RP 209 WHEN IS DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE A SIN?This study explains thoroughly when Divorce and Remarriage is a sin, and when it isn't. It is based rock solid on the word of God. There is nothing deliberately dishonest or deceitful in this study. Its purpose is only to glorify the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you notice any errors you may contact us. If you wish to read the Hebrew and the Greek in this study, and you haven't yet installed the fonts, then go to the bible study page and do it now, or alternatively you may download the Hebrew and Greek fonts here as a zip file. This page is now redundant and out of date. Click here for the updated page. If you have a link to this page from your site or computer, please replace it with the updated page. To navigate this study click on the green references at the left of the study index
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The importance of this study can be measured by the rapid rise in the divorce and remarriage rate in many countries during the last century, to such a degree
that some countries now average more than one divorce for every two marriages, and it is still increasing. Divorce is a tragedy, which can be an
extremely painful experience for all those concerned, and can also have ongoing consequences that can effect people for the rest of their lives. The
husband and the wife are not the only sufferers, other family members may be affected, and often innocent children are involved. It is impossible to
measure the hurt that children go through when they observe those whom they love hating each other, and their whole family environment being torn apart.
I myself am a divorced man, and I have experienced a great deal of what is involved. I find it difficult to imagine how much hurt that I caused others,
but I do know the pain that I suffered myself, so it is not without some compassion and concern that I have set time aside to study this
controversial subject of divorce and remarriage. I have not sought to hurt anyone, or condemn them if they are in a bad situation, but have endeavoured
to set forth the plain truth of scripture on this subject, as I understand it. This has been set out systematically; first looking at God's ideal for
marriage, second examining the biblical history of what was allowed and done in the Old Testament, and then turning to the New Testament to look at the
teaching of Jesus and the apostle Paul. A sincere effort has been made not to be influenced by the difficulties that may arise from the application of
the teaching, but to obtain the truth of the situation from the scripture alone. The practical application section on How to apply the Divorce and
Remarriage Teaching has been left for the last section (See #8
Marry or Remarry), so the
Questions and Answers on Divorce and Remarriage section
(See #7) has been limited to those questions directly concerning the right and wrong of divorce and remarriage, and does not yet include direct questions on how to
apply the teaching. It would have been relatively easy to come to a solution which suited my own situation, and which would have been easier for others to receive, but
I have not sought to do that, bearing in mind the eternal consequences for both myself and those who may follow this teaching. One thing that is not
contained in this study is a discussion of the textual problems, that is the variations in texts of different manuscripts. Fortunately they seem to be
fairly minor, and I am satisfied that the differences that do exist would not change the truth of what has been set out here, so I have left them out.
I have three main areas of concern:
(1) Hopefully this study will deter many from making the same mistake that I made many years ago, and
help others, who are in a situation that may ultimately lead to hell, to see a way out. I am convinced that people who live in adultery according to the
words of Jesus (Matthew 5:32; 19:9; Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18), will not be able to enter the kingdom of God:
(1 Corinthians 6:9-10) "Be not deceived; neither fornicators, ... nor adulterers, ... shall inherit the kingdom of God."
(Galatians 5:19-21) "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, ... they which do such things shall not
inherit the kingdom of God."
(2) I hope also that this study will help those who are currently teaching falsely on this subject to
reconsider what they believe, and to realize what will be the fate of those whom they are leading astray:
(Isaiah 9:16) "For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed."
(Matthew 15:14) "And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."
(3) I also hope that any who are teaching falsely on this subject will consider their own position:
(Jeremiah 48:10) "Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully,"
(James 3:1) "My brethren, be not many masters (teachers), knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation."
I am aware that these scriptures apply equally to me, if I am teaching error, as they do to others. So in view of these facts, I invite anyone who
reads this study, who would like to contribute any constructive comments, either to enhance, or to correct, or to contribute in any way that will help
others, and bring this study to what you may consider to be closer to the complete truth, to contact Logos Apostolic Bible College. As seems appropriate, I will use any
information offered freely to make this study more in line with God's perfect will for his true people.
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