Answers | To Your Questions About the Bible, Theology and Christian Living

What does 1 Corinthians 7:14 mean when it says an unbelieving husband is “sanctified” through a believing wife and the children are now “holy”?

The context refers to a situation where one partner in a marriage becomes a Christian and the other does not. Paul says the believing partner is not to initiate a divorce in such cases where the unbelieving partner chooses to stay in a loving relationship.

He explains further that continuing in this relationship “does not defile the believer. The believer’s faith in God and Jesus has a sanctifying influence over the relationship. In that sense the unbeliever is sanctified, or set apart from anything sinful in the relationship. If this were not so, the children born to the couple would be unclean, that is, ceremonially unclean and therefore unable to come into the presence of God. But the sanctifying influence of the Christian parent makes the children holy in the sense that they belong to the Lord and can be brought into His presence for His blessing. The Holy Spirit can make such a marriage situation into a powerful ministry” (Horton, Stanley M., I & II Corinthians, Springfield, Mo., Logion Press, 1999, p. 71).

This does not mean the unbelieving spouse is given salvation. The children also, upon reaching an age of accountability, still have to make their personal choices. But the blessings they enjoy because of the believing parent certainly could influence them (and the unbelieving partner as well) to accept Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Stanley M. Horton

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Will the Holy Spirit be here on the earth after Jesus raptures His church? Will the Holy Spirit be left on the earth during the Tribulation?

It is commonly held evangelical belief that the Holy Spirit will not remain on earth after the Rapture in the same sense that He is here now during the Church Age. This is based upon 2 Thessalonians 2:7: “For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way” (NIV). The Holy Spirit, as the one who restrains evil on the earth (a concept known as common grace), seems to be the one referred to in this verse. (There are varying interpretations.)

The first response to this answer makes a good point. The Rapture de facto removes the true Church and it is in the sense of the Holy Spirit indwelling the Church that He will not be present. Of course, as God He continues to be omnipresent.

Ken Horn

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