Bible Question: I DVORCED MY HUSBAND IN MARCH AFTER BEING MARRIED 3 1/2 YEARS. HE CHEATED ON ME WHITHIN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS AND THENN AFTER OUR SON WAS BORN HE GOT A VERY BAD TEMPER AND STARTED TO ABUSE ME PHYSICALY AND EMOTIONALY. I FELT I HAD NO CHOICE AND HAD TO GET ME AND MY SON OUT OF THERE BEFORE THINGS GOT WORSE WAS THIS A SIN THAT CAN NOT BE FORGIVEN. |
Bible Answer: The NT gives two grounds for divorce -- two not merely one. Divorce is permissible on the grounds of adultery and that of desertion. Moreover, the right to divorce carries with it the right to remarry (see ID# 104501 and ID# 110647). Divorce is not an unforgivable sin. All of our iniquities have been forgiven '...To say that any sin is unforgivable is to say that Christ's death was not enough, that the crucifixion was not the remedy for man’s sin. 'All of our iniquities...have been forgiven. Instead of living in fear, doubt, and anxiety —constantly worrying whether or not we have committed some unpardonable act— we can take comfort in knowing that God is faithful to forgive. (1 John 1:9) He will never let us down' (http://www.intouch.org/myintouch/exploring/bible_says/single_questions/unpardonable_129541.html) and The Unpardonable Sin (http://www.oneplace.com/Ministries/In_Touch/Article_Archives.asp) 'God's utter hatred of divorce is very clear in Scripture. 'Nonetheless, there are two extraordinary cases in which Scripture teaches that God does permit divorced people to remarry. 'First, note that Jesus Himself included this exception clause: "Whosoever shall put away his wife, *except it be for fornication*, and shall marry another, committeth adultery" (Matt. 19:9, King James Version, emphasis added). He allows an exception in this one case, only "because of the hardness of your hearts" (Matt. 19:8). Clearly, Jesus is treating divorce as a last resort, only to be sought in the case of hard-hearted adultery. 'The apostle Paul allows one more reason for divorce: if an unbelieving spouse abandons a believer, the believer is under no obligation in such a case (1 Cor. 7:14). This would free the abandoned spouse to remarry. 'But we must emphasize that apart from those two specific, exceptional cases, divorce is not sanctioned in Scripture' (http://www.gty.org/IssuesandAnswers/archive/divorce.htm). More extensive answers to this question are available in John MacArthur, The Fulfilled Family (Chicago: Moody, 1981); and, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Matthew 16-23,(Chicago: Moody, 1988). |