MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE -
THE STUMBLING STONE OF THE CHURCH
There is no greater contentious issue in the church today than divorce and remarriage.
The devil has worked his uttermost to deceive and destroy the Church in this matter, by corrupting the Word of God, through the use of modern bible versions. Satan's second advance, has been through the employment of corrupt Greek and Hebrew lexicons; which change or add to the meaning of Holy Scripture to the intent that those who rely on such methods for a final answer are deceived. Scripture should always be understood (interpreted) in the Wisdom of God and through the leading of the Holy Ghost; by comparing Scripture with Scripture (in other words, comparing what God speaks about the issue in all places throughout His Holy Word).
Please Note: to understand Satan's evil work in corrupting the Word of God, please read the section in the book 'To The Glory God' - ' Unholy hands on God's Holy Word' - pages 19 to 121.
Our Lord Jesus Christ warns us, when addressing the 7 Churches of Revelation, how the enemy will work to bring sexual sin into the church:
Revelation 2 v 20: Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to
seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her
into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that
I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every
one of you according to your works.
Jezebel here speaks of the false teachers and preachers who have infiltrated the Church who work for the Great Whore - 2Corinthians 11 v 13-15, Revelation 18 v 3-4
(a similar warning is given to the Pergamos church)
In my book 'To The Glory of God', i speak of this issue under 3 headings:
1). 'Sexual Sin in the Church' and 'Beware People of God' - pages 151 to 169.
found in section 'Left Behind, the Reason Why and the Need for True Repentance'
2). 'Satan-Through the Great Whore teaches Sexual Sin in the Church'- pages 54 to 57
found in section '2). Doctrines of Devils found in Modern Versions'
Please read the above pages.
What is the penalty God has prescribed for sexual sin:
1Corinthians 6 v 9-10: Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5 v 19-21: Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
What does, 'shall not inherit the kingdom of God mean'?
Revelation 21 v 8: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
The penalty is the Lake of Fire (Eternal Damnation) - 'the abominable' covers any sin not specifically stated which carries the penalty of Eternal Damnation (Revelation 14 v 10 and 11)
As well as corrupting God's Holy Word (as described at the beginning of this section), the devil has tried to dilute the warnings given in God's Word, to persuade people to sin. Sin recorded in the Old or New Testament is recorded as a grave warning to God’s people not to sin. The Devil has twisted this to lie, you can sin.
Many church leaders have been at the forefront of this evil work, allowing Satan to use their tongues and influence to deceive the Church of God - the penalty for this will be severe.
Examples like Hosea, David, and Rahab, have been used to excuse sexual sin. These lies i expose in the section 'Beware People of God'. Many Scriptures have been twisted and taken out of context to blunt the warning of God's Word and deceive, chiefly 1Corinthians 7 and Matthew 19. The Corinthian Church for example, has been made out to be a sinful ungodly Church, by the ministers of Satan; so as to use them as an excuse as to why marriage or remarriage, after sexual sin, is permissible - contrary to the teaching of Holy Scripture. Apart from being a devil inspired attack on the Apostle Paul, and a gross corruption of what he speaks by The Holy Ghost: the Apostle Paul refutes such false teaching against the Corinthian Church in 2Corinthians a number of times, for example 2Corinthians chapter 7. In verse 4 Paul states 'great is my glorying of you', in verse 7 Paul speaks of their 'earnest desire and fervent mind' in verse 11 he states 'In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter (referring to the false accusation of them being a sinful Church). Paul goes on in verse 14 -16, to proclaim how he can boost of them to others because of their godly conduct and obedience. These are hardly the words you would speak to an ungodly, devil deceived Church. No the truth is the Corinthian Church responded immediately to The Word of God, they did not distort The Word of God to satisfy their lust, or drag their heals like many in the Lukewarm Church today.
Below i will list a number of Scriptures, speaking of marriage, divorce, forincation and adultery. Please remember, that The Lord Jesus Christ did not come to do away with God's Law (as the devil makes out), but to uphold God's Righteous Law. God's Law is actually God's heart of Love and standard of righteous living for His people.
Matthew 5 v 17: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Please refer to my book to understand in more detail
A Godly Marriage: one man and one woman for life until death parts
Matthew 19 v 4: And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall
cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath
joined together, let not man put asunder.
Many forsake their marriage vows before God and disobey Him:
Will you have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?
Reply: I will.
Will you have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honour, and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?
Reply: I will.
Romans 7 v 1: Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
This is reinforced by the words of our Lord Jesus in Mark 10 and Luke 16:
Mark 10 v 11: And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry
another, committeth adultery against her.
12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she
committeth adultery.
Luke 16 v 17-18: And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth
adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband
committeth adultery.
There is only one clause given in New Testament teaching on marriage by which a wife can separate from her husband, but she must remain single or be reunited with her husband (this also goes for husbands). This is spoken by God through the Apostle Paul in 1Corinthians 7 v 10 and 11.
( I will come to what people think is a clause in Matthew 19 v 9 shortly and will show from Scripture that no such clause exists.)
1Corinthians 7 v 10: And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her
husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
If the above Scriptures from God were obeyed by the Church, there would be no break up in marriages (no divorce) and at worse separation (and in God's perfect Will, only for a short time, before reconciliation).
So why do so many think they have a right to remarry after divorce in the Lukewarm Church today? Apart from what i have already highlighted as Satan's work to corrupt or misuse Scripture, Matthew 19 v 9 is used by Satan to contradict what is actually spoken and meant by The Lord Jesus Christ, in His rebuke of the Pharisees.
Satan achieves this in modern bible versions, by removing almost half of what Jesus states in verse 9, and changing the meaning of the word 'fornication'. Fornication means, sexual intercourse before marriage, but 'marital unfaithfulness' means adultery (or sexual intercourse with another person after marriage). Satan has worked hard to smudge these two meanings and blend all together in lexicons, and some modern dictionaries - the reason for this i will now expose.
KING JAMES BIBLE: Matthew 19 v 9
And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
NIV etc. (modern bible versions)
I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery."
(Note: the NIV removes 12 Words and adds 2 words which are not found in the Greek text, ‘marital unfaithfulness’ - this is NOT ‘fornication’ as you will see)
If Jesus had stated 'except for adultery,' he would have contradicted every other statement He made on the subject, including what is spoken by the Apostle Paul in Romans 7 v 1-3, and 1Corinthians 7 v 10-11. Remember what Jesus categorically stated to the covetous Pharisees in Luke 16:
Luke 16 v 17-18: And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth
adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband
committeth adultery. (Mark 10 v 11-12)
Jesus not only rules out remarriage (except for death), which is confirmed by the final 11 words of Matthew 19 v 9 (which corrupt modern versions remove); but also clearly upholds Old Testament Law regarding virginity. This is why Jesus states 'except for fornication' because such a marriage in God's sight is unclean/defiled (sinful). The Old Testament Law dictated that virginity was the requirement for first time marriage, and that the penalty for sexual sin was death by stoning or fire. Please read the following: Deuteronomy 22 v 13-29, Leviticus 21 v 7- 9, 13-15 (and Ezekiel 44 v 22-23). The only exceptions given in place of the death penalty (Deuteronomy 22 v 28-29) was when sexual intercourse between 2 virgins had taken place, and they were then commanded to marry each other for life. Or when a bond woman (not free) had been defiled, she was spared from death.
The example given to us in the New Testament regarding this is Mary and Joseph. This is why Joseph was about to put away (divorce) Mary, as he thought she had committed fornication. According to God's Law therefore, he could not Marry her and could even call for her death (which he did not do).
So what Jesus speaks in Matthew 19 v 9 (KJB) contradicts nothing in both Old Testament and New Testament teaching on marriage. But the devils tampering in modern versions, both contradicts Old Testament teaching on virginity, and the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ on divorce and remarriage in the New Testament. Hence Satan leads many into sexual sin and down the slippery slope to Hell.
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Some arguments may be raised against what is stated above, on the grounds that the Old Testament Law allowed for remarriage (not for sexual sin though). But Jesus clearly rules this out in the New Testament, and states that the only reason it was allowed under the Old Covenant, was because of the hardness of men's hearts. In other words wives married to evil husbands could escape.
People will ask, surely the innocent party in a marriage breakup can remarry. Firstly Jesus rules this out, as He gives no clause for this, and calls doing so adultery. And secondly this highlights, why it is so important to seek God, in accordance with His Word, regarding who to marry before you do. Too many people rush into marriage, without seeking God's revealed Will on the matter. This is also why God prescribes in His Word a time of betrothal, so that time is given to reveal any problems.
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Victims of Rape: Speaking in God's grace to those who have been victims of rape, please read: 'Tamar, The Godly Example' p163 -164, found in section 'Beware People of God'. God's Judgement on those who perpetrate rape is Damnation (if there is no true repentance), this is never taken lightly by God. To those who have been sexually abused but not raped, marriage is possible (please ask God for wisdom regarding any complicated matter).
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Note about polygamy: Although in the Old Testament polygamy was allowed, in the New Testament this is not so and God’s creative order given to us in Genesis 2 (Adam and Eve) is restored by our Lord Jesus Christ e.g. Matthew 19 v 3-9 (1Timothy 3 v 2 +12, Titus 1 v 6), the New Testament teaching taking precedent.
If a man is already married to more than one wife before being saved as long as he was a virgin at his first marriage and his subsequent wives were virgins when they were married to him, he should not divorce them. But such a man is not to be an elder (bishop) or deacon in the body of Christ. If the man was not a virgin at first marriage, then all must be separated. If one of his wives was not a virgin, she only needs be separated. This is in accordance with the scriptural doctrine of virginity.
SUMMARY ON MARRIAGE
The teaching of scripture commands a clear standard for God’s people. This is NOT the standard which is ‘ideal’ or ‘if we can manage it’ or ‘if there are no complications’. To disobey God’s Holy Word wilfully, is to face God’s Judgment in The Lake of Fire. If we love Him we will obey His commands.
1. Marriage is for virgins only - Further marriage being possible for faithful widowers and widows.
2. Two virgins who have had sexual intercourse before marriage but then marry each other is permitted by God in repentance, as long as they have had no sexual intercourse with anyone else in between- Deuteronomy 22v 28-29.
3. Virgins / widowers and widows must be equally yoked if one is born again before marriage.
1Corinthians:7:39b: she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
2Corinthians:6:14: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
All other details on marriage have been clearly laid out earlier in this section, or in my book.