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What Does The Bible Say About Divorce And Remarriage

C God Allows An Exception To The General Rulewhen One’s Spouse Has Been Guilty Of Fornication

What does the Bible say about divorce and remarriage?

This exception is clearly stated in Matthew 19:9 .

“Whosoever shall put away his wife, except forfornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery”.

The question originally asked Jesus concerned the groundsor cause for which a man may divorce his wife . In v9Jesus clearly says there is no acceptable cause except if onescompanion has been guilty of fornication.

Unlike the Mosaic Law, which Jesus admits tolerated divorceand remarriage for other causes, Jesus’ teaching allows oneand only one cause.

Note that the only one who is granted the right to divorce andremarry without being guilty of sin is the one who has beensinned against by his/her companion who committed fornication.

What is fornication?

Definitions: “illicit sexual intercourse in general” “every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse” . Fornication includes any form of sexualintercourse with anyone other than ones scriptural spouse,regardless of whether that person be of the opposite sex or ofthe same sex. Note passages that explain the meaning:

1 Corinthians 7:2-5 – To avoid fornication, oneis to satisfy the sexual desire with and only with “his ownwife” or “her own husband.” Our own marriagecompanion is the only one who has power over our body. If wesatisfy this desire with anyone else, the passage says it wouldbe fornication, whether it be with someone we are not married to,someone else’s husband or wife, or someone else ofthe same sex . .

Bible Verses About Divorce To Comfort Those Who Are Suffering

Christianity is a forgiving religion.

There are many turn the other cheek Christian tenets. As such, apart from not condemning people who are going through a divorce, even if its seen as a sin, Good Christians are expected to extend a helping hand to them.

Here are some Biblical verses that can help people cope with their ordeal.

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning

It means that even if God is angry at you for sinning, he is willing to accept you as long as you repent.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future .

It means that according to Gods plan, He does not want you to suffer after a divorce and good things will come to you in the future.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

God can do all things, including end worldly suffering if you just open up your heart to him.

You are precious and honored in my sight, and I love you.

After a divorce, a person may feel that there is no love in the world or that they dont deserve it. God still loves them.

These verses can help people cope with the anxieties that they may come with adultery, separation, and divorce. What does the Bible say about divorce? It shouldnt happen, but when it does, God still loves you, so offer yourself to him and good things will follow.

What Does The Bible Say About Divorce & Remarriage

If your opinion about anything contradicts Gods Word, guess which one is wrong? Rick Warren

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

What does the Bible say about marriage? Marriage is created by God as lifelong institution between a man and a woman, rooted in creation, with a significance that shows in its comparison to Christs relationship with the church . Today marriage is often defined by the emerging trends, understandings, feelings, and opinions of the culture rather than the transcendent, immutable, and eternal truth found described by the God who created it. This change in understanding and practice has led to an overwhelming amount of marriages ending in divorce and resulting in remarriage. Although many sociological, psychological, economic, emotional, and man-centered rationales may be created to explain and justify the practice of divorce and remarriage, the Christian perspective and practice must be rooted in a balanced and holistic application of biblical theology.

What the Bible say about remarriage after the death of a spouse? God clearly permits remarriage after the death of a spouse and actually encourages remarriage for younger widows . The only qualification for the remarriage of a widow is that the new spouse must be a Christian .

What about my happiness? How can I be happy if I am divorced and never remarried?

How can I resist lust if I am divorced and not remarried?

SCRIPTURES ON DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE

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When Remarriage Is Biblical

God hates divorce, but He does permit it in specific situations.

The covenant made between Israel and God is an example of how we need to also treat the covenant of marriage. This covenant bound God and His people together, and the only thing that could break the covenant was when Israel was unfaithful to God.

If reconciliation is not a possibility because the other spouse remarried, died, or they are not followers of Christ, then it is also biblical for you to be remarried.

Can A Rightly Divorced Person Remarry

Divorce and remarriage, what does the Bible really say ...

When the Bible permits divorce, it is so that the wronged or abandoned party may remarry. Thats what a certificate of divorce is. Therefore, in any case where a divorce is biblically permissible, it is by definition also permissible for the wronged or abandoned party to remarry. In Matthew 5:31-32 Jesus says:

It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce. But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Here Jesus is simply saying that if a divorce is not legitimate, then the remarriage is not legitimate. If the divorce is legitimate , then the remarriage is legitimate.

Similarly the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7 that if the unbelieving spouse does not want to stay in the marriage and does not want to live with an active and obvious Christian, then the believer should let them go. In such cases the believer is not bound that is to say they are free to remarry. The Pillar Commentary on 1 Corinthians 7 makes that point clearly:

Not bound here refers to freedom to remarry. Instone-Brewer explains: The only freedom that makes any sense in this context is the freedom to remarry ll Jewish divorce certificates and most Greco-Roman ones contained the words you are free to marry any man you wish, or something very similar.

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Jesus On Divorce And Remarriage:

Matthew 5:31-32

Furthermore it has been said, Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce. But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

Matthew 19:3-11

The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?And He answered and said to them, Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.They said to Him, Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?He said to them, Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.His disciples said to Him, If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.But He said to them, All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given

Luke 16:18

Ii: Does The Teaching Of Jesus Regardingdivorce And Remarriage Apply To People Outside The Church

Some people believe that Jesus’ teaching regarding divorce andremarriage was addressed only to those who are in covenantrelationship with Him . It does not apply to people outside the church sincethey are not citizens in Christ’s kingdom, not members of thebody of which He is the head, etc.

It is argued that people outside Christ are condemned becausethey have not subjected themselves to Christ or because they haveviolated God’s universal moral law but until they becomeChristians, God does not notice or hold them accountable forviolations of specific New Testament teachings such as divorcelaws.

So it is concluded that, no matter how many times such peopledivorce and remarry before they become Christians, when they arebaptized they just keep the companion they have then. Butconsider the following points:

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Ii The One Exception To Gods Law Of Marriage

1. Divorce is authorized only when one spouse is guilty of fornication.

1) Matthew 19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery

2) Matthew 5:32 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

3) Illustrate a non-authorized divorce and marriage with triangle.

2. Remarriage is authorized only when the innocent spouse has first divorced the guilty.

1) Matthew 19:9 is the only scripture in the Bible that authorizes this.

2) The guilty party is in adultery and may not remarry.

3) The innocent party would be committing adultery if they were still married.

4) The innocent party must wait until the divorce is complete before marrying again.

5) Illustrate an authorized divorce and remarriage with triangle.

Biblical Grounds For Divorce

What Does the Bible Say About Divorce and Remarriage?

Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

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No other grounds for divorce are mentioned in the New Testament. The New Testament teaches strongly that marriage should be a lifelong commitment. Things such as lack of commitment, different values/beliefs, in-law problems, stress, incompatibility, lack of concern/consideration, sexual problems, growing apart, illness, incapacity, boredom, sexual desires, desire for happiness or other reasons are not Biblical grounds for divorce.

The Apostle Paul echoed Jesus’ sentiment:

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Summary Of Jesus Teaching

  • Remarriage after divorce is only permitted if the divorce was the result of fornication .
  • If divorce took place for any other reason, then a subsequent remarriage would be an adulterous relationship. This applied to:
  • the innocent man who married her
  • the woman who divorced her husband, if she remarried

What Does The Bible Say

The following study attempts to answer from a biblical perspective some of the most frequently asked questions about divorce and remarriage among Christians. We would like to credit Pastor Ben Reid of True Oak Fellowship and Pastor Danny Hodges of Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg, whose teachings inspired and influenced these interpretations of Scripture pertaining to divorce and remarriage.

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Remarriage When Is It Ok

If you are the victim of a divorce through adultery or cruelty you are free to remarry . You are not enslaved to your past situation or marked with a scarlet letter.

If you are the individual who sinned and wounded the other person, Grace covers that sin. It is not the unforgivable sin, which some of you may have heard in the past.

If after divorce neither of you have remarried and your spouse is still alive then I would encourage you to reconcile if at all possible. If its not possible then connect with God and give your heart to him. Seek his direction for you and lean unto him for every aspect of your life.

Unbiblical Remarriage or Divorce

For those of you that have made this far and have gone through a non-biblical divorce and are re-married you may be feeling shame or guilt and thinking Oh no, am I living in sin? You may also be thinking, Should I divorce my current husband/wife to make things right? Like the old saying goes, two wrongs dont make a right. You are married and if you ask for forgiveness you will be covered by grace. Shame and guilt are left at the cross and you too, do not have a scarlet letter attached to you.

In the interest of time and to keep this blog post from tuning into a novel, check out 1 Corinthians 7 if you are interested in reading more on a biblical marriage.

Can Christians Get Divorce

What Does the Bible say about Divorce and Remarriage ...

Divorce is a no go area for Christians.

Who has the authority to separate them?

Look at what the bible say

It is saddening, and a huge mockery against the church, when Christians married, and the next thing you hear is that they are seeking for divorce.

You will begin to wonder, what happens to the oath they made at the altar, and before God?

Obviously, they dont know the implications of the oath.

What messages are they trying to pass across to unbelievers who do not see any reason why they should follow Gods instructions on marriage?

The questions goes on and on, but the bottom line is, to say the least, God is not happy at all when Christians seek for divorce.

He wants others to see the scriptures being fulfilled through us, so that they can be attracted to him.

What does God say about divorce to his children, and to those who are not?

He is saying the same thing, he hates it, and he does not want anyone to destroy what he has done.

Many people lack the knowledge of the reasons for marriage, and even why they are in one.

Such people quickly opt for divorce at the slightest opportunity, without exploring the options available to make the marriage hold.

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Different Positions On The Issue

Sadly, divorce and remarriage are widespread realities in the body of Christ today. Generally speaking, Christians tend to fall into one of four positions on this controversial issue:

  • No divorce – no remarriage: Marriage is a covenant agreement, meant for life, therefore it must not be broken under any circumstance remarriage further violates the covenant and therefore is not permissible.
  • Divorce – but no remarriage: Divorce, while not God’s desire, is sometimes the only alternative when all else has failed. The divorced person must remain unmarried for life thereafter.
  • Divorce – but remarriage only in certain situations: Divorce, while not God’s desire, is sometimes unavoidable. If the grounds for the divorce are biblical, the divorced person can remarry, but only to a believer.
  • Divorce – remarriage: Divorce, while not God’s desire, is not the unforgivable sin. Regardless of the circumstances, all divorced persons who have repented should be forgiven and allowed to remarry.

Dating And Choosing A Spouse

The Israelites were prohibited from intermarrying with the pagan peoples who surrounded them ” rel=”nofollow”> Deuteronomy 7:1-4), and the apostle Paul advised Christians to marry only other believers ” rel=”nofollow”> 1 Corinthians 7:39, ). However, an already married Christian should not divorce a nonbelieving spouse ” rel=”nofollow”> 1 Corinthians 7:12-16).

There is no indication in the Bible that we are predestined to marry a certain person or that there is one special person or “soul mate” that we should find and marry. Except for the preference to marry another Christian, we are free to marry whomever we wish ” rel=”nofollow”> 1 Corinthians 7:39).

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What Does The Bible Say About Polygamy Or Bigamy

Levirate marriage was practiced in Old Testament times. If a man died leaving no male heir, his brother was expected to marry his widow and produce children ” rel=”nofollow”> Deuteronomy 25:5-10). This, and other forms of polygamy, were acceptable in Biblical times, although only wealthy men could afford multiple wives. King Solomon was the most notable polygamist with his 700 wives and 300 concubines ” rel=”nofollow”> 1 Kings 11:3-4).

The Role Of The Church

Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage, what does the Bible say?

Believers who pursue divorce on unbiblical grounds are subject to church discipline because they openly reject the Word of God. The one who obtains an unbiblical divorce and remarries is guilty of adultery since God did not permit the original divorce . That person is subject to the steps of church discipline as outlined in Matthew 18:15-17. If a professing Christian violates the marriage covenant and refuses to repent during the process of church discipline, Scripture instructs that he or she should be put out of the church and treated as an unbeliever . When the discipline results in such a reclassification of the disobedient spouse as an outcast or unbeliever, the faithful partner would be free to divorce according to the provision for divorce as in the case of an unbeliever departing, as stated in 1 Corinthians 7:15. Before such a divorce, however, reasonable time should be allowed for the possibility of the unfaithful spouse returning because of the discipline.

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