Divorce under the civil law of the various jurisdictions results in the dissolution of the matrimonial regime. This ends the legal union of marriage and the marital obligations thereunder in such a way that the parties are no longer husband and wife. Divorce law varies depending on the state and the country. But this discourse does not deal with civil divorce. The subject of this article is biblical divorce.
Marriage, as I have written before, is a creation ordinance established by God (Gen. 2:24). Marriage is between one man and one woman (Matt. 19:4-6) and is a picture of the covenant between Christ and His bride, the Church (Gen. 2:22-24; Eph. 5:22-33). The marriage ordinance is a divine institution constituted by God and He ordained marriage between a man and a woman as the indispensable condition of the continuance of the human race. Any other intimate relationship between human beings is not marriage according to holy Scripture.
God has determined that the marital regime shall continue until the death of one of the parties (Matt. 19:6). Knowing beforehand that human beings are fallible and that many would break the marital bond in disobedience to God, He allowed Moses, under the old covenant, to allow the giving of certificates of divorce (Matt. 19:7; Mark 10:4). Under the new covenant, Jesus established only two causes other than death that would justify dissolving the marriage, sexual sin (Matt. 5:32, 19:9) and willful abandonment by an unbelieving spouse (1 Cor. 7:15).
God’s ordinance of marriage is a permanent bond (Matt. 19:6) and cannot be dissolved voluntarily on the whim of the parties or by any act of the church or the state. The word of God supersedes all church and state authority. Even though a divorce is legal under the law of a civil jurisdiction it can still be contrary to God’s commands.
Biblical divorce is justifiable only upon these two grounds. Divorce not based upon these two grounds is an offense against God and the party or parties committing the offense possess the guilt for the divorce. Scripture is clear that divorce not grounded on these two exceptions does not dissolve the marriage bond. Even though God has permitted divorce in certain situations, his will has always been and remains that marriage is for life.
In the case of a marriage in which one of the parties is a believer and the other is an unbeliever, if the unbeliever consents to stay in the marriage, then the believing party is not allowed to divorce the unbelieving party (1 Cor. 7:12-13). Where both the husband and the wife are Christians, barring sexual infidelity, the marriage is indissoluble, and they may not be divorced (1 Cor. 7:10-11). However, there is an implication that might be drawn from this Scripture and we see it in verse 11 “but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband.” Some scholars have suggested that the apostle may be implying the principal that there could very well be causes which justify a Christian woman’s leaving her Christian husband temporarily without dissolving the marriage bond. For example, if the husband was abusing the children, this does not justify divorce, but the non-offending wife in this case, may be forced to temporarily leave for the protection of her children while the offending spouse gets Christian counseling and restoration.
The legislatures and governing bodies of the various cities, states, and countries (“the state”) exist because God allows them to exist (Rom. 13:1) and they are bound to conform their laws to the moral law of God. But governmental functionaries infrequently seek to obey God when creating laws. Nevertheless, the state has no right to pass laws that will force a Christian to violate God’s law. And though Scripture tells us that we are to be obedient to civil authority and pay our taxes, etc. (Rom. 13:1-7), our obligation to obey God is above all civil authority and where the two conflict, we must obey God first.
All things considered, just because the state passes divorce laws (and marriage laws) that conflict with biblical truth, this doesn’t mean that Christians are permitted to take advantage of these legal but restive laws. Quite the contrary, just because these laws exist doesn’t mean we have to practice what these laws decree. Take for instance, abortion which is legal in many jurisdictions in this country. But abortion is a sin because it kills a human being when the unborn human being is in the mother’s womb (Jer. 1:5; Is. 49:1; Ps. 139:13; Gal. 1:15; Is. 44:24; Job 31:15;), so Christians should not practice abortion or enable abortion. Likewise divorce, Christians should utilize civil divorce laws only as far as they are consistent with God’s word.
Regarding the sin of divorce. If you have been guilty of divorce, meaning that you bear the guilt of your divorce which was outside the two biblical exceptions, should you go around with a dark cloud of divorce constantly hovering over your spirit? Of course not. The Bible teaches that God will forgive our sins (Ps. 86:5), He will erase them (Acts 3:19), and He will not remember them (Jer. 31:34) for those who acknowledge their sin and request forgiveness in contrition and repentance. People cannot change their past actions but as a child of God, the believing sinner can ask for forgiveness and he or she will be forgiven by a just, gracious, and merciful God. Forgiveness is just a contrite, repentant prayer request away from reality.
1 comment
Nolton
Since I have survived 2 divorces, which made me shy away from God and the way I was a true believer, this article helps me put my divorces in perspective and realize I can be forgiven. Thanks for this ultimate relief.