Husbands and wives often marry for the wrong reasons as proven but eventually one spouse gets called by the Lord to repent and the other is stubborn, now what?
1 Corinthians 7:10: “And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:”
Divorce is frowned upon by the Lord except for fornication read Matthew 19.
11: “But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.”
If the marital problems are so bad and the wife feels she must leave, she is to remain unmarried or make up with her husband: and the husband is not to put away his wife.
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.”
If any man repents and his wife has not, be patient with her if she desires to stay with you.
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.”
Likewise if any wife repents and her husband does not, be patient with him especially if he desires to stay with you, don’t 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.”
The marriage is sanctified by the spouse that repents in Christ and your children are holy because the believer is able to teach the house about the Lord and his commandments.
15: “But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.”
If the unbelieving spouse wants to leave let him/her leave. You are not under the law of marriage in such a case because God has called you in peace.
1 Peter 3:1: “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;”
Wives that have repented of their sins in the Lord are still commanded to be in subjection to their own husbands and not the pastor! So although your husband may not obey the word he may be won to the Lord by the conversation of his wife.
2: “While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.”
The unbelieving husband will observe and hear your godly conversations together
Observing you keep the commandments.
3: “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;”
Women are warned though not to let their outward appearance be deceiving.
4: “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”
The hidden man of the heart is Christ, giving women a meek and quiet spirit which is of great price in the sight of God.
5: “For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:”
The holy women in old time adorned themselves in Christ being in subjection to their own husbands:
6:“ Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.”
Just as Sarah obeyed Abraham calling him lord: whose daughters the believing women are. The believers are to do well by keeping the commandments in Christ.
If they are not afraid, when trials and troubles come their way- going back into the world.
7: “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”
The same goes for the husbands, dwell with your wife according to the commandments and give honor unto your wife although she is weaker than you because of her lack of faith and as being heirs together in Christ so that your prayers are not hindered.
I pray this report gave you a better understanding of marriage.
