Matthew 5:32 states very clearly that if I remarry I am an adulteress. So then does that either mean adultery can be forgiven by staying single for the rest of my life? Or can I marry another divorcee (or someone who was promiscuous but repented of those ways) and be a helper to a man's walk with God?
Paul goes onto the benefits of being single, but Paul wasn't a woman. I guess my question is what role can I perform in the church? The only thing I can think of is to tell my testimony and hope it helps, but even still I don't feel it's enough.
If anyone has advice please share. If not prayers would be appreciated to find out what to do with my life.
I am 63 yrs old and had this same dilemma for many years, even though I never married; by the time I was ready, all available women were divorcees, and that's where the dilemma became a major problem with me. I'm just trying to say that I sympathize with you. And by this time, I can't see much hope of marrying for the same reason, in addition to the fact that my desire for it has greatly waned.
There is a point in your question that seems just a little ambiguous; I can't determine for sure if you are admitting that you were promiscuous, or if you're just hypothesizing about someone else being promiscuous in the past. But regardless of which it is, the past should not be a determiner of what you do in the future (I say this as an ideal, as my own past still has a lot to do with what I do today - yes, I admit that I don't live up to my own ideals). In other words, past sins
should not be a deciding factor in whether you remarry or not. What should be a deciding factor is, do you believe with all your heart that God is joining you up with a godly man? And this can only be answered when "the question" is popped (you know what question I'm talking about).
This means that you should live life as a disciple of Christ, following His leading, applying His words, etc. Trust God for your future. If you meet "the one" then well and good, and if not, then why not let God be your sufficiency?
Worst case, if you do marry, and then find that divorce is inevitable for the same reasons you previously divorced, then you have to ask yourself the question: what is the sin in me that shows this same pattern? What is my "revolving door" sin?
I find it hard to believe, even though Mat. 5:32 reads that way, that no remarriage (with stated exceptions) is an absolute law, that if you break this "absolute law" that you won't make it to heaven. There are dozens of conflicting interpretations and applications of that verse. I don't recommend putting yourself in bondage by taking the worst-case scenario and demanding that you adhere to it or else. Our relationship with God is faith-based, so I recommend trusting God to lead you, whichever way that goes. I know many divorcees who remarried and are living happy Christ-filled lives. I also know singles like myself who are happy the way we are. Of course, everyone has troubles in relationships.
TD