Change the background color!! ....
DIVORCE, REMARRIAGE, AND ADULTERY
by Alan Yusko
In these closing days before the return of the Lord Jesus we live in days of apostasy. Many reject sound Biblical doctrine. Immorality and unfaithfulness are the norm. Lost people think it is normal to fornicate and even live together before marriage. It is very common to marry / get divorced / and marry again. All this is normal for lost people. The sad thing is this type of behavior is also common with professed Christendom. Professing Christians marry, have troubles, divorce, and marry again. Doctrineless churches, in the name of love and harmony, freely marry anyone who applies to get married.
This tract is for single people to help them from making a lifetime mistake. Marrying a divorced person is adultery according to the Bible. In this tract we will cover what the Bible says about divorce and remarriage. We will also cover who can marry whom and be blessed and acceptable before God.
People who have already divorced/remarried have already gone through a massive sin justifying process. You can stop reading this tract now if you are already divorced/remarried or have married a divorced person. You have already made up your mind and have justified your sin. This tract is not for you! Instead, this tract will, hopefully, help a single person stay away from all the mate 'hunting' divorcees out there and choose the right person to marry. Later some good Godly guidelines are listed to help the single person make the right choice in a marriage partner.
MARRIAGE IS A VOW THAT IS DISOLVED ONLY AT DEATH
The covenant of marriage dissolved at death. Don't take the marriage vows if you cannot (or will not) keep them! Marriage is serious business and is not to be taken lightly.
Eccl 5
4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it;
for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou
hast vowed.
5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that
thou shouldest vow and not pay.
It would be better not to marry than to marry - divorce - and commit adultery by remarrying another. Vows are very serious and so is the bonds of marriage. Do not take them lightly.
Next lets look at a verse that clearly gives instructions on remarriage.
Matt 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.
10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be
so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
Marriage is a big commitment. Look at the above verses. Notice there are cases where a person may get a divorce. However, the verse clearly says that to marry after divorce is to commit adultery. This is a serious sin and is even one of the Ten Commandments! Now listen to me clearly! If you cannot receive the above teaching then it would be better for you not to get married in the first place! If you choose to marry then you better be very sure that the lifelong commitment of marriage is understood.
WHAT ABOUT DIVORCE AND GETTING REMARRIED
Is this tract saying never get a divorce? No, it is not. There are many conditions that would qualify for a divorce. These, in my opinion would include, sexual abuse of children, beatings, adultery etc. Divorce is acceptable under certain situations according to the Bible. However, marrying after divorce is clearly called adultery in Scriptures. This also goes for single people who marry a divorced person. The issue is not divorce, but instead, remarriage while the spouse is still alive.
Let's look at what the Bible says:
Rom 7
1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,)
how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her
husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is
loosed from the law of her husband.
3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another
man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be
dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress,
though she be married to another man.
See the above verses. Notice verse 2 that states that a woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive. However, after his death that bond is broken. Verse 3 sums it all up. If a divorced person gets married again when their spouse is still living, then it is adultery. However, if a person gets married again after the death of a spouse then getting remarried is acceptable.
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.
Above the Scriptures say that it is allowed to get a divorce for grounds of fornication. The term 'put away' means to get a divorce. The end of the verse is very clear. To marry a divorced person is to commit adultery. Therefore single person, don't marry a divorced person. It is as simple as that!
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.
This verse states very clearly that if a person gets a divorce and then remarries, that person is committing adultery. It also warns single people who choose to marry a divorced person. They too are committing adultery. This is a very serious sin!
Mark 10
11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and
marry another, committeth adultery against her.
12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to
another, she committeth adultery.
The above verses show clearly that if a person divorces and then remarries, then they are committing adultery. I would say the Scriptures are very clear! People can try to justify the sin of adultery by claiming innocent party vs guilty party or some other sinful argument. However, the end result is these people are rebellious and disobedient and they are committing adultery.
Luke 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.
Again the warning is very clear. For a married person to divorce and remarry, it is adultery. Also for a single person to marry a divorced person, it is adultery.
PENALTY FOR ADULTERY
What is the penalty for adultery? Can people divorce and remarry with no consequences for their sin and rebellion? The answer is no they cannot. Below is a warning that God will judge those who fornicate and commit adultery. Do not think it is possible to call yourself a 'Christian' and commit the sin of adultery without any consequences. There are always consequences for sin. Here is what the Bible says:
Heb 13
4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but
whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
I don't clearly know what kind of judgment a person will receive as God doesn't clearly state the consequences of the sin of adultery. However I do know this, I would suggest people avoid doing those things that will bring the judgment of God into ones life!
Some things I have noticed is that I have never seen a divorced/remarried couple with any Biblical discernment. Every divorced/remarried couple I have met may be polite or nice but they do not have any Biblical discernment. Plus, (many times) their children tend to go astray as they grow older. This is possible by the disobedient rebellious example set by their parents.
There are definite penalties to pay for committing the sin of adultery. God will deal with those who commit such a sin.
THE SIN OF ADULTERY
One of the ten commandments involves the sin of adultery. People are clearly told not to do that sin.
Matthew 5
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt
not commit adultery:
Mark 10
19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not
kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour
thy father and mother.
God has clearly commanded people not to commit the sin of adultery. Once a person is married the marriage bond lasts until death. To get remarried before the death of a spouse is to commit the sin of adultery.
Galatians 5
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife,
seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the
which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that
they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
The above verses are interesting. It lists several sins that the works of the flesh naturally loves to perform. The sin of adultery is one such sin in the list. Verse 21 concludes that those who love such sins will not inherit the kingdom of God. This is something to think about.
Next lets look a John the Baptist and his encounter with a adulterous divorced/remarried couple.
Matt 14
3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in
prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.
4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
John the Baptist and Herod had a confrontation above. Notice that John was speaking against Herod because he had his brother Philip's wife. Obviously his brother Philip was still alive at the time or John the Baptist would have nothing to say about the marriage. Here we see a living case of the sin of adultery where a person married a lady who was divorced. God prompted His prophet John to speak against this marriage. John said in verse 4 '...It is not lawful for thee to have her'. This means that God's institution of marriage fully applied to the unsaved people Herod and his brother Philip's wife. The end result of this was the adulterous lady hated John with a murderous hatred. When she got the chance she saw to it that John the Baptist was beheaded.
Finally, let's briefly talk about King David and Bathsheba. In this case King David first committed the sin of adultery and next he committed the sin of murder. He repented of these sins and was forgiven by God. However, he still had to suffer the consequences of his sin for the rest of his life. His sin not only affected him but it also hurt his children who went astray later in life. King David paid a very heavy price to engage in the sin of adultery.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR PARTNER LEAVES?
What does a person do if their spouse leaves them? Are they to remain unmarried? Here is what the Bible says:
1 Cor 7
10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let
not the wife depart from her husband:
11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled
to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
First, the Bible clearly says do not get a divorce. However, verse 11 is very clear. Do not get married again if your spouse leaves and divorces you. Why is this so? The reason is the central message of this tract. Marriage lasts until the death of one of the married partners. Until a death occurs there can be no remarriage. Only death breaks the marriage bonds and not divorce. All divorce does is open the door for people to commit adultery if they seek another spouse.
EXAMPLE OF ADULTERERS
Example 1: This person goes to a church where divorce and remarriage is rampant. This person has just broken up from marriage number four. This person is an adulterer and each of the spouses from number two onward have also committed adultery. After the divorce from spouse number four, this person begins the search for number five.
Here is the latest trend in this godless age of apostasy. Example 2: There is a man or woman who is already married but is heading toward a divorce. This person meets someone and begins dating. At some point when the 'paper' of divorce is finalized, it magically becomes OK and acceptable to date and marry. Sorry folks, it is all adultery! I have seen this happening in church! Some married person is dating a single person. Both are very hopeful for the day that the 'paper' divorce is finalized.
Example 3: Many young people get involved in a career type of job. The years pass by and that person just doesn't find time to get a spouse. As a result that person is age 30 to 40 plus. At that point panic sets in. No one wants to be an 'old maid' or a bachelor all their lives. Drastic action is taken and this usually results in marrying a divorced person.
QUALITIES TO LOOK FOR IN A GODLY SPOUSE
We have been talking about the sin of adultery for those who remarry or for those who marry a divorced person. Next, lets shift our gears and see some practical advise for a single person looking for a lifetime mate. We conclude this tract with some advise for a person who wishes to marry in such a way that God is pleased:
- Only marry a single person. This is a person who has never married or is a widower whose spouse has died. Only these people can marry and be acceptable and blessed by God.
- Christians can only marry another Christian. There is no such thing as missionary dating or a missionary marriage. The Bible warns about an unequal yolk. Stay away from the lost Christ rejecting people when deciding about a future spouse. Choose a fellow Bible believing, born-again person for your spouse. Here is what the Bible says about an unequal yoke which is a believer with a non-believer.
2 Cor 6
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what
fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what
communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he
that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are
the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them,
and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my
people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith
the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
- Listen to warnings from your parents. I believe God gives special blessing and insight to parents who will be able to spot a bad situation and relationship. Many times the couple are blinded at the beginning of the relationship. This blinding does not occur with the parents and their advise should be sought and heeded.
When looking for a spouse it is very important to avoid wrong relationships. They are easy to get into so a clear warning should be regarded. Below is the warning from the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs 4
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the
issues of life.
Stay away from the divorced when seeking a wife. Do not play with a sinful relationship that God calls adultery. Guard your heart and purpose to only seek a mate that would be approved of God.
RETURN ... or click your back button