Is Remarriage a Continuous sin? (POLL)

[killerrabbitrunaway]

Well, according to most of you: I can't be saved, Jesus can't stand me because I'm divorced, and I shouldn't even bother trying to be a Christian, because I'm obviously going to Hell, anyway--so sayeth all of you...lots & lots of compassion & love on this thread, yuppers. As far as the gentleman who remarried a woman who has clearly gone through quite alot, and has gone through alot of grieving in his own divorce: way to go, and your wife is lucky to have you...Blessings to you both.

 

[Trilogic]

Was married before and it wasn't of God. My current wife and I do so much ministry for God that I never considered that He wasn't involved! He has blessed us so richly. No surprise that those who view this as a continuous sin got it right the first time (God bless them) or have never been married at all.

 

[John51]

I would like you people to tell me where in the Bible it says that all of this can not be forgiven? If he is not willing to get back together...the fats in the fire.
Do not tell this woman she has to spend her life Not the line where forgivness ends. alon for a sin that can be forgiven through true confession and restoration!!!!!
Divorce is horrible but not the end of salvation. No the line where forgivness ends. What has been done is done. Let the dead past bury its own.
Seek forgiveness for what you have done, accept the forgivness, turn away from your past sins and live on.

 

[killerrabbitrunaway]

Thanks, will never be enough, to the last 2 people who posted...you'll never know what that meant to me. God Bless you both.

 

[onlinebuddy]

I wrote this earlier in this thread, and I'll just emphasize this again:

So someone might argue "I've been divorced, does that mean that since I made a mistake I have to now spend the rest of my life alone?". You're looking at it the wrong way. For one, your ex-spouse might eventually come around. Don't think that's possible through God? Read the new testament and see what awesome stuff God does through people, and how He changes lives. Say they don't come around...well, then you're still not "alone". God just means for you to not be married right now. You can either accept that or you can live your life in open rebellion against Him. This is a broken world, and if you're divorced I just want to say that my heart breaks for you. That's the worst thing I think can happen to a person. God clearly shows all through scripture that He wants you to be married. But this is a broken world, so not everyone will be. But consider that spending the rest of your life "alone" is absolutely nothing in light of God's eternal salvation.



Going off of what you feel rather than what the Bible says is true leads to a weak relationship with God. He lays down what is right, not your feelings. I can't find anywhere in the Bible where strong followers of God went off of their feelings...but somehow many in our modern day church think that "following your heart" is deeply spiritual. In many cases where the Bible doesn't say anything about it (for example; where you should buy a house or where you should take a job, what laundry detergent to buy, etc) then by all means follow your heart. But not for something like this.

I agree with you, AAAPlus.
I would also like to add that this site has many God-fearing Christians who would rather do God's will than listen to their own hearts. I do not think they are judging anyone. They are just answering the questions asked from a Biblical perspective.

About listening to your own heart, this is what the Bible says:
Jeremiah 17 (NIV)
5This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
6He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.
7"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.
8He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
9The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
10"I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."

Having said this, I pray for my brothers and sisters (and especially their children) who are suffering due to broken marriages. I want to say that God loves you and is hurting for you. He has no favorite children. He loves everyone equally- those who are divorced, and those who are not. He will go an extra mile to see that you are happy.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. If he can pursue those who are lost, how much more will he pursue those who want to do his will and are seeking solutions. He will pursue those who are suffering and stuck in the thorns and nettles of life (if at all), just as he would pursue one single lost sheep leaving the others in safety (now, i'm no way saying that those with broken relationships are lost).

So if you love Him and are struggling with a broken relationship, watch out for Him. He is coming your way, to gently instruct you and hold your hand and guide you. When he does so, please allow him to lead you out of the nettles. BTW, those who are "happily married" are not better off. They have their own struggles, and need His grace too.

Dear Lost1972 and KillerRabbit, I know beyond a shadow of doubt that you guys (and others in similar situations) love God. He will NEVER disappoint you!

 

[killerrabbitrunaway]

I agree with you, AAAPlus.
I would also like to add that this site has many God-fearing Christians who would rather do God's will than listen to their own hearts. I do not think they are judging anyone. They are just answering the questions asked from a Biblical perspective.

About listening to your own heart, this is what the Bible says:
Jeremiah 17 (NIV)
5This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
6He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.
7"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.
8He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
9The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
10"I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."

Having said this, I pray for my brothers and sisters (and especially their children) who are suffering due to broken marriages. I want to say that God loves you and is hurting for you. He has no favorite children. He loves everyone equally- those who are divorced, and those who are not. He will go an extra mile to see that you are happy.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. If he can pursue those who are lost, how much more will he pursue those who want to do his will and are seeking solutions. He will pursue those who are suffering and stuck in the thorns and nettles of life (if at all), just as he would pursue one single lost sheep leaving the others in safety (now, i'm no way saying that those with broken relationships are lost).

So if you love Him and are struggling with a broken relationship, watch out for Him. He is coming your way, to gently instruct you and hold your hand and guide you. When he does so, please allow him to lead you out of the nettles. BTW, those who are "happily married" are not better off. They have their own struggles, and need His grace too.

Dear Lost1972 and KillerRabbit, I know beyond a shadow of doubt that you guys (and others in similar situations) love God. He will NEVER disappoint you!

Thank you, too...That quote was so helpful, as well.

 

[jimmydiggs]

I would like you people to tell me where in the Bible it says that all of this can not be forgiven?

I don't see where anyone has said it is unforgivable. There is a difference between forgiveness of sin, and what scripture says about what is sin.

Scripturally speaking, no one who has argued for remarriage in all circumstances has provided a single verse to back their claim yet scripture condemns the act of marrying a divorced woman/man as an act of adultery. The only option presented in scripture unless someone has another verse, is the death of the spouse.

 

[jimmydiggs]

Well, according to most of you: I can't be saved, Jesus can't stand me because I'm divorced, and I shouldn't even bother trying to be a Christian, because I'm obviously going to Hell, anyway--so sayeth all of you...lots & lots of compassion & love on this thread, yuppers.

I do not see where "most of you" have proclaimed that as the situation. Divorce and remarriage are not unforgivable sins.

 

[onlinebuddy]

I would like you people to tell me where in the Bible it says that all of this can not be forgiven? If he is not willing to get back together...the fats in the fire.
Do not tell this woman she has to spend her life Not the line where forgivness ends. alon for a sin that can be forgiven through true confession and restoration!!!!!
Divorce is horrible but not the end of salvation. No the line where forgivness ends. What has been done is done. Let the dead past bury its own.
Seek forgiveness for what you have done, accept the forgivness, turn away from your past sins and live on.

In many cases it is best to let the past be forgiven and forgotten. If you can't undo some past wrong, I'm sure God would not want you to live the rest of your life feeling condemned.

What must a person do if he has divorced his spouse and remarried, and then learned that he shouldn't have divorced in first place? Must he now separate from his current spouse and go back and reconcile with his ex, who may have married again? Some mistakes just cannot be undone, so it is better to bury them and live on in God's grace.

Tell you what, all of us have made tons of mistakes (many of them deliberately) which we may never be able to make up for or undo. That's why we stood before the Lord at some point in our lives and said, "Lord, I have come to the end of myself. Tell me what to do." Well, even 20 years after making him Lord of our lives, we will continue to make mistakes. Praise God for his grace, and our Lord Jesus for giving us that grace!

 

[John51]

AAAAAAAAAAAAMEN!

 

[killerrabbitrunaway]

In many cases it is best to let the past be forgiven and forgotten. If you can't undo some past wrong, I'm sure God would not want you to live the rest of your life feeling condemned.

What must a person do if he has divorced his spouse and remarried, and then learned that he shouldn't have divorced in first place? Must he now separate from his current spouse and go back and reconcile with his ex, who may have married again? Some mistakes just cannot be undone, so it is better to bury them and live on in God's grace.

Tell you what, all of us have made tons of mistakes (many of them deliberately) which we may never be able to make up for or undo. That's why we stood before the Lord at some point in our lives and said, "Lord, I have come to the end of myself. Tell me what to do." Well, even 20 years after making him Lord of our lives, we will continue to make mistakes. Praise God for his grace, and our Lord Jesus for giving us that grace!

Thank you for that, but you need to understand, that's not how it was put in previous posts. It read like I have no option, whatsoever, but to be alone, regardless. That just makes no sense. The Bible doesn't say anything about marriage & divorce when you were BOTH unbelievers at the time, and the other spouse already remarried (such as my case). Thanks for the clarification.

"I'm sure God would not want you to live the rest of your life feeling condemned."...I'm trying to let God work on that--I really am trying. That's not easy, when it looks like other Christians are saying He already did condemn me. Again, thanks for the clarification. And, you're right: Praise God & Lord Jesus for that grace!

It's funny: that song, "Jesus Friend of Sinners" won't stop playing in my head today.

 

[chuinchoy]

Well, according to most of you: I can't be saved, Jesus can't stand me because I'm divorced, and I shouldn't even bother trying to be a Christian, because I'm obviously going to Hell, anyway--so sayeth all of you...lots & lots of compassion & love on this thread, yuppers. As far as the gentleman who remarried a woman who has clearly gone through quite alot, and has gone through alot of grieving in his own divorce: way to go, and your wife is lucky to have you...Blessings to you both.

It is not for me to say whether there is forgiveness for you or not. But I can quote this bible verse... read 1 John 1:8-10. However, according to the bibile, there are some sins which cannot be forgiven as well.

 

[John51]

1 John 8-10: " If we claim to be without sin, we decieve ourselves and the truth in not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no meaning"

Tell me where in those words do you find sin that can not be forgiven?

 

[John51]

Also...the only unforgivable sin is to blasphemes the holy spirit. Luke 12: 10

 

[chuinchoy]

In my own personal opinion, I think the reason why there is so marriages broken is because we did not follow God's principles on marriage. In the begining, God created marriage is for our companionship/helper (see Genesis 2:18). It is God's objective as long as marriage is concern that it should be joyous.If we didn;t follow these principles, there will be definately chaos, disharmony in our marriage.

According to 1John 1:8-10, THERE IS FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS, ONLY IF WE CONFESS THEM. However, just to enlighten that there are sins which cannot be forgiven as well. BUT thank God, divorce, re-marriage IS NOT 1 of them.

I would suggest that what has been done (divorce), make effort to reconcile. I know that it is not easy but rather than sinning against God right? There are christian leaders like church pastors, counsellors, etc where we can seek help from to act as a mediator in reconciling our marriage. I think God would much happier if we were to do this than blaming the other party for the problem.

 

[chuinchoy]

Also...the only unforgivable sin is to blasphemes the holy spirit. Luke 12: 10

Thank God that you got it. Another is sexual immorality.

 

[John51]

No, sexual immorality is forgivable. Prostitutes and people of all kinds were forgiven by their faith.

 

[Bibleman]

Indeed, I guess scripture is the exact reason so many divorced men, especially in America, tend to go insane, even to the point of murdering their ex-wife, when they are divorced. Most likely, they must know, deep down, that remarriage while a spouse is still living is a continuous, nonstop state of adultery, and that he has only 2 choices, reconcile with her, or remain single until her death. So they technically do what people did to adulteresses/adulterers in the Old Testament. Then again, when something like an Old Testament style punishment occurs for divorce, oftentimes the "executor" is arrested and sentenced to either life imprisonment, or the death penalty, and those that escape catch the attention of the FBI, the United States Marshals, state police, and sometimes even international authorities if they cross national borders.

 

[John51]

Not helpful.

 

[Musique]

Boy, this is a tough topic... I was raised in churches, I believe in marriage for life, and I can understand why God intended to keep couples together. I can also understand why He considers it a sin to divorce. But, I am not perfect, and am not one to preach or judge, but I have to say that while divorce may be a sin in certain circumstances, I also believe God can forgive ALL sins, including divorce.

There are many reasons why people sometimes can no longer stay in a marriage, such as abuse, or to make a healthy environment for the children, etc. I wish I could say I haven't lived through some of that, and tell you that God expects us to stay, even when it is affecting our health etc. Sometimes, I found myself saying that sin or not, I had to get out.

I know there are people worse off than me, and maybe I could've done more... But then I had my friends and family assuring me that God is a Loving and forgiving God. Sometimes we have to make choices that others may not understand. We are sinners; we sin every day; we are human. We can get obsessive with some things to the point of trying to be politically and Biblically correct.

My point is, God has guidelines set in place to protect us, to keep us from getting hurt, etc. But to think that God can't forgive us, and will punish us forever, is in my opinion, untrue.

Does God want us to be happy and healthy, and prosperous? Of course! Does this give us license to do whatever we want, without consequences? No! It's in our best interest to follow the commandments to the best of our ability, but not to beat ourselves up when we stumble and fall. We need to seek His guidance, seek forgiveness, and move on. Billy Graham once said in a crusade I attended years ago, "You can't unscramble an egg." Well said!

Sorry for rambling on...