Bible Question: If a man is married and commits adultery and his wife says she forgives him can she divorce 17 yrs later? |
Bible Answer: Rod: Welcome to the Study Bible Forum. On the surface 17 years seams like a long enough time to forgiveness to taken effect. However, there are other questions that come to my mind. Here are some issues that would hamper healing and cause a wife to disbelieve a husband was still, perhaps unfaithful. A wondering eye, always looking for women who expose their breasts in low cut tops. Looking at magazines that expose women's bodies, even clothing advertisements. You flirting with women. These are a few ways that would bring into question that a true repentant heart has taken hold. Now here is a issue for your wife, if she has not or can not reach a spot where the hurt was so great that she can't get the hurt out of her mind, and perhaps after 17 years that's not possible for her, what else can you do? She, as you state it for what ever reason be it a hard heart or some reason wants out. I can't help wonder where the LORD has ben in your marriage? Most always when this amount of time has passed and there is still unforgiveness, the LORD Jesus was ignored in the healing of damaged emotions. This marriage is not beyond healing. But, in order for complete healing to happen you must become a brand new man in Jesus Christ. This is not something that comes natural, only by becoming in love with the WORD of GOD, and by renewing you mind and your actions, thinking, and reactions is there any hope. Even with this it may well take the rest of your life to restart you marriage. As long as she remains single there is hope. But even is she remarries you have become a new creation in Christ a man who is now healed his soul and able to be a completely able to start a new relationship in Jesus Christ. May I suggest start reading the four Gospels and 1 and 2 Corinthians first. I sincerely hope you will take this long Journey into your healing. Few really do take this seriously, but for those who are really wanting wholeness the reward is a new transformed mind and soul. May you enter a journey that will last a lifetime in Jesus Christ. justme |