Marriage

1. “‘For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband.” Romans 7:2

2. Marriage Remarriage?

3. Questions And Consequences • Who can marry? [a scriptural right] • Who cannot marry? [no scriptural right] • What are “sexual immorality” and “adultery”? • Does “not under bondage” mean “free to marry”? • Can the “innocent party” remarry if “guilty” does? • This position is usually called “Mental Divorce”, • or “Post-civil-divorce putting away” Married or Bound?

4. Counter-issues And Counter-arguments Man’s Law ??? God’s Law ??? • The “unscriptural divorce” argument • attempts to establish that not all divorces seen as • “REAL”, “accepted”, “scriptural”, “in God’s eyes” OR • a divorce NOT for fornication is called “unscriptural” • argument is made that it is not a “REAL” divorce, but • only a divorce in the legal sense by MAN’s law • being under GOD’s law, one put away “unscripturally” • still has the right to a “scriptural” or REAL divorce in • certaincircumstances; can marry again without sin • is this taught by the scriptures on marriage & divorce? A closer examination of Mental Divorce

5. N.T. Marriage and Divorce Scripture • Matthew 5:31-32 [God’srighteousness vs. Man’s] Their abuse of God’slawresulted in adultery • Matthew 19:8-9 [“is it lawful?” (God’s law)] • Mark 10:11-12 [“is it lawful?” (God’s law)] • Luke 16:18 [self-justified vs. God-justified (His law)] God’slaw, as taught by Jesus correcting the Pharisees • Romans 7:1-3 [“to those who know thelaw” (God’s)] • 1 Cor. 7 [The Lord’s command (God’s law) v. 10] God’slaw, as applied by apostle Paul in his teaching

6. Counter-issues And Counter-arguments Man’s Law ??? God’s Law ??? • The “unscriptural divorce” argument • attempts to establish that not all divorces seen as • “REAL”, “accepted”, “scriptural”, “in God’s eyes” OR • a divorce NOT for fornication is called “unscriptural” The scriptures make nosuchdistinction! • argument is made that it is not a “REAL” divorce, but • only a divorce in the legal sense by MAN’s law • being under GOD’s law, one put away “unscripturally” • still has the right to a “scriptural” or REAL divorce in • certaincircumstances; can marry again without sin The “unscriptural divorce” argument BEGINS with supposition rather than with scripture • is this taught by the scriptures on marriage & divorce? A closer examination of Mental Divorce

7. Counter-issues And Counter-arguments • The “unscriptural divorce” argument • The “mencannot divorce” (only Godcan) argument • attempts to establish the reason not all divorces • seen as “REAL”, “accepted”, “scriptural”, “by God” • basedinJesus’ teaching on God’s marriage law: • “Therefore what God has joined together, • let not manseparate…”[Mt. 19:6; Mk. 10:9] • God separates only fornicators; man cannot separate A closer examination of Mental Divorce

8. “…let not man separate” [Mt 19:6] “When an innocent woman is divorced, this divorce is, in the sight of God ‘nodivorce.’ Hedoesnotrecognizeit! The innocent woman is stillmarried in God’s sight and the husband who ‘divorced’ her is stillmarriedtoher in God’s sight. Their marriagehasnotbeendissolvedand as far as God is concerned sheisnot ‘putaway’ (apoluo). When her husband remarried he committedadultery. I contend that theinnocentmaythen ‘putaway’ herhusband. Reason? That is exactlywhatChristsaid she could do!” Ken Cheatham (The Gospel Anchor, June 1979, Vol. 5, p. 301) A closer examination of Mental Divorce

9. “…let not man separate” [Mt 19:6] “As far as God is concerned one is ‘notdivorced’ except it be forfornication.” KEN CHEATHAM (The Gospel Anchor, June 1979, Vol. 5, p. 299) “Remember, to deny this divine right to such a person on the grounds of her being aputawayperson overlooks the fact that suchputtingawayisfutileand dethrones divine authority and enthrones human authority.” MARSHALL PATTON (Searching The Scriptures, Mar 1987, Vl. 28, pp. 342-343) A closer examination of Mental Divorce

10. “…let not man separate” [Mt 19:6] “And so, in conclusion from this, we learn that an unscriptural divorce releasesneitherpartyfrommarriage. When you have an unscriptural divorce, asmencountit, it’s not so with God. That bond is still in tact. And that little piece of paper is nothing in the sight of God. Just as well use it as Kleenex and blow your nose and drop it in the toilet. It doesn’t mean a thing to God. God’s law rules over the laws of men.” Ron Halbrook (MDR sermon preached in Wilkesville, OH, June 14, 1990) A closer examination of Mental Divorce

11. “…let not man separate” [Mt 19:6] The Conclusions Summarized • if it’s not lawful, it’s not legitimate • if it’s not approved, it’s not actual • if it’s not permitted, it’s not possible • if it’s not right, it’s not real A closer examination of Mental Divorce

12. Counter-issues And Counter-arguments • The “unscriptural divorce” argument • The “mencannot divorce” (only Godcan) argument • attempts to establish the reason not all divorces • seen as “REAL”, “accepted”, “scriptural”, “by God” • basedinJesus’ teaching on God’s marriage law: • “Therefore what God has joined together, • let not manseparate…”[Mt. 19:6; Mk. 10:9] • God separates onlyfornicators; man cannot separate • is this taught by the scriptures on marriage & divorce? A closer examination of Mental Divorce

13. “…let not man separate” [Mt 19:6] “…let not man put asunder.” – ASV, DRB, KJV, RV, Web, YLT “…let not that which has been joined by God be parted by man.” – Bible in basic English “Let not man therefore put a sunder, that which God hath coupled together.” – Bishops’ Bible (1568) “And nooneshould separate a couple that God has joined together.” – Contemp. English Version, German versions “Nohumanbeingmust separate, then, what God has joined together.” – Good News Bible “Therefore, don’tlet anyone separate...” – God’s Word A closer examination of Mental Divorce

14. God’s law teaches man what he shouldnotdo, not what is impossible for him to do! [Romans 2:12-13; 7:7; and Galatians 3:19] “…let not man separate” [Mt 19:6] • Did Jesus mean that man CANNOT separate or • that he SHOULD NOT separate what God joined • Why would Jesus say “let not man separate” • what was joined by God if man COULD NOT • The fact that Jesus commands NOT TO separate • indicates that man has the POWER to separate, • but does not have God’s PERMISSION to do so A closer examination of Mental Divorce

15. “…let not man separate” [Mt 19:6] [Matthew 6:3] “But when you do a charitable deed, do not let (let not- ASV, KJV)your left hand know what your right hand is doing…” CANNOT SHOULD NOT A closer examination of Mental Divorce

16. “…let not man separate” [Mt 19:6] [Luke 21:21] “Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.” CANNOT SHOULD NOT A closer examination of Mental Divorce

17. “…let not man separate” [Mt 19:6] [John 14:1] “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” CANNOT SHOULD NOT A closer examination of Mental Divorce

18. “…let not man separate” [Mt 19:6] [John 14:27] “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” CANNOT SHOULD NOT A closer examination of Mental Divorce

19. “…let not man separate” [Mt 19:6] [Romans 6:12] “Therefore do not let (let not – ASV, KJV) sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.” CANNOT SHOULD NOT A closer examination of Mental Divorce

20. “…let not man separate” [Mt 19:6] [Romans 14:3] “Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.” CANNOT SHOULD NOT A closer examination of Mental Divorce

21. “…let not man separate” [Mt 19:6] [Romans 14:16] “Therefore do not let (let not – ASV, KJV) your good be spoken of as evil…” CANNOT SHOULD NOT A closer examination of Mental Divorce

22. “…let not man separate” [Mt 19:6] [Ephesians 4:26] “‘Be angry, and do not sin’: do not let (let not – ASV, KJV) the sun go down on your wrath.” CANNOT SHOULD NOT A closer examination of Mental Divorce

23. “…let not man separate” [Mt 19:6] [1 Timothy 5:16] “If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let (let not – ASV, KJV) the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.” CANNOT SHOULD NOT A closer examination of Mental Divorce

24. “…let not man separate” [Mt 19:6] [James 1:7] “Let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord…” CANNOT SHOULD NOT A closer examination of Mental Divorce

25. “…let not man separate” [Mt 19:6] [Matthew 19:6] “Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” [Mark 10:9] “Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” CANNOT SHOULD NOT A closer examination of Mental Divorce

26. “…let not man separate” [Mt 19:6] Consider… • God condemns murder but does not impede it • God condemns prostitution but does not impede it • God condemns fornication but does not impede it • God condemns unlawful divorce but has not made • it impossible to attain one – He does not impede it A closer examination of Mental Divorce

27. “…let not man separate” [Mt 19:6] Consider… Marriages as seen in the Bible Right or Wrong Real or Unreal Approved or Unapproved Actual or Apparent N O T ↓ Lawful or Unlawful “In God’s eyes” or “In man’s eyes” Permitted or Prohibited A closer examination of Mental Divorce

28. “…let not man separate” [Mt 19:6] Consider… The Marriage of Herod and Herodias [Mark 6:17-18] “For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. Because John had said to Herod, “It is notlawfulfor you to have yourbrother’swife.” It was not right (approved, lawful, permitted) but it was still real A closer examination of Mental Divorce

29. “…let not man separate” [Mt 19:6] Consider… The use of “Wife” in the Bible • Concubine[Gn 16:3; 25:1, 5-6 & 1 Ch 1:32; Judges 19:1-5, 7, 9; 20:4] • Betrothedperson[Dt 20:7; 22:23-24; Mt 1:18-20; Rev 19:7] • Bride[Judges 14:15-16, 20] • Widow[Rt 4:10; 1 Sm 27:3; 30:5; 2 Sm 2:2; 3:3; 11:26; 12:9-10, 15] • Onewhois“married”toanother[Judges 15:1-2; 1 Sam 25:44; • 2 Sam 3:14-16; Mt 14:3-4; Mk 6:17-18; Lk 3:19; 1 Cor 5:1] A closer examination of Mental Divorce

30. “…let not man separate” [Mt 19:6] Consider… 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 When a woman “departs” from her husband – whatever the reason – she is “unmarried”, or divorced “Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 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.” A closer examination of Mental Divorce

31. “…let not man separate” [Mt 19:6] Consider… Did Jesus Mean What He Said? [Matthew 19:9] “And I say to you, whoever divorces[really? Not really?] his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries[really? Not really?] another, commits adultery; and whoever marries[really? Not really?] another, commits adultery; and whoever marries [really? Not really?] her who is divorced[really? Not really?] commits adultery.” A closer examination of Mental Divorce

34. God condemns murder, but does not impede it God condemns prostitution, but does not impede it God condemns unlawful divorce, but does not impede it God condemns people who are converted, but fall away; yet, he does not impede it The Baptists have a similar argument, saying that a person can NEVER fall away once converted – that is, by God’s law, they are ALWAYS a Christian once converted because “nothing can separate them from the love of Christ”! Thoughts from Luis em Portugal

35. Can the “innocent party” remarry? • The basic position stated: • “Innocent” person is put away “for just any reason” • The “unscriptural divorce” is notrecognizedbyGod, • only by the “law of the land” • “Guilty” person eventually marries someone else by • “the law of the land”, which allows for such actions • This position must be true, or else: • “innocent” person who has not sinned must suffer life • of chastity while the “guilty” person lives “Scott free” • “law of land” nullifies God’s law: “innocent” is barred • from obtaining a “scriptural” divorce because civil law • says they’re already divorced [but not “in God’s eyes”]! “Mental Divorce”