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NASB | 1 Corinthians 7:24 Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 7:24 Brothers, let each one remain with God in that condition in which he was [when he was] called. |
Bible Question: If a non-believer has been through three divorces, then remarries a fourth time, and AFTER the 4th marriage both he and his wife get saved and both REPENT of their prior divorces - are they then required to divorce? What if the divorce would hurt their three small children. Does God really want that? Didn't he forgive and FORGET their past sins including the divorces? |
Bible Answer: Hello, cwade. The Bible never teaches that the penitent sinner, in order to receive God's grace of regeneration through faith in His Son, must reach back in his life and unscramble all eggs, right all wrongs, "uncommit" all past sins. Even a murderer God can forgive, even though a murderer cannot restore the life he has taken. So I believe Reformer Joe's answer is a biblically sound one and thus a good one. The born-again believer is indeed born again; he has a new life in Christ Jesus. It is wise -- it is in fact a command -- to be forgiving as we have been forgiven. And I believe that this teaching embraces not only the forgiving of others but of ourselves. Knowing that God has forgiven us of sin, has blotted them out, we need no longer fetter our lives and dilute our effectiveness as ambassadors for Christ by carrying around our neck a heavy yoke of guilt and remorse. "One thing I do," said Paul, "forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." [Phil. 3:13b,14]...... "I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou shouldst lead me on;...I loved to choose and see my path; but now lead Thou me on...I loved the garish day, and spite of fears, pride ruled my will: remember not past years." .... Those words are from the second stanza of the beautiful hymn, "Lead, Kindly Light" written by Cardinal John Henry Newman in 1833. --Hank |