Often in marriages, differences arise causing a heart that is not right with God. It has a tendency to increase the pressure on the relationship between a man and a woman. The Gospel warns us that we need a heart that is right with God full of peace and joy in anticipation of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are to follow peace and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.
The Bible speaks about a root of bitterness that can develop in us, which is really a sign that we are still in bondage which represents an open door to Satan.
According to the Scriptures, God created everything in this universe in a six day period, which includes humans, animals, birds, fish and all the various vegetation, the stars and planets. That is everything we see, hear, smell, touch and experience comes from God. That is why He states that there is no excuse for anyone. One will not be able to say to God face to face: "I'm sorry, I did not know you existed."
In the book of Acts it states: "For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and [in] the bond of iniquity." (Acts 8:23)Where does this root come from? From what we discussed before: "Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go [and] serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood." (Deuteronomy 29:18)
In the New Testament in Hebrews we are warned again. "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." (Hebrews 3:12,13)
Now what does all this have to do with marriage? Jesus in Matthew 5:31,32 "It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 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."
Taking this position, a couple who remarry under these circumstances place themselves into a position of becoming hardened through the deceitfulness of the sin of adultery, because they are living in a state of sin.
What is adultery? The Greek word used in the original Bible is "moichos": a male paramour apostate - adulterer. From that word are derived other similar words which relate to woman adulteresses.Not to change the subject, but if our world wants to discard the biblical teachings, many words will have to be removed from our language. Words like adultery would lose their substance. Webster's Dictionary describes adultery (especially a man): sexual intercourse between a married man and a woman, not his wife or between a married woman and a man not her husband. Now look at adulterate: illegitimate through adultery.. not genuine. And last "adulterator: a counterfeiter. Obviously these terms are based on biblical values.
In spite of this clear biblical statement by Jesus, many ignore a marital state founded on a previous divorce. Not even the present day church has much to say about it. In answer to the questions of Jesus's audience: "He saith unto them, "Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 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. His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with [his] wife, it is not good to marry." (Matthew 19:7-10)
Why would Jesus say that it is not good to marry after a divorce? When we ignore God and fear Him not, our protection from the adversary is gone. Look what happened to the Jews over time. Satan is relentless and still is in hot pursuit of the Jews ultimately to destroy them. Why are the Jews in this situation? They troubled God with their on and off routines until He said enough is enough. One can liken it to a dysfunctional marriage. It hardens hearts over time, even God's heart.Jeremiah 3:8 relates God's statement: "And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the
harlot also."
People are under the impression that God meant for people to get married since Eve was created for a helpmate to Adam. Paul, who was the spokes person for the Holy Spirit answered such questions with this Scripture: "Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: [It is] good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, [to avoid] fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
"Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. "Defraud ye not one the other, except [it be] with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. But I speak this by permission, [and] not of commandment. For I would that all men were even as I myself.
"But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to [her] husband: and let not the husband put away [his] wife." (1 Corinthians 7:1-9)
Why is marriage a hinderance in respect to God? There are several reasons: One is most likely a hardened heart. Take a case where you have a wife who is spiritual and a husband who wants his needs met regardless of how the wife feels about it. She wants to take God's advice and walk in the spirit and he listens to his desires and wants to walk in the flesh. Result is, the goal of peace and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord, becomes an unreachable goal.
Not only that Galatians 5:16-20 actually teaches that we must practice walking in the spirit to control our flesh. Obviously we have an ongoing dilemma, if we want to practice Gospel principles such as the following:
"[This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary
the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law."Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:16-20)
Pretty threatening, isn't it? God is interested in the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness and faith. How can we possibly resolve such conflict for those who are in this situation? They have ignored God's Word and remarried. Paul, under the Holy Spirit's guidance, reconciled the problem thus: "But this I say, brethren, the time [is] short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; And they that use this world, as not abusing [it]: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
"But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please [his] wife. There is difference [also] between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please [her] husband. And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
"But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of [her] age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. So then he that giveth [her] in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth [her] not in marriage doeth better.
"The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God." (1 Corinthians 7:28-40)
Living and walking in the spirit is being without sin. Sin applies to this world and we are subject to it as long as we are in the flesh. Lord Jesus, come quickly.