Most Bible-believing people honor marriage’s sanctity since we believe God made it sacred. However, even Christians are not exempted from the trials in marriage. Many couples end up with separation and divorce despite knowing God is not in favor of it. So, is divorce and remarriage an unforgivable sin?
Before we answer the question, let us start by understanding how God views marriage and divorce. Keep reading below:
What the Bible Says About Marriage
1. A Man Becomes One Flesh with a Woman.
According to the Scripture, marriage unites a man and a woman. They become one flesh. The consummation of marriage through sexual union symbolizes that their bodies and souls have been joined together. This is the reason why physical intimacy must be saved for marriage.
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)
2. The Marriage Should Not Be Undefiled.
Since marriage is sacred, the husband and wife should protect it from impurity. So how does it become impure? The top cause is infidelity. Cheating, especially if the involved spouse engages in intercourse with the third party, defiles the marriage bed.
“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” (Hebrews 13:4)
“‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Mark 10:7-9)
What the Bible Says About Divorce
3. God Hates Divorce.
Since God has joined the husband and wife to be one, they must not separate. God is not in favor of divorce. In fact, He said that He hates it. Therefore, if the Lord Himself hates it, Christian couples should protect their marriages from divorce.
“For I hate divorce,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “and him who covers his garment with wrong and violence,” says the Lord of hosts. “Therefore keep watch on your spirit, so that you do not deal treacherously [with your wife].” (Malachi 2:16)
4. It is Allowed Because of People’s Stubbornness.
So, how did divorce find its way to the Scriptures? According to Jesus, God, through Moses, had no choice but to allow it due to the stubbornness of His people. However, this does not mean that He already permits it. It does not change His original plan for marriage to last for a lifetime. So, is divorce and remarriage an unforgivable sin?
“He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.” (Matthew 19:8)
5. There are Legitimate Reasons for Divorce.
Nevertheless, there are only a few legitimate reasons for divorce in the Bible. One is when the other spouse commits an extramarital affair. And the other one is if the unbelieving spouse cannot tolerate the believer’s faith. In both circumstances, their partners are not accountable to the Lord anymore. They can be freed from the marriage.
“And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.” (Matthew 19:9)
“But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.” (1 Corinthians 7:15)
6. Remarriage is a Sin of Adultery
According to the Bible, a remarriage is an act of adultery. Therefore, those who marry divorced individuals are considered to be adulterers. Why? Because these divorcees are still one with their former spouses.
“And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.” (Matthew 19:9)
Is Marrying Again a Perpetual Sin?
7. Remarriage is Only Acceptable if the Spouse is Dead.
If you are wondering if there is any acceptable reason for remarriage, there is one—and that is the death of the spouse. The partner left behind by the person is released from the marriage bond. They already have the freedom to marry another person.
“For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.” (Romans 7:2-3)
8. Yes, Remarriage (outside #7) is a Sin.
So, to answer if remarriage is a sin—yes, it is. As long as the ex-spouse is still alive, a divorcee is not allowed to have a sexual relationship with someone else, let alone get married again. Both that person and the new spouse will be guilty of adultery.
“Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive.” (Romans 7:3)
9. Another Divorce is Not the Solution.
So, what if you have already remarried? How can you correct the situation if you want to be right with God? Should you divorce your new spouse? Absolutely not! That will be another divorce, which is another sin. What you need to do is repent from the sin–better if both of you and your current spouse–by confessing it before God. Humble yourself before the Lord. He will forgive you, just like your other sins, and purify you.
“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
10. God Still Honors the Second Marriage.
As you can observe in the following Scripture, the Bible says that the woman (or a man) who becomes someone else’s spouse cannot return to her first husband anymore. This just proves that God considers the legitimacy of a second marriage.
“and if after she leaves his house she becomes the wife of another man, and her second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, or if he dies, then her first husband, who divorced her, is not allowed to marry her again after she has been defiled. That would be detestable in the eyes of the Lord. Do not bring sin upon the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.” (Deuteronomy 24:2-4)
11. Be Faithful to the New Spouse
So, instead of thinking about another divorce, the best way to stop the sin is by taking care of the new marriage. It should be honored just like the first one.
“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” (Hebrews 13:4)
Remarriage Can Be Forgiven
So, do you now know the answer to the question, “Is divorce and remarriage an unforgivable sin”? Again, remarriage is considered a sin if the former spouse is still alive. However, God can forgive you if you genuinely repent from it. To correct the situation, you and your new spouse must make sure your new marriage will last this time.
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