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Text – 1 Corinthians 7:10-16
Marriage is for life. Divorce is not God’s plan. These are things we believe, but that we don’t talk about too much. The permanence of marriage is an inconvenient truth for many different groups of people.
Many conservative christian people are “up at arms” about homosexuality, it is a sin. That remarriage after divorce is a sin as well is something that is also true.
How grounded are you in the teaching of the scripture on the topic of divorce and remarriage?
Romans 7:2-3, Mark 10:2-12 – These are very clear words from scripture.
Genesis 2:18-24 – What is God’s purpose for marriage?
- Companionship
- Enjoyment
- Fruitfulness
- Protection
The Marriage Bond
Marriage is a universal practice. Two people are joined together. God creates a bond between these two, whether they be in Japan, Alaska, Saudi Arabia, or anywhere in the world.
Marriage is a “pre-christian” institution. God honors and creates this bond of marriage whether it is done in a church, at a justice of the peace or elsewhere.
Marriage is permanent. What God has put together let not man put asunder. As long as both parties are still living. Marriage is for life.
Marriage is a “God-designed” bond. Just this bond can be “legally separated” it is not actually separated according to the scripture.
Jesus ended the period of tolerance of the Old Testament by “raising the bar.”
What is the Exception Clause
Mathew 19:9 – It is important that we understand that Jesus is not referring to adultery only, it encompasses quite a number of things.
There was a divorce needed to break the engagement of the New Testament time. Joseph was going to “divorce” Mary when it was found that she was with child. He was going to do it quietly. Jesus gives allowance for this separation during the betrothal period.
Is Divorce and Remarriage a Sin? A literal reading of the scripture is pretty clear… yes. It is.
The Inconvenient Part
So what do we tell those that we know who have a second or third marriage where everything seems to be going well?
We know the story of John the Baptist… He told Herod that he shouldn’t have his brother’s wife. He eventually lost his life because of it.
Forgiveness requires repentance. Repentance includes turning around and quitting doing the thing.
