Just one of many things I will never understand...

[Melody]

No problem John.  It's hard to not let thoughts on divorce come up when mentioning divorce.  You'll be happy to know this situation has no black and blue people involved. 

CWK, I knew the part about the betrothed but I had never put it together that it says fornication, not adultery. I think I had even had thoughts along those lines because I had heard a little about that but could not solidify it. This makes SO much sense and causes the other scriptures in which it says if a person divorces their spouse and marries another, it's adultery.  Amazing. Wow.

Mat 5:32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Mat 19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except [it be] for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

Mar 10:11-12 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

Luk 16:18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from [her] husband committeth adultery.

1Cr 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

Wow.  How did I not see that before and yet still know that scripture does not contradict itself.  One who marries a divorced person and one who is divorced who marries, commits adultery.

1Cr 7:11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

1Cr 7:15-18 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage 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 husband, whether you will save your wife?  But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.  Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. 

Makes SO much sense! Husband is to present himself as Christ, giving his life for his bride, whether she is faithful or not.  He patiently holds up His portion to the bride, giving His name and possessions, yet it's called the marriage supper of the Lamb for a reason, THAT's the "wedding" by our culture's understanding.  THIS is why once saved-always saved is NOT correct.  Because the marriage supper has not yet happened.  If we are found in idolitrous fornication, we can be refused; but once we "make it" to heaven, there is NO separation ever! He HAS paid the price for us for the here and now, we ARE His.  Yet He has gone to prepare a place for us. But when He returns will He find faith?  Wow.  I am blessed and sobered by the power of the marriage.

We are to example the very promise of God, the very relationship of Christ and the church through our marriages, to eachother and the world.  No wonder the world doesn't see so much Christ as they do themselves in the church, which is not very motivating to convert.  Who wants a marriage where it could end? Who wants THAT as the representation of our relationship of God? Yet w/ so much divorce, that is exactly the message that is sent, if they have the basic understanding that marriage is a representation of Christ and the Church, and that divorce and remarriage is ok if the circumstances are "right."  However, there is ONLY one God, only ONE Groom.

Mal 2:14-17 Yet you say, "For what reason?" Because the LORD has been witness Between you and the wife of your youth, With whom you have dealt treacherously; Yet she is your companion And your wife by covenant.  But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.  "For the LORD God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one's garment with violence," Says the LORD of hosts. "Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously."  You have wearied the LORD with your words; Yet you say, "In what way have we wearied Him?" In that you say, "Everyone who does evil Is good in the sight of the LORD, And He delights in them," Or, "Where is the God of justice?" 

I have really wondered before if we haven't fallen short in our understanding of the word "married" and "divorced?"  I have yet to find that divorce is an end to marriage whatsoever.  The thing about putting something away, is that you can always take it back, and it inferrs a continued possession. 

What a beautiful and powerful thing God has done with us! And yet, THIS, here and now is not IT.  This is the courtship.  Just makes so much sense....   

And how much are we so close to the END like the days of Noah!

Mat 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

How very awesome is God's Word! It is HOLY and True, and He has Commanded us to be HOLY as well.

[Melody]

Our society, even within the church, does not place near enough or as much value on chasity.  And our culture is so different. So I think much of the scriptures about the harshness of fornication/adultery fall on deaf ears.

Deu 22:23-24 "If a young woman who is a virgin is betrothed to a husband, and a man finds her in the city and lies with her, "then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones, the young woman because she did not cry out in the city, and the man because he humbled his neighbor's wife; so you shall put away the evil from among you. 

Obviously we don't stone, disfellowship, or really anything when this occurs in the church. We're careful not to judge their eternal salvation though sin is sin, there is still hope.  And we are eager to see restoration, though I know that doesn't happen in all churches.  But it's interesting to note that the engaged girl -by our standards- is labeled the wife in scripture. 

I think we've been reading scripture through American culture.  So that we think it's ok to divorce because someone committed adultery.  I thought that before this morning!  But now I see.  We can't hold people in prison in our own homes and force them to live with us because we're married. We have to let them leave if they choose.  But it doesn't end the marriage. 

In the OT, adultery= death.  In the NT, the dispensation of grace, we are to forgive.  And I know, there are all these millions of possible scenarios that makes that unfair.  But I truly believe that is also like the "legalize abortion to save the mother" arguement.  Extremely few fall into that category and God's truth doesn't change so God has the answer and it's not to compromise truth.

[The Cold Water Kid]

Makes SO much sense! Husband is to present himself as Christ, giving his life for his bride, whether she is faithful or not.  He patiently holds up His portion to the bride, giving His name and possessions, yet it's called the marriage supper of the Lamb for a reason, THAT's the "wedding" by our culture's understanding.  THIS is why once saved-always saved is NOT correct.  Because the marriage supper has not yet happened.  If we are found in idolitrous fornication, we can be refused; but once we "make it" to heaven, there is NO separation ever! He HAS paid the price for us for the here and now, we ARE His.  Yet He has gone to prepare a place for us. But when He returns will He find faith?  Wow.  I am blessed and sobered by the power of the marriage.

Amazing, isn't it? I guess we should not be surprised that the devil would want to distort our understanding of marriage in order to hide these precious truths from us. I don't know about the rest of you, but I plan on laughing my head off when he is finally taken up by an angel and thrown into the Lake of Fire!