How exactly is Divorce without cause and remarriage NOT ADULTERY?

[artful horizon]

Firstly, there is no such thing as Divorce without cause.
Why are you intentionally avoiding all of 1 Corinthians 7?

 

[reba]

Only for the space most of us have Bibles .

1Co 7:1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
1Co 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
1Co 7:3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
1Co 7:4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
1Co 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
1Co 7:6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
1Co 7:7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
1Co 7:8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
1Co 7:9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
1Co 7:10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
1Co 7:11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
1Co 7:12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
1Co 7:13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
1Co 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
1Co 7:15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
1Co 7:16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
1Co 7:17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
1Co 7:18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
1Co 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
1Co 7:20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
1Co 7:21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
1Co 7:22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
1Co 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
1Co 7:24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
1Co 7:25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
1Co 7:26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
1Co 7:27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
1Co 7:28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
1Co 7:29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
1Co 7:30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
1Co 7:31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
1Co 7:32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
1Co 7:33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
1Co 7:34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
1Co 7:35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
1Co 7:36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
1Co 7:37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
1Co 7:38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
1Co 7:39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
1Co 7:40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

 

[Traveling teacher]

Doesnt say we can divorce an unbeliever
It says we have to stay married to an unbeliever
Verse 13
Only if the unbeliever departs
Verse 15
Which most of the time goes back to adultery...as Jesus said as the only reason for divorce....

 

[artful horizon]

Well, since it is Paul's command and not God's it's all conjecture and personal opinion. Including that of Paul.
Marriage between two people isn't a consensus among the church. That's a cult. Not the body of Christ.

 

[reba]

Well, since it is Paul's command and not God's it's all conjecture and personal opinion. Including that of Paul.
Marriage between two people isn't a consensus among the church. That's a cult. Not the body of Christ.

Not believing the Scriptures are God's Word enplanes a lot of your postings

No matter how many times that is repeated or how many believe it it is not TRUTH

 

[artful horizon]

Doesnt say we can divorce an unbeliever
It says we have to stay married to an unbeliever

The scripture itself shows that to be false.

 

[artful horizon]

Not believing the Scriptures are God's Word enplanes a lot of your postings

Having a reading acumen may assist yours.
Verse 17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.

And Admin or not, don't break the rules that are set down against questioning a members faith. You are so excited about attacking my beliefs that you can't even type your attack. "enplanes"? Where's your grace lady?

 

[reba]

We will just disagree... have a good evening

 

[reba]

Having a reading acumen may assist yours.
Verse 17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.

And Admin or not, don't break the rules that are set down against questioning a members faith. You are so excited about attacking my beliefs that you can't even type your attack. "enplanes"? Where's your grace lady?

There is no question of your faith . we have both questioned each others understanding of Scriptures

 

[WIP]

The Apostle Paul's admonition against yoking with unbelievers taken in the context of his writing to the church in Corinth, which was a wild city prone to paganism and debauchery. His warning was many fold including marriage. Do not marry unbelievers. Making for an unequal union between people of Christ and unbelievers.

So are you saying that when we ignore God's warning/rule not to be unequally yoked, as a great many of us do, then we are free to divorce the person without repercussion? This speaks volumes to me about a license to sin. If I can ignore God with regard to this rule then I can ignore God with regard to all His rules and that's okay.

I fear that you may be basing all of your understanding on one verse (1 Corinthians 7) and not taking the whole of Scripture into account. We can't base our theology on a single verse because to do so, negates the rest of Scripture.

I'm sorry and maybe I'm wrong but I'm going to have just disagree with this and leave it at that.

 

[chessman]

Paul quotes/combines six different Old Covenant passages into one New Covenant Church truth in his answer to the question of v14; What agreement does the Temple of God (Christ believers) have with idols (unbelievers) within 2 Cor 6:14b-18. Four of which involve children, marriage offspring!

And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said, “I will live in them and will walk about among them, and I will be their God and they will be my people.” Therefore “come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord, “and do not touch what is unclean, and I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me,” says the all-powerful Lord.​

2 Corinthians 6:16-18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2 Corinthians 6:16-18&version=LEB

1.

And I will turn to you, and I will make you fruitful, and I will make you numerous; and I will keep my covenant with you. And you shall eat old grain, and you shall clear away the old before the new . And I will put my dwelling place in your midst, and my inner self shall not abhor you. And I will walk about in your midst, and I shall be your God, and you shall be my people. I am Yahweh, your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, from being their slaves; and I broke the bars of your yoke, and I caused you to walk erectly.​

Leviticus 26:9-13 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Leviticus 26:9-13&version=LEB

2.

And I will make with them a covenant of peace; an everlasting covenant it will be with them. And I will establish them, and I will cause them to increase, and I will put my sanctuary in the midst of them forever. And my tabernacle will be with them, and I will be for them as God, and they will be to me as a nation.​

Ezekiel 37:26-27 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ezekiel 37:26-27&version=LEB

3.

Depart, depart, go out from there! You must not touch any unclean thing. Go out from the midst of it, keep clean, you who carry the vessels of Yahweh. For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight, for Yahweh is going before you, and your rear guard is the God of Israel.​

Isaiah 52:11-12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Isaiah 52:11-12&version=LEB

4.

“ As I live,” declares the Lord Yahweh, “ surely with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with rage pouring forth I will reign as king over you! And I will bring you from the peoples, and I will gather you from the countries to which you were scattered with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with rage poured out. Then I will bring you to the desert of the peoples, and I will execute justice on you there face to face. Just as I executed justice on your ancestors in the desert of the land of Egypt, likewise I will execute justice on you!” declares the Lord Yahweh. “And I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. And I will purge the rebels from among you and the ones transgressing against me; I will bring them out from the land where they are living as aliens, but into the land of Israel they will not come, and then you will know that I am Yahweh.​

Ezekiel 20:33-38 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ezekiel 20:33-38&version=LEB

5.

In the manner that I appointed judges over my people Israel, I will give you rest from all your enemies. And Yahweh declares to you that Yahweh will build a house for you. When your days are full and you lie down with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you who will go out from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be a father to him, and he will be a son for me, whom I will punish when he does wrong, with a rod of men and with blows of the human beings. But my loyal love shall not depart from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before you; your throne shall be established forever.”’”​

2 Samuel 7:11-16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2 Samuel 7:11-16&version=LEB

6.

I will say to the north, ‘Give!’ and to the south, ‘You must not withhold!’ Bring my sons from far away, and my daughters from the end of the earth— everyone who is called by my name, and whom I created for my glory, whom I formed, indeed whom I made.”​

Isaiah 43:6-7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Isaiah 43:6-7&version=LEB

The All Powerful Living God joins two spouses called only by His name together to form His sons and daughters (the offspring of two God indwelt spouses) and thus directs His Covenant members to not yoke themselves together with unbelievers (non-Covenant members) in His nation building. Under both old and new Covenants, He has always called for separation from idols/unbelievers within marriage.

Consequently, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole building, joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are built up together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.​

Ephesians 2:19-22 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ephesians 2:19-22&version=LEB

Plain and simple, the whole building of God, His Holy Temple, grows together by joining with other Spirit indwelt believers to produce children/offspring.

 

[WIP]

As StoveBolts brought it to our attention is that we do many things out of ignorance thinking God approved our actions. Paul thought he was doing the right thing killing the Christians and even said he did this in the name of God. Upon his conversation on the road to Damascus he was brought to light of what he was doing and was brought into all truths of Gods word.

I can relate this to myself as I married this man out of ignorance and also through a false pretense on his part. It wasn't until after I left him and was so depressed and lost most of my self-esteem that I thought God hated me for divorcing him. I went to my Pastor at the time for counseling, but all I got from him was a pat on the back and told I was a strong person and could handle all I was feeling. That led me to become suicidal, but instead of killing myself I too had my own type of a road to Damascus experience that brought me closer to God that made me start digging deeper into His word and showed me that I had cause to divorce my husband.

You have made a good point here. As I have been reading your replies to my posts I get the impression that I may have been putting you in a position that you feel a need to defend your choices and for that I apologize. I am not trying to judge you.

I am personally in a marriage where I feel abused, although certainly nowhere near the level of abuse you have endured. This is not the forum to discuss it in detail but in my mind it is abusive nonetheless and has been for nearly 20 years. Even though she didn't personally inflict physical harm to me the emotional, sexual, and verbal abuse has caused me both physical and emotional pain. In my struggles I have countless times asked myself why I am feeling stuck in this marriage but I have never felt that my wife has been intimately involved with another person and for that reason I will continue to trust God to know why I am compelled to remain faithful to my wife. At this point in my life, I cannot justify divorcing my wife. I suppose I do have the option to leave but I can't see how that would be helpful to me because the pain I have been living with can only be resolved by a loving, caring, and intimate relationship with another person and that is not on the table.

 

[stovebolts]

As for Saul's victims while he could not bring them back from the dead, surely you will agree it repented of it.

As for making my "case", I would cite Gal.5:19-21 "----no adulterer shall inherit the kingdom of heaven." As Reba says: "Im just quoting the scripture."

God bless, Billy

So, do you read that verse as saying if one commits adultery, they will not be forgiven? If so, what would repentance look like for that person?

 

[chessman]

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is also chocked full of teachings to the Body of Christ (the Church, husbands and wives) on how best to live in unity with His Spirit, in a manner worthy of His calling. To include exclusively joining together with only Godly spouses:

Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you to live in a manner worthy of the calling with which you were called: with all humility and gentleness, with patience, putting up with one another in love, being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; one body and one Spirit (just as also you were called with one hope of your calling), one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.​

Ephesians 4:1-6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ephesians 4:1-6&version=LEB

How in the world would one expect to live in all gentleness and peace (with a spouse) if the other spouse did NOT have the same Spirit in the bond of peace??? [It’s hard enough when both spouses have the same Spirit, much less when they don’t.]

But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow into him with reference to all things, who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body, joined together and held together by every supporting ligament, according to the working by measure of each single part, the growth of the body makes for the building up of itself in love.​

Ephesians 4:15-16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ephesians 4:15-16&version=LEB

If a single body part (an unbelieving husband, for hypothetical example) did not have The Spirit in him, he would be a weak ligament in the Body at best. A cancer at worst.

This therefore I say and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the Gentiles walk: in the futility of their mind, being darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart, who, becoming callous, gave themselves over to licentiousness, for the pursuit of all uncleanness in greediness.​

Ephesians 4:17-19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ephesians 4:17-19&version=LEB

A walk through a Christian life, especially a maturing life, with marriage spouse having darkened understanding, a futile mind, alienated from the life of God, hardness of heart and licentiousness is a handicap at best. A snare-trap at worst.

Become kind toward one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as also God in Christ has forgiven you.​

Ephesians 4:32 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ephesians 4:32&version=LEB

Even a Spirit indwelt person needs to become kind, compassionate and forgiving with Christ’s Spirit help in order to imitate God. How in the world a non-Spirit indwelt spouse could do this “just as God in Christ” has is beyond me (and evidently Paul too) to understand. Which is why Paul then says their lack of God’s Spirit is the very reason not to be sharers with them (unbelievers).

Therefore do not be sharers with them, for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live like children of light (for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is well-pleasing to the Lord. And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even expose them.​

Ephesians 5:7-11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ephesians 5:7-11&version=LEB

And then gives instructions to Christian husbands and wives...

And ends with a final warning about our struggles with darkness:

Finally, become strong in the Lord and in the might of his strength. Put on the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil, because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.​

Ephesians 6:10-12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ephesians 6:10-12&version=LEB

 

[chessman]

1Co 7:15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace

In a mixed marriage (the wife a Christian, the husband not), what bound/join them together, God or the world?

 

[billybalke]

So, do you read that verse as saying if one commits adultery, they will not be forgiven? If so, what would repentance look like for that person?

The passage speaks for itself, I cannot improve it. Tell me, what is repentance? Jesus gave a perfect definition of it.

 

[stovebolts]

The passage speaks for itself, I cannot improve it. Tell me, what is repentance? Jesus gave a perfect definition of it.

Yes, the passage speaks for itself, but it must be lived out. How, in your opinion would one live that out?

 

[chessman]

Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers, for what participation is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?​

2 Corinthians 6:14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2 Corinthians 6:14&version=LEB

To say it applies to marriage is to completely divorce it from its context and make it say something it does not.

And of course Koukl, Zacharias, and Craig are all part of ministries that are comprised of many other very good apologists.

Greg Koukl on the applicability of 2 Cor 6:14 to marriage:

2 Corinthians has a verse that is often ignored and sometimes misused. It's a verse that talks about being unequally yoked. The question has been raised to me: Is being friends with non-Christians an example of being unequally yoked? I guess my response is: That depends. The point of the passage is that we are not to be bound together – connected strongly – with people who have different points of view on critical matters, spiritual things, and moral things than we do. The picture there is of two oxen being yoked together. If they're tied together and one starts to pull off the track, it can pull the other one of the track as well. Paul says we should not be unequally yoked to non-believers.
Now, what would be an example of unequally yoked? I think certainly marriage would be an example of that.”

https://www.str.org/videos/is-friendship-with-unbelievers-being-unequally-yoked#.WkkTEytMGEc
​

William Lane Craig on the applicability of 2 Cor 6:14 to marriage:

“...I’m thinking of Paul’s directives in II Cor. 6.14ff. I think we’d agree that to consciously do something contrary to a scriptural command is sinful. ... But Paul prohibits Christian believers to marry unbelievers. Why? In II Cor. 6.15 he says: “ Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?” One might be tempted to answer Paul’s question, “Well, we’re both really into sports and the outdoors” or “We both love finance and business.” But Paul would have regarded such an answer as betraying an utter lack of understanding of the marriage union. For Paul common faith in Christ was central to the marriage relationship.”

https://www.reasonablefaith.org/writings/question-answer/marrying-a-non-christian/
​

Tim Keller on the applicability of 2 Cor 6:14 to marriage:

“God forbids marriage between these two groups of people, unbelievers and believers (2 Cor. 6:14–16),”
http://dailykeller.com/grace-and-race/


​

 

[for_his_glory]

You have made a good point here. As I have been reading your replies to my posts I get the impression that I may have been putting you in a position that you feel a need to defend your choices and for that I apologize. I am not trying to judge you.

I am personally in a marriage where I feel abused, although certainly nowhere near the level of abuse you have endured. This is not the forum to discuss it in detail but in my mind it is abusive nonetheless and has been for nearly 20 years. Even though she didn't personally inflict physical harm to me the emotional, sexual, and verbal abuse has caused me both physical and emotional pain. In my struggles I have countless times asked myself why I am feeling stuck in this marriage but I have never felt that my wife has been intimately involved with another person and for that reason I will continue to trust God to know why I am compelled to remain faithful to my wife. At this point in my life, I cannot justify divorcing my wife. I suppose I do have the option to leave but I can't see how that would be helpful to me because the pain I have been living with can only be resolved by a loving, caring, and intimate relationship with another person and that is not on the table.

WIP, It's all good between us . I feel for you what you are going through as it is hard. Sometimes I think mental abuse is worse than the physical as the physical will heal, but the mental always stays with. Personally I think it is between God and our self to seek Him on such matters and what to do. Not all things are found in scripture or even in the laws of what we are to do and this is what others do not realize.

We are no longer under the the Old Covenant, but under the New Covenant of God's grace, but still to follow the moral laws as we walk in the greatest law of love. In all things of the moral laws our content is to not walk in hate, but to walk in love and seek Gods counsel for the things we do not know how to handle. God wants to bless us and our joy remains in Him and not the thins of this world. I know He does not want us to be miserable in our situations and it is He alone that can tell us what to do. Seek Him for your situation and hear what He wants you to do regardless of what man says. You are in my prayers.

 

[reba]

In a mixed marriage (the wife a Christian, the husband not), what bound/join them together, God or the world?

Lets see a Christian woman marries ... because he is not Christian she has Godly grounds for divorce?
A woman becomes a christian and because the husband does not she has Godly grounds for divorce?
To me the genders above can be swapped;

In Scripture he can divorce but i do not see where she can.. that should most likely be a whole new topic..


Quoting our Lord...
Mat_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.

"saving for the cause of fornication," i am no linguist by any stretch .. yet i know that statement in today language might read "except for cheating "

As for the passages in Cor.. the believer is not to be the one seeking divorce ... but is free if the other side does..