly to those most close to you. you set an example by your everyday walk in Christ. i will pray that God will use you , with the help of the Holy Spirit, to bring him to the Lord. keep looking up

[mattfivefour]

This passage is actually talking about divorce and arises because of the earlier admonition that believers should not associate with unbelievers or (as in Chapter 5) immoral people. But here Paul is saying that that does not apply to married couples. If one partner is a Christian and the other is not, that is still okay because the Christian partner sanctifies the non-Christian one. Now sanctify doesn't mean make holy or saved; it means simply it sets them apart from the rest of the world; which in itself is a big thing, because it means they are in a spiritual sense closer to the influence of a believing spouse than to the influence of the unbelieving world around them.

Now, if the husband wishes to go let him go, if he wishes to stay let him stay. And the same for wives. Matthew Henry comments: "Man and wife must not separate for any other cause than what Christ allows. Divorce, at that time, was very common among both Jews and Gentiles, on very slight pretexts. Marriage is a Divine institution; and is an engagement for life, by God's appointment. We are bound, as much as in us lies, to live peaceably with all men, Romans 12:18, therefore to promote the peace and comfort of our nearest relatives, though unbelievers. It should be the labour and study of those who are married, to make each other as easy and happy as possible. Should a Christian desert a husband or wife, when there is opportunity to give the greatest proof of love? Stay, and labour heartily for the conversion of thy relative. In every state and relation the Lord has called us to peace; and every thing should be done to promote harmony, as far as truth and holiness will permit."

This is the demonstration of true love for your spouse, staying and presenting your witness to them by the way you live.

Does this guarantee your husband will be saved? No. Because each of us has to make the decision for ourselves-- to accept Christ or to ignore and reject Him. But your fervent prayers for your husband and your constant faithful living witness of Christ in you will no doubt be used mightily of the Holy Spirit as He calls your husband to Himself.

Just don't give up. My wife prayed for 30 years before I fully surrendered to Christ. Don't look to your husband for evidence he is getting closer, or softening, or anything else. Just keep your eyes on Jesus, look to Him and Him alone; and forget the wind and the waves, the storms and the other circumstances that all seem to say, "God does not hear." God most certainly hears His children when they speak to Him. So rest in His assurances of His love for you and that He loves your husband as much as He loves you.

God bless.

[Glory to God]

Does this guarantee your husband will be saved? No. Because each of us has to make the decision for ourselves-- to accept Christ or to ignore and reject Him. But your fervent prayers for your husband and your constant faithful living witness of Christ in you will no doubt be used mightily of the Holy Spirit as He calls your husband to Himself.

Just don't give up. My wife prayed for 30 years before I fully surrendered to Christ. Don't look to your husband for evidence he is getting closer, or softening, or anything else. Just keep your eyes on Jesus, look to Him and Him alone; and forget the wind and the waves, the storms and the other circumstances that all seem to say, "God does not hear." God most certainly hears His children when they speak to Him. So rest in His assurances of His love for you and that He loves your husband as much as He loves you.

God bless.

Wow thanks Matt,
That fills me with renewed strength.
I have been praying for many years for my husband.
Sometimes thought God wasn't listening. Why so long?
Is there something I wasn't doing right? Not enough faith?
It seemed to always come down to me, me, me.

Eventually God got through to me,
nothing to do with me.
How easy to focus on ourselves.
I now know God has also used this to help me grow.
To rely on Him, to Trust fully on Him.
I know my husband is in Gods wonderful hands.

I see God moving, though I don't go looking.
I have learnt to leave it in our Masters hands.
I keep on praying.
Though I cant see,
I know that God certainly does.

mom2four keep praying, trust in God fully,
and as Matt said "don't give up"
2:

[mattfivefour]

Wow, Glory, what a lot of wisdom He has given you! Praise His wonderful Name!

[pistache]

Wow thanks Matt,
That fills me with renewed strength.
I have been praying for many years for my husband.
Sometimes thought God wasn't listening. Why so long?
Is there something I wasn't doing right? Not enough faith?
It seemed to always come down to me, me, me.

Eventually God got through to me,
nothing to do with me.
How easy to focus on ourselves.
I now know God has also used this to help me grow.
To rely on Him, to Trust fully on Him.
I know my husband is in Gods wonderful hands.

I see God moving, though I don't go looking.
I have learnt to leave it in our Masters hands.
I keep on praying.
Though I cant see,
I know that God certainly does.

mom2four keep praying, trust in God fully,
and as Matt said "don't give up"
2:

Beautifully written, Glory. 2: :prayer

[Glory to God]

mom2four,
I spoke about my journey
and what I have learn't.
While mine could be completely
different to yours, the message is the same.

I use to want to believe that
scripture meant that as well.
As Matt said
"Does this guarantee your husband will be saved?
No. Because each of us has to make the decision for ourselves-- to accept Christ or to ignore and reject Him."

I just wanted to encourage you
Please stay close to Jesus.
Yes, always keep your eyes on Him.
As you become closer to Him and grow,
you will be a living witness to your husband.

Pray God will prepare your husbands heart
Pray God to open opportunities to share with him.
Be patient, pray for the Wisdom to know when
its Gods timing and not ours.
Pray that the seed you plant will grow
and take root in his heart.

Learn to lean on Jesus,
if you feel sometimes it's all to hard.
Snuggle in closer, tighter.
Hold on.
Thats where we learn
to put our trust in Him.

I hope this will encourage and help you. 2:

God Bless.

[mom2four]

Thank you all for these helpful words of wisdom. I was hoping I found my 'out', but at least my 'out' got me to post here so I could receive the answer on how to approach this problem. I keep reminding myself that God is patient and that he wants my husband to be saved, so I'll do my part by praying. At least I do know that when I am raptured out of here, that WILL make a believer out of my husband.....it grieves me thinking of him having to survive the tribulation, but at least with me and the kids gone, it might be easier for him to hunker down in some wilderness area to wait it out and pray for Jesus's return. He is such a good person and it is such a shame that he is so stubborn and resistant to accepting Jesus......it does worry me though I am trying to just have faith that God can turn him around.

[mattfivefour]

Sister, don't try "to just have faith that God can turn him around." That is faith in the wrong thing. That is faith in a result. Instead put your faith in God. Not for what He can do, but for who He is.

He is pure and holy and compassionate, slow to anger and quick to forgive. He is faithful and true. He is love ... not that He is loving ... but He is love itself. He knows every single person who has ever lived, is alive now, and ever will live. He knows them intimately, even to the numbering of the hairs on their head. And He loves them so much that He sent His only Son to take the penalty of their sins, to pay the price they could not pay. He is Almighty God, the One who never changes, the One who never fails. And He hears the cries of His children and stores up all their tears in vials and their prayers as incense. THAT is who the Bible says God is.

So you have faith in GOD ... faith that He is all He says He is. Determine to get to know Him better and better and love Him more and more. And the issue of your husband will be taken care of.

Get your eyes off him ... and on to Him.

[mom2four]

Very good point. I did laugh at the last thing you said, because that is SO true and it is so hard. Surely God wants him saved though right? I get so confused about this.

[mattfivefour]

Yes, sister, God most definitely wants him saved. "The Lord is ... not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." —2 Peter 3:9

As I said in an earlier post, He loves him more than you ever could ... so much that He gave His Son to take the punishment that your husband is due, in order that your husband could spend a glorious eternity with Him. And He will do whatever it takes to try and bring him to Him. Your prayers will play an important part. I do not understand why or how our prayers play such a role, but they do. The Bible is clear on that. So just keep holding your husband up before God ... and trust Him for his salvation. The rest of the advice in this thread is solid so take it to heart. And keep asking God to help you learn to get your eyes off him and on to Him ... until you can. :)