Posted on 11/23/2002 5:07:20 PM PST by Ex-Wretch
Mal. 2:16 For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
Jesus told the woman at the well (John 4:18). John the Baptist told Herod (Matt. 14:4). Up until as recently as 50 years ago, divorce and remarriage was well acknowledged as adultery. What has changed? It hasn’t been the Word of God!
The Word of God is quick and, sharper than a two-edged sword! Those who fear God and are led by the Holy Spirit are able to rightly divide and properly discern it. These are they which obey, rebuke, admonish and exhort one another in this sin-sick world. And likewise, they who do not obey (sinners), will take scripture and twist it to their liking so as to “justify” their disobedience and desire for pleasure. They wrest God’s word to agree with their sin. This is basic denial and, the selling of one’s soul for a mess of pottage. And, the biggest offenders today not only commit the sin but teach it and preach it from the pulpit. Woe unto these blind guides! Satan knows the Word of God. He used it to tempt Jesus into “justifying” comfort, disobedience and sin.
Matt. 19:6 “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
It is God that joins a man and a woman’s hearts together when they, without guile or deceit, vow before Him to bind themselves unto death. Courts only serve the purpose of providing legal witness that two people have voluntarily contracted under the laws of the state … not the laws, commands and precepts of God.
Matt. 6:31,32 “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.”
Matt. 16:18, “Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.”
Some will say “doesn’t God forgive the adultery”? Most certainly. He also commands that it be repented of. That means turning away from it. God’s forgiveness is conditioned on our repentance. Jesus said that both he/she who divorces/remarries and him/her that has been divorced/remarried “committeth” adultery. That means that it is not just a one-time past sin but an ongoing sin. A person in a divorced/remarried state is living in a continual state of sin! A one-time forgiveness does not clear your continual sin. It must be forsaken! The adulterous connection must be broken! To choose one’s own way instead of God’s holy command is presumptuous at best and fatal at worst.
Matt. 19:8 “Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.”
John 4:17,18 The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said unto her, “Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.”
Just like the scribes and Pharisees, others will say that the Old Testament, via Moses, allowed divorce and remarriage. Still, what does the Lord Jesus say? Only because your hearts were so hard and your ways were so carnal. If Moses hadn’t allowed you to separate you would have killed each other! (paraphrasing) But where, may I ask, is Jesus’ approval of divorce and remarriage? You won’t find it because he never gave it!
Matt. 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
Matt. 6:14,15 “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Mark 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, “With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”
Still, many will say “if the wife or husband is unfaithful then the marriage covenant has been broken and the innocent party is free to divorce and remarry”. Is that so? What does “for better or for worse” mean if not this? If, after coming to a saving relationship with Christ, you fall and sin, is He free to divorce you? Are we not to emulate our Lord? Isn’t this what being Christ-like is all about? Of course it hurts to be cheated on! Yet, if we do not forgive as He forgives us, we have the full assurance of His Word that our heavenly Father will not forgive us! Is hanging on to your hurt and bitterness worth eternal damnation? Forgive. Forget. Surrender all to Jesus. Be healed. Seventy times seven.
Proverbs 25:28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
Yes, marriage is a picture of Christ and His church. Jesus is the head and we are the body. The man is to be the head but, he is to be under Jesus as Head. He is to provide for his wife and direct the family as he also submits to the guidance and direction of the Lord. Just as he expects his wife to yield unto him, he must also yield unto Christ. If he will not submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in his life, he cannot even govern his own life righteously.
Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”
And to those who say “it is too hard” or “unnatural” to live alone without a mate, well, Jesus proved it was possible to abstain from sex. Isn’t God’s grace enough to keep you? It’s enough to save you but not enough to keep you from sinful sexual relations?
Matt. 19:12 “For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.”
And what if your spouse has divorced you? Even if it was for Christ’s sake? How are we to live then? Is it possible to live a life holy and pleasing unto the Lord when all that is natural screams out for the companionship and affection of a mate? Remember friend, our dear Lord was also fashioned after a man and was in all points tempted as we are. He died and rose again so that we could have power in this life over sin, the devil and the flesh! We are to walk as he walked. Yes! It is possible to be delivered and kept from yielding to the carnal lusts and live in victory over sin!
Phil. 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Becky
Re: YOUR obedience to What the Lord Jesus saith
Jesus posed this question to the elders and chief priests of the temple ...
But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. (Matt. 21:28-31)
I believe that it is a heart thing. God knows our hearts. He knows the sorrow we feel/don't feel for our sins. David could not bring Bathsheba's husband back, but he did confess and was sorrowful. God knew. David was forgiven. So to would a divorced person who married again. JMO, FWIW :)
Becky
Becky
The first son didn't want to obey his father because it was not convenient for him. At least he was honest and told his father NO. Upon realizing his disobedience and sin he repented, and then went and performed his obedient duty.
Son #2 schmoozed his dad and said Sure, I'll go (so as to give the appearance of obedience to his father). But, all day long he decided that pleasing his own flesh and doing his own thing was more important to him than obeying what his father told him to do.
Jesus asks "which of the two did the will of his father?
Point being, if the Word of God says to do something or to refrain from doing something ... OBEY. You may not like it at first but you will be as the first son. Not to obey puts you into the camp of son #2.
Becky
David could not bring Bathsheba's husband back, but he did confess and was sorrowful. God knew. David was forgiven.This is a significant point.
This is a significant point.
You are comparing apples with oranges. He was forgiven for what he had done(past sins - although, for the remainder of his life David did reap terribly for this). Yes, he then married Bathsheba, but because her husband was dead, she was legit. Personally, I look at David's multiple wives as a major fault of his and a source of great trouble in his life. Kings were instructed not to multiply wives unto themselves.
Nevertheless, Jesus told us to Repent of our sin. He called divorce and remarriage ADULTERY. John the Baptist lost his life for calling it ADULTERY. How is one repenting if they continue on in the sin and don't break-off from doing it?
Becky
Short answer. Yes. Don't forget that we all must reap what we have sown.
"Is murder forgiveable and adultery not? HOW is this sin repented of?"
God's forgiveness is conditioned on our repentence. No repentence, no forgiveness. To believe otherwise is to believe a lie and utterly presumptuous. Do you think He looks lightly on the death of His Son? Both murder and adultery are forgiveable once they have been repentented of with a godly sorrow.
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (James 4:17)
Is the divorce the sin, or the remarriage?
Becky
In my own church I have seen the break-ups of the adulterous marriages for the kingdom of God's sake. It is never a fun thing but, 1) we must obey God and 2) we must reap what we have sown. It should be duly noted, that God will honor this obedience and He has ALWAYS made the way for those who honor, obey and serve Him. I have never seen the righteous forsaken or his seed beg for bread.
"Is the divorce the sin, or the remarriage?"
Yes. And, yes.
Of course, if one isn't really concerned what God thinks, and is determined to have it their own way, he/she is certainly free to choose their own way. I guess it depends on your vision ... short term pleasure or long term glory.
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. (Proverbs 3:5-8)
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. (Eccl.12:13,14)
Seek mental help.
... "Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men." (Mark 8:33)
Becky
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