Subject: Why cant I remarry, even though... |
Bible Note: Part 2 - So, what is God's will for marriage under grace - the New Covenant? Paul gives clear instructions in 1 Corinthians 7:10-16: 10 But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband **This is the ideal, two people remain together for life.** 11 (but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife. **If one spouse leaves the other (separates), but they are still married, then don't seek marriage with anyone else. Why? They are still married to each other and, by God's grace, they can still reconcile.*** 12 But to the rest I say, not the Lord (Paul's opinion here), that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her. ***Pretty self-explanatory, believer don't divorce your unbelieving spouse if they are willing to live with you.*** 13 And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away. ***Who better to witness about Christ to the unbelieving spouse than the believing one?*** 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy. ***The believer "sanctifies" - sets apart - they family so that God may work through those relationships to bring all into salvation.*** 15 Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace. ***Here is the crux of the matter, if the unbeliever goes, let him (or her) go. Why? Because God has called us to PEACE not BONDAGE. There is no way to stay in an abusive relationship and have PEACE. It is BONDAGE and should not be the life-style of the new creation in Christ.*** 16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? ***Pretty self-explanatory.*** Dimples, the bottom line is that as long as you are married, you are husband and wife - under modern law and under God's ideal. But if you are divorced, you are no longer husband and wife - period, in the eyes of the law and the eyes of God. Therefore, if you are divorced, by definition, you are no longer married and are free to remarry. Romans 7 validates this, not contradicts it. I truly hope this helps. I don't know what your circumstances are, but the bottom line is that we should live in PEACE, not BONDAGE. As in all things, follow the Lord's leading. ChristLifer2001 |