I’m content to follow Paul who tells us in 1 Corinthians 7 that the children of one believing parent are holy, and that even the unbelieving spouse of a believer is holy to God.
That’s an amazing statement for Paul to make. It must be because Paul realizes God gives us our children and our spouse, and He does that in love. Therefore, because God loves the believer, He will cover the believer’s family with His grace.
That’s enough assurance for me. That tells me that while my responsibility is to raise strong Christians who kneel to none but Christ I have His promise that He will not let the feet of my children slip so far away that they will not be brought back to Him.
One way or another.
Christians need to rejoice in this promise. It was given to us to strengthen us and keep us focused on Christ from whom all blessings flow.
“I’m content to follow Paul who tells us in 1 Corinthians 7 that the children of one believing parent are holy, and that even the unbelieving spouse of a believer is holy to God.”
Now, now, now. There are no legacy christians nor affinity christians!
It was a good sales job, wasn't it, considering the customers he had to deal with, i.e. mixed families? He knew nothing would turn a mother interested in Christianity away more then to tell her that her children are not saved by an all-loving God just because her husband is a life-long pagan! That would have been quite counterproductive.
So, being clever, he told them what they wanted to hear. After all Paul sought to "please all men in all things," and I am content to see him in light of his own brutally honest words:
"For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some." [1 Cor 9 :19-22]
So, you suggesting that the children of Christians are automatically saved? Oy!
Where is this responsibility mentioned in the Bible? If God decided to save your children that would be a decision he had made before you even existed and certainly irrespective of your works. You might as well just sit back and relax and the end result will be the same.
If they are "saved" the Spirit will tell them what to do. Your responsibility ended when you gave birth. The Bible says be "fruitful and multiply." It says nothing about raising children to kneel before Christ.
That is a promise that all believers cling to, as we pray for our children . But should it not be so, we know that God is the just Judge and we will be at peace with His judgement