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Summary of what the Bible teaches on divorce and remarriage.

There is a difference between “putting away” (separation) and a “bill of divorcement” (divorce) ….. this is what some fail to rightly divide. They thereby perpetrate falsehood and bondage on others as they bear false witness against the LORD, against the whole counsel of His Word.

The LORD Himself divorced Israel due to her unfaithfulness, her adultery – HE IS DIVORCED AND REMARRIED TO THE GENTILES!

“And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.” Jeremiah 3:8 

Notice that the LORD “put her away” (separation) and also had “given her a bill of divorce.” Those are 2 different things. For more on this watch the video by pastor Tim Tyler at the bottom of this post.

Marriage was originally intended to be permanent when instituted by its Designer (Matthew 19:3-6). The following words are presented to bring to light what the Almighty has stated concerning the unfortunate issues that face the victims of marital sins and what instructions and liberties He has sovereignly granted in such cases. Through the preponderance of Scripture it becomes clear that just like our covenant relationship with the LORD, so marriage is conditional upon the continued fidelity of each party.

When adultery or abandonment are committed, the victim has the God-given choice, they can stay or leave. They are no longer under bondage – no longer bound, cemented to the violator. Boom.

“But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. 16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?” 1 Corinthians 7:15-16 

Of this passage above, one Bible commentator rightly divides:

“[if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace] Here we have another legal and scriptural reason for divorce and remarriage. If the unbeliever refuses to live with a wife or husband because of Christianity and if he or she is determined to leave on this account, the Christian is not under further marriage bonds and is not held responsible or punished by requirement to remain single the rest of his or her life because of the rebellion of another. The Christian is to submit to the breaking of the marriage covenant under such circumstances.”

Why is divorce not on any sin list in the Bible? Surely God could and would have easily placed it on the list of 17 soul damning sins in Galatians 5:19-21 if it were a sin. No, divorce is not a sin but rather that which causes a divorce is sin – abandonment and/or adultery. There is a primarily guilty party and a victim. Regrettably, divorce is appropriate due to the sinful, covenant-breaking sinful actions of another. God made provision in such cases.

The late Donald Stamps, in his Life in the Spirit Study Bible commentary wrote:

“EXCEPT IT BE FOR FORNICATION. God’s will for marriage is one mate, one marriage for life (vv. 5-6; see Gen. 2:24, Sol. 2:7; 4:12; Mal. 2:14). To this Jesus gives an exception, namely ‘fornication.’ Fornication is marital unfaithfulness (Gk. porneia) and includes adultery or any kind of sexual immorality (5:32; 19:9). Hence divorce is to be permitted when sexual immorality is involved. The following are important biblical facts concerning divorce.

(1) When Jesus criticizes divorce in 19:6-7, He is not criticizing a separation because of adultery, but a divorce permitted in the O.T. in those cases where a husband discovered premarital unchastity after the marriage ceremony had taken place (Deut. 24:1-4). God’s desire in such cases was that the two remain together. However, He permitted divorce due to premarital unchastity because of the hardness of the people’s hearts (vv. 7-8).

(2) In the case of immorality after marriage, the O.T. law prescribed the dissolving of the marriage by executing both the offending parties (Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:22). This, of course, would leave the innocent person free to remarry (Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:39).

(3) Under the new covenant the privileges of the believer are no less. Although divorce is a tragedy, marital unfaithfulness is such a cruel sin against one’s mate that Christ states that the innocent party has a proper right to end the marriage by a divorce based on adultery. He or she is free to remarry another believer (1 Cor. 7:27-28).

(4) Paul’s treatment of marriage and desertion in 1 Cor. 7:12-16 indicates that a marriage also may be dissolved by the desertion of an unbelieving spouse. He further indicates that remarriage by the believer in such cases is not sin (see 1 Cor. 7:15; 27-28).” Donald Stamps, Life in the Spirit Study Bible, p. 1443

QUESTION:

“So can married couples divorce for any reason?”

REPLY:

No. Not just any reason. The Bible gives 2 clear reasons for divorce and so divorce is never a “I’m tired of her/him so I’m divorcing them!” Noooo. Marriage is ordained by God to be permanent and yet, abandonment and adultery/fornication are specific sins that can break that covenant if the offended party chooses (Matthew 19:9; 1 Corinthians 7:15-16, 27-28).

MESSAGE RECEIVED:

“I married my husband 10 years ago who had divorced his ex wife as she had committed adultery and she did everything she could to destroy his life and marriage to her. I have never been married before to anyone and my husband has been my husband in my life. The question is have I become an adulterous for marrying my divorced husband? We have a child together so what do I do? Do I leave my husband and remain single which would be so difficult as we have put God in everything of our lives and God in His great mercy brought my back slidden husband back on fire since we been together. I have repented before the Lord and had thought that there was fine as a single born again Christian for me to marry as my husband was ‘divorced on the grounds of unfaithfulness in his marriage. What do I do my brother? Thank you.” R.

REPLY:

NO you have not committed adultery…. that is a lie… Your husband was biblically divorced and perfectly cleared by God to remarry … PLEASE do not leave your husband…. whoever is teaching you this is a vile demonic heretic…. block them beloved and tell me if they are on my friends list also. Precious sister, you are completely clear in this matter and so is your beloved husband…. now HE’s going to clear your conscience to the core of your being so you can worship Him clearly – Heb 9:14; Jn 15:3…. via His truth…. the devil is a liar.

FOLLOW UP REPLY FROM THIS DEAR SISTER….

“Thank you so so much Brother Todd. I thought I been living in sin before our Holy God. Thank you so much, I cannot tell you how much I been scared and have had broken sleep because of this. Yes devil is a liar indeed. I will listen to the link you sent my brother. Am so deeply thankful to God for using you to help me in this situation as I was worried and scared to displease our Heavenly Father. Thank You Lord Jesus.”

Paul Galloway writes:

“I have read your teaching about divorce and remarriage and agree. Good stuff and well done. My convictions which have been concluded from my own study, as well as what I have been taught, are as follows.

The innocent spouse can divorce the guilty and remarry without sin, in the following situations:

  1. On the biblical conditions of fornication during engagement and/or adultery during marriage (Matthew 19:3-9; Deuteronomy 24:1-4; and 1 Corinthians 7:27-28.)
  2. Being unjustifiably deserted by an unbeliever or professed believer (Deuteronomy 24:1-4; 1 Corinthians 7:15, 27 and 28).

Also, considering actions of abuse which lead to the following:

  1. A repentant, guilty spouse is free to remarry without sin if the former spouse is deceased, remarried, is unbeliever or does not want reconciliation. Deuteronomy 24:1-4, and 1 Corinthians 7:27-28 also apply.
  2. A couple who have committed what some call “divorce and remarriage adultery” as they wrongly divorced and remarried, have committed a single act of adultery by doing so, but the new marriage is valid and not a state of perpetual adultery. They do not as a pre- or post-conversion act of adultery have to divorce or live as celibate or remarry former or first spouse. They need to get saved or restored (through repentance) if backslidden and are then called to remain in the new marriage—as breaking up the new marriage to return to the former spouse is forbidden (Deuteronomy 24:1-4; 1 Corinthians 7:20-29).

I believe that all of 1 Corinthians 7 is conditional and applies to the pre- and post- conversion life circumstances of believers. As I understand it, 1 Corinthians 7:27-28 is my final authority for those in the above groups. I feel that when it says But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned;” applies to all who are divorced and/or remarried as above. It also means, but and if thou remain married, thou hast not sinned. To force celibacy on one or forbid to marry or remain married as in the example above, in my opinion is a doctrine of devils. What advice would you offer, and would you agree? I look forward to your response.”

Much more here on Divorce and Remarriage 

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Mission Mexico Part 26

Our LORD is Changing Lives here in Mexico

Last week our brother in Christ Vicente had a financial need and you met that need for Vicente and his family.

I brought him the money and he was… absolutely elated. He had been telling me about this pretty serious need for a few weeks. Finally I brought him the money he needed. God is able amen saints.

Update: Vicente update: I ran into our brother Vicente this morning and he was ministering to some men who were a work crew right outside of his restaurant on the street. I quickly handed him about 40 JESUS tracts and he began passing them to the men. Going to be supplying Vicente with more of the JESUS tract in Spanish soon.

Our brother is super overjoyed for the help he received to get his family vehicle repaired.

Jesus is God.
He’s coming.


More on the ministry to the Spanish speaking peoples of our LORD’s world! In the fellowship with the Florida group, a dear lady named Hilda repented and received Christ. Thank you for thanking our LORD for saving her and for His perfect will to be done in Hilda’s life. Phil 1:6



Excellent fruitful ministry time with Alex today. He’s also been sent the Born Again book in Spanish (PDF). Would you like to pause and ask God to bless, to save this man? (Ps 2:8; Acts 3:26)

Mission Mexico






Your prayers and support make this mission work to these beautiful, ultra-receptive people possible.

No religious organization or rich people support this Gospel mission. God is the Author of it!

Thousands have received the Gospel by the spoken ministry of the Word in Spanish and the JESUS tract.

“WE are labourers TOGETHER with God.” 1 Cor 3:9

Mission Mexico




“Matthew 5:3! No one wants to be in a humble state of submission in America. Even the so-called Christians! And be needy and weak. Like a little child. They pride themselves on all they can do. And why do I need God I can do it myself! This is why I love hearing testimonies of the people of Mexico who are poor in spirit, meek and humble! Without this you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Karen Cochran



Thank you for lifting in prayer the Mexican people – that many more will be saved and established in Christ (1 Timothy 2:4).

Mission Mexico



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See the Mission Mexico category for many more pics, videos, and testimonies.

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Somebody Prayed Teddy Swims [video]

Nearly broke down in tears when this one came on while I was in the gym. … Try not to cry listening to this one…. God has been so very good to us! Jesus saves.

Never stop praying for your friends and loved ones.

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WHY IS THE KING JAMES VERSION CALLED THE “AUTHORIZED VERSION”?

Excerpt from “Answers To Your Bible Version Questions”

Question: Why is the King James Bible called the “Authorized Version”? How did King James Authorize it?

Answer: Despite stories to the contrary, King James, in no uncertain terms, clearly authorized the translation of the Bible that now bears his name.

[Note: This is a drastically shortened account of the birth of God’s preserved words in English. Longer accounts are available, as in Final Authority: A Christian’s Guide to the King James Bible, by William P. Grady.]

Sanctioning the Authorized Version

When Elizabeth died on April 1, 1603, she had seen 130 editions of the New Testament and the Bible published during her 45 years as Queen of England. James VI of Scotland, son of Mary, “Queen of Scots,” became James I of England.

Four days later, on his way to London, a delegation of Puritan ministers met James, asking him to hear their grievances against the Church of England. James consented, and on January of 1604, four Puritans came to express their troubles at Hampton Court, in front of King James and over 50 Anglican (Church of England) officials. One by one each request was rejected, until the Puritan group’s leader, John Rainolds said these famous words:

“May your Majesty be pleased to direct that the Bible be now translated, [since] such versions as are extant [are] not answering to the original.”

At first, Bishop Bancroft of London was dead-set against it, saying, “If every man’s humor might be followed, there would be no end to translating.” But the King made it clear he liked the idea. Not too long later Bancroft wrote this to a friend:

I move you in his majesty’s name that, … no time may be overstepped by you for the better furtherance of this holy work…. You will scarcely conceive how earnest his majesty is to have this work begun!

When this Bible was translated, the title page was printed basically as you find it today in Cambridge Bibles:

THE
HOLY BIBLE
CONTAINING THE
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS
TRANSLATED OUT OF THE ORIGINAL TONGUES:
AND WITH THE FORMER TRANSLATIONS
DILIGENTLY COMPARED AND REVISED
BY HIS MAJESTY’S SPECIAL COMMAND
 

APPOINTED TO BE READ IN CHURCHES

The King James Bible was “Authorized” to be translated as God’s Word for the English-speaking people of the world. God bless you as you study His authorized and preserved words in English, the King James Bible.

Bible Versions Issue 

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