Just because I totally ignore the world’s debates over marriage, divorce, and remarriage, does not mean I hold a relaxed attitude towards what these terms mean. Even though I rooted around to get the original Greek meanings of some words in 1 Corinthians 7:20-28, it didn’t help with knowing who thou refers to in verse 28,
But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
Paul could be talking about a divorced person or he could be referring to someone who never got married.
Since verse 20 states,
Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.¹
it’s obvious that God has a reason for His timing of when He saves us.
The present distress that Paul mentioned in verse 26,
I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
combined with what Jesus said in John 15:19,
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
seems to refer to the persecutions that true Christians must face. How can there be present distress for those of the world in comparison to those out of the world?
It’s easier for me to grasp God’s meaning on the topic of marriage and divorce than it is to comprehend whether or not it’s a sin to remarry after becoming saved.
Before God calls a person to Christ, he does not submit to the Kingdom [rule] of God [heaven]. Before one is saved, human rule of some sort (self and/or government) is his final authority; after salvation, God is [Romans 2:15, Hebrews 8:10, and Hebrews 10:16]. That’s why strife exists between liberal lifestyles and Godly ones. It’s also why any kind of human government in this world is unstable and untrustworthy. Laws of the land become like viruses that are always mutating; they’re created for “…the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers.” [1 Timothy 1:9]
Because there are so many verses in scripture covering the topic of marriage and divorce, I will only mention Matthew 1:19-18,
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused² to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
to point out why I agree with the way couples were married when America began and the Five Reasons Why Christians Should Not Obtain a State Marriage License.
When America began, couples were considered married by signing their names in the family bible in front of witnesses. The government was not involved. There was no need for: “By the authority vested in me by the State of New York [or: Connecticut, California, Massachusetts, Vermont, Georgia, Michigan, Nebraska, Florida, Wyoming, Texas, Kansas, Virginia, Oklahoma, etc.] I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
I don’t need to explain why I believe it’s a sin for Christians to divorce no matter what their circumstances are in marriage, especially when there already is a well-written perspective on What God Hath Joined Together available. I, along with any other Christian, can only know in part… BUT some are closer than others when it comes to comprehending God’s word accurately.
Always remember Acts 17:11, “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and
searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
¹Other versions of wherein he was called—NIV, “…when God called him.”; NLT, “…when God called you.”; MSG, “…when God called your name.”; LBV, “…when God called him.”—help us to understand that calling here means a person’s circumstances when he becomes a Christian.
²Espouse — to promise solemnly or sacredly; to promise marriage.
