1 Corinthians 7:14a, The Sanctifying Influence of the Believing Spouse

1 Corinthians 7:14a For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband…

William MacDonald said well, “…the presence of a believer in a non-Christian home has a sanctifying influence. As mentioned before, to sanctify means to set apart. Here it does not mean that the unbelieving husband is saved by his wife, neither does it mean that he is made holy. Rather it means that he is set apart in a position of external privilege. He is fortunate to have a Christian wife who prays for him. Her life and testimony are an influence for God in the home. Speaking from a human point of view, the likelihood of that man being saved is greater when he has a godly, Christian wife than if he had an unbelieving wife. As Vine puts it: “He receives a spiritual influence holding the possibility of actual conversion.” The same would hold true, of course, in the case of an unbelieving wife and a Christian husband. The unbelieving wife would be sanctified in such a case.”

God knows the beginning and the end of all things. It is Him who allows such a situation to arise in saving one spouse in an otherwise heathen marriage. We can trust in His grace to help the believing spouse persevere to influence the better half for God without giving up. May God be gracious to make a way. Amen.