1. For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. Romans 7:2

2. Marriage Remarriage?

3. Questions And Consequences Married or Bound? Who can marry? [a scriptural right] Who cannot marry? [no scriptural right] What are sexual immorality and adultery? Does not under bondage mean free to marry? This position is usually called Mental Divorce Can the innocent party remarry if guilty does?

4. Can the innocent party remarry? Mental Divorce? The basic position stated: Innocent person is put away for just any reason unbeliever departs from believer [1 Cor. 7:15] OR… no longer in love, burns dinner, is a slob; etc. fornication is not the issue; therefore, not scriptural

5. Can the innocent party remarry? Mental Divorce? The basic position stated: Innocent person is put away for just any reason innocent person did not want divorce; fought publicly The unscriptural divorce is not accepted by God, only by the law of the land [Mt 19:6] innocent person stays chaste; desires reconciliation innocent person has not sinned; abides in Gods law God only accepts divorce in cases of fornication, so He does not break the bond here [Mt 19:9; Rm 7:2-3] Theyre not divorced in Gods eyes, only in mans divorce is used accommodatively, as civil law uses it

6. Can the innocent party remarry? Mental Divorce? The basic position stated: Innocent person is put away for just any reason The unscriptural divorce is not accepted by God, only by the law of the land [Mt 19:6] Guilty person eventually marries someone else by the law of the land, which allows for such actions innocent now mentally divorces guilty fornicator innocent has put away a fornicator; now can marry since God did not accept the divorce nor break the bond, guilty is now in adultery [Mt 19:9] involves a public declaration before the church necessary: law of land says theyre already divorced!

7. Can the innocent party remarry? Mental Divorce? The basic position stated: Innocent person is put away for just any reason The unscriptural divorce is not accepted by God, only by the law of the land [Mt 19:6] Guilty person eventually marries someone else by the law of the land, which allows for such actions law of land nullifies Gods law: innocent is barred from obtaining a scriptural divorce because civil law says theyre already divorced [but not in Gods eyes]! innocent person who has not sinned must suffer life of chastity while the guilty person lives Scott free This position must be true, or else:

8. Begin with a normal marriage HUSBANDWIFE bound by God …what God has joined together, let not man separate [Mt 19:6] Mental Divorce?

9. Innocent person is put away; not for fornication INNOCENTGUILTY Just any reason …what God has joined together, let not man separate [Mt 19:6] Mental Divorce? And I say to you, whoever divorces..., except for sexual immorality [Mt 19:9] HUSBANDWIFE bound by God Thus, an unscriptural divorce not accepted by God

10. Guilty person eventually marries; is in adultery! INNOCENT GUILTY …what God has joined together, let not man separate [Mt 19:6] Mental Divorce? whoever divorces…except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery [Mt 19:9] still bound by God Married to another while still bound to first! Another Adultery if, while her husband lives, she marries… she will be called an adulteress [Rm 7:3]

11. NOW Innocent puts away guilty for fornication INNOCENT GUILTY Mental Divorce? whoever divorces…except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery [Mt 19:9] still bound by God Therefore, Innocent is free to marry! Another Adultery put away in Gods eyes for fornication Another bound by God scriptural, REAL divorce; NOW the bond is broken

12. Questions And Consequences Married or Bound? Who can marry? [a scriptural right] Who cannot marry? [no scriptural right] What are sexual immorality and adultery? Does not under bondage mean free to marry? This position is usually called Mental Divorce Can the innocent party remarry if guilty does? Appears to be reasonable, fair, scriptural Very compelling argument, but WRONG, sinful!

13. Questions And Consequences A closer examination of Mental Divorce We labored through the basics in order to meet the complications of false doctrines with truth! Argument appeals to sense of reason, fairness – Our study Who cannot marry? already dealt with this Argument appears to be backed up by scripture Argument has already been answered in our study!

14. Questions And Consequences Married or Bound? Who can marry? [a scriptural right] Someone who has been put away Matthew 5:32; 19:9; Luke 16:18 Who cannot marry? [no scriptural right] Put away clarifies is divorced [passive] !Commits Adultery! if put away for fornication, certainly adultery if put away for any other reason, still adultery No consideration of motive behind the divorce

15. Whoever marries her who is divorced… Was Put Away For: Who Cannot Marry? Burned the dinner Irreconcilable Differences One Who Has Been Put Away Fell out of love SEXUAL IMMORALITY Any other reason… …commits adultery Mate divorced to marry other Unbeliever departs [1 Cor. 7:15]

16. Questions And Consequences A closer examination of Mental Divorce We labored through the basics in order to meet the complications of false doctrines with truth! Argument appeals to sense of reason, fairness – Our study Who cannot marry? already dealt with this Argument appears to be backed up by scripture Argument has already been answered in our study! anyone who has received a divorce – for any reason at all – cannot marry; is the case of the innocent here this is the most simple refutation of the argument, and it uses the very scriptures that support it However, we must also correct false counter-issues!

17. Counter-issues And Counter-arguments A closer examination of Mental Divorce attempts to establish that not all divorces seen as REAL, accepted, scriptural, in Gods eyes The unscriptural divorce argument – a divorce NOT for fornication is called unscriptural argument is made that it is not a REAL divorce, but only a divorce in the legal sense by MANs law being under GODs law, one put away unscripturally still has the right to a scriptural or REAL divorce in certain circumstances; can marry again without sin – is this taught by the scriptures on marriage & divorce?

18. N.T. Marriage and Divorce Scripture A closer examination of Mental Divorce Furthermore, it has been said, Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce. Matthew 5:31-32 [cp. context: Gods righteousness] But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery. What they were taught

19. N.T. Marriage and Divorce Scripture A closer examination of Mental Divorce Furthermore, it has been said, Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce. Matthew 5:31-32 [cp. context: Gods righteousness] But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery. What the results were Their abuse of Gods law resulted in adultery

20. But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery. N.T. Marriage and Divorce Scripture A closer examination of Mental Divorce Furthermore, it has been said, Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce. Matthew 5:31-32 [cp. context: Gods righteousness] Gods law, as taught by Jesus in Sermon on the Mount Misuse of Deut. 24:1-4 Divorce, except in cases of fornication, causes adultery! Whoever marries one who was divorced commits adultery! No question here of Gods law v. Mans law; a clarification of Gods own law!!!

21. Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. N.T. Marriage and Divorce Scripture A closer examination of Mental Divorce Matthew 19:8-9 [is it lawful? (Gods law)] And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery. Gods law, as taught by Jesus correcting the Pharisees Reason for Deut. 24:1-4 Divorce and remarriage, except in cases of fornication, is adultery! Whoever marries one who was divorced commits adultery! Again, no question of Gods law v. Mans law; merely a clarification of Gods own law!!!

22. So He said to them, Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. N.T. Marriage and Divorce Scripture A closer examination of Mental Divorce Mark 10:11-12 [is it lawful? (Gods law)] And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery. Gods law, as taught by Jesus correcting the Pharisees Gods Law, in general: Divorce and remarriage is adultery! Again, no question of Gods law v. Mans law; merely a clarification of Gods own law!!!

23. And He said to them, You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. N.T. Marriage and Divorce Scripture A closer examination of Mental Divorce Luke 16:18 [self-justified vs. God-justified (v. 14-18)] Gods law, as taught by Jesus correcting the Pharisees Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery. What was highly esteemed among men Their self-righteousness looked like good religion cp. Lk 18:9-14; Mt 5:20; 6:1-4; 6:5, 7; Rm 2:22; etc. They rest on (Gods) law [Rom. 2:17-24], however…

24. Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery. And He said to them, You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. N.T. Marriage and Divorce Scripture A closer examination of Mental Divorce Luke 16:18 [self-justified vs. God-justified (v. 14-18)] Gods law, as taught by Jesus correcting the Pharisees Their abuse of Gods laws Gods Law, in general: Divorce and remarriage is adultery! Gods Law, in general: Marrying a divorced person is adultery! Again, no question of Gods law v. Mans law; merely a clarification of Gods own law!!!

25. …if, while her husband lives, she marries another …she will be called an adulteress; …if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another… …the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. N.T. Marriage and Divorce Scripture A closer examination of Mental Divorce Romans 7:2-3 [to those who know the law – v. 1] In Lesson 8, we studied Which law?

26. Which Law ? Law of Moses is NOT under consideration! when she…goes and becomes another mans wife [Dt 24:2] 1 st husband still alive, yet not called adulteress Adulterers were stoned; she was not Civil Law of Gentiles is NOT under consideration! It is not lawful for you to have your brothers wife [Mk 6:18] Philip still alive; Herodias not called adulteress according to civil law: only John even said it was wrong! Gods Law of Marriage is under consideration! Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh [Gn 2:24] This is the law of the husband; binds the two cp. Matt 19:6 Therefore what God has joined together

27. …if, while her husband lives, she marries another …she will be called an adulteress; …if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another… …the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. N.T. Marriage and Divorce Scripture A closer examination of Mental Divorce Romans 7:2-3 [to those who know the law – v. 1] Gods law, as taught in example by Paul Gods Law, in general: Remarriage while first spouse is still alive is adultery! Again, no question of Gods law v. Mans law; merely a clarification of Gods own law!!!

28. A wife is not to depart from her husband [v. 10] N.T. Marriage and Divorce Scripture A closer examination of Mental Divorce 1 Cor. 7 [The Lords command (Gods law) v. 10] …if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or …if any brother has a wife who does not believe, …if the unbeliever departs, let him depart [v. 15] …but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to depart from his wife. [v. 11] …let him [her] not divorce her [him] [v. 12-13] married to whom she wishes…in the Lord [v. 39] In Lesson 12, we saw that both depart and divorce are Greek word divorce

29. …let him [her] not divorce her [him] [v. 12-13] A wife is not to depart from her husband [v. 10] be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not N.T. Marriage and Divorce Scripture A closer examination of Mental Divorce 1 Cor. 7 [The Lords command (Gods law) v. 10] …if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or …if any brother has a wife who does not believe, …if the unbeliever departs, let him depart [v. 15] …but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be to depart from his wife. [v. 11] married to whom she wishes…in the Lord [v. 39] Departing results in being unmarried: is divorce!

30. A wife is not to depart from her husband [v. 10] N.T. Marriage and Divorce Scripture A closer examination of Mental Divorce 1 Cor. 7 [The Lords command (Gods law) v. 10] …if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or …if any brother has a wife who does not believe, …if the unbeliever departs, let him depart [v. 15] …but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to depart from his wife. [v. 11] …let him [her] not divorce her [him] [v. 12-13] married to whom she wishes…in the Lord [v. 39] Gods Law, in general: not to depart

31. …let him [her] not divorce her [him] [v. 12-13] A wife is not to depart from her husband [v. 10] be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not N.T. Marriage and Divorce Scripture A closer examination of Mental Divorce 1 Cor. 7 [The Lords command (Gods law) v. 10] …if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or …if any brother has a wife who does not believe, …if the unbeliever departs, let him depart [v. 15] …but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be to depart from his wife. [v. 11] married to whom she wishes…in the Lord [v. 39] However, if the unbeliever departs: Not Gods law versus Mans law; rather, Gods law clarified and believer even told (by God!)let him divorce Is this a REAL divorce, or not?

32. Counter-issues And Counter-arguments A closer examination of Mental Divorce attempts to establish that not all divorces seen as REAL, accepted, scriptural, in Gods eyes The unscriptural divorce argument – a divorce NOT for fornication is called unscriptural argument is made that it is not a REAL divorce, but only a divorce in the legal sense by MANs law being under GODs law, one put away unscripturally still has the right to a scriptural or REAL divorce in certain circumstances; can marry again without sin – is this taught by the scriptures on marriage & divorce? The scriptures make no such distinction! The unscriptural divorce argument BEGINS with supposition rather than with scripture

33. Next time: Other counter-arguments that seek to prove Mental Divorce and consequences of the doctrine

34. Can the innocent party remarry? Mental Divorce The basic position stated: Innocent person is put away for just any reason The unscriptural divorce is not recognized by God, only by the law of the land Guilty person eventually marries someone else by the law of the land, which allows for such actions law of land nullifies Gods law: innocent is barred from obtaining a scriptural divorce because civil law says theyre already divorced [but not in Gods eyes]! innocent person who has not sinned must suffer life of chastity while the guilty person lives Scott free This position must be true, or else: