One In Jesus

Grace applies to all Christian issues. 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 teaches that a pre-conversion divorce and remarriage is not held against the converts by God. In Hebrews 8:12, speaking of Christians, God says that he “will remember their sins no more.” Baptism forgives all that has gone before. Utterly. Completely.[1]

As obvious as this point should be, we get off track when we think of Christian divorces. What if a Christian couple divorces? We reason, surely they should have known better, and so surely God can fairly remember their sin and require them to remain single until death. And yet, Christians are in grace, too. Aren’t they? Are there some sins that are covered by baptism but can’t be covered later? What does the Bible say?

Fortunately, the Bible answers this question very plainly — Continue reading →

Now that we’ve wrestled with all of chapter 7, we need to summarize:

1. Marriage is not a legal relationship. It is a relationship that derives from Eden — a time before sin, before government, and before churches and preachers. Marriage is a covenant to be united and to be one flesh. This includes consenting to sexual relations — except “for a season” and even then “only by consent.” Continue reading →

We next consider Paul’s instruction that “each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him.” What does this say about the conversion of a wrongly divorced and remarried couple?

17 Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 20 Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. 21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you-although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22 For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to. Continue reading →

Now before we go on to Jesus’ teachings, we need to consider other portions of 1 Corinthians 7:

12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

This passage is sometimes referred to as the Pauline Exception. It is argued that this creates a second exception to the prohibition on divorce — the first exception being fornication, as declared by Jesus and the second being an unbelieving spouse. Continue reading →