Question:
When a "believer" divorces and remarries unbiblically (knowing
that this is a sin in God's eyes), is that person now living in adultery?
Answer:
Yes.
Question (continued):
Since remarriage is a sin and now that person would be living in adultery,
what is the difference in just living together (adultery) without the benefit of
remarriage (since the remarriage is also a sin). Wouldn't we be
"living in sin" whether remarried or not if the marriage itself is
sin?
Answer (continued):
Well, you have just added sin to sin. It is a sin to divorce your
spouse for nonbiblical reasons. It is another sin to remarry when in that
situation. It is also a sin to divorce your spouse and just move in with
someone. It is all adultery, but now you have added the sin of having a
sexual relationship outside of marriage. It is all sin, and there is not a
lesser or greater sin. From a worldly (unbeliever) perspective, the living
out of wedlock (after the divorce) is worst than getting married to another
person. Now, if the world knew you were a Christian, they would think you
a better Christian if you remarried rather than live in an openly immoral
relationship, so you bring even a greater disgrace to Christ, by living with
someone instead of marrying them.
Question (continued):
Would one be considered as "living in adultery" forever when
remarried unbiblically? Do they need to ask for forgiveness for this sin
everyday, since it could possibly be a daily occurrence of sexual immorality,
unmarried or married. Would this be a case of "practicing sin?"
"living in sin"?
Answer (continued):
No, the "Living in Adultery" would only last until the sinful
couple confessed their sin of adultery and divorce before God. Then,
assuming their repentance was sincere (there will be true shame and sorrow),
then forgiveness will be given and the sweet relationship with Christ restored.
Now, there most likely will be consequences for the sin, like David's sin with
Bathsheba. If they had remarried, then that marriage is to remain
permanent. God will then begin the restoration process from that point on.
Confession of the sin is not required every day. Once the sin is confessed
then it is forgiven and forgotten. Now, if the couple divorced their
Christian spouses and then just lived together, then true repentance will cause
them to stop living together (move out) then seeking the Lord's forgiveness for
the sin.
Question (continued):
Does living in sin this way send you to hell?
Answer (continued):
No, not if you were a true Christian to begin with. You see, when you
became a Christian, God forgave all your sins--past, present and future.
You were eternally sealed for heaven, and nothing can prevent your eternal glory
in heaven. No sin--not divorce, adultery, homosexuality, murder, not even
suicide will be able to rob you of your eternal salvation--if so, then it was
not eternal. Even though all your sins were forgiven at the cross, yet
whenever you commit them, God says we must seek forgiveness for the disruption
of the right relationship with Him. It is never an issue of losing your
salvation, only of restoring your right relationship with your
Father.
Now, note this, if a person, who claims to be a Christian, divorces his spouse
and marries another, or just lives with someone, and refuses to repent and
restore the relationship with Christ, then it becomes pretty clear evidence that
they never really belonged to Christ to start with, and hence, a false believer,
and condemned to hell forever. Now, in the remote possibility, that they were
truly born-again, and have fallen into this grievous sin, and refused to repent
and submit to God's will again, then God will discipline them most likely with
death, in order to restore their relationship.
Lastly, let me say, that Christians don't just commit adultery all of a sudden.
There is something that was wrong in their walk, they stopped reading God's
Word, they stopped praying, they allowed themselves to lust in their hearts,
etc. They basically started to ignore the conviction of sin by the Holy
Spirit.
Also, God is a very Good Father, and when any of His children (Christians) fall
into a sin and stay in it for a while, then, as a Good Father, He will start the
discipline process, which can take on bodily disease, accidents, financial
problems, psychological struggles, and ultimately death, if the Christian
refuses to repent of his sin, and they are really Christians. So it is
never good to stay in sin as a Christian.
Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "Tony Capoccia's Questions and Answers" by:
Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
Box 314
Columbus, New Jersey, USA, 08022
Websites: www.biblebb.com and www.gospelgems.com
Email: tony@biblebb.com
Online since 1986