One can repent for a divorce and a bad marriage. But once divorced it is done and over with lawfully you are free, one would have not need to stop sinning (divorce) and repent for a 2nd marriage, whats done is done, they are free to move on with their lives. Here is a little bit of a conversation I had with 2 preachers. One answered my questions, and the other showed how his answers were not completly biblical.
Preacher 15. I will begin my discussion on divorce by stating my convictions clearly. I believe that the sum of all the Bible says about divorce is as follows:
a. God hates divorce, Malachi 2:14-16: "Yet ye say, 'Wherefore?' Because Jehovah hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously, though she is thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did he not make one, although he had the residue of the Spirit? And wherefore one? He sought a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. 'For I hate putting away,' saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, 'and him that covereth his garment with violence,' saith Jehovah of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously."
Preacher 2 I disagree with the above statement. Although God intended for marriage to be for life between one man and one woman, God did not say He hated divorce, as is often misquoted by those holding the traditional marriage, divorce and remarriage position. He said He hated putting away because it is treacherous. It is dishonest; it is deceptive; it is against everything for which He stands: Love, honesty, truth, mercy, and compassion. There are only 4 places the Hebrew word for divorce (divorcement) "keriythuwth" is mentioned: Deuteronomy 24:1, Deuteronomy 24:3, Isaiah 50:1, and Jeremiah 3:8. Malachi 2:16 is NOT one of them.
Although God may hate divorce, I believe it is improper to use Malachi 2:16 as justification, especially in this study. An honest individual WILL see that the Hebrew word for divorce was not used in this verse.
preacher 1 b. Under the old Law, the law of Moses, God stipulated that a man divorcing a woman should write a release document that would make it easier for her to remarry, Deut. 24:1-4. The Jews interpreted this to mean that it was acceptable to divorce for any cause, but Jesus explains that this is not what God intended, Matthew 19:7-8: "They say unto Him, 'Why then did Moses command to give a bill of divorcement, and to put her away?' He saith unto them, 'Moses for your hardness of heart suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it hath not been so.'"
Preacher 2 Actually, Jesus said this was not a should, but a must: He said it was a COMMAND to write a bill of divorcement. The men were not doing that, but simply sending their wives away so that they could keep the dowry.
Now, let's look at the above question from the Pharisees: If what this preacher says is true that putting away and divorcing are the same thing, why would the Pharisees being asking, in essence, Why then did Moses command to give a bill of divorcement, and to divorce? It is a ridiculous statement, and it was NOT what was being asked, because the pharisees KNEW putting away was only a PART of the divorce command.
preacher 1 In spite of Gods disapproval of divorce, He knew the Israelites would divorce anyway because of the hardness of their hearts. In order to protect divorced women in a society where they could not otherwise survive, God ordered the husband to write a bill of divorcement that would make it clear that she was released. Jesus words "but from the beginning it has not been this way" indicates that God never approved of the practice of divorce. He only sought to soften the blow of divorce on the weak and vulnerable.
Preacher 2 I would disagree with the above statement slightly. God never intended for divorces to occur, but He does approve of them when they are followed according to His law. He was the one who instructed Moses on the proper procedure to divorce. He did seek to help the women who were being abused.
preacher 1 c. Under the new Law of Christ we are told not to separate from or divorce our spouses, Matthew 19:3-6, I Corinthians 7:10: "And there came unto him Pharisees, trying Him, and saying, 'Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?' And He answered and said, 'Have ye not read, that He who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh? So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.' But unto the married I give charge, yea not I, but the Lord, that the wife depart not from her husband." In Matthew 19:4-6 Jesus states that when people are married they are joined by God. Something done by God can only rightly be undone by God. Men do not have the right to declare as separated what God has declared as joined. This is the general rule against divorce.
Preacehr 2 I disagree with some of the above. Jesus was NOT asked about divorce (apostasion), He was asked about putting away (apoluo). "Put away" means "send out of the house" and results in separation not in a legal divorce. What evidence is there that "put away" just means what it says and does not mean divorce? First of all, the Greek word for "put away" is apoluo. The Greek word for "divorce" is apostasion. This word was NOT used when translated "put away" in Matthew 19:9.
Theword translated depart in 1 Corinthians 7:10 is from the Greek word choreo, meaning to give space. Paul is speaking here of a separation, and not a divorce. Paul is reiterating what Jesus said regarding this issue, "
yea not I, but the Lord," that those who are not divorced, but just separated, should not marry another. She should remain unmarried in terms of attaching herself to another man while still married to her first husband, and she should try and be reconciled, if at all possible.
"(but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife." (1 Corinthians 7:11) The word translated leave in verse 11comes from the Greek word aphiemi, meaning to leave, put away, or let go. Its root comes from apo, denoting separation or departure. Paul is saying here that the man should not put away or leave his wife, which is in perfect harmony with the teachings of Christ discussed earlier from Matthew 19 and Mark 10.
I agree that we should not go about seeking to divorce, but the scriptures referenced do NOT talk about divorce, they are talking about putting away, or separation. There is a difference between one being divorced and one being separated.
Preacher 1 d. If people divorce and remarry someone else, they are committing adultery, Matthew 5:31-32, Mark 10:11-12, Luke 16:18, Matthew 19:9, Romans 7:2-3: "For the woman that hath a husband is bound by law to the husband while he liveth; but if the husband die, she is discharged from the law of the husband. So then if, while the husband liveth, she be joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if the husband die, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she be joined to another man."
Preacher 2 Wrong! That is NOT what these scriptures say! Matthew 5:31-32, Mark 10:11-12, Luke 16:18, Matthew 19:9 are all referring to putting away, which is separating, and not divorce. Once we stop calling separation (putting away) divorce it all makes sense.
The passage from Romans is quoted out of context. It is comparing the Old Law of ordinances with the New Law of liberty found in Jesus Christ. It shows how the Old Law is no longer applicable. Look at the verses before and after for confirmation that what is being talked about is NOT marriage, divorce and remarriage, but a comparison of the Old Law to that of the New Covenant: "Or are ye ignorant, brethren (for I speak to men who know the law), that the law hath dominion over a man for so long time as he liveth? Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another, even to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were through the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter." (Romans 7:1, 4-6) If it has anything to do with the subject of marriage, divorce and remarriage, it simply confirms the intent that marriage was to be for life, and points back to the Garden of Eden.
Ignore those who are negative on this forum. Many of us have been divorced and remarried and we are tremendously blessed by God. Be assured that God loves you and will never leave you. God knows your heart and no one has the right to judge you.
