OK, so I am married to an unbeliever. I am not here to hear the lectures, because now that we are married, Paul advised Christians to stay married to their unbelieving spouse.
My question is though, my husband has sinned and obviously not being a Christiam most likely hasn't repented for. What will God think of this? Will God forgive him because he doesn't know any better?
2007-12-24 00:48:06 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
While forgiveness is contingent upon repentance, when it comes to sentencing God takes into account the issue of ignorance.
"And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more." Luke 12:47,48
2007-12-24 02:41:30 · answer #1 · answered by Steve Amato 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, a Christian should not date or marry an unbeliever:
"Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?" (2 Cor. 6:14-15).
Unfortunately, some Christians hope that they can convert the person he/she is dating or marrying. They often think that their spirituality is strong enough and that they can witness to, or motivate the other person to convert through their patience and love. Why do they think this? Three reasons: They love the person and are emotionally blinded, they are naive, and they do not know God's word.
This may sound harsh, but something as serious as marrying an unbeliever needs to be dealt with properly and to-the-point. We are not to compromise the will of God and endanger our spiritual well being. All we need to do is look in the Old Testament to see why God says not to marry unbelievers. This is what God said to the Israelites.
“When the Lord your God shall bring you into the land where you are entering to possess it, and shall clear away many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and stronger than you, 2 and when the Lord your God shall deliver them before you, and you shall defeat them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them and show no favor to them. 3 “Furthermore, you shall not intermarry with them; you shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor shall you take their daughters for your sons. 4 “For they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods," (Deut. 7:1-4).
The reason not to marry an unbeliever is that he/she can influence you away from the Lord. Don't be so naive to think that "you" will never fall. It happens all the time.
Children
If you marry an unbeliever and have children, how will it effect their spirituality to have the parents divided over spiritual things? Is it a help or a hindrance to their spiritual health? Obviously, it is a hindrance.
Unfortunately, too many people do not take into account the extremely serious situation of children and their eternal destiny. Yet, because of "love" and because they listen to the hearts over the word of God, many people marry unbelievers anyway...and often suffer dire consequences.
What if you are already married to an unbeliever?
If you are already married to an unbeliever then you need to love him/her as best you can, set a good example of being a Christian as you can, and pray for your spouse's salvation. You cannot leave your spouse (unless there is physical abuse, adultery, or if you are abandoned). You need to stick it out. Seek the Lord.
2007-12-24 00:53:05 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Look at it this way you know like I know God cannot look upon sin. The only way he will be forgiven is unless he get down on his knees and say the sinner's prayer then only will he be forgiven. I also know when you and me were out there in the world sin was very pleasurable. He might know better but he is not serving God he is serving the master of the world so therefore he can say God forgive me but you no God only hears the prayers of a righteous man. With that being said if me and you were to sin now being we are saved he would forgive us but we know you are held accountable because we know better and the holy ghosty sends convictions to us.
2007-12-24 02:30:24 · answer #3 · answered by hey ya 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God is a just judge. We are all sinners, all in a fallen state from birth. Because of our sin, we are destined to an eternal hell, because there must be judgement for sin. That's the purpose of the first and then the second death.
If you become saved, and ask God for his forgiveness, and believe that what Jesus did on the cross is a perfect payment for your sins, you only have to submit to the first death, but will never see the second death (the lake of fire and eternal separation from God).
Your husband, as a lost man, cannot have forgiveness from God until he comes to that point where he can ask for it and accept it. And that is not until the day he gets saved.
He is blessed and in a better position than most because of a saved wife, but is no better eternally than any other lost man. No one has an excuse for unbelief.
You just need to pray for him and show him your love of God by your actions.
2007-12-24 00:54:18 · answer #4 · answered by not too creative 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God will forgive everyone who by faith trusts in the sacrifice that Jesus made on their behalf to cover their sins. Is there worse punishment for someone who doesn't know any better? It could be, since you have passages like this in the Bible.
Luke 12:47 "That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
As the wife of an unbeliever you should be familiar with this passage from the Bible.
1 Peter 3:1 Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
James 5:19 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
2007-12-24 02:15:58 · answer #5 · answered by Martin S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your husband isn't a recluse and hasn't lived a sheltered and remote lifestyle. He has heard the ten commandments and knows right from wrong. At some point in his life I'm sure someone has made the attempt to wittiness to him even yourself. At least as a Christian this would have been your first duty when you met him and began to grow fond of him. Sorry, but he can not fall back on ignorance as there is none present, at least no innocent ignorance. While your husband still has the breath of 'Life' in him he still has a chance though of being accepted into the Kingdom of God, his name is in the Book of Life. This puts a greater burden on you now that you have married. It is now your actions, motives, behavior, and essence that he (your husband) will draw on to persuade or dissuade him from ever coming to Christ our Lord. The Lords scrutiny is now on you. God bless you in your endurance.
2007-12-24 01:18:06 · answer #6 · answered by Barney 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.
People misunderstand the whole sin-forgiveness thing.
It's really more of a mistake-learn kind of thing.
God would like to hang out with people who learn from their mistakes. It is just that simple.
You need to tread carefully here:
James 4:11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
So if you judge your husband as a sinner you are setting yourself up as the judge of the law, or God.
However, if God leads you to correct someone you are on safe ground.
You need to pray and ask God what your actions should be.
Most people pray by talking to God. When they are done talking they say "Amen" and jump up. Between what you say and the Amen give God some time to talk.
How would you feel if someone walked up to you, vomited out everything they wanted to say and then ran off expecting you to solve all their problems without giving you a chance to get a word in edgewise?
2007-12-24 00:56:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
God will forgive anybody who truly repented and is prepared to restitute whatsoever he caused in damage.
Only God and the person himself/herself know if their sins are forgiven or not.
2007-12-24 00:56:27 · answer #8 · answered by mades 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The only way to go to heaven and not eternal hell is by believing that Jesus, who is God, died for our sins on the cross and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
2007-12-24 00:51:16 · answer #9 · answered by Chris 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Everyone is entitled to their beliefs or lack of them. Free will means exactly that. Don't allow your worry to interfere with your marriage. It's not worth it. People should be grateful for their spouse's good points.
2007-12-24 01:06:32 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋