Is it a sin to....

[prodigal2013]

marry a nonbeliever? Notice that the question isn't is it wise or a good idea, but is it an actual sin and offense against God?

 

2 Corinthians 6:14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

 

But we know that people were married to nonbelievers.

 

1 Corinthians 7

¹² But 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.

¹³ And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

¹⁴ For 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.

 

Some believe this passage refers to people who were married before salvation.

 

1 Corinthians 7 ²⁰ Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

 

Second question: What does "the unbeliever is sanctified by the spouse," mean?

Edited November 1, 2013 by prodigal2013

[Guest ninhao]

Paul later said if a believer marries it must be to another believer. I think this is in the order of a requirement.

 

 

1Co 7:39  A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.

 

 

I'm not sure if sanctified in verse 14 implies salvation because verse 16 raises the question. Maybe the sanctified in verse 14 implies blessings because God will show favour to the believers family. Not sure.

 

 

1Co 7:16  How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
 

 

[kwikphilly]

Blessings Everyone,

    I do agree with or share the same opinion as Brother Butero.I do believe that as far as the sanctification goes ,I think tit is more that the "union}" is sanctified because of the believer & as Butero has stated the two coming together as one flesh...in being sanctified I think the marriage itself is blessed by God ....sanctified in that respect but not that the unbeliever is free from sin(saved)...there is only One that can Save and that is Christ Jesus

                                                                                                                           With love,in Christ-Kwik

[LadyKay]

I have often wonder giving the time in which the scripture was written, what do they mean by the word "Unbeliever".

[Openly Curious]

marry a nonbeliever? Notice that the question isn't is it wise or a good idea, but is it an actual sin and offense against God?

 

2 Corinthians 6:14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

 

But we know that people were married to nonbelievers.

 

1 Corinthians 7

¹² But 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.

¹³ And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

¹⁴ For 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.

 

Some believe this passage refers to people who were married before salvation.

 

1 Corinthians 7 ²⁰ Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

 

Second question: What does "the unbeliever is sanctified by the spouse," mean?

 

I personally don't know how else the direct "command" could be in the given verse of scripture in.....

 

2 Corinthians 6:14 -  "Be ye not"  unequally yoked together with unbelievers for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion hath light with darkness?

 

The counsel of God being given to believers in the Lord is for them "not to be" joined together with unbelievers to keep yourself seperated from them.  This being the case it would be a sin for a single believing christian in the Lord to be married to an unbeliever someone who is not saved and been made a new creature in Christ.  And as with all sin there will be consquences for following the counsel of the ungodly.  The darkness, the servants of sin, the unrighteous, wicked, evil, unsaved, unregenerate etc., living in this world.  Fight against and are opposed to the light, the saved, the righteous, the servants of God, and the things that are right.   The children of the flesh will always fight and persecute those who are children of God who are walking in the Spirit of God and who are walking in the light.  It is just a fact darkness and light have nothing in common they are direct opposites.  There will be many regrets that will come by making such a lifelong commitment to a person who is in darkness and sin.

 

The scripture verses found in 1 Corinthians 7 - is good godly counsel and comfort that apostle Paul is giving concerning those who have become christians while already being married.  But their spouses haven't come to the Lord as of yet.   They are told that if their unbelieving husband or wife is pleased to stay with them in the marriage then they should remain married and not be seperated (set apart from one another).  They are to remain having a lifelong commitment to one another.   Then those who have gotten saved after being married and still have unbelieving spouses are given comfort.  In the fact that since they are now a Christian believer who has been cleansed and set apart unto God by the blood of Christ.  That they are not in a sinful marriage that their marriage bed is clean in the sight of God even though they are joined with  a non- believing spouse who is willing to remain married to them.  But the believers marriage in this situation is sanctified the marriage is viewed at as being set apart or clean in the eyes of the Lord.  Their marriage bed remains undefiled and pure as well as any children that they have had or may have in the future. 

 

The situation in 2 Corinthians 6  is much different from the situation in 1 Corinthians 7.  From the standpoint of being a single christian believer who has never been married prior to their salvation having been saved and sanctified by the blood of Christ set apart unto God.  For them to then go out and marry a person who has not been made clean by the blood.  There is no comfort and peace of mind given that such a marriage union and joining together in a lifelong commitment is sanctified or set apart unto God.  Nor is there any comfort or peace of mind given that the unbelieving husband or the unbelieving wife are viewed and seen by God as sanctified (set apart or cleansed) in such marriages.  Nor is there any comfort and peace given that any children that are born within such a marriage are clean sanctified and set apart unto God.  Such marriages are viewed as being unholy by God.

 

And let me just add that I am not saying that the single believer cannot be forgiven for not obeying the instruction given by God to not marry an unbeliever.  Because they can be but God's view toward their unbelieving spouse and children remains unsanctified until they are saved and made a new creature in Christ.   Such a person who find themselves trapped in these types of marriages should remain committed to the marriage still yet and not seek for a divorce as I know some people whom I have heard teach that they should.  But the blood of Christ being applied makes all the difference in the world. 

 

 

 

       

[FreeinChrist]

 

marry a nonbeliever? Notice that the question isn't is it wise or a good idea, but is it an actual sin and offense against God?

 

2 Corinthians 6:14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

 

But we know that people were married to nonbelievers.

 

1 Corinthians 7

¹² But 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.

¹³ And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

¹⁴ For 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.

 

Some believe this passage refers to people who were married before salvation.

 

1 Corinthians 7 ²⁰ Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

 

Second question: What does "the unbeliever is sanctified by the spouse," mean?

 

I personally don't know how else the direct "command" could be in the given verse of scripture in.....

 

2 Corinthians 6:14 -  "Be ye not"  unequally yoked together with unbelievers for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion hath light with darkness?

 

The counsel of God being given to believers in the Lord is for them "not to be" joined together with unbelievers to keep yourself seperated from them.  This being the case it would be a sin for a single believing christian in the Lord to be married to an unbeliever someone who is not saved and been made a new creature in Christ.  And as with all sin there will be consquences for following the counsel of the ungodly.  The darkness, the servants of sin, the unrighteous, wicked, evil, unsaved, unregenerate etc., living in this world.  Fight against and are opposed to the light, the saved, the righteous, the servants of God, and the things that are right.   The children of the flesh will always fight and persecute those who are children of God who are walking in the Spirit of God and who are walking in the light.  It is just a fact darkness and light have nothing in common they are direct opposites.  There will be many regrets that will come by making such a lifelong commitment to a person who is in darkness and sin.

 

The scripture verses found in 1 Corinthians 7 - is good godly counsel and comfort that apostle Paul is giving concerning those who have become christians while already being married.  But their spouses haven't come to the Lord as of yet.   They are told that if their unbelieving husband or wife is pleased to stay with them in the marriage then they should remain married and not be seperated (set apart from one another).  They are to remain having a lifelong commitment to one another.   Then those who have gotten saved after being married and still have unbelieving spouses are given comfort.  In the fact that since they are now a Christian believer who has been cleansed and set apart unto God by the blood of Christ.  That they are not in a sinful marriage that their marriage bed is clean in the sight of God even though they are joined with  a non- believing spouse who is willing to remain married to them.  But the believers marriage in this situation is sanctified the marriage is viewed at as being set apart or clean in the eyes of the Lord.  Their marriage bed remains undefiled and pure as well as any children that they have had or may have in the future. 

 

The situation in 2 Corinthians 6  is much different from the situation in 1 Corinthians 7.  From the standpoint of being a single christian believer who has never been married prior to their salvation having been saved and sanctified by the blood of Christ set apart unto God.  For them to then go out and marry a person who has not been made clean by the blood.  There is no comfort and peace of mind given that such a marriage union and joining together in a lifelong commitment is sanctified or set apart unto God.  Nor is there any comfort or peace of mind given that the unbelieving husband or the unbelieving wife are viewed and seen by God as sanctified (set apart or cleansed) in such marriages.  Nor is there any comfort and peace given that any children that are born within such a marriage are clean sanctified and set apart unto God.  Such marriages are viewed as being unholy by God.

 

And let me just add that I am not saying that the single believer cannot be forgiven for not obeying the instruction given by God to not marry an unbeliever.  Because they can be but God's view toward their unbelieving spouse and children remains unsanctified until they are saved and made a new creature in Christ.   Such a person who find themselves trapped in these types of marriages should remain committed to the marriage still yet and not seek for a divorce as I know some people whom I have heard teach that they should.  But the blood of Christ being applied makes all the difference in the world. 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 Amen Openly Curious.

 

But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

I Corinthians 6:17

 

I agree with Openly Curious, it is a sin but not the unforgiveable sin.  But if a woman marries a nonbeliever or man marries one, they will remove themselves from God protective promises in their marriage.   For we see in Ephesians 5:22-33 and I Peter 3:1-9 God commands to the believers but nonbelievers will not be under such commands so that God will not enforce the punishment if they don't follow.  But if both members are Christians they will inflict God chastisement for failing to follow these commands.

 

One just needs to look at the OT and Solomon to see how worldly women turn King Solomon away from God.  Next to Jesus, Solomon was the wisest man in the world, but because of ungodly marriages, he left to his son a divide house, not much of an inheritance from a father, but we as believers need to remember that God will provide a suitable mate:

House and riches are the inheritance of the fathers, and a prudent wife is from the LORD.

Proverbs 19:14

I don't think it would do much harm for woman to look at this verse and put a godly husband in place of were we men would read prudent wife. 

[WIP]

openly curious

 

marry a nonbeliever? Notice that the question isn't is it wise or a good idea, but is it an actual sin and offense against God?

 

 

I agree with you...and add..it would be disobedient to marry an unbeliever..disobedience is sin.

[2404]

I believe scripture teaches.

 

There is such a thing as 'the' permissive will but if we look at examples in scripture where saints have gone down that road it was filled with regret.

 

The guidelines for a legitimate union is a woman who has no living husband and a man who is single or justifiably so.

 

Marrying an unbeliever is not a sin in itself but it would seem the Christian is not living high enough to overcome the circumstances they find themselves in.

(It's a bad choice that often leads to personal destruction - but I trust God's mercy will keep His children from it. 'the footsteps of the righteous')

 

 

In a union where one member then responds to the Word and the non-believing spouse is still pleased to remain with the believer the non-believing spouse may actually reap the rewards at the judgement.

Edited November 3, 2013 by 2404

[WIP]

 

openly curious

 

marry a nonbeliever? Notice that the question isn't is it wise or a good idea, but is it an actual sin and offense against God?

 

 

I agree with you...and add..it would be disobedient to marry an unbeliever..disobedience is sin.

The Bible states that transgression of the law is sin.  I am not so sure this is part of the law scripture is refering to?  Even so, I would discourage a believer from marrying a non-believer, and if the Bible warns it will create problems, I believe it will.  We had a debate over the passage that tells us to think on things that are good, lovely, just, of a good report, etc.  If that were a law rather than something we should strive to do for our own good, would it be a sin to read about someone being a martyr, persecutions of the church, the bad things happening in the nation, etc.?  How about reading scripture about terrible things people have done to each other?  Those are not good things.  I believe there are things that are violations of God's laws, and other things we are warned about so we won't get in trouble, and fall into sin.  I personally think this falls into the category of a warning, but why go against what the Bible teaches if you know it will lead to problems?  That is especially true in marriage, because once you are married, you have become one flesh with that person. 

 

 

 

Sin is to transgress the boundries God has set for us... To be disobedient is to yield to self-will instead of surrendering to God and desiring His will in all things...its rebellion against God's will....it is sin. 

 

[Guest DRS81]

marry a nonbeliever? Notice that the question isn't is it wise or a good idea, but is it an actual sin and offense against God?

 

i'm sure there would be more dishes thrown, hopefully not at my head. haha.