BIBLICAL DIVORCE & REMARRIAGE

By Joseph John Bowman

It is one of the most controversial subjects that local churches and congregations face today. Believers wonder how to treat those among them who have been divorced and remarried. Some brethren take a hard line stand and disavow any future relationship with these believers. The question we have to face is what does the Word of God have to say on

• Language: English
• Publisher: TOPLINK PUBLISHING, LLC
• Release date: May 24, 2019
• ISBN: 9781733055994

Joseph John Bowman

The author is a Canadian born in British Columbia. He was saved at the age of seven. At the age of thirteen, he was baptized by immersion in a small town in B.C. Following that, he came into the fellowship of the local Church. He then moved to Edmonton, Alberta to attend a Bible School and has lived there for over forty years. He met his wife there, and they have two sons and seven grandchildren. He has served in the place he worships as an elder and Bible teacher as well as an evangelist. During the last ten years, he has spent much time putting the truths of the Bible to paper. He has spent more time studying his Bible, and as a result, trusts that these thoughts on the Scriptures will be a help and encouragement to you.

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Biblical

Divorce

And

Remarriage

Joseph John Bowman

Copyright © 2019 by Joseph John Bowman.

Paperback:  978-1-7330559-8-7

eBook:  978-1-7330559-9-4

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

All Scripture quotations – unless otherwise stated – are from the King James Version of the Bible. (It is known otherwise as the Authorized Version.)

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Printed in the United States of America

For your information, the following books were written by the same author:

Heaven My Celestial Home

The Gospel According to John 3:16

Contents

Preface

Introduction

Chapter One – The Uncleanness of the Wife

Chapter Two – Regulations Applied to Divorce

Chapter Three – Divorce Officially Recognized

Chapter Four – Divorce & Remarriage in the Assembly

Chapter Five – Legal Separation

Chapter Six – Protections in Marriage

Chapter Seven – Local Churches Responsibility

Chapter Eight – The King in Grace

Chapter Nine – Regulations by our Lord

Chapter Ten – God’s Original Plan

a) The Divine Will of God

b) The Divine Action of God

c) Human Responsibility

d) The Permissive Will of God

e) The Perfect Will of God

Chapter Eleven – Millennial Truth

Chapter Twelve – A Practical Example

Chapter Thirteen – Divorce in the Epistles

Chapter Fourteen – The Guilty Believer

Chapter Fifteen – Local Churches Responsibility to Forgive

Chapter Sixteen – One Flesh – One Body

Chapter Seventeen – A Sexually Tempted Believer

Chapter Eighteen – Marriage as a Perfect Picture

Chapter Nineteen – A Merciful God

Chapter Twenty – Personal Disclaimer

Chapter Twenty-One – Dwelling in Peace

Chapter Twenty-Two – Divorce from the Unbeliever

Chapter Twenty- Three – Historical Wickedness of Corinth

Chapter Twenty-Four – Paul’s Divorce Dilemma

Chapter Twenty-Five – Four Classifications

a) The Virgins

b) The Married

c) The Divorced

d) The Widow/Widower

Chapter Twenty-Six – Is all Divorce Wrong?

Chapter Twenty-Seven – Marriage Permission and Warnings

Chapter Twenty-Eight – Unique Problems Dealing with Remarriage Situations

Chapter Twenty-Nine – Divorce and Remarriage between a Believer and an Unbeliever

Chapter Thirty – Divorce and Remarriage between Believers

Chapter Thirty-One – Denying Local Church Protection

Chapter Thirty-Two – Do We show Legality or Shepherd Care?

Chapter Thirty-Three – Godly Church Order

Chapter Thirty-Four– Scriptural Reasons Given for a Christian Family

Chapter Thirty-Five – Positive and Negative Aspects of Remarriage

Chapter Thirty-Six – Divorce Before Salvation

Divorce; Question on Desertion of Marriage by J N Darby

Conclusion

Finale

Addendum – Greek Words used in the New Testament for Divorce

Bibliography

Biography

Preface

Divorce and remarriage are two parts of the same subject that are highly disputed. Ever since the beginning of the ordinance of marriage, there have been problems around this area. In the earliest days, a husband was able to leave, and divorce his wife for almost any reason imaginable. The wife was without any protection. She had no recourse. God in His grace gave us some laws governing how His people should treat both parties in a divorce. God also gave an allowance for both parties to be remarried. However, He laid down specific laws that would govern how and when this activity was to function.

As the years went by, the Nation of Israel added to the regulations God had given them. In the law of Moses, or as it was known, the Torah, there were six hundred and thirteen laws. In themselves, they presented an overwhelming number of rules and regulations for the Nation to keep. However, over all of the God-given laws, there were the Traditions of the Elders. In number, they became more than those laid down by the Lord. In the mind of Jewish leaders, they also were held in a place of higher prominence. If these laws stated something as allowable or wrong, the Jews abided by their allowances. Many of these traditions added to the content of what God said. Some even changed what God meant when he gave the Law. The traditions were what man thought God should have said when He gave, the Law. In that, Jewish leaders were a law unto themselves. They were no longer accountable to God. However, the people were accountable to them. It was a sad state that the Nation found themselves in, as they no longer accepted the Word of God having the final say in life and death. When the leaders of the people made these determinations, there was no further discussion about whether or not they were legal. In themselves, these traditions were of more force than God’s law.

Because of these circumstances, the attitudes towards divorce in the Nation changed. Divorce became much more accessible. As well, the divorced wife was now in an unfortunate situation. It was this situation that the Lord Jesus was dealing with in the Gospels.

When we come to the Church Age, the attitude of believers was that divorce and all that came from it was wrong. Divorce was, therefore, an unfortunate situation that had no solution. Paul sought to correct any errors by his teaching.

As time went by, believers started becoming more legal. Legalism was a defense against the possibility of being too liberal. Unfortunately, both are wrong. Going too far one way brings no more pleasure to God than going too far the other way. Later in history, the corporate gathering of believers became what is known as the Roman Catholic Church. They sought to unite both the traditions of man and the early Church, with the Word of God. As they did, they took a hard line stand against divorce. In itself, it became an almost unforgivable sin. Remarriage was not to be considered. Either of these actions would result in excommunication from the Church.

These attitudes continued after what was called the Protestant Reformation. However, there were those later who saw the error in this attitude. As they sought to justify the teachings of men on this doctrine with what was in the Epistles they saw inconsistencies. One of the main reasons for their change was the repugnance that the believers had towards anyone who was divorced. These believers understood this attitude could not be right. However, the issue was that divorce was seen as being against the plan of God for a believer. Therefore God would not countenance those divorced in His presence. God could certainly not allow remarriage. As they saw God displayed in this attitude, His love and grace was nowhere displayed.

That was a fatal weakness. God is a just God who must judge sin. However, He also is a God who longs to forgive His people. He desires that each of His own has fellowship with Him. As well as having a personal fellowship with God, God plans that each of His people has fellowship corporately. He recognized that we all need the fellowship, and care, and upbuilding, of His people in a local setting. There are problems involved in this association becoming a reality. However, the God who solved the problem of our redemption can restore those who have departed from Him to fellowship once again. We will look at how God devised a plan whereby this may come to fruition.

Introduction

In the following pages, I want to deal with an issue that has often been considered taboo amongst the people of God. However, it is of vital importance to the growth and development of every individual local Church, as well as the members who make up a part of them. The subject under discussion Is whether or not God recognizes divorce? and then If someone divorced can ever get remarried? Finally, If such a condition should transpire can they ever be received into the fellowship of God’s local gathering?

I understand that this is an extremely controversial issue with many different opinions on both sides. I beg the forbearance of the brethren as I try to lay out this very delicate subject the way that I have come to see it from the Word of God. For when we come right down to it, we cannot decide on what I or someone else thinks, but what the Word of God has laid out in the Scriptures of Truth. I trust then I will not cause offense to any, or be a cause of stumbling. My heart desires that this paper will result in the strengthening of God’s people and that local gatherings of believers will be better equipped to go on for God in the midst of a wicked and corrupt generation.

I will say right from the start of this paper that I did not always feel this way. For years, I held the most conservative viewpoint on this subject. I believed that all divorce was wrong and that no one who was in this state could ever have another marital union. If such an unfortunate circumstance occurred, it would be impossible to see them ever received into the fellowship of local gatherings. It was with help given by some brethren whom I hold in very high esteem, and a detailed and consecutive study of the Holy Scriptures, that I came to the position that I now hold.

I appreciate that this stand will not be the most popular and that all the brethren will not take it. How this issue is accepted is split between different gatherings of the Lord’s people. Various places take different stands, with some going to extremes either one way or the other. As well, because of the diverse nature of this issue, many places will not even discuss the various aspects regarding divorce and remarriage. Whatever stand the eldership takes, they often refuse to look at what the other side holds. This position is often self-defeating, as it confuses and hides the real cause of concern behind this issue.

However, I understand that which is to follow is the plain teaching of our Bible. As such, we are under the dictates of God to bow to it. I recognize the problems associated with this position on the matter. However, I think that it is very timely in light of the difficulties and complications we find in today’s society.

Most assemblies have faced this problem or will face it in the future if the Lord’s coming is not hastened. It is not good enough to pretend that the problem does not exist, or that it will go away, or it is someone else’s difficulty. It is facing us all. For that reason, God has given us clear, understandable teaching in His Word on how we are to deal with individuals thus involved. We are under an injunction to both read and follow the Scriptures.

As we look at this topic, let us bear in mind the picture our Lord gave portraying the assembly in Luke 10:30-36. At the side of the road was a man who was half-dead. Three men came along, and two were unable to help the wounded man.

The priest came first, and we read he passed by. The reason for this is the priest always required a sacrifice to bring the offeror to God. The man at the wayside had nothing to offer. The priest was of no help because the man had no means to purchase a sacrifice. He was unable to offer one if he had it. The priest was unable to help because the man did not have the means demanded to come before God.

The Levite came next, and he too could not help, because the Levite required the keeping of the law. The man was unable to perform any good works; because he lay by the side of the road half dead. He was powerless to perform any of the works the Law demanded. In the condition, the man was in the Levite considered him unclean. As a result, the Levite was helpless to assist the wounded man in any way.

We are told that neither the law nor offerings can save a sinful soul. The demands of the law cannot make anyone whole. It but proves a soul’s unworthiness. We find that no one can keep the law to the satisfaction of He who gave it. Therefore, it can provide salvation to no seeking soul. The offerings cannot save. For, though they provide momentary forgiveness, it will not satisfy for the eternal forgiveness of the offerer. These offerings need to be continually offered. No one offering was sufficient to satisfy a holy God forever. The man at the side of the road did not have even one sacrifice. It was impossible for him to supply an endless supply. For that reason, neither the deeds of the law nor the ceremonies of the priesthood were able to save his soul.

What we see is the story of One who could help because He showed the love of God to the wounded. It is the account of the Good Samaritan and how He cared for the one who was left wounded and half dead. We learned that He took him to an inn and provided for him.

The Good Samaritan is a picture of our Lord. The Inn portrays to us the local Church. Many come to us wounded and half-dead, and to our shame, we turn them away because we do not want to deal with their problems and infirmities from their past. We consider them to be High maintenance and do not wish to put the required effort into their care. Either that, or we consider the sins they were guilty of too bad for acceptance into the local Church. We claim that the holiness of God’s place of worship would be put under dispute if these individuals became part of it. We seem to think that God only desires to save and have fellowship with those whose lives are and were holy. We believe He will save sinners. However, those who were sinners are now placed at a distance from His people. We fear that their past lives could contaminate us. That attitude is carried towards those who are saved and have sinned. We state that God can forgive all the sins of a believer and restore them to fellowship with Himself. It is not enough for them to have fellowship in the local Church. We, therefore, pass the wounded believer by on the side of the road, even though our Saviour stopped and gave him aid.

The shame is that while the Good Samaratian desired to save the sinner those in the Inn would not accept him. How can we have the nerve to refuse one whom the Shepherd of the sheep has brought to the fold? If God can save them how can we judge them as unworthy? Who are we to stand in a position of judges over one whom God had justified? Paul told us,

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1).

We accept this truth as regards their salvation. However, we condemn believers because of inconsistencies in their lives. We will not accept them because their lives contained sins that we disapprove. We cannot forgive the believer of sins God has remembered no more (Hebrews 10:17). It is blatant hypocrisy. God will not, and cannot bless that attitude among His people.

Unfortunately, this is one issue that while we managed to escape dealing with it in the past, we must face now. I would like to, in a non-judgmental manner present what I most firmly believe to be the teachings of God’s Word on this subject. I humbly beseech the brethren to look at what is written while doing a careful study of it.

My wife reminded me of an adage that must be discarded. Although we do not like to accept it, we often do not appreciate changing our stands on areas we have long held. The point I want to make is summed up in the following words.

Convince a man against his will, he is of the same opinion still.

Read the Scriptures prayerfully and carefully as you make decisions that will affect many dear Christians and the gatherings with which they are numbered. We will be responsible for our decisions long after they are made and their results will affect the people of God in many lands and places.

Please do not either accept it or reject it because it came from me but search and try earnestly to find what God wrote in His Word. Then try to obey it to the best of your abilities, and I believe that God will give discernment in all things.

Chapter One –

The Uncleanness of the Wife

God in the Law, the Lord Jesus in His teachings, and the apostle Paul in the Epistles, all give teaching on divorce, and remarriage.

In the following passage, God recognizes divorce. He not only acknowledges that a divorce will take place, but He puts restrictions on its activities. By so doing He protects the wife. Previously, she had been considered an outcast. She was now given a place of equality in Jewish society. She was now permitted to marry again. God, does not forbid remarriage. Neither does He place any restrictions on this act. The only prohibition we have is the one found at the end of the following passage. It must be noted that the regulations in the time we are looking at do not regulate us as believers