Re-Marriage... Comments deeply appreciated.

[SPF]

I posted above about the meaning of "unlawful"or "unchastity." Adultery does not break the covenant because that is not what these words mean. I will stick to that interpretation.

Clearly you're not reading the passage correctly, but are attempting to read your interpretation into it.

Matthew 19:9 - "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery."

Matthew 5:32 - but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Adultery is committed upon remarriage if and only if the reason for the divorce is anything other than adultery. We see very clearly that adultery is capable of severing the one flesh covenant. Indeed, Jesus is clear that it is the only act that can sever the one flesh covenant. Marriage between two Christians is a unique, designed for life bond. We see that it is unique between Christians from Paul's teaching in I Corinthians where he says that in the case of an unequally yoked marriage that the believing spouse is not only not committing a sin if the unbelieving spouse wants a divorce, but they are actually free to remarry. That being free to remarry is key.

Jesus is clear in Matthew that divorce for any reason other than adultery does not sever the one flesh covenant. Therefore, if a Christian couple gets a divorce for any other reason, then in God's eyes, they are still just as married as they were before the divorce. That is why Jesus says in both passages that the remarried woman is committing adultery by getting remarried. It's because even though she's getting remarried in a secular and cultural sense, she's still married to the first husband in the eyes of the Lord. Thus adultery.

But in I Corinthians, the believing spouse is free to remarry without committing adultery!

This is because there is a unique covenant that is formed between two believers when they create a marriage covenant. God honors it, God views it as permanent unless one of the spouses violates it on the most serious of levels - adultery.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Dear Friends,

Thanks so much for all the contributions.

At this point I will give you a summary of my journey and why I view this issue differently than many.

By the age of three i was conscious of God, His existence was never an issue as He was plainly visible to me through nature around me.

I will speak openly, aware of the naysayers and theological experts who judge brothers and sisters through their take on scripture in the same way as they did when he arrived. (Jn 1:11)

At about 8 He appeared to me and simply said that there was nothing I would do in this life that He would not see. That experience was just after I had thown a dart into my sisters leg.

At 10 I would read the bible regularly, was afraid of death and was inthralled by Jesus and wanted to be like Him.

At thirteen at a christian camp I saw others publicly responding to the Gospel but wanted to do this in a more personal way. So I wandered alone along the side of Lake Wanaka, lay face down on the gravel and prayed... "Lord I have always been yours but there comes a time when I must give you complete control of my life - please forgive my sins, I turn to you and repent...." at that time I heard footsteps coming towards me on the gravel and when I looked up there was no one there - but He has been with me ever since.

I was immersion baptised at 16 and was youth preaching by 17... even so faith was like a thin thread during my teenage years. My life had been pretty reclusive and my 'friends' suggested I needed to find a girl friend. This led to a four year engagement and a seven year 'unequal yoke' marriage to a non believer. That eventually led to a period of 11 years when I had lost touch with God and my wife divorced me in favour of my best friend.

At that stage my life was a shipwreck but I had an inner hunch that I had to return to my Christian roots. So I took off on a road trip with that one aim, and met folk along the way with His Word. I might add that my Grandmother who died at 99 had been praying for me daily all my life. Well the day come when He reached down and metaphorically picked me up, gave me a shake and said... 'Last chance... and put me back on the rails - purely a gesture of His grace - I have continued with Him since that day as a prodigal son. My return included a commitment to reference the scripture on all matters of truth. I took me seven years to feel I had returned to my true self after much seeking of prayer and healing. For more than five years I read nothing at all but scripture. Many demonic strongholds in my life were broken and I eventually saw Him reach out to the lost through me with words of encouragement and healing.

I was privileged to witness many miracles of healing as I prayed for the sick - my childhood dream to be like Him was coming true.

My understanding of scripture was a mixture of meditative revelation and non-denominal teaching from a variety of sources. It was clear to me that branches of the church preserve certain truths and loose sight of others. Loyalty to one theological branch must therefore be limiting.

He did however lead me to a non-denominational Bible College during which time He introduced me to my first, 'equal yoke' wife Sandi. This was a miraculous experience and we were engaged in three weeks and married in three months 33 years ago.

So it is not surprising that I see His great Grace in my life and attribute my salvation to His choosing rather than my performance.

It is not surprising that I see Him offer forgiveness to the Woman caught in adultery in contrast to the death sentence suggested by the experts in the interpretation of Scripture.

He is my Loving Saviour and I follow the Words from His mouth.

My sheep hear My Voice and they follow Me, and none shall pluck them out of My hand. Jn 10:28

With much blessing,

Carl Emerson.

 

[dreadnought]

My view of marriage after divorce is guided by this verse:

And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another, commits adultery." Matt 19:9

I would conclude that it’s wrong for a divorced person to remarry, with one possible exception: If your spouse was guilty of unchastity, you are free to divorce and perhaps it is okay to remarry.