In Romans 5.10, the Apostle Paul writes what most agree is a categorical description of himself and all lost people, "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son." Though Paul was a most sincere religionist he came to recognize that he, like everyone else who is unconverted, was God's enemy. Little thought is given to this reality, though our confessions and our theology certainly recognizes the estrangement of the lost and their animosity toward God, His Son, and His cause. Add to that the Savior's comment in Matthew 10.36, "And a man's foes shall be they of his own household." His statement was not newly revealed truth, but a restatement of Micah 7.6, and echoes Psalm 41.9 and Psalm 55.12-14.
These things being so, the believer is well-advised to recognize that his/her unsaved spouse cannot be a trusted ally in the spiritual conflict. They two have different lords, different allegiances, and different natures. They cannot be compatible whilst one of them remains lost and undone. One is predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ and the other is careening toward perdition. The same dynamic is at work in the case of Christians with unsaved children. How are the children well-served by parents who make no mention of the great disparity? How are they helped by moms and dads who speak peace, peace when there is no peace?
I am not suggesting that believers introduce contention into their homes. I am wondering why so few speak directly to real issues that exist. Please explain to me why the forgiveness of your sins is unimportant to you. Help me to understand what it is about Jesus that is not attractive to you. How can it be that I bear no fruit that attracts you to the True Vine who is my life? Things simply must be said by the conscientious Christian to keep before the lost their lostness, to remind them of their hopelessness, to urge upon them the means of grace.
These enemies we love, our family members and friends, love the world and are persuaded by the world in which they live that what is false is true, what is true is false. We are likely to be the only ones who can and will minister grace to them, Ephesians 4.29. Therefore, we must.
These things being so, the believer is well-advised to recognize that his/her unsaved spouse cannot be a trusted ally in the spiritual conflict. They two have different lords, different allegiances, and different natures. They cannot be compatible whilst one of them remains lost and undone. One is predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ and the other is careening toward perdition. The same dynamic is at work in the case of Christians with unsaved children. How are the children well-served by parents who make no mention of the great disparity? How are they helped by moms and dads who speak peace, peace when there is no peace?
I am not suggesting that believers introduce contention into their homes. I am wondering why so few speak directly to real issues that exist. Please explain to me why the forgiveness of your sins is unimportant to you. Help me to understand what it is about Jesus that is not attractive to you. How can it be that I bear no fruit that attracts you to the True Vine who is my life? Things simply must be said by the conscientious Christian to keep before the lost their lostness, to remind them of their hopelessness, to urge upon them the means of grace.
These enemies we love, our family members and friends, love the world and are persuaded by the world in which they live that what is false is true, what is true is false. We are likely to be the only ones who can and will minister grace to them, Ephesians 4.29. Therefore, we must.
