Marriage, Divorce, & Remarriage “What does the Bible teach?” This should be our only concern. It should be a sufficient guide to our decisions and lives in this matter as well as all others. And it is, if we will let it be so.

MDR- Why is it such a problem for “us”? Several factors contribute: While differing views have been around for years, there wasn’t much of a “problem” in the church because of the rarity of divorce. Now however, divorce is commonplace in society and increasingly so in the church. So, some “old views” are getting new looks. The sheer numbers have evidently forced some to balk at plain teaching and search for alternative, or unorthodox views and solutions.

MDR- What we won’t talk about in these lessons: Sadly, “marriage”. While a thorough understanding of marriage and all that it entails is the “best medicine” to prevent divorce, it is not really within the scope of these lessons to provide such a treatment of that aspect of the subject. Instead, “marriage,” with all its problems and solutions, will be considered only has having occurred and dissolved, whether rightly or wrongly. What if’s. As in, “What if….” (ad infinitum) Instead, we’ll concentrate on biblical teaching.

MDR- What we will talk about in these lessons: Recent controversies on MDR have centered around several questions: Are aliens (non-Christians) amenable to God’s requirements for marriage? Is “mental divorce” a biblical justification for the dissolution of a marriage? Does Paul give an additional exception to divorce? Are “other reasons” for divorce OK if one does not remarry? What role does society and government play in all of this?

In this lesson, we’ll deal with the first of these: Are aliens (non-Christians) amenable to God’s requirements for marriage? Understand the logic of the question: If God’s laws governing marriage apply only to those who are in covenant relationship with Him, then… Those married and divorced (even multiple times) prior to becoming Christians are excepted. In this view, they are only “bound” to the mate they have at conversion, or the one they marry after conversion.

Are aliens (non-Christians) amenable to God’s requirements for marriage? How this view is supported: 1. Other laws* of God apply only to Christians, so why not this one? (*such as partaking of the Lord’s Supper or other “Christian” duties) 2. Covenant means “agreement” and unless one has “agreed” to be in covenant relationship with God, His laws are not binding. An alien sinner is therefore in a lost condition because he has not “accepted Jesus” and become part of the covenant. In this view, the only sin for which one can be “accountable” before God is rejecting Jesus.

Are aliens (non-Christians) amenable to God’s requirements for marriage? What does the Bible say about this? 1. Other laws* of God apply only to Christians, so why not this one? (*such as partaking of the Lord’s Supper or other “Christian” duties) This view is usually presented as: “Is it wrong or sinful for a non-Christian to not partake of the Lord’s Supper?” “Yes” because God wants all to be Christians and remember the Lord’s sacrifice. 2Pet.3:8-9 1Tim.2:4

Are aliens (non-Christians) amenable to God’s requirements for marriage? What does the Bible say about this? 2. Covenant means “agreement” and unless one has “agreed” to be in covenant relationship with God, His laws are not binding on him. First, “covenant” (Heb. berith) can mean “agreement” but does not always, cf. Heb.8:10. Here, “covenant” and “law” are used synonymously. Question: Do you have to “agree” to a law to be bound by it?

Are aliens (non-Christians) amenable to God’s requirements for marriage? What does the Bible say about this? 2. Covenant means “agreement” and unless one has “agreed” to be in covenant relationship with God, His laws are not binding. First, O.T. and N.T. are filled with examples of people being judged and punished by God for violating His laws despite never entering a “covenant” with Him: >Gen.18-19; Lev.18:24-25 >Rom.1:18-23; 2Thess.1:7-9

Are aliens (non-Christians) amenable to God’s requirements for marriage? What does the Bible say about this? 2. Covenant means “agreement” and unless one has “agreed” to be in covenant relationship with God, His laws are not binding. Second, notice these biblical examples of non- covenant people being held accountable by God for their adulterous marriages: >Abimilech, king of Gerar- Gen.20:1-3 >Herod, king of the Jews- Mt.14:1-4; Mk.6:14ff

Are aliens (non-Christians) amenable to God’s requirements for marriage? What does the Bible say about this? 2. Covenant means “agreement” and unless one has “agreed” to be in covenant relationship with God, His laws are not binding. Furthermore, think about this. Jesus taught about MDR in Matt.5:32 as a part of the “Sermon on the Mount”. >This was therefore part of the “the gospel of the kingdom” which was for everyone, Mt.4:23; Mk.16; >Will we likewise exclude other aspects of this sermon as non-applicable? Mt.7:12 etc.

Are aliens (non-Christians) amenable to God’s requirements for marriage? “But…. How can a man commit murder and be forgiven and accepted by God, while having been “unlawfully divorced and remarried” and not be forgiven and accepted by Him? It doesn’t make sense!” Sure it does. Here’s how: >Murder is a sin committed, confessed, and repented of by cessation of the activity. >Adultery (by an unlawful remarriage) is a sin in which we continue by the union. Can we be forgiven of any sin of which we will not repent by ceasing the activity? 1Cor.6:9-11

The “difficulty” of these conclusions is admittedly hard... But, Returning to the right ways of the Lord have always been difficult when we’ve strayed so far from them! Consider Ezra