Marriage.

• Messages sorted by:[ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]

This is from my site and addresses the question of the
conditions for remarriage.  There is another section about
divorce and the unsaved but let's address this first. 

This is NOT to endorse "the prophet's" site or phylosophy
in ANY 
WAY! 

Q: Can a person be saved if they were married got a
divorce, and then remarried? 

A: If the reasons for the divorce falls under two narrow
and specific catagories they can. The first of these is
adultery and the second is if the spouse of a believer who
is an unbeliever doesn't want to live with the new convert.
Let's examine these separately. 

Jesus said that when a man and woman are married they are
no longer two in flesh but one (Matt 19:5-6). This
"oneness" is achieved by a Spiritual link. My arm is the
flesh link between my hand and my shoulder making it all
"one flesh." The link established by the physical union (in
a legitimate marriage) forms a Spiritual link after the
same fashion as my arm provides for my hand and shoulder.
The only thing that breaks this "bond" is death (Rom
7:2-3). From this passage we find that if the spouse die
the remaining can freely marry but in the Lord (2 Cor
6:14). 

In Matthew 5:32, Jesus says that if a person divorces
someone for the reason of fornication (adultery) that
person is free to marry. The person who is "put away"
however may not remarry since they do not meet this
requirement. This implies that as far as the marriage is
concered, if the innocent person choses not to remain with
the adulterer or the adulterer will not repent, it is the
same as if that person had died. This person can of course
repent and be forgiven of their sins but cannot remarry
even their original spouse. Under this circumstance the
innocent party can remarry whom they chose (in the Lord)
and remain saved. 

The only other instance that this can take place is if a
new convert's spouse chooses not to "remain" with that
person. This comes from 1 Corinthians 7:15 which says that
if the unbelieving depart from the believing to let them go
and that the believer is not under bondage. The only
legitimate way for an unbeliever and a believer to be
married is for two unbelievers to be married and for one to
"become" a believer since believers are not to marry the
unbelieving. In verse 16 however Paul says that if the
unbeliever will stay for the believer to try to convert the
unbeliever by their lifestyle. This too has the implication
that the unbeliever is among the "dead" therefore "freeing"
the believer but since we are called to peace not to
"force" the issue. 

I would like to add that if a person is in a relationship
that is abusive or they just really cannot stand the other
person they are free to separate from this person but
cannot remarry (1 Cor 7:10-11). This also says to not do
this unless it is absolutely necessary. The way it is
phrased implies that it is the Lord's will that the married
live together in peace but if this is not possible you may
leave but you are still married. If you again want a mate
you must be reunited with your spouse. 

To recap, a person can remain saved after a divorce and
remarriage if they are the innocent spouse of an adulterer
and if they are a new convert whose spouse has chosen to
leave them. If you have no other recourse you may leave and
not divorce a spouse but you must not remarry and if you
chose to you can be reconciled to your spouse. 

Any remarriages by a person who was divorced while a
believer, even if backsliden, under any other circumstances
than these makes them an adulterer until they terminate the
marriage and remain unmarried. It is easy to see why the
Apostles said that it would be better for a man not to
marry then is it not? 

Timothy Litteral
472 Grant St.
Marion Ohio 43302
trlitteral@usa.net
http://members.tripod.com/~trlitteral