OVERVIEW OF MARRIAGE, DIVORCE & RE-MARRIAGE

By Dennis Schmidt 8/2011

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Marriage, divorce and re-marriage is a very complex subject in which scripture does not give answers for every circumstance. The paper shows the scriptures & gives some guidelines on the subject. Each person involved should study the word & hear from God what they should do.

NEW CHRISTIAN: A person who becomes born again has all past sins forgiven and forgotten by God. He starts his christian life from that point clean. He is imputed with the righteousness (perfect standing with the Father) of Christ. The Bible was written to christians. The scriptures do not relate to un-believers since the natural man is not interested in Christ centered things. When a person becomes a christian he is to live by the Bible standards. A christian family should not end in a divorce. They are to forgive & be reconciled to the other.

PURPOSE OF THE WORD OF GOD: Word is not to destroy, but give life. God uses the Bible to change lives. Scripture does not condemn man into no hope, only to correct. The Word without Spirit destroys.

GOD MARRIED ISRAEL. THE CHURCH IS THE BETROTHAL BRIDE OF CHRIST:

God instituted marriage to represent Christ & the church.

GOD'S PURPOSE FOR MARRIAGE: A life time commitment as shared union.

The wife & husband are to share their experiences as one flesh, to re-produce children, and to be an example to their children.

The husband duties include providing for family. He is to be the: leader, priest (servant), and spiritual influence. All these, while honoring & loving his wife & children. He is to train his children.

The wife is to be the help meet to her husband. The wife is to submit to her husband, to honor him & to care for the household.

She is to guide the children and teach them.

They are one as Jesus & Father are one. Jesus & church are one.

ENGAGEMENT & BETROTHAL: Promise of commitment is equal to marriage. The two then consummated the betrothal in a sexual union marriage.

Wife while young: Often the children were espoused to future union.

Joseph (bridegroom) preparing for Mary (bride) his espoused:

Joseph was Mary's husband during the betrothal period before the marriage. He would prepare a home, during this period, then return for her.

Jesus (bridegroom) preparing for the church (bride):

MARRIAGE COMMITMENT: Two become one flesh for life time experience. A commitment to love ones mate is possible on same basis as a baby that is brought into a home. It is loved even though it is self centered, keeps the parents awake, and needs diapers to be changed.

In the same way a dog is brought home and loved. It barks, it is dirty, and it needs to be taken for walks in all types of weather.

Love develops on the good points. The bad points are ignored.

DIFFICULT OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES ON MARRIAGE & ITS COMMITMENT:

What made people married? Commitment to marriage by woman's father and sometimes the couple. Then the sexual union. When was divorce permitted? If the woman was not pure as promise by the parents.

If the mate's religious opinion influence the believer against God.

MARRIAGE BY SEXUAL UNION & DIVORCE: These people never divorced.

SEPARATION OF FAMILIES, DIVORCES, & RE-MARRIAGE: Two servants man & one gets freedom. He can stay as servant. She is not free to go. Captured woman from enemies is made her a wife. Uncleanness: Woman as promise by parents was not pure. The two may never

re-marry if divorced. God gave northern Israel her bill of divorce.

PRIEST WIFE: God's man must marry from same religion & pure woman.

DIFFICULT NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES ON MARRIAGE & ITS COMMITMENT:

What made people married? Commitment to marriage by woman's father and sometimes the couple. Then the sexual union. When was divorce permitted? If the mate was not pure. If the mate's religious opinion influence the family against God and they left or divorced.

MARRIAGE BY UNION: A married may occur when a person has sex union.

SEPARATION OF FAMILIES & DIVORCES: Only for fornication (unclean).

Jesus increase this to adultery by thought/deed. Fornication: The same is the same as uncleanness: a reason for divorce.

REMARRIAGE: No divorce or re-marriage is allowed for the christian marriage. If the unbelieving depart let him/her depart (divorce). The believer is not under bondage. Compare this with the following two scriptures below: 1 Corinthians 7:27 (bound to wife) &

1 Corinthians 7:29 (bound unto law if husband is alive).

FIRST MARRIAGE: To a christian only.

ADULTERY & FORNICATION: Adultery is a sexual act between a man & a woman for which one or both are married to other people. Fornication is any unclean act, including adultery, between a person or object (woman/man, same sex person, himself, child, close relative, animal or work, family, activity, as another god).

ARE TWO CHRISTIANS ALLOWED TO DIVORCE?: Probably not. They must forgive each other or be reconciled. Fornication could be a possible exception to God's desired norm of two being one flesh.

God hates divorce. He has made the two to become one flesh.

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