GOD’S WORD TO THE SEPARATED.

PREACHER: REV. DR. WILLY MUTISO.

TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 7 : 10 – 16.

INTRODUCTION:
We live at a time when the institution of marriage is under serious attack. It is difficult to preach about divorce, but divorce touches each one of us either directly or indirectly. I do realize that divorce and remarriage is a sensitive issue, but God has spoken about it. Let us this morning hear God’s Word to the separated.

I: Understanding the marriage deterioration process.
Marriage relationship predictability deteriorates through the following five phases:
Phase I. Romance – happiness and oneness are goals, but the couple has no plan.
Phase II. Transition – adjustments to each other brings disap- pointments.
Phase III. Reality – realities of life sober the relationship. Struggles to change each other set in. Disappoint- ments begin.
Phase IV. Retaliation – resentment, bitterness, fights. Hus- band and wife fight.
Phase V. Rejection – Physical separation. Divorce. Emotional separation. Withdrawal.

II: There is a clear Word (1 Cor. 7:10-11).
A: In the beginning of this section, Paul talks to Christians who may be experiencing strain in marriage.
The Word from God is: “Do not divorce.”
Jesus Himself said the same thing (Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18).

B: The situation during Paul’s day.
Divorce was rampant (15-20 times in a lifetime).
Paul tells the Corinthians that God has a higher standard when it comes to marriage.
Society may have problems in this regard of marriage, divorce, and remarriage.

C:The clear implication from this passage is that when two people are in marriage, they become one flesh (Gen. 2:24).
They are an illustration of Christ and the Church union (Eph. 5:22-33).
Divorce brings dishonor to the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

D:However, the Lord allowed for divorce in strict situations.
Despite the fact that God’s will is that husbands and wives stay together until death (Mark 10:9).
Currently, the main reason for divorce is “irreconcilable differences.” However, for Christians, there is nothing like “ID.” So v.11 says, “be reconciled or remain unmarried.”
If you remarry in such a situation, it amounts to adultery (Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18).

E: Summary Statements:
1:God never intends for anyone to get a divorce.
2:Christian couples should never divorce but seek reconciliation for their differences.
3:Divorce should be eliminated from the Christian’s vocabulary. It is never an option.
4:Divorce is never commanded in any situation.
5:Divorce disqualifies you from leadership in the Church.
6:Divorce is a sin, but not the unforgivable sin.
7:Those who have been through divorce are not second-class; God loves them.

III: A conditional Statement (1 Cor. 7:12-16).
A: A couple where one is a believer and the other is not (2 Cor. 6:14).
B: If the unsaved partner is willing to live with the saved one, then the Christian should not divorce.
C:The saved partner has an opportunity to lead the unsaved partner to the Lord (v.14 and 16).
D: v.15 states that if the unbelieving partner leaves the marriage, the believer is under no “bondage”, but should there be remarriage?

IV: A Clarifying Word (Matt. 5:23; 19:3-9).
In these two passages, Jesus Christ addressed the area of divorce and remarriage.
A: A challenge from the Pharisees (Matt. 19:3).
1: Rabbi Shammai taught that divorce could happen because of sexual immorality. Any kind of sexual sin broke the marriage covenant and released the innocent party to remarry again.
2: Rabbi Hillel taught that a man could divorce his wife for any reason, even developing a pimple or wrinkle! This was the teaching during Jesus Christ’s day. A misapplication of Deut. 24:1-4.
B: Confrontation from the Master (Matt. 19:4-8).
They asked Jesus, “What about divorce?”
Jesus Christ asked them, “What about marriage?”
Christ said marriage is permanent.
Christ said divorce was allowed only because of “hardness of heart.”
God intends for one husband, one wife, for one lifetime.

C: Condition from the Master (Matt. 19:9).
The only legitimate exception from the “no-divorce” rule is illicit sexual activity.
1:What Jesus means by “fornication” (porneia) is illicit sexual intercourse: adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality.
Sexual intercourse with close relatives.
Anything of a sexual nature that happens outside the marital union is fornication and is ground for divorce.

2: Is the innocent partner required to seek a divorce? Divorce is allowed but never commanded.
The Bible allows remarriage in three instances:
In the event of the death of a spouse (1 Cor. 7:39).
In the event that the believing spouse is abandoned by an unbelieving spouse (1 Cor. 7:15).
In the event that one spouse is engaged in a lifestyle of unrepentant sexual immorality.

CONCLUSION:
Instead of concentrating on what to do when the bottom falls out, we need to focus on making the marriage that does exist as strong as possible. For those divorced, please know that God loves you. Seek for God’s forgiveness and live for Him.