What Does The Bible Say Aboutmarriage
As a Christian Counselor, I get many questions regarding what Gods intends in marriage and when is divorce an option. Before, looking at divorce allowances in Scripture, lets examine Gods plan for a marriage.
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27
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Only the Lord is perfect in all of the above. Our capacity to reflect Gods perfect character traits of love, justice, and compassion is tainted by sin.
Adams sin caused the image of God to be broken beyond our ability to repair. Sin, in the Christian sense, is not just doing something wrong, it is an attack against the Lord God who is the sustainer of life in the cosmos. It is only through a miracle of God that we can repair the damage brought on by sin entering the world in Genesis 3.
That miracle occurred when the God sent His only Son to repair the damage by bearing the penalty upon Himself. Therefore, God demonstrated mercy and justice to us at the same time on the cross. Ephesians 4:24 and Colossians 3:10 conveys the truth that being covered by the blood of the Jesus and putting on the new self-enables us to pursue true righteousness and holiness.
What Does The Bible Say About An Unfaithful Wife
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God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. Exodus 20:14 You must not commit adultery. Matthew 5:28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.Read more
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What God Has To Say About Cheating.
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What Does The Bible Say About Adultery
Divorce and adultery are a very common occurrence in the United States. Nearly all of us have a family member that has been affected by either divorce or adultery. This is a topic frequently discussed in Scripture. What all does it entail? Why is it wrong? What does this have to do with marriage, divorce, and even our understanding of salvation? Lets take a look.
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Christian Quotes About Divorce
Marriage is primarily the promise to persevere and to be present through any circumstance.
Divorce Myths: 1. When love has gone out a marriage, it is better to get divorced. 2. It is better for the children for the unhappy couple to divorce than to raise their children in the atmosphere of an unhappy marriage. 3. Divorce is the lesser of two evils. 4. You owe it to yourself. 5. Everyones entitled to one mistake. 6. God led me to this divorce. R.C. Sproul
When God stands as witness to the covenant promises of a marriage it becomes more than a merely human agreement. God is not a passive bystander at a wedding ceremony. In effect he says, I have seen this, I confirm it and I record it in heaven. And I bestow upon this covenant by My presence and My purpose the dignity of being an image of My own covenant with My wife, the church. John Piper
What makes divorce and remarriage so horrific in Gods eyes is not merely that it involves covenant-breaking to the spouse, but that it involves misrepresenting Christ and His covenant. Christ will never leave His wife. Ever. There may be times of painful distance and tragic backsliding on our part. But Christ keeps His covenant forever. Marriage is a display of that! That is the ultimate thing we can say about it. It puts the glory of Christs covenant-keeping love on display. John Piper
A marriage built on Christ is a marriage built to last.
Gods Children Live Forever
But what is most interesting is what Jesus said about divorce.
Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection and they asked him, saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a mans brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed. And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise. And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also. In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.
And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage but are as the angels which are in heaven. And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.
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Divorce In The New Testament
Jesus clarified the Pharisees questions about Deuteronomy 24 in Matthew 19:9, And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.
Jesus made it clear that if a husband divorces his wife to marry another woman, he is committing adultery against his first wife because, in Gods eyes, he is still married to his first wife. The same holds true for a wife who divorces her husband and marries another man. If a woman divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.
In the eyes of God, the only thing that breaks that covenant is sexual immorality. What God has joined together, let no man separate.
This binding covenant concept is repeated in 1 Corinthians 7:39: A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord. Note that God wants Christians to marry Christians!
33. Mark 10:2-6 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? 3 What did Moses command you? he replied. 4 They said, Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away. 5 It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law, Jesus replied. 6 But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female.
34. Matthew 19:9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.
The Apostle Paul Allowed Divorce For Abandonment
1 Corinthians 7:14-15
For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband for otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. Yet if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances God has called us to live in peace.
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How Do You Know A Married Man Is Using You
20 signs a man is using you
- He doesn’t put in any effort. Is he using me for sex or money? …
- He won’t talk about commitment. …
- He doesn’t engage you in conversation. …
- He only calls you for one thing. …
- You don’t know his friends or family. …
- He doesn’t check-in when you’re apart. …
- He’s selfish. …
The Possibility Of Remarriage
Remarriage is permitted for the faithful partner only when the divorce was on biblical grounds. In fact, the purpose for a biblical divorce is to make clear that the faithful partner is free to remarry, but only in the Lord .
Those who divorce on any other grounds have sinned against God and their partners, and for them to marry another is an act of adultery . This is why Paul says that a believing woman who sinfully divorces should remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband . If she repents from her sin of unbiblical divorce, the true fruits of that repentance would be to seek reconciliation with her former husband . The same is true for a man who divorces unbiblically . The only time such a person could remarry another is if the former spouse remarries, proves to be an unbeliever, or dies, in which cases reconciliation would no longer be possible.
The Bible also gives a word of caution to anyone who is considering marriage to a divorcee. If the divorce was not on biblical grounds and there is still a responsibility to reconcile, the person who marries the divorcee is considered an adulterer .
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Paul On Divorce And Remarriage:
Romans 7:1-3
Or do you not know, brethren , that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.
1 Corinthians 7:10-11
Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.
It is very clear from Gods Word that He has instituted marriage to be between one man and one woman, and that the marriage contract is binding as long as both partners are alive. Even though the Bible does open for divorce in some cases, it also makes it very clear that this does not lift the commitment to faithfulness for either partner, and they may not remarry as long as the other partner is still alive.
knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:20-21.
The Only Biblically Legitimate Reason For Divorce Is Adultery
The only legitimate reason given in the Bible for divorce is if one of them is indecent, in other words committing adultery or being unfaithful.
It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
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God Can Heal Your Marriage
You may think your marriage is irretrievably broken, but our God is a God of miracles! When you put God in the dead center of your own life and the center of your marriage, healing will come. When you are walking in step with the Holy Spirit, you are able to live graciously, lovingly, and in forgiveness. When the two of you are worshipping and praying together in your home, regularly, as well as in church you will be astounded by what happens to your relationship. God will breathe His grace over your marriage in unimaginable ways.
God will heal your marriage when you come in line with Gods definition of love, which means getting yourself out of the way and realizing the two of you are one. True love is not selfish, self-seeking, jealous, or easily offended. True love is patient, kind, enduring, and hopeful.
52. Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
53. 1 Peter 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
54. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
55. Psalm 56:3 But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
56. Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope patient in tribulation continuing instant in prayer.
If You Have Sinfully Divorced A Spouse Repent Ask For Forgiveness From All Involved And Do Everything You Can To Make Restitution
The Lord forgives. Dont think that you cant be saved, that God cant redeem you from any mess that you have made. The story of the gospel is the story of God, the cosmic Bridegroom, coming down to rescue an adulterous, wicked, sinful, unclean bride. God is slow to anger. He is eager to forgive you if you will confess your sin and turn in repentance.
But the Lord would call you to repent, to walk in humility, and to pursue peace with God and man if you have sinned in this way.
This means confessing your sin to all parties involved without blame-shifting or downplaying or hiding or self-justifying or excusing your sin. This doing all that is in your power to reconcile and be at peace with all men. This means making restitution insofar as it may be made.
If this is you, seek pastoral counsel, and let us help you walk through it. God is good. He can make gardens in deserts, and he can certainly bring glory, even through your shame, if you will but bring it to him in faith.
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Fight To Stay In Fellowship With Your Spouse
Whatever sin would threaten your marriage, kill it with zeal. Whatever disagreement would drive a wedge between you, deal with it before the sun goes down. Whatever steps you have taken towards any kind of adulterywhether of the sort we looked at last week, adulterous lust, or of the innocent flirting at workwhatever it is, run hard the other way.
And if there is sin you need to stop holding against your spouse and extend forgiveness, do it today. Before the sun goes down. As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Fight for the covenant you made. Dont give up. Fight as if civilization and your soul are at stake.
Fight For Your Marriage
Remember, Satan hates marriage because it is an illustration of Christ and the church. He and his demons work overtime to destroy marriage. You need to be aware of this and on the alert for his attacks on your marriage. Refuse to allow him to drive a wedge in your relationship. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
When self or your sin nature is running the show, marital discord is inevitable. But when youre operating in the Spirit, conflicts are quickly resolved, youre less likely to offend or be offended, and you are quick to forgive.
Establish a daily family altar time where you read and discuss the Scripture, and worship, sing, and pray together. When you are spiritually intimate, everything else falls into place.
Practice successful conflict management. Learn to agreeably disagree. Learn to peacefully discuss your problems without exploding in anger, getting defensive, or turning it into a confrontation.
Its okay to ask for help! Seek wise counselors your pastor, a Christian marriage therapist, an older happily-married couple. Theyve probably worked through the same issues youre facing and can give you helpful counsel.
57. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed perplexed, but not in despair persecuted, but not abandoned struck down, but not destroyed.
58. Psalm 147:3 The Lord heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
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Bible Verses About Adultery And Divorce
It was said, Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him, and began to question Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a wife.And He answered and said to them, What did Moses command you?They said, Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce andsend her away.read more.But Jesus said to them, Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother,and the two shall become one flesh so they are no longer two, but one flesh.What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.In the house the disciples began questioning Him about this again.And He *said to them, Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery.
When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out from his house,