Page 184 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

DIVORCEMENT - DOCTRINE

one would make a regulation in v. 11 and then change it command to the state of marriage in verses 25-26,
in v. 28. Add inspiration, and the argument is rewording the command in v. 27, “Art thou bound unto
strengthened. a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a
God’s plan for the church age is no divorce. If a wife? Seek not a wife.”
divorce does take place, He certainly does not permit 7. The remarried person is not “living in adultery.”
remarriage. The only possibilities, if a divorce occurs, We often hear that phrase, but it is not found in
are indicated in v. 11: either remain unmarried, or be Scripture, to my knowledge. It is true, according to Mt.
reconciled. That may seem to be very difficult, even 19:9, that adultery is committed when the divorced
harsh, for God to make such a demand, but there are person remarries, but it is improper to say that such
many passages of Scripture which teach that if we people are continuing to live in adultery every time they
follow the Saviour, we are going to have to make some come together. Reason? 1 Co. 6:9-10 says that neither
sacrifices. That is the missing requirement in modern fornicators nor adulterers shall inherit the kingdom of
Christianity! We are trying to formulate a Christian life God. (It will not do to say that a person could be saved
that is nothing but a bed of roses; we insist on pleasure without having an inheritance in the kingdom of God,
and comfort, believing that if we obey the Bible because Ro. 8:17 says, “...if children then heirs.”
everything will be good and easy. Such a life is not Therefore, to inherit the kingdom of God is the same
taught in Scripture. Consider: Ro. 12:1 and Lk. 9:23. thing as to be saved.)
Each one who is serious about obeying the Lord will Perhaps a person committed adultery at a second
have to make a sacrifice in some way. God calls on some marriage before conversion; if so, then 1 Co. 6:11
to make financial sacrifices; a great many of God’s describes that person as “washed... sanctified... justified
choice servants have to get by on very little money. in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our
Others must sacrifice health, as Paul did in enduring his God.” They are not “living in adultery” any longer.
“thorn in the flesh” (2 Co. 12:7-10). Others are called But what if the remarriage takes place after
upon to live without a mate, when divorce occurs, doing conversion? If they were “living in adultery,” they would
without a family, which many others are permitted to lose eternal life, an impossibility because of such
have. No doubt the Saviour had this in mind when He promises as Jn. 6:37. Also, I Jn. 1:9 would not be true;
said, “...and there be eunuchs, which have made they could not confess their sins and be forgiven.
themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake.
He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.” (Mt. Sometimes people try to solve this problem by saying
19:12). that such persons should cease having physical
relationships altogether, so that they will not be guilty of
6. Conversion does not change the prohibition adultery. However, such a situation would be a
regarding remarriage. Some Christians believe that since contradiction of 1 Co. 7:2-5, which tells the husband
we become new creatures when we are converted, with and wife that they should not deny themselves to each
old things passing away and all things becoming new (2 other, unless they agree to do so for a limited time for
Co. 5:17), the new believer is free to remarry a the purpose of fasting and prayer. Then, they are to
Christian if the divorce took place before conversion. come together again in order to avoid being tempted by
The fact that this is not true is seen in 1 Co. 7; in four Satan.
places, the Lord says that we should remain in the
situation in which we were saved. Consider “But as God If a Christian is guilty of remarriage, he or she should
hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called confess it as the sin of adultery (not lightly or
everyone, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all frivolously, but realizing the seriousness of the sin) and
churches” (1 Co. 7:17). The word “called” does not receive God’s forgiveness. Then, that Christian should
mean “called to preach,” or “called to be a missionary,” believe God’s promise in He. 10:17.
but “called to salvation.” 1 Co. 1:9 and many other DIVORCEMENT. Divorce (De. 24:1; Mt. 5:31; 19:7).
verses use the word “called” to describe what God does [See Divorce.]
when He convicts us of our sins by the preaching of the DIZAHAB (lord of gold). De. 1:1.
gospel, and saves us. DO THY DILIGENCE. Be diligent; hasten; come with
He applied that command to circumcision, then all urgency (2 Ti. 4:9, 21). [See Diligence.]
repeated: “Let every man abide in the same calling DOCTRINE. Doctrine simply means teaching, but the
wherein he was called” (1 Co. 7:20). Another biblical usage refers to sound teaching based on the
application was made regarding being a servant or Word of God. The two Greek words translated
being free; then the statement was repeated in verse 24, “doctrine”, didaskalia and didache, are also translated
“Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein “teacheth” (Ro. 12:7) and “learning” (Ro. 15:4). These
abide with God.” Then he applies the very same words are used more than 140 times in the N.T., which

184 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity