Fornication (Part 3 of 3) - an article by Dan Richardson
Religious Error On Divorce & Remarriage.
Yes, even things "religious" can be very well a part of the evil world to which we are referring and by which many will be lost. Many have been led to believe a lie regarding what God's word teaches on divorce and remarriage. The confusion lies not with the Bible, but with the devising of human doctrines that justifies sinful behavior. Jesus' teaching is clear: "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery; and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery" (Matthew 19:9).
From Jesus' teaching in Matthew 19:9, we can understand the
following truth:
1) The right to divorce and remarry so as to please God
applies only to the innocent party. There is nothing in this verse
to give assistance to those who are guilty of adultery. If the
innocent puts them away, they must surely repent, but they cannot
remarry and please God.
2) Divorce and remarriage, in compliance with Jesus' teaching, is conditioned upon the one exception given - and ONLY that exception. He, who divorces and remarries for any cause other than fornication on the part of his spouse, becomes guilty of fornication.
3) Jesus draws a clear distinction between what He teaches and what Moses taught in the Old Testament - "I say unto you". This differentiation between the old and new covenants implies the temporary nature of the first (Colossians 2:14). One can receive no solace in the Old Testament regarding divorce or any other issue pertaining to his duty before God. We are under law to Christ (1 Corinthians 9:21).
4) Jesus shows that both the "putting away" and the "marrying" may be done without God's approval. Hence, just because divorce and remarriage may be "legal" by the standard of our laws of government, doesn't mean such complies with God's law (cf. Mark 6:17-18). Too many take comfort in the notion that if its legal, its acceptable. This is clearly untrue. Marriage is a divine covenant, made between a man, a woman, and God. By divine law they are "bound" as husband and wife, and only on God's terms can the marriage covenant be nullified (Rom. 7:2-3; 1 Corinthians 7:39).
5) This divine regulation on marriage is for everyone ("whosoever"). All are accountable to Jesus' marriage law, regardless of race, sex or spiritual status. If one must be a Christian before Jesus' law of marriage applies (as some argue today), then how could the unbelieving Gentiles be guilty of "fornication" or "adultery" (Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)?
6) One's disregard for God's will has far-reaching consequences,
for it affects the conduct of others. To divorce one's spouse
unlawfully, is to place them in danger of committing fornication
(see Matthew 5:32).
Many are unaware of Jesus' teachings on this subject. This is
due in part to many in the pulpits of the land not teaching God's
truth on marriage, divorce and remarriage. Rather than strive
to conform human conduct to the standard of truth (John 8:32),
the reverse appears to be so. As the prophet Hosea lamented, "My
people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6).
This promotes the practice of fornication.
May we heed God's truth and remember, "...fornicators and adulterers God will judge." (Hebrews 13:4).
It is not unusual these days to hear a teenager say to his parents, "I'm so tired of all these rules and regulations that you lay down for me that I'll be glad when I'm on my own and can do as I please!" Quite often the "rules and regulations" to which they refer are those which are for their own good, however vexsome. While it is possible that parents can sometimes be unfair and arbitrary in fixing rules, most often parents have the good of their children in mind when they supply the regulations for a family.
Children are often too impatient to attempt to see the wisdom behind rules. They are not looking at events from the mature standpoint that only years of experience can bring; they are viewing events through the impatience and immaturity of youth. Such immaturity seldom seeks to find the wisdom behind a rule, particularly if it interferes with the immediate gratification of a desire. The guiding light of youth is expressed in the sentiment, "I want..." and "I want it now..." Consequently, when any restricting rule is enforced which inhibits or restricts, a young person who has no respect for experience or for the Biblical injunction of obedience will rebel. Whether the rule is a curfew on dating nights, attendance at worship services, homework, housework or personal grooming guidelines, compliance is grudging, if at all.
Adding to this problem is the fact that young people are encouraged in rebellion by their peers at school, by a lawless generation and by lyrics of music that teach and propagate a rebellious spirit. Parents are portrayed as old-fashioned, over-the-hill, "out of it" and unfair. With a wave of the hand, all experience of a preceding generation of parents is dismissed if it interferes with "doing your own thing." And not too subtly, the mistakes of the older generation are used to show the irony of anyone "telling me what to do." However, if, with all our experience and regulations we have made such a botch of things, what will a generation do that refuses to respect experience or be restricted? Already we are reaping the terrible results of this philosophy in broken homes, abortion, drug addiction, increased crime rates and a multitude of problems. Unlicensed restraint surely is not the answer!
Understand the Consequences
But if our young people get their way, if they overthrow all restrictions,
and if they get out on their own, they need to realize something.
They really are on their own!
If I know the intentions of most parents, it has been their
purpose to provide a kind of life that will prepare their children
to be on their own and to prosper. Parents lay down rules and
regulations so that when their children leave home, they will
be prepared morally, spiritually and educationally to meet the
challenges of life and be productive. These are the basic reasons
for rules in the home. It is inevitable, given the normal course
of events, that children leave home. The question is, "Will
they be prepared when they leave home?" As parents, we fully
agree with our children that, when they leave home, "you
are on your own." In fact, we realize it more fully than
our children!
· You are on your own spiritually. No longer will the parents
be held accountable for the actions of the children. For a time
when children are young, the Lord holds parents responsible for
the teaching and training of their offspring. But a time comes
when a child ceases to be the ward of another and becomes an adult
in his own right. At that time responsibility for actions ceases
to be that of the parent and passes, irrevocably, to the child.
Beyond this point you answer to God at the judgment for what you
do. Truly you are on your own.
· You are on your own morally. While you were at home,
there were restraining teachings about fornication, drinking,
companions, movies, books, magazines, etc. Now that you are "on
your own," there are no restraints. You will be able to do
as you please, when you please and where you please. But you will
also be accountable for these actions.
· As Solomon said, "But know thou, that for all these
things God will bring thee into judgment" (Ecclesiastes 11:10).
Yes, my friend, you will be on your own, to stand or fall, for
good or bad. There will be no one to blame but yourself. Your
mistakes will be yours and no guilt can be handed back to your
parents any longer. And there is an additional thought worthy
of consideration: when you have children, you will be faced with
the same responsibilities your parents had. If you love your children,
if you want their life to prosper, if you want them to grow up
respecting others and being prepared to face life, you will have
to set some rules. And the cycle will have come full circle! You
will be the parent and your children will be saying, "Boy,
when I leave home and get on my own, I'll do what I want to do."
And when you hear these words (probably not before then), you
will appreciate what your parents went through to raise you. The
next time you want "out on your own," think about it.
THE WORLD (selected from The Beacon)
27% of Americans smoke... more than 1/4 of these are classified
as heavy smokers... 80% of smokers start smoking before age 21
- via Dr. R. B. Shubinski, (http://unr.edu))
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? {20} For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
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This Months Bible Reading: 1 and 2 Samuel.
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