Sharing the Gospel with Unbelieving Family Members Effectively
Sharing the Gospel with Unbelieving Family Members
The Bible provides guidance on sharing the Gospel with unbelieving family members, emphasizing the importance of living a faithful life and being a positive influence. In 1 Corinthians 7:14, the Apostle Paul writes that "the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband" [1, 2]. This passage suggests that a believing spouse can have a positive impact on their unbelieving partner.
According to John Gill, this sanctification is not internal, but rather a ceremonial or relational holiness that allows the believing spouse to live with their unbelieving partner without being defiled [10]. This understanding is supported by the context of 1 Corinthians 7, which addresses the issue of mixed marriages. The passage implies that the believing spouse should not divorce their unbelieving partner, but rather continue to live with them in the hope that they may be won over [8].
In the case of mixed marriages, the believing spouse is encouraged to be a witness to their unbelieving partner. The Apostle Peter advises wives to be submissive to their husbands, even if they are unbelievers, in the hope that they may be won over by their behavior [6]. This approach is not limited to wives; the principle can be applied to any family member who is an unbeliever.
The Bible also emphasizes the importance of living a godly life in the presence of unbelieving family members. Torrey's Topical Textbook notes that families of saints should be taught the Scriptures, worship God together, and live in unity [3]. By doing so, they can create an environment that is conducive to sharing the Gospel with unbelieving family members.
In addition to living a faithful life, believers are encouraged to share the Gospel with their unbelieving family members through their words and actions. The Great Commission, although not directly addressing family members, implies that believers should share the Gospel with all people, including those within their own families [5]. The Apostle Paul's instruction to "share with the saints who are in need" and to "practice hospitality" can also be applied to sharing the Gospel with unbelieving family members [4].
The early Christian church provides an example of how to share the Gospel with unbelieving family members. The apostles and other early Christians preached the Gospel to their families and communities, often with great success [9]. Believers today can follow their example by being intentional about sharing the Gospel with their unbelieving family members.
In practice, sharing the Gospel with unbelieving family members requires sensitivity and tact. Matthew Henry notes that believers should not be "unequally yoked" with unbelievers, but this does not necessarily mean that they should avoid interacting with them altogether [7]. Rather, believers should be mindful of their witness and seek to build bridges with their unbelieving family members.
Sources
- I Corinthians “I Corinthians 7:14 (BSB) — For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.”
- 1 Corinthians “1 Corinthians 7:14 (NASB) — For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Families — Of saints blessed -- Ps 128:3-6. Should Be taught the Scriptures. -- De 4:9,10. Worship God together. -- 1Co 16:19. Be duly regulated. -- Pr 31:27; 1Ti 3:4,5,12. Live in unity. -- Ge 45:24; Ps 133:1. Live in mutual forbearance. -- Ge 50:17-21; Mt 18:21,22. Rejoice together before God. -- De 14:26. Deceivers and liars should be removed from -- Ps 101:7. Warning against departing from God -- De 29:18. Punishment of irreligious -- Jer 10:25. Good -- Exemplified Abraham. -- Ge 18:19. Jacob. -- Ge 35:2. Joshua. -- Jos 24:15. David. -- 2Sa 6:20. Job. -- Job 1:5.”
- Romans “Romans 12:13 (BSB) — Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 22:10: So these servants went out into the highways,.... Turned from the Jews, and went among the Gentiles, preaching the Gospel to them; particularly the Apostle Paul, with Barnabas, and others: and gathered together all, as many as they found, both good and bad: the Persic version reads it, "known or unknown". The Gospel ministry is the means of gathering souls to Christ, and to attend his ordinances, and into his churches; and of these that are gathered by it into churches, and to an attendance on outward ordinances, some are good and some bad, as the fishes gathered ”
- 1 Peter (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Peter 3:1: Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands,.... As well as subjects to princes, and servants to masters; though not with the same sort of subjection, but what is suitable to the relation they stand in to their husbands; See Gill on Eph 5:22. See Gill on Col 3:18. that if any obey not the word; any husband who is an unbeliever, has no love for the Gospel, and gives no credit to it, but despises, disbelieves, and rejects it, the word of truth, of faith, of righteousness, reconciliation, and salvation. The apostle, though he includes all wives, and exhor”
- 2 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 6:11: The apostle proceeds to address himself more particularly to the Corinthians, and cautions them against mingling with unbelievers. Here observe, I. How the caution is introduced with a profession, in a very pathetic manner, of the most tender affection to them, even like that of a father to his children, Co2 6:11-13. Though the apostle was happy in a great fluency of expressions, yet he seemed to want words to express the warm affections he had for these Corinthians. As if he had said, "O ye Corinthians, to whom I am now writing, I would fain convince you h”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 7:12: But to the rest speak I, not the Lord,.... He had spoken before to married persons in general, and had delivered not his own sentiments barely, but the commandment of the Lord, that such should never separate from, or put away each other; in which he has respect to such as were upon equal foot in matters of religion, who were both of them believers in Christ; but now he speaks to the rest, to such as were unequally yoked, the one a believer, the other an unbeliever; and what he delivers on this head, concerning their living together, there being no express dete”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 4:2: For unto us was the Gospel preached,.... The Gospel is the good news and glad tidings of salvation by Christ; and this may be said to be preached, when men preach not themselves, nor read lectures of morality, nor mix law and Gospel together, nor make justification and salvation to be by works, nor set persons to make their peace with God, or get an interest in Christ; but when they preach Christ and salvation alone by him; and so it was preached to the Hebrews, and that more fully, and with more clearness, power, and success than formerly; and which is a privilege an”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 7:14: For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife,.... That is, "by the believing wife"; as the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions read, and so it is read in some copies; and likewise in the next clause the same is read, by the believing husband; this is a reason given by the apostle why they should live together. This cannot be understood of internal sanctification, which is never the case; an unbeliever cannot be sanctified by a believer in this sense, for such a sanctification is only by the Spirit of God; nor external sanctification, or an outward refo”