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BIBLE DIVORCE
CHRISTIANITY OASIS HAS PROVIDED YOU WITH THIS BIBLE DIVORCE STUDY. MANY
PEOPLE ARE CURIOUS ABOUT THE BIBLE DIVORCE ... BIBLE DIVORCE IS A
VERY TRICKY SITUATION SO IT IS BEST TO KNOW THE RULES ON BIBLE DIVORCE. LET
US SEEK AND FIND THE TRUTH OF THE BIBLE DIVORCE TOGETHER, SHALL WE?
THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS
CHAPTER 7
Pleased to have
you back again for more Daily Bread. Aren’t you glad that we have the
writings of the New Testament to guide us along our Christian walk? Think of
how difficult it must have been for the early Christians to find out things
that we take for granted is at our fingertips any time we want to know them.
The Corinthians
indeed did have questions about how to live in their new Faith and they
wrote to Paul asking for his advice. Paul answers their questions in this
part of his letter. We don’t know exactly what their questions were, because
all we have are Paul’s answers in Chapters 7 & 8, but we can make a pretty
good guess.
If you’ll remember
back to the book of Acts when Christianity was first being introduced to the
Gentiles, the Jewish leaders wanted to impose their laws on the Gentiles,
but Paul and Barnabas, among others, strongly disagreed with this idea, so
James suggested that they only require that the Gentiles abstain from
pollutions of (meat offered to) idols, and from fornication, and from things
strangled, and from blood.
Acts 15:20, 29
The first concern Paul addresses is
fornication, and then he gives advice on marriage as well.
Now concerning the things that you wrote to me about:
It is good for a man not to live in marriage with a woman.
Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife,
and let every woman have her own husband.
Let the husband give the wife due affection:
and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
The wife is not master of her own body, but the husband:
and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own
body, but the wife.
Do not deprive one another, unless it is with consent for
a time,
so that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer;
and come together again, that Satan doesn’t tempt you
for your lack of self-control.
But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
(Although the Lord allows Paul to say this,
it is not a commandment.)
For I wish that all men were unmarried, as I myself.
But every man has his proper gift of God,
one after this manner, and another after that.
I say therefore to the unmarried and widows,
It is good for them if they remain unmarried.
But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry:
because it is better to marry than to burn.
And to the married I command,
yet not I, but the Lord commands,
Let not the wife depart from her husband:
But and if she depart,
let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband:
and let not the husband send away his wife.
This is a great time to review one of our
studies of when Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount. I’m copying a lot of it
for you, because it never hurts to go over important topics like this so
that doubt doesn’t try and get it’s foot in the door. Take a look at this:
Matthew 5:32
It's been said, Whoever puts away his wife,
let him divorce her, but I say,
Whoever puts away his wife except for the reason of
fornication,
causes her to commit adultery,
and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
But to the rest I advise, not the Lord:
If any brother has a wife that doesn’t believe,
and she is happy to live with him,
let him not divorce her.
And the woman which has an husband that doesn’t believe,
and if he is happy to live with her, let her not leave
him.
Because the unbelieving husband is sanctified (made holy)
by the wife,
and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband:
Otherwise your children would be illegitimate; but now are
they holy.
But if the unbelieving wants to depart, let them depart.
A brother or a sister is not under bondage (obligated) in
such cases:
but God has called us to peace.
For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your
husband?
Or how do you know, O man, whether you will save your
wife?
But as God has distributed (vocations) to every man,
as the Lord has called every one, so let him walk.
And this is what I teach in all churches.
Whoa ... We better
talk about this one for a minute ... How many men are married to divorced
women in this day and age? Are they all committing adultery? Many very well
may be. However ... The issue of Divorce itself is a tough one these days.
Many families have been torn asunder by this question of the heart. Let’s
seek more depth of the TRUTH in scripture. You’ll see in a moment, in verses
12-17 Paul says that if a woman has a husband who is not a believer, and the
man wants her to stay, that she shouldn’t leave him because the husband is
sanctified by the wife's belief. This is because when two marry they become
ONE. This sanctification includes your children.
NOW ... Remember
that this statement was made by Paul. In verse 12 he shares that this is his
opinion, NOT the Lord's command. Many Religious leaders like to use this
"ruling" to keep women in abusive relationships only to have the
relationship end in bitterness and even death ...
Pharisees came to tempt Jesus and asked, Is it lawful for a man to divorce
his wife for any reason? Jesus answered, Haven't you read, in the
beginning, God made male and female, and said, For this reason, a man
shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and
they two shall be one flesh? Then they are no longer two, but one
flesh. What God has joined together, let not man separate.
The Pharisees
debated with Jesus and said "Then why did Moses command to give a writing
of divorcement and send her away?" Jesus said, Because of the
callous nature of your heart, Moses wrote this ruling. (Because the people
changed the natural order of marriage) But from the beginning it was not
so. And I say to you, whoever sends his wife away, unless it was for
fornication, and marries another, commits adultery, and whoever marries a
woman who has been sent away commits adultery.
JESUS
ALSO SAID ...
MT 19:11 All men cannot receive
this saying, save they to whom it is given.
JESUS
IS SAYING ALL LAWS DO NOT APPLY
TO ALL SITUATIONS
Divorce is a very delicate matter for those Christians who are considering
or have divorced and yet love the Lord. My heart goes out to you and
your family. Now before you go sentencing yourself as being an adulterer
or and adulteress, let's look at something. What if a marriage was
not meant to be from the get go? What if it was not holy in the eyes
of the Lord? Many families have been torn asunder by the question of
the heart of divorce, despite whether the one wishing to depart chose to
do so, or stayed in misery due to obligation and/or fear.
Let's seek the TRUTH in scripture. It is in the very chapter we are
studying (1 Corinthians Chapter 7 versus 12-17) ... That if a woman has a
husband who is not a believer, and the man wants her to stay, let her not
leave him because the husband is sanctified by the wife's belief. This is
because when two marry (In God's eyes) they become ONE. This
sanctification includes your children.
This statement was made by Paul. In verse 12 he
shares that this is his opinion, NOT the Lord's command. Many
Religious leaders like to use this "ruling" to keep women in abusive
relationships only to have the relationship end in bitterness and even
death ... The Word also says that what God brought together, let no man
put asunder. However, that brings up the question of God honoring every
marriage license the local leaders are willing to make a lil money on.
In particular in today's society where most go from hello to I do before
establishing a foundation in friendship. Some marry out of CON-venience,
lust, trying to get away from home, etc. ... The obvious result is
division by divorce as it was not to be in the first place. Is it not
God's will to have them apart as they were not meant to be married and
made a poor choice? Is God then divided against Himself because He wants
Love to be FOREVER? God forbid. It is mankind's use of marriage that has
brought on the divisions and variations of judgment. TRUE marriage is the
union of two minds, hearts and souls and they become ONE in LOVE. Whether
God deems a specific marriage REAL becomes THE question to ponder.
I want to take this opportunity to say that this is NOT a passport to get
out of a marriage so you can get a new man or woman. God Forbid ... But
rather the TRUTH for those who it applies to. If you WERE married in LOVE
and in God's eyes and you have become worldly and just want a way out so
you can go an follow the trends of today like cattle to the slaughter,
this is not applicable. If the shoe fits ... Slap that rascal on
Cinderella. If it does not, it is not wise to try to apply it as the
results will not be the same. He who hath wisdom, hear this TRUTH.
MT 19:11
All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given ...
ALL LAWS DO NOT APPLY TO ALL SITUATIONS.
The TRUTH my friend is that ONLY the Lord knows the TRUTH of your
situation.
Obviously, He wants what is best for you, so you must find out from
HIM what it is that you are to do. Religious leaders, Friends, Family,
Paul and I can share our opinions but ONLY GOD can discern the TRUTH of
this particular matter and guide you down the right path. Ask HIM to
reveal the TRUTH to you. Ask Him to show you HIS Will. Ask in Jesus' name
... Pray without ceasing. TRUST in HIM.
If you have already
divorced, do not sit around and judge yourself or let others judge ya ...
That is God's job and He believes in Mercy, forgiveness and Grace. What
can your worry and doubt do but cause problems for you? Let go and let
God.
Let's get back to today's study ...
Paul continues ...
Whatever the Lord has assigned to you,
accept it joyfully and put it to use in your life. Serve Him with the gifts
He has bestowed upon you.
Is any man called being circumcised?
Let him not become uncircumcised.
Is any called in uncircumcision?
Let him not be circumcised.
Circumcision is nothing,
and uncircumcision is nothing,
but the obeying of the commandments of God.
Let every man remain in the same calling wherein he was
called.
Are you called being a servant?
Don’t worry about it: but if you may be made free, use it
rather.
For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman:
likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's
servant.
You are bought with a price; don’t be the servants of men.
Brethren, let every man, however he is called, remain in his calling with
God.
Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord:
but, as a person that has obtained mercy of the Lord to be
faithful,
I’ll give you my judgment.
I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress,
I say, that it is good for a man to be a virgin.
Are you married to a wife? Don’t seek to be divorced.
Art you released from a wife? Don’t look for a wife.
But and if you marry, you have not sinned;
and if a virgin marry, she has not sinned.
Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I
spare you.
But this I say, brethren, the time is short:
it stands, that both they that have wives should be as
though they had none;
And they that weep, as though they had not wept;
and they that rejoice, as though they hadn’t rejoiced;
and they that buy, as though they had not possessed;
and they that use this world, as not abusing it:
because the ways of this world will pass away.
But I would have you without concern.
A man that is unmarried cares for the things that belong
to the Lord,
how he may please the Lord:
But he that is married cares for the things that are of the world,
how he may please his wife.
There is also a difference between a wife and a virgin.
The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord,
that she may be holy both in body and in spirit:
but she that is married cares for the things of the world,
how she may please her husband.
And this I say for your own good;
not that I may cast a snare upon you,
but because it is proper,
and that you may attend to the Lord without other
thoughts.
But if any man think that he behaves himself improperly
toward his virgin,
if she passes puberty, and need so require,
let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
Nevertheless he that stands firm in his heart,
having no need, but has power over his own will,
and is determined in his heart that he will keep his
virgin, does well.
So then he that gives her in marriage does well;
but he that gives her not in marriage does better.
The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband lives;
but if her husband be dead,
she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes;
only in the Lord.
But she is happier if she remains unmarried in my opinion:
and I think that I have the Spirit of God in me, to assure
you.
An important thing
to remember through all of this, is the part about remaining in your calling
from God. Confide in Him. Ask Him what direction He wants you to take and
what paths to go down in your life. Search for His answers. Start out with
small things, so that when a big decision comes around, you’ll know how to
seek His answer. Maybe a period of prayer before you ask may help you to
recognize His answer better. Maybe you’ll find His answer in the Word. Maybe
He’ll show you in a completely different way. Maybe you like to write it in
your journal to Him. His plans for you are the only ones that will truly
make you happy, so why not ask Him what they are?
It looks like one
of the questions that the Corinthians asked Paul was concerning things
offered to idols. Don’t forget that Corinth was in Greece, where idol
worship was prevalent before Christianity. Hope you’ll join us soon and
we’ll find out how Paul advises them, right here in the next Daily Bread.
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