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WHEN IS DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE A SIN?
This is a thorough bible study about divorce and remarriage, showing when it is a sin, and when it isn't. This bible study uses a Greek Unicode font and a Hebrew Unicode font and is printable.
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- FULL DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE INDEX
- Preface
- #1. GOD'S DIVINE ORDINATION AND PURPOSE FOR MARRIAGE
- #1.1 God Ordained Marriage 13K
- #1.2 God's Purposes for Marriage 13K
- #1.3 God's Marriage is Permanent 18K
- #2. DIVORCE AND SEXUAL IMMORALITY UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES 47K
- Introduction 2
- #2.1 Reasons Why a Man Could Put Away his Wife
- #2.2 Unlawful Sex with a Virgin
- #3. DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE TODAY WITH REGARDS TO WOMEN 48K
- Introduction 3
- #3.1 A Wife Should not Leave her Husband
- #3.2 A Wife Who Leaves her Husband Should Remain Unmarried or be Reconciled to her Husband
- #3.3 A Wife with an Unbelieving Husband
- #3.4 A Wife who is Put Away by her Husband Commits Adultery if She Remarries
- #3.5 A Wife who Puts Away her Husband Commits Adultery if She Remarries
- #3.6 Except for Fornication Applies to Men
- #3.7 When the Husband Dies the Wife is Free to Remarry
- #4. DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE TODAY WITH REGARDS TO MEN 21K
- Introduction 4
- #4.1 A Husband who Puts Away his Wife, Except for Fornication, Commits Adultery if he Remarries
- #4.2 A Man who Marries a Divorced Woman Commits Adultery
- #4.3 A Husband who Puts Away his Wife, Except for Fornication, Causes her to Commit Adultery if she Remarries
- #5. WHAT IS THE MEANING OF JESUS' EXCEPTION, "EXCEPT IT BE FOR FORNICATION"?
- Introduction 5
- #5.1 The Meaning of the Fornication and Definitions 37K
- #5.2 Fornication Within an Incestuous Marriage
- #5.3 Fornication Within an Adulterous Marriage
- #5.4 Fornication Within a Homosexual Marriage 21K
- #6. SHOULD A CHRISTIAN DIVORCE AND REMARRY FOR ADULTERY? NO! 57K
- Introduction 6
- #6.02 Adultery and Fornication are Different Greek Words
- #6.04 Adultery is not an Unpardonable Sin
- #6.06 Unforgiveness Negates Our Forgiveness
- #6.08 Remarriage Sentences the Divorcee to a Life of Celibacy or Adultery
- #6.10 There are no Biblical Examples of Divorce for Adultery
- #6.12 Divorce and Remarriage on the Ground of Adultery Contradicts the Direct Commands of Jesus and Paul Elsewhere
- #6.14 What God Joins Together is Permanent
- #6.16 Because of the Difficulty in Obtaining True Evidence
- #6.18 Divorce is not Reconciliation
- #6.20 Divorce is not Love
- #6.22 Divorce is Vengeance and Repays Evil with Evil
- #6.24 Divorce goes to Court Before Unbelievers
- #6.26 Because of the Reaction of Jesus' Disciples to his Teaching and Jesus' Reply to them
- #7. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE 63K
- Introduction 7
- #7.02 Doesn't God Treat Men and Women as Equal
- #7.04 What About the Innocent Party?
- #7.06 I was Divorced Before I Became a Christian, can I Remarry?
- #7.08 I was Divorced Before I Became a Christian, and my Sins are Forgiven, can I Remarry?
- #7.10 Fornication and Adultery are Synonymous Terms in Some Scriptures, and they are Often Interchangeable, aren't They?
- #7.12 Doesn't Divorce Dissolve the marriage?
- #7.14 Isn't it Only the Remarriage Ceremony and the Consummation of that Marriage that is Adultery?
- #7.16 What about Moses' Wife?
- #7.18 What about Polygamy?
- #8. WHEN CAN A CHRISTIAN MARRY OR REMARRY? 24K
- #8.1 The Criteria for Judging the Situation
- #8.2 The Method of Judging the Situation
- #8.23 Algorithm for when one or both parties have been married before
Preface
This is a thorough bible study about divorce and remarriage, showing when it is a sin, and when it isn't. 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 endeavored 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) "Do not be 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 those who 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 is he who does 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.
Roy Page
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