7:14-16 How are we to understand what Paul says here?
7:14-16 How are we to understand what Paul says here?
The word sanctified here does not mean salvation. It is used in a metaphorical sense of an unbeliever, through marriage, being brought under the sanctifying influence of the believing spouse. The unbeliever benefits from the spiritual influence and divine favour in the life of the believing partner, and while ever there is contact between them there is hope that the unbelieving partner will turn to faith in Jesus Christ.
Children of the marriage are also included in the spiritual influence and divine favour in the life of the believing parent. Those under the age of accountability are legitimate before God and are already assured of a place in His eternal kingdom (CP Lu 18:15-16 with 2Sam 12:19-23)
If an unbelieving spouse wants to leave the marriage because of the other's faith they must be allowed to for the sake of peace in the family. The believing partner must not prevent the other from leaving. As we learned in our study on 1Cor 7:12-15 believers can divorce for this reason - God will not hold them responsible for the marriage break-up, and they can remarry.
Conversely, as V12-13 clearly teach, if the unbelieving spouse is happy to remain in the marriage the believing spouse cannot force them to leave (CP V12-15). V16 teaches that though a believing partner may want to hang onto the marriage to try to convert their unbelieving spouse, there is no assurance that is what will happen, so it is better to let them go if that is what they want (See also comments on Mt 5:31-32).