Sep 6th, 2007
Sunday’s Leftovers
It might look gross, but just heat it up! Trust me…
1 Corinthians 7:13-14 (ESV) [+/-]
13 If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
The Power of the Gospel
“OTHERWISE your children would be unclean.” I love that statement. It means that when a believer is married to an unbeliever, the righteousness in the believer trumps the unrighteousness in the unbeliever. The believer is not defiled by the unbeliever, nor are the children. Light dispels darkness.
Now, that’s all well and good in theory, but have you tried believing that? Theology informs worldview. That is to say: the way we act in our homes towards our spouses and children is determined by our theology. What I am saying is that whatever you think and believe determines the way you act. Call it what you will: ‘home atmosphere’, ’spiritual climate’, ‘hedge of protection’, the idea is the same. When we understand the power of the Gospel, Christ within us – WE ARE DIFFERENT!
The Location of Sanctification
Every believer that is married to an unbeliever wants two things: 1) for their unbelieving spouse to be sanctified, and 2) for their children to be sanctified. Let me explain: you want your spouse to be clean. You want their life right. You want them to stop partying, or looking at pornography, or cursing around the kids, or… whatever. And you want your kids to be alright. And by alright, you mean clean. Saved, yes; but clean. Free from the pollution of the world. Safe, protected, flourishing; in an environment of what theologians call holiness. You might not have identified your core desire for your family to be “sanctification,” but that’s what it is.
But, where does that happen? Look again at verse 14. Notice where the ESV says “because of.” In the Greek, it actually reads “in.” You see, the unbeliever is made holy “in” the believing spouse. You are the location of sanctification. How is this so? We know that sanctification happens in Christ. I take this to mean that as you are Christlike, you are a sanctifying influence. And a powerful one at that!
So, Go For It!
With all that said, we should be the most confident people on the planet! Our God is mighty, and he has made us powerful as sanctifying influences on the world around us. Let us use our influence for him, in the marketplace, in the home – everywhere we go!