Marital Situations Preaching on Marriage / Divorce / Re-marriage is a difficult topic. Not because the Bible is unclear. Because there are so many variables, so many “what if” circumstances.

My preference I would rather teach this topic in a class that is open for discussion. There are too many different scenarios that must be considered. We could spend weeks discussing all the possible situations involved. TODAY – I am just going to cover the very basics. There are 6 marital situations.

1 – Married and Bound Scriptural marriage / Legal marriage Matthew 19:6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." Romans 7:1-2 1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? 2 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.

2 – Unmarried and Unbound Single, widow, widower “Innocent party” who divorced their spouse because that spouse committed fornication. The widow, widower and the innocent party after a divorce – are free to marry the same as the single (never married) person.

3 – Unmarried and Bound to Another When there is a divorce for some cause other than fornication They are divorced under the law of the state But they are bound under the law of God 1 Corinthians 7: Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

4 – Married and Bound to Another When the divorce is for a cause other than fornication And have entered another marriage. They are in a legal marriage to the 2 nd spouse. They are still bound to the 1 st spouse by God. They are living in adultery. NOT: Just an act of sin, but they are in a state or condition of sin.

5 – Married and Unbound An innocent 3 rd party who is married to one who has divorced for a cause other than fornication Matthew 5:32 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. They have entered into a sinful relationship – but in the law of God they are not bound.

6 – Unmarried and Bound to God When one is put away because of their fornication: When one is divorced for any other cause: They are not free to marry another BUT they are able to repent, live for God, continue to be faithful to the church and live eternally in heaven

The Basics In this lesson we covered the basics There are still many “what if” situations that need to be considered I realize that there are many other circumstances that need personal discussion The BASIC RULE – Marriage is one man and one woman for life. This was God's intent from creation.