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GOD’S WILL FOR MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE Far too many marriages end in divorce simply because either the husband or the wife [or both] did not take the time to study God's will in these matters, as it is revealed in the Bible. Had they done so, they would have found that God has given definite responsibilities to both the man and the woman in a scriptural marriage. They also would have discovered that He has strictly regulated marriage and divorce -- that we do not have the right to marry, divorce and marry again, at will. 4

Divorce Rate in America The divorce rate in America for first marriage, vs second or third marriage 50% percent of first marriages, 67% of second and 74% of third marriages end in divorce, according to Jennifer Baker of the Forest Institute of Professional Psychology in Springfield, Missouri. 5

Divorce Rate in America According to enrichment journal on the divorce rate in America: The divorce rate in America for first marriage is 41% The divorce rate in America for second marriage is 60% The divorce rate in America for third marriage is 73% 6

GOD’S WILL FOR MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE While some have no scriptural right to marry, others have no scriptural right to divorce. God's thoughts must always be respected above our own. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9). 7

GOD’S WILL FOR MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARD DIVORCE ELIGIBILITY FOR SCRIPTURAL MARRIAGE GOD’S WILL FOR THE SCRIPTURALLY MARRIED 8

A.God hates divorce. "For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one's garment with violence," says the Lord of hosts. "Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously." (Mal. 2:16). GOD'S ATTITUDE TOWARD DIVORCE 9

"So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." (Matt. 19:6). GOD'S ATTITUDE TOWARD DIVORCE 10 A.God hates divorce.

Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 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. But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. (1 Cor. 7:10-13). A.God hates divorce. GOD'S ATTITUDE TOWARD DIVORCE 11

GOD'S ATTITUDE TOWARD DIVORCE A.God hates divorce. B.One who divorces his/her spouse for any cause other than fornication [sexual unfaithfulness] and marries another is guilty of adultery. "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery." (Matt. 19:9a) 12

GOD'S ATTITUDE TOWARD DIVORCE A.God hates divorce. B.One who divorces his/her spouse for any cause other than fornication [sexual unfaithfulness] and marries another is guilty of adultery. C.One who divorces his/her spouse for fornication and marries another is not guilty of adultery. "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery." (Matt. 19:9a) 13

GOD'S ATTITUDE TOWARD DIVORCE A.God hates divorce. B.One who divorces his/her spouse for any cause other than fornication [sexual unfaithfulness] and marries another is guilty of adultery. C.One who divorces his/her spouse for fornication and marries another is not guilty of adultery. D.One who is divorced by his/her spouse and marries another is guilty of adultery. "...and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery." (Matt. 19:9b). 14

GOD'S ATTITUDE TOWARD DIVORCE A.God hates divorce. B.One who divorces his/her spouse for any cause other than fornication [sexual unfaithfulness] and marries another is guilty of adultery. C.One who divorces his/her spouse for fornication and marries another is not guilty of adultery. D.One who is divorced by his/her spouse and marries another is guilty of adultery. "...and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery." (Matt. 5:32b). 15

GOD'S ATTITUDE TOWARD DIVORCE A.God hates divorce. B.One who divorces his/her spouse for any cause other than fornication [sexual unfaithfulness] and marries another is guilty of adultery. C.One who divorces his/her spouse for fornication and marries another is not guilty of adultery. D.One who is divorced by his/her spouse and marries another is guilty of adultery. "...and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery." (Luke 16:18b) 16

ELIGIBILITY FOR SCRIPTURAL MARRIAGE A. Those who are eligible for marriage. 1.One who has never been married. Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman." But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. (1 Cor. 7:1-2, ESV) 17

ELIGIBILITY FOR SCRIPTURAL MARRIAGE A. Those who are eligible for marriage. 1.One who has never been married. 2.One who has been married but his previous spouse is dead. So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. (Rom. 7:3) 18

ELIGIBILITY FOR SCRIPTURAL MARRIAGE A. Those who are eligible for marriage. 1.One who has never been married. 2.One who has been married but his previous spouse is dead. A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. (1 Cor. 7:39) 19

ELIGIBILITY FOR SCRIPTURAL MARRIAGE A. Those who are eligible for marriage. 1.One who has never been married. 2.One who has been married but his previous spouse is dead. 3.One who divorced his spouse for sexual immorality. "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery." (Matt. 19:9a) 20

ELIGIBILITY FOR SCRIPTURAL MARRIAGE A. Those who are eligible for marriage. 1.One who has never been married. 2.One who has been married but his previous spouse is dead. 3.One who divorced his spouse for sexual immorality. 4.One who is reconciling after a divorce. Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 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. (1 Cor. 7:10-11) 21

ELIGIBILITY FOR SCRIPTURAL MARRIAGE B.Those who are not eligible for marriage. 1.One who divorced his previous scriptural spouse for any reason other than sexual immorality. "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery." (Matt. 19:9a) 22

ELIGIBILITY FOR SCRIPTURAL MARRIAGE B.Those who are not eligible for marriage. 1.One who divorced his previous scriptural spouse for any reason other than sexual immorality. 2.One who was divorced by his previous scriptural spouse for any reason. "...and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery." (Matt. 19:9b) 23

ELIGIBILITY FOR SCRIPTURAL MARRIAGE B.Those who are not eligible for marriage. 1.One who divorced his previous scriptural spouse for any reason other than sexual immorality. 2.One who was divorced by his previous scriptural spouse for any reason. "...and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery." (Matt. 5:32b) 24

ELIGIBILITY FOR SCRIPTURAL MARRIAGE B.Those who are not eligible for marriage. 1.One who divorced his previous scriptural spouse for any reason other than sexual immorality. 2.One who was divorced by his previous scriptural spouse for any reason. "...and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery." (Luke 16:18b) 25

ELIGIBILITY FOR SCRIPTURAL MARRIAGE B.Those who are not eligible for marriage. 1.One who divorced his previous scriptural spouse for any reason other than sexual immorality. 2.One who was divorced by his previous scriptural spouse for any reason. 3.Unless the previous spouse is dead. A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. (1 Cor. 7:39) 26