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:
- 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.)
- 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:
- 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.
- 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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Putting God First [podcast]
If God’s Word isn’t important to you, it’s because He isn’t important to you.
If anything comes before the LORD in your day, you are an idolater.
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3
GOD’s WORD cannot get into you if you aren’t into it.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
Jesus commanded:
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33
As you seek God, putting Him first, you are not going to be able to prevent, to stop His blessings coming upon your life. 100%
Memorize this promise from your Savior, today.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
What putting Christ first looks like:
Prayer.
“Early will I seek thee.” Psalms 63:1
Read. Study.
“Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. Job 23:12
The Bible is far from just amazing information (Psalms 119:98-100; 2 Peter 1:3-4, etc.). More important than vital information coming from our Maker, God’s Word is your spiritual food and without it, without daily ingesting it, you will famish, fall, and ultimately perish.
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” 1 Peter 2:2
Read that again: The only way to “grow” is to “desire” and to devour the Word of your great God and King Jesus. He made you to know Him (John 17:3).
The only way to keep, to guard your heart before the LORD, is to keep it full of God’s Word.
“Keep (guard, till the soil of) thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23
In fact, like Job, we must make the spiritual food of God’s Word more important than the food that fuels and keeps healthy our physical body.
“Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12
“He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart RETAIN my words: keep my commandments, and live.” Proverbs 4:4
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Psalms 1
Find. Eat. Rejoice.
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16
YOUR PRAYER: Father please unite my heart to fear Thy name. Forgive my sins of spiritual adultery, of self-idolatry. Here and now I renounce my own ownership on my life. It’s Your life LORD. Reign on the throne of this heart and cut away, circumcise any and everything of iniquity in my heart and life. You must increase but I must decrease, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Victory Over “Evil Concupiscence” and Every Sexual Sin [podcast]
“Flee fornication”
“Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:15-20
“Concupiscence” appears 3 times in God’s Word and speaking of having a secret desire for that which is forbidden, namely in sexual lust.
“But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.” Romans 7:8
“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:” Colossians 3:5
“Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:” 1 Thessalonians 4:5
Revelation 19:7-9
“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”
Colossians 3:1-6
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:”
Memorize Colossians 3:3
“Submerge yourself deeper and deeper into Jesus until you sink out of sight.”!! Unknown
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
“Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.”
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23
Read Psalms 51 and Romans 6 each morning.
PRAYER: Holy Father, please forgive my many sins. Please touch this vessel all the way to the core of who You made me to be. Do Your work in this life You gave. Please unite my heart to fear Thy name and purify this heart O LORD. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
The Return of Jesus and Being Ready
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The Simplicity of Real Fellowship [podcast]
Satan thinks he has Stolen the Fellowship of the Saints
“Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Revelation 12:12
Exhorting God’s People “Daily”
“But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16
“Feed my sheep”
“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” John 21:15-17
Simplicity in Fellowship
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Acts 2:42
They “continued steadfastly in …
- “the apostles doctrines”
- “fellowship”
- “breaking bread”
- “prayers”
“Great podcast. Thank you. As I was listening I was thinking about all the many churches we have attended through the years. And the one thing missing was love for Jesus. Everything was robotic. Hands raised in singing but no hearts raised. All scripted. You follow the script then go home. No honesty about their lives! All fake. Nothing more than a religious gathering. The disciples of old turned the world upside down because of their love for their Savior! They were willing to die for Him and they did! All these fake Christians do is wear outward religious garb and somehow think Jesus doesn’t know – as in Matthew 23. How refreshing it is to be around people who love the Lord with all their heart, soul, and mind! (Mat 22:37). Even if it is mostly online and as they live their daily lives. At least it is all about Jesus and not self! And I want to be with people who are Christ-centered not self-centered!” Karen Cochran
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please do Your work in this vessel that is Yours. Help me to love You more and to live to serve others as You did LORD Jesus. Make me holy as You are holy. Let this life be crucified and raised up by You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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