But God being rich in mercy ... (Part 3)

Ephesians 2: 1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

Men do evil things because men by nature are evil. Even what good we do - we do for our own misguided purposes. This section of scripture carries on the thought that spiritually dead men cannot save them selves.

This is written to believers. I think this is an important thought to keep in mind. The idea no the truth of God’s sovereignty in salvation is never something taught to the lost but rather to the believer. So that when we look back on our state we can give all glory to God. Not thinking there was something good in us or better than someone else. It all depends upon God’s mercy.

We did not enter this world with a pure nature. Paul makes it clear that the redeemed once lived among the heathen of this world. We followed hard after this world. We worked hard at sinning. Feeding our passions yet unfulfilled. Sin driving us on to consume more and more of this world's pleasures.

Jeremiah 9:5 "Everyone deceives his neighbor And does not speak the truth, They have taught their tongue to speak lies; They weary themselves committing iniquity.

It is our native language “sin”. This is the natural man. Paul says we are by nature (just who we are) children of wrath. This is who we are without Christ.

There is nothing in us to make us commendable to God. We cannot remove the blot of sin, nor change our rebellious nature. It is something that must be wrought by God. Man is very religious – but he is more interested in a god of his own making. One that will approve or somehow ignore his sin. We are but slaves to sin – free from righteousness. This is the freewill we exercise. A will that shakes its fist at a holy Lord.

We do not want God’s grace or mercy in our flesh. We simply want to be left alone

It takes a miracle to change the desperately wicked heart of man. It took one in my life. Where men think they rule God will overrule? This is the truth of man’s condition. Dead. Hopeless. Headed for Hell. A child of satan.

All you can do in this state is to cry out to the Lord for mercy.

What is the message your church preach? What message is it that you preach? Is it a message to try and reason people into the kingdom of God? Is it a message of just needing to change directions to get a better life? Then that is not the true gospel.

We must preach the holiness of God and the sinfulness and utter helplessness of man. If a person is saved knowing he deserves hell and can never save himself. That he must trust only in the finished work of Christ, then his confidence will rest in the work of God and nothing else.

I fear many today trust in an isle they walk, a prayer, a preacher, a song or a feeling. We can only find true salvation in Christ not in any work of our own

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

sherman

Next time I will finish this series off with verse 4.

Does God hate?

This was recently brought into question at church as to whether this is an attribute of God. It was said that this is merely an “Anthropomorphism,” that is applying human characteristics to God in order to make Him understandable. One example of this would be speaking of God holding the waters of the oceans in His hand. Since God is spirit and not contained by a physical body the term hand is being apply to convey a truth or idea.

The first argument that will normally come to mind is that “God is Love”. This truth is found in 1 John 4:8

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

There is one important fact that is usually left-out at this point. God is God and not a man. God soverignly defines what love is. It is not some kind of fuzzy squishy love. But rather it is strong, purposeful, and correcting just to name a few aspects. We must not try to make our definition attributes apply to the Holy God. God is above all things Holy. If we keep this fact in mind we can avoid these types of mistakes. God is Love. God is Wrath. God is Mercy. God is Righteous. Each one of these and many more must be understood in light of His Holiness.

Now with that ground work layed I would like to examine the scripture that was brought into question.

Romans 9:13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

It would be easy enough just to stop here and deal with this passage, but I think it may be better understood by going back to Malachi 1:1-5. This is the section from which it is lifted.

Malachi 1:2 “ I have loved you,” says the LORD. “ Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says the LORD. “ Yet Jacob I have loved; 3 But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage For the jackals of the wilderness.”

Notice the people of Isreal do not even understand how God has loved them. He starts off by explaining His utter detestable view of Edom and how He has destroyed them. It is because of Edom’s wretched sinfulness. Yet the people of Jacob are wicked, but God corrects them as a feather would a child. The rest of the book speaks of discipline, restoration and renewel. All of this because God chose to have mercy on Jacob and to not have mercy on Esau. They both deserved the same treatment. Yet God has chosen to exercise the giving of grace to some.

This is the nature of man. Spiritually dead. Destine for Wrath.
Vessels of Wrath - Romans 9:21-23; 2 Timothy 2:19-21
By nature Children of Wrtah - Epesians 2:3
The wrath of God abides on unbelievers - John 3:36

This is man at his best:

Psalm 36:1 An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes. 2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes, When he finds out his iniquity and when he hates. 3 The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; He has ceased to be wise and to do good. 4 He devises wickedness on his bed; He sets himself in a way that is not good; He does not abhor evil.

God hates evil. If we love God we will hate sin likewise, starting with our own sin.

Psalm 97:10 You who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked

Proverbs 9:10 “ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.

So, does God Hate?

Let the scriptures speak on the subject.

Psalm 11:5 The LORD tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.

Zechariah 8:17 Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; And do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate,’ Says the LORD.”

Hebrews 1:8 But to the Son He says:“ Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

Revelation 2:6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Yes, God does hate... But not as a man does. Man is corrupt in his nature where as God is perfect in His nature. God's hate has a righteous purpose, not based on emotional self-centeredness as in man so many times.

James 1:19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Yes, God has hatred, anger, vengeance and wrath as well as love, mercy, and longsuffering just to touch on a few. But as everything God does, He does it righteously. He is Holy, Holy, Holy!

Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

The primary teaching of this section out of Romans 9 is that God choses by His sovereign counsel apart from anything in us that could somehow merit this favor. There is nothing good in any man. We may not completely understand it but nevertheless scripture teaches it and we know it to be true. We can always trust that whatever God does it will be Wise Right and Good.

Matthew 22:14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Sherman

But God being rich in mercy...(Part 2)

Let’s come back to this thought of all men being spiritually dead. Paul goes on here to describe unsaved men as dead men walking in this world according to the desires of the flesh under the control of satan.

This is the same evil spirit that has been and continues to control the thought and actions of men since the fall. Man as his best is dead---hating God and loving himself---none seek after God---none understand!

Romans 3:10 as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;

We may find many people in this world that are splendid neighbors and citizens, but lost. The standard if Godliness is not other men, but GOD! Man can be very religious but apart from regeneration by the Holy Spirit they are simply trying to cover up their sinful nature with man made religious activity.

When a man is dead all he can do is lie there and continue to decay. The dead do not even want life.

John 3:19 "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.

The reason any of us believe and love Christ is because He gave, me a dead man, spiritual/eternal life. There is no goodness in man. No divine spark. There is nothing but evil and rebellion.

This concept effects even how we preach the Gospel. If we can sway man, reason him into the kingdom, then our message had better be exciting, attention getting, a “big” show. But if we are preaching to dead men we had better put our trust in the Work of the Holy Spirit, plainly preaching the Word of Truth. We had best trust in the Supernatural power of God not in man’s marketing methods!

The answer to sin is not to call it a “dysfunctional disorder”, “disease” or “addiction” , but to call men to repentance! All men are of one sinful race of Adam----ALL in need of a Savior. We are by nature children of wrath more on that thought another

We are by nature children of wrath more on that thought another time……………

1 Corinthians 1:21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

But God being rich in mercy...(Part 1)

Over the next few postings I am going to examine part of Ephesians chapter 2. This section of scripture lays out a basic understanding of man's spiritual condition.

Ephesians 2:1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

Paul starts out this section of scripture by explaining who we were apart from the grace of God. It will become clear as we work through this scripture that all men are sinners completely separate from God, even unable to respond to Him.

The description here says apart from God we are spiritually dead. Now dead men are completely incapable of responding to an external command. They are complete incapable of initiating an internal response. There is no life. In fact the only thing a dead man can do is continue to rot more.

Left in our sinful condition, separated from Christ, we like a corpse rot more and more. Sin works its way in our flesh to destroy us more and more. Man will never improve and can less corrupt in his flesh. There is no hope for improvement of his condition only expectation of things getting worse. It is because of our own sin that we are spiritually dead.

Romans 8:6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

In the flesh, our depraved nature separated from God, we are totally unable to please God, respond to Him, or obey Him. This is essential to our understanding of the nature of our salvation. It is wholly of God.

The only difference between unsaved men is the extent of their rottenness. Man apart from Divine intervention will never seek after God. We exercise our freewill apart from any outside compulsion. And that freewill is to feed our lust, to rage against a Holy God, and to want nothing to do with Him as we head straight for HELL.

I will leave you with the same thought I started with. But God being rich in mercy... it is in this that true saving faith is found.

The Narrow Way

The narrow way is narrow by definition. It is define by Jesus Christ. The narrow way is only found in Him

John14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.

There is but one way to God.
There are many wrong ways that seem right to man but lead to hell.
The way is much needed by sinful man.
Many think they have found the way in man made religion but are much mistaken.
Men seek after teacher to broaden the narrow way.
False teachers seek to broaden the narrow to increase followers to feed their own lusts.
Men are religious out of fear of hell or fear of man. Not out of a love for the King.
Men trust in their self righteousness resulting in pride.
The narrow way is at enmity to the lusts of the flesh, the pride of man and the love of worldliness.
Wicked men seek to impede others from following the narrow way.
To Follow God alone must be the concern and purpose of your heart.

In Matthew 4:17 we find where the narrow way begins, at repentance.

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

This is the central theme for the Sermon on the Mount as well as the ministry of Christ.

Because the way is narrow, men want someone to make the way easier. The want a way that does not require profound sacrifice and devotion to someone other than themselves.

False teachers will not preach the whole counsel of God. They will seek to minimize sin. They will dilute the exclusiveness of the way of salvation.

Husbands, fathers, young men, it is imperative that you know your bible. It is essential that you think biblically. You must know why you believe what you believe. Take all of scripture that speaks on a matter. Do not disregard that which does not fit your lovely idea on the matter. Take the whole counsel of God. Let scripture interpet itself. Be ready and willing to conform to what scripture declares. Give liberty where scripture is silent or unclear. Be dogmatic where scripture is plain. Protect your family and the flock from false teachers. Spur one another along the narrow way.

Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone.

True salvation will always result in a transformed life. A lip confession without a heart change reality shown in the life is a false confession. Not salvation by works, but an internal change that reaults in a heart the desire to obey Christ.

Law, Liberty, License

Where do we as believer's in Christ stand with the Mosaic Law? Is any part of the Law binding on the disciple of Christ? What is the purpose of the Law?

I have been taught over the years probably the most common view of the Law in evangelical theology. This view appoarches these questions by dividing the Law into three separate parts; cerimonial, civil and moral. The teaching goes something like this. The civil code was applicable only to the nation of Israel which no longer exists in the form as known in the Old Testament so it has passed away. The cerimonial code was merely a foreshadowing of things to come which have passed away since Christ completed them. Leaving the moral code of the Mosaic Law still enforce today. After examining this view over the years I find myself at odds with it.

I do not agree with biforcating the Mosaic law into two parts (moral and other = part passed away the other still in force) nor do I hold to the idea of antinomianiam (against law = Lawlessness).

There are aspects of the moral code found in both the ceremonial and civil codes. There is no clean break between these man imposed dissections nor does the Word demand such divisions.

Matthew 5:17-20 17 "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 "Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 "For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Christ fullfilled all of the Law perfectly on our behalf. Does that mean we can do whatever we want to? We will get to that point later. First let's deal with the moral law of God.

The Mosaic Law contains principles and requirements that reflect God's eternal moral character, but it is not identical. The moral law of God is unchanging as is the moral character of God. The moral aspects of God are binding to all men in every era and land. They are based in the Holiness of God. They existed apart and before the Mosiac Law and continue after the Mosaic Law.

A distinction can be made between the Law and the eternal percepts we find in Christ. The greek word "nomos" is used to refer to the Law in scripture (Matthew 5:17). The greek word "entole" is used to refer to the precepts of Christ (1 John 2:7).

1 John 2:7-11 7 Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. 8 On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining. 9 The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 10 The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

The proof that we know Christ is found in our desire and adherance to the precepts of the eternal character of Christ. It is never because we subscribe to the Law of Moses. The obedience Christ wants from us is not legalistic obedience but gracious obedience - not based on fear but on love. Christ connects our obedience to love.

John 14:15 15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

It is worth noting that the fruit of the Spirit and the works of the Law are two very different things. Fruit is produced naturally - it comes forth because of the nature of the source. Work is produced through external effort - it is not naturally occuring.

So why was the law given? Paul answers this question.

Galatians 3:19 19 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.

The key words are added and until.

The law was added to the Abrhamic covenant but did not nullify that covenant. To show the exceeding sinfulness of man and the need for a savior. The law reveals we are under a curse in great neediness of God's mercy.

This is the significance of Christ bearing the curse for us. In His ressurrection we see the blessing of the Abrahamic covenant. The Law only brought a curse. The Promise to Abramham brought a blessing. The Law was added but only for a time - until Christ came, died and rose again. Christ is the end of the Law for the believer.

Romans 10:4-13 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. 6 But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: "DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, 'WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?' (that is, to bring Christ down), 7 or 'WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)." 8 But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART "-- that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."

The Old testament pointed toward the ending of the Mosaic Convenant. This does not mean there is not value in the studying the law.

2 Timothy 3:14-17 4 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

So what is left? God is left and God's moral precepts have never changed.

One other point that needs to be mentioned. Have you heard some use the term we are not under the law but under grace? The only way I have ever heard the used in when some seek to justify their sin. This is as great of an error as one saying we must keep the Law. Paul addressed this in Romans 6 and in Galations 5. Others will say it is all about love, this statement is true only make sure it is love as God has defined it.

Legalism = The return to the yoke of the Law.

License = The return to the yoke of SIN.

Both of these are grevious errors!

So where are we to stand?

Christian Liberty. It is neither license nor legalism.

Liberty = The freedom from sin. The freedom to obey Christ out of true love. The freedom to produce good fruit, fruit of eternal value.

Galatians 5:16-18 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

Elders: Equals or 1st Among Equals

The idea of elders leading out among those that gather together as the church is not an idea of man but of God. The scriptures teach us that elders are to rule and watch over the local flock. What does God have in mind when it comes to ruling?

Mark9:35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

God’s design of ruling is to be a servant. We are to put the good of others before one’s self. This applies not only to the elder but to all believers. We are to serve in a way that we honor and glorify Christ.

Many times we call the elders the “ministers”. This is a great misnomer. Elders are responsible to equip the flock for ministry, help them lead each other into maturity, teach and apply the Word and are accountable to God for their oversight. They are to exercise their care of the flock after the servant-pattern of Christ. The flock is to be the ministers as equipped by those so gifted.
(Acts 20:28; Heb. 13:17; Eph. 4:11-12; 1 Thess. 5:12; 1 Pet. 5:1-3)

The elder is the one who is doing the work of an elder because God has called him to that not man. Whether or not man recognizes it does not change the reality of it.

It is the ordination of God and not the ordination of man that matters. The church is simply to recognize what God has already done. Too many men in the evangelical church have called themselves to the work and pay of an elder - not God.

Leaders that wish to be called pastor should reflect upon Matthew 23:8-10. If this is to be our practice then we should refer to some as brother encourager, brother giver, sister hospitality. Christ set us an example to follow. He was God in the flesh and yet He submitted Himself to an equal authority, the Father. As well He submitted Himself to lesser authority, His parents and the government. We are to submit ourselves to one another in the fear of God. We must not set any person or position higher than that which we give to every fellow believer. We must guard against that which leads to pride.

Shall we have just one elder or a plurality of elders? I believe that the Bible teaches a plurality of elders and there is no precedence to put off implementing what God's word teaches.

Paul had elders (plural) appointed where there were none. No where do we find the case for a one man show. There is great danger in one elder leading. A lack of accountability. A tendency toward pride. A desire to maintain power and control. It could lead to the following a man and not Christ.

Shall we have a head elder, one more equal than the rest? Looking back at Mark 9:35 that view must be eliminated. All elders must be equal but each one should lead out where they are most gifted by God.

The elders must be willing to come together and honestly and openly examine each item before the church by the word of God. They must fast and pray until they come to a consensus. That consensus should then be brought before the church. And the church should follow after Christ.

Christ is the only head of the church - not a man. He is the sole authority and the final authority. We must have godly men serving the one true God to bringing glory and honor to Him through His body the church.

There can be no single self sufficient elder. There can be no elder more equal than the others. It is not about power or prestige, but it is about our Lord and Savior – Jesus Christ.

The elders are to rule and serve, but only according to the wisdom of God, not according to the dictates or desires of man.

Sherman

(These were a few thoughts I had on elders. We are currently dealing with some issues akin to this at the church we attend. They maybe a bit out of order and incomplete, but may perhaps be useful to some.)

The Revolving Door in America

Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage

The Christian churches are rife with programs that address blended families (we do seem to like terms that dress things up), divorce recovery, single again classes (sometimes again and again and again). This gives at least an outward appearance of love and acceptance, when it may really be an enabling excuse factor. Divorce and remarriage is a problem both of American society and the evangelical churches in America.

CNSNews.com Staff Writer January 21, 2002 states “Barna Research Poll, which indicated that 33 percent of born-again Christians end their marriages in divorce, roughly the same as the general population, and that 90 percent of those divorces happen after the conversion to Christianity.”

I am somewhat surprised it is not higher in churches than in general society. Many divorcees that attend church often remarry, as opposed to non-church going people that sometimes just live together. How many of those of those remarriages end in divorces - I don’t know.

It seems that the church has become more a reflection of society instead of the light of society. God’s people have always had the calling to be the headlights and not the tail-lights.

Deuteronomy 28:13"The LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully, 14 and do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

The most prevalent view that I have found in churches and church going people (whether in California or in the Bible Belt) today is one called the exception clause (maybe better put “for any cause”) from Matthew 5:32 and Matthew 19:9. This view holds that divorce is allowable when adultery has taken place in the marriage or when the unbelieving spouse leaves according to 1 Corinthians 7:15 (more on this one later).

Matthew 5:32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

Matthew19:9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.

I would like to take a different slant on this passage from Matthew 5 and 19 than some may have taken in the past. Years ago I would have agreed with the popular view, but as I have grown and had cause to study out the issue I have become convinced that this view is in error. I am sure what I am about to share is not an original thought - although I haven’t read anything else with articulating this view. I would like to look at the example we have in Joseph the husband of Mary.

Matthew 1:19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.

The Bible calls him a righteous man. I believe that we can conclude from this that the action he was contemplating was also righteous. Joseph found Mary to be pregnant during their betrothal period. During this time of 9-12 months it would prove or disprove a woman’s purity. I believe this to be the proper understanding of the comments of Christ on the subject. That this being a binding relationship that had not yet been consummated could be dissolved (DIVORCE) and the man be under no penalty or obligation (free to re-marry).

The EXCEPTION CLAUSE I believe is just that. We are always looking for a legal loophole. God has imparted to the believer a heart of reconciliation, not a heart of escapism.

Dating, marriage, divorce and remarriage have been to easily accepted by the main-stream (sounds a little too much like of the world not just in the world) Christian community. This philosophy has been perpetuated, programatized and approved of by churches. It advocates a trying it before you buy it philosophy and if you don’t like it throw it away and get another one.

Let’s now look at the unbeliever married to the believer:

1 Corinthians 7:5 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.

I have heard some people use this excuse, “Well so and so is acting like an unbeliever so I can divorce them.” No where in here do I find that the believer is allowed to initiate the divorce. It is only the unbeliever that is free to leave. Again there seems to be this underlying desire to put a spiritual stamp of approval on ungodly actions. God’s stance on divorce has not changed.

Malachi 2:16 "For I hate divorce," says the LORD, the God of Israel, "and him who covers his garment with wrong," says the LORD of hosts. "So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously."

OK, now what do we do with those that have been divorced and remarried but get saved after-the-fact or a believer that repents from the sin of divorce.

Some would say they must separate - rather a divorce to mend the sin of divorce (this is a very simplified view of this doctrine). This doesn’t seem consistent to me with other scriptures that deal with sin. How about, “Let him who was a covenant breaker break them no more.” Do we fix one sin by committing another?

Ephesians 4: 28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.

The real question might come down to after the person repents what action should they take. Are they living in a continual state of adultery while they remain in the remarried state? It would seem that this sin is not unlike other sins and not somehow worse. All sin separates us from God! I have known people that are saved yet remarried but still see the fruit of God at work in their life and a brokenness over their past. If it is a perpetual state of adultery this could not be. Rather I would say the act of remarriage is the sin of adultery. I know that there are many who would and could debate this opinion, but please read on.

If you have one who as a “believer” and has a track record of divorce and remarriage as well as justifying their actions, this is a major problem and warning sign to us. For the one that is still looking to justify their actions - there is no repentance - no desire to conform to the word of God. This is inconsistent with a true believer’s heart.

The church must teach the truth about the importance and sacredness of marriage. But we must not close off fellowship with those that come from broken marriages that have repented and turned. We must be careful not to define what their turning will result in - what it must look like. We don’t find in scripture Christ telling the Samaritan woman the course of action she must take if she is to prove she is really saved. Let God move their hearts to conform and obey His Word. Let us give counsel as we best understand the scriptures but let God do any separating or bringing together. Let us not set some sins as more unforgiveable than others. We are all at best wretched worms in desperate need of God’s mercy and grace.

These are just a few of my thoughts on the subject. It is not meant to be an exhaustive treatment of the issue. I would challenge each one to examine what scripture has to say on the subject. Approach it as best you can without preconceived notions. Can you arrive at your views from scripture alone, not following predetermined arguments or logic? Let the word interpret itself and diligently apply it to your own heart first. Share your life with others be involved fellowshipping and spurring one another on to good works.