What DOES The Bible Say …

ABOUT

DIVORCE & REMARRIAGE?

In Times of Divorce …

“The Spirit Himself
bears witness with our spirit
that we are Children of God,
And if children, then heirs —
Heirs of God
And joint heirs with Christ,
IF indeed we SUFFER with Him”
(Romans 8:16)

We are told the true child of God will go through periods of trials, difficulties, pain, and suffering in this life. We may never know the “Why?” until we get to Heaven.

Regardless of our age, intellect, responsibilities, or experience, in God’s eyes we are still just little children, and when we fall into various trials He wants us to come to Him to seek His Will and His direction and to quit attempting to carry the burden ourselves.

This requires faith.

Jesus Christ stepped forth from eternity to become a man and endured much. He has felt the pain of sorrow, rejection, grief, and excruciating physical trauma. He knows how we are feeling during our times of suffering. He loves and cares for each of us and promises to help us through the difficult “storms” of life we will someday face.

Let’s seek God’s Word now which offers wisdom, guidance, instruction, and comfort to help endure the physical, emotional, and spiritual trials and pain of divorce.

Divorce and Remarriage

From A Biblical Perspective

“Because narrow is the gate,
and difficult is the way
which leads to life (in Heaven),
And there are few who find it.”
(Matthew 7:14)

A question similar to this was sent to me by a reader:

“What does the Bible say about Divorce and Remarriage?”

Since many marriages will incur some difficulties and bumps along the way (mine included), it is an important Bible study.

Whether you fall into the “Pre, Mid, or Post” Divorce struggle, we will soon find God has much to say about the many different facets which surround this very difficult topic.

We will find God’s Word provides instruction, wisdom, warnings, rebuke, mercy, forgiveness, comfort, and love.

We will also find that the deeper we delve into this subject the more we discover many of the issues surrounding divorce should not be taken too lightly from a Biblical perspective.

The objective here is to simply step back and listen to what God has to say about these things without much commentary.

This study is roughly divided into 4 areas …

Basic Biblical Issues to Remember
Remarriage: Serious Warnings to Consider
Dealing With the Pain and Suffering
God’s Promise of Grace, Mercy, and Forgiveness

BASIC BIBLICAL ISSUES TO REMEMBER

We will review some very basic Biblical laws and rules.

Let’s start by hearing God’s opinion concerning Divorce …

“For the Lord God of Israel says
That He hates divorce.”
(Malachi 2:16)

If God “hates” divorce, then whether you are in the Pre, Mid, or Post stage of this serious matter (no matter which side you are on), it is probably important for us to diligently and prayerfully consider a number (but certainly not all) of the important Biblical issues surrounding this difficult and painful subject of Divorce (and Remarriage).

Jesus Christ first challenges us by saying …

“IF you love Me (Jesus who is God),
You will keep My commandments.
(John 14:14)

The First Great Commandment

“Teacher, which is the
Great Commandment in the Law?”

Jesus said to him,

“You shall love the LORD
your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
and with all your mind.
This is the FIRST
and Great Commandment.
(If we love God we should do things that please God)
(Matthew 22:34-40)

The Second Great Commandment

“And the SECOND (great Commandment) is like it:
“You shall love your neighbor (and your spouse) as yourself.”
(We are to treat all others as we want to be treated)
(Matthew 22:34-40

Question: Is putting a spouse through the pain of divorce (and possibly remarriage) treating them the same way we would want to be treated if we were in their position?

The Bible teaches (and warns us) to have a “Fear of God”

Throughout the Bible we are instructed to “Fear the Lord,”

And great blessings are then promised to all who fear Him.

Question: If we fear God will we do those things He “hates”?

But, what IS the “Fear of the Lord?”

To have the fear of God means to fear the consequences of disobeying His Rules.

All of His Laws, Commandments, and Rules are lovingly given to protect us, and not to harm us.

“Moses said to the people,
“Do not fear, for God has come to test you,
That the fear of Him may be before you,
So that you may NOT sin.”
(Exodus 20:20

We are told God hates sin because it separates us from Him.

“The fear of the Lord
Is the beginning of Wisdom.”
(Proverbs 9:10)

Remember, God gave Adam and Eve just one Rule (or Law), and He gave it to them as a loving parent.

As He was showing Adam and Eve around the Garden He gladly told them they could play with and enjoy everything in the Garden except one thing. He then pointed out a specific tree and lovingly warned them to stay away from that Tree because its fruit was poison and they would die if they ate it.

This was just like any loving father or mother teaching and warning their kids not to put their finger in an electrical socket or drink from a poisonous insecticide bottle.

ALL of God’s Rules and Warnings we will find in this study are given to protect us because He loves us!!! He warns when we refuse to listen to His rules and warnings we place ourselves outside of His protection and into great danger from all that would hurt us (either in this life or the next).

In Hebrew the word “disobedience” can accurately be translated “refuse to listen.”

So, rather than feeling annoyed, rebellious, or angry when hearing God’s Rules, we should look at them as a gift which has lovingly been given to protect us and to provide us with a great peace, comfort, and security as we prepare for the many unknowns and difficulties which still lie ahead.

But, WHY does God hate Divorce?

A number of times in the Bible we are told God hates sin.

Then remember He also watched His beloved Son (who never sinned) obediently suffer and die upon the Cross for all of our sins in order to lovingly save us, (plus, we’re told God views the Church as His Son’s spouse or bride).

Let’s start looking at Divorce from God’s perspective …

Divorce Breaks Our Covenant with God …

Here are some of the common Wedding Vows:

“I, ___, take thee, ___, to be my wedded husband/wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my faith [or] pledge myself to you.”

When a Husband and Wife finish saying these words and say, “I do”, they have not only made a covenant with each other, but they have also just made a Covenant with God!

As we study the Bible we find it’s not a wise or prudent thing to ever break a covenant with God.

One good Biblical example of this can be found with the Gibeonites, Joshua, and King Saul.

The Gibeonites were a people who lived in ancient Canaan. They knew the Israelites had recently destroyed powerful (and seemingly invincible) Jericho and realized they would soon face Israel in battle as well.

So, they devised a plan to pretend they were a people from far, far away and prepared themselves to look as though they had traveled a great distance to meet with Joshua, the leader of the Israelites.

Joshua believed their deceptive lie and made a covenant (treaty) with them to allow them to live in peace (but in servitude to Israel). Joshua soon discovered the Gibeonites lived very close by and had LIED to him (Joshua 9:4-6).

However, since Joshua had made a covenant by giving them his word they were able to live under Israel’s protection.

Now, let’s fast forward around 400 years or so in time after Joshua and we will find that King Saul breaks this covenant with the Gibeonites and decides to attack them in order to destroy and remove them from the land. He kills many.

Later, sometime after David was made king over Israel and the land is going through a severe famine King David seeks the Lord’s counsel about it.

God tells him the severe famine is sent from God because King Saul broke Joshua’s covenant with the Gibeonites.

King David is then directed to hand over seven sons of King Saul to the Gibeonites to be executed for breaking the covenant (1 Samuel 21:1, 21:6, and 21:14).

This was over 400 years AFTER the covenant was made and God still remembered it, honored it, and severely punished Israel for breaking it!

This Biblical account was recorded in the Scriptures as a warning and a lesson for us all.

So, please don’t think that just because we might have said our wedding vows 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, 25 years, or 50 years ago that God has forgotten our covenant (promise) to Him.

From Proverbs …

“It’s foolish and rash
to make a promise to the Lord
before counting the cost.” (There will be a cost someday)
(Proverbs 20:25)

To God, Breaking a Covenant is like Lying or Deceiving

So, let’s take a moment to learn what God thinks (and says) about lying and deceiving …

Here’s what we’re told God thinks about lying …

“These six things
the Lord hates,
Seven that are detestable to Him …
– A proud look (pride, arrogance, selfishness, conceit)
– A lying tongue
– Hands that shed innocent blood
– A heart that devises sinful plans
– Eagerness and willingness to do wrong
– A false witness speaking lies
– One who sows discord among brethren
(Proverbs 6:16)

“Knowing this:
that the Law is not made for a righteous person,
but for the Lawless and insubordinate,
for the ungodly and for sinners,
for the unholy and profane,
for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers,
for manslayers,
for sexually immoral (fornicators),
for homosexuals (sodomites),
for kidnappers,
for LIARS,
for perjurers,
and if there is any other thing
that is contrary to sound doctrine.”
(1 Timothy 1:8-10)

“But the cowardly,
unbelieving,
abominable,
murders,
sexually immoral,
sorcerers (“pharmakeus”… includes both occult and drugs)
idolaters,
AND ALL LIARS
shall have their part
in the lake which burns
with fire and brimstone,
which is the second death.” (Hell)
(Revelation 21:8)

As we will find later in this study, the Bible clearly says God is a forgiving God who will forgive any and all who have sinned against Him. The Bible tells us we are all sinners who can be lovingly and completely forgiven.

Divorce can stem from “Covetousness”

“You shall not Covet …”
(Exodus 20:17 … the 10th Commandment)

“Marriage is honorable among all,
and the bed undefiled;
But fornicators and adulterers
God will judge.
Let your conduct be without covetousness;
Be content with such things as you have.”
(Hebrews 13:4-5)

A good Pastor once said that “Thou Shall Not Covet” is probably the least taught Commandment of them all.

We’ll try to make it simple.

To Covet is to be “Discontent” with whatever we have

The Greek language (which the New Testament was originally written in) is a very rich language and can provide meaning to words beyond our simple English translations.

The Greek language often provides “Antonyms” to words to help show the exact opposite meaning of a word.

So, to help understand the word “covet” it is helpful to find its antonym to see what the exact opposite meaning is.

The Greek antonym to the word covet is “contentment” or “being content.”

So, the Command not to “covet” basically means “You Shall Not Be Discontent with Whatever You Have.”

This also applies to husbands and wives. Often times Divorces stem from one spouse no longer being content with what they have. They want something (or someone) else which (or whom) they think will be better than what they have now. God also calls this a form of “idolatry.”

“Therefore put to death your members
which are on the Earth,
Fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire,
And covetousness, which is idolatry.”
(Colossians 3:5)

Divorce can often stem from “Pride”

Here’s what Pride often sounds like …

“Nobody is going to tell ME what to do!! (Not even God!)”
“I’ll do whatever feels right or good to me!!”
“I don’t care what anybody else thinks (you, the kids, or God)!!”

Pride is what got Satan thrown out of Heaven.

Now, let’s look at a small sampling of what God thinks about Pride …

“Pride disgusts the Lord.
Proud men (and women) will be punished.”
(Proverbs 16:5)

“These six things the Lord hates – yes, seven …
– A proud look (pride, arrogance, selfishness)
– A lying tongue (telling lies)
– Hands that shed innocent blood (violence)
– A heart that devises (or imagines) sinful plans
– Eagerness and willingness to do wrong
– A false witness speaking lies
– One who sows discord among brethren”
(Proverbs 6:16)

“Pride ends in destruction”
(Proverbs 18:12)

“Pride, lust,
and evil actions
are all sin”
(Proverbs 21:4)

Divorce can stem from Unforgiveness

“For IF you forgive men (or women) their trespasses,
Your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
BUT, if you do NOT forgive men their trespasses,
Neither will your Father
forgive YOUR trespasses.”
(Matthew 6:14) (This is a serious warning!)

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
Compassionate hearts,
Kindness,
Humility, (esteeming others better than ourselves)
Meekness, (not seeking revenge)
and Patience, (slow to anger, trusting God in painful and difficult times)
Bearing with one another (no arguing or complaining)
and, if one has a complaint against another,
FORGIVING each other.
As the Lord has forgiven you,
So you MUST also forgive.
And above all these put on love,
which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
to which indeed you were called in one body.
And be thankful!”
(Colossians 3:12-15)

Divorce can stem from Anger and the “Roots of bitterness”

“See to it that no one fails to obtain the Grace of God;
That no “root of bitterness” springs up
and causes trouble, and
By it many become defiled”
(Hebrews 12:15) (Beware! Bitterness can defile a person in God’s eyes)

“Be angry and do not sin;
Do NOT let the Sun go down on your anger,
And give no opportunity to the Devil …
(Beware! Anger can give Satan an entrance to destroy)
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths,
but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion,
that it may give grace to those who hear.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,
by whom you were sealed for the Day of redemption.
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger
and clamor and slander be put away from you,
along with all malice.
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another,
as God in Christ forgave you.”
(Ephesians 4:26-32)

Divorce can stem from breaking God’s Rules concerning husbands and wives

Wives are commanded to Submit and Respect their husband.

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.”
(Ephesians 5:22 and other places)

Wives are to submit to the authority of their husbands (this is for those occasions when the husband and wife are frozen in disagreement on an important matter and (just like an airplane or ship captain) God has assigned the responsibility (and authority) to make final decisions to the husband.

“Let the wife see that she RESPECTS her husband.”
(Ephesians 5:33)

This is important. God doesn’t command the wife to love her husband (as He does the husband love the wife), but He commands her to respect her husband. This can become a vicious cycle when a husband doesn’t show love to his wife she might stop showing him respect, and when the wife stops showing her husband respect he stops loving her in a Biblical manner.

Husbands are commanded by God to LOVE their wives

“Husbands, LOVE your wives,
as Christ loved the church
and gave himself up for her.”
(Ephesians 5:25 and other places)

“Let each one of you (husbands) so
LOVE his own wife as himself,”
(Ephesians 5:33)

This love that God commands is NOT a “Feeling.”

This love that God commands is filled with “ACTIONS!” …

Here, God teaches us Biblical Christian love is based on how we act and how we treat our wives (and all others) …

“Love is Patient (slow to anger) and
Love is Kind, (gentle)
Love does NOT envy;
Love does NOT parade itself,
Love is NOT puffed up (prideful);
Love does NOT behave rudely or arrogantly
Love does NOT demand its own way,
Love is NOT provoked,
Love thinks NO evil;
Love does NOT rejoice in sinful activities, but
Love Rejoices in the truth;
Love Bears all things,
Love Believes all things,
Love Hopes all things,
Love Endures all things.
LOVE NEVER FAILS.”
(1 Corinthians 13:1-8)

“As Christ loved the Church”…This Biblical definition of love is also a perfect description of Jesus Christ!

Just replace the word “love” with His Name and you will see.

Divorce can stem from Complaining and Arguing

“Do everything without complaining and arguing”
(Philippians 2:14 NLT) (These usually stem from Pride)

Study the story in Numbers 21:6 where many thousands died after God sent serpents among to people, and after the people confessed their sin God had Moses make the Serpent on the Pole to save them (also a prophecy of Christ on the Cross).

Do you know why God got angry and sent the fiery serpents?

It was because they were complaining and grumbling!!

Divorce today even has a Prophetic significance …

The significant rise in divorce rates over the past years seems to be consistent with what God warns we will see in “the last days” (around the time of the coming Apocalypse).

“But know this,
That in the last days
perilous times will come,
For men will be (Men = Mankind … both men and women)
Lovers of themselves,
Lovers of money,
Boasters,
Proud, (“Nobody is going to tell me what to do!!”)
Blasphemers, (mocking and joking about God and Jesus)
Disobedient to parents, (will not respect any authority)
Unthankful,
Unholy,
Unloving,
Unforgiving,
Slanderers,
Without Self-Control,
Violent (brutal),
Despisers of good,
Traitors, (We are now seeing this rising rapidly)
Headstrong,
Arrogant (haughty),
Lovers of Pleasure (feeding desires of the ‘flesh and eyes’)
rather than lovers of God,
(placing their pleasures and possessions above God)
having a FORM of godliness
(professing a belief … even going to church or synagogue)
but denying its power … “
(God’s power to help, heal, save, or even destroy)
(2 Timothy 3:1-5)

“But KNOW this,
That in the last days …
Evil men and impostors (Mankind … men and women)
will grow worse and worse,
DECEIVING (lying)
and being deceived.”
(2 Timothy 3:1, 13)

The Bible tells us God cannot lie and that He hates all lies.

God says truth is non-negotiable and is fundamental to His Law. In fact, the Bible tells us at least five times it is “impossible” for God to lie.

In the past, liars and perjurers were held accountable and dealt with harshly and severely. Today we see lying casually accepted in the news, in the movies, and on television. Lying is now being presented as funny and harmless.

This generation is unique in its reaction to liars and perjurers.

Unfortunately, most of those born after 1967 will have a very difficult time realizing the character traits listed above aren’t normal, or that there ever was any difference in how people generally acted, spoke, and behaved. While those born in the 1950’s or before can see and realize what a stark difference there is now in the generation alive today compared to those which came before.

Yet, it was mainly those born between 1948 and 1960 who were powerfully seduced, led, and swept into the darkness of this “new morality,” which quickly changed the way people (and many churches/synagogues) began to teach God’s Word.

It was the summer of 1969 when California Governor Ronald Reagan signed the first “no-fault divorce” statute into law. Since then, all states have enacted similar legislation.

Divorce may stem from Violence or Immorality

The prophetic rise of Violence and Immorality …

In the following prophecy, Jesus Christ warns the generation of the Apocalypse will be just like the generation living in the days of Noah, which God utterly destroyed with the Flood and warns the Generation of Armageddon will be morally corrupt and filled with violence…

Jesus warns …

“But as the days of Noah were,
so also will the coming
of the Son of Man be …”
(Matthew 24:37)

To help us understand this part of the prophecy, God DESCRIBES the generation of Noah …

“The Earth was (morally) CORRUPT before God,
(the Bible uses the word “corrupt” like smelly, rotting meat)
And the Earth was filled with VIOLENCE.
So God looked upon the Earth,
and indeed it was corrupt;
for all flesh had corrupted their way on the Earth.
And God said to Noah,
‘The end of all flesh has come before Me,
for the Earth is filled with violence through them;
and behold, I will destroy them
with the Earth.’”
(Genesis 6:11-13)

“For the Lord God of Israel says
That He hates divorce,
For it covers one’s garment with violence,”
(Malachi 2:16)

What does the Bible say about going to Court?

Today many Divorces will end up in divorce Court …

“Dare any of you, having a matter against another,
go to law before the unrighteous,
and not before the saints?
Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?
And if the world will be judged by you,
are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
Do you not know that we shall judge angels?
How much more, things that pertain to this life
If then you have judgments
concerning things pertaining to this life,
do you appoint those who are least esteemed
by the church to judge?
I say this to your shame.
Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you,
not even one,
who will be able to judge between his brethren?
But brother goes to law against brother,
(or married spouse against married spouse)
and that before unbelievers!”
(1 Corinthians 6:1-6)

“Now therefore,
It is already an utter failure for you
that you go to law against one another.
Why do you not rather accept wrong?
Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?
No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat,
and you do these things to your brethren!”
(1 Corinthians 6:1-8)

He’s telling us there are better (Godly and Biblical) ways to work out our problems and differences than going to court!!

REMARRIAGE: SERIOUS BIBLICAL WARNINGS

This section might feel a little painful to some and may even open an old wound.

However, it is critically important to learn and to know.

For some of you, as you read these verses please think of a young child who has cut or scraped themselves very badly and then tries to push you away and cry to try and stop you from cleansing the painful wound before bandaging it.

But, you know that the pain of administering the antiseptic which will allow the wound to fully heal and one day be unnoticeable will only last a few seconds.

For, as a good parent, you know if you don’t cleanse the wound and apply antiseptic, the wound will later become infected, fester, and perhaps even cause the loss of a limb or death.

God’s Word is our spiritual antiseptic and it does sometimes sting or even hurt (our pride) when we realize we have sinned in God’s eyes and we need to apply His antiseptic by admitting we’ve done wrong and repenting (turning from it) while sincerely seeking His forgiveness.

He promises to then lovingly and caringly cleanse our wound (sin) and remember it no more.

“If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and just
To forgive us our sins
And to cleanse us
from ALL unrighteousness.”
(1 John 1:9) (This verse is sometimes called “The Christian’s bar of soap”)

What DOES the Bible say about Remarriage?

“Furthermore it has been said,
‘Whoever divorces his wife,
let him give her a certificate of divorce.’
But I (Jesus Christ) say to you
that whoever divorces his wife (or husband)
for any reason
except sexual immorality
causes her to commit adultery;
And whoever marries a woman
who is divorced commits adultery.”
(Matthew 5:31-32)

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old,
‘You shall not swear falsely,
But shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’
But I (Jesus Christ) say to you,
Do not swear at all …
Neither by Heaven, for it is God’s throne;
Nor by the Earth,
for it is His footstool …
But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’
And your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ (God expects us mean what we say, and say what we mean)
For whatever is more than these
is from the Evil One (Satan).”
(Matthew 5:33-37, Mark 10:11-12, Luke 16:18)

“A wife (or husband) is bound by Law
as long as her husband (or wife) lives;
But if her husband (or wife) dies,
she (or he) is at liberty to be married
to whom she (or he) wishes,
only in the Lord.”
(1 Corinthians 7:39)

“Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife
for just any reason?”
And He (Jesus) answered and said to them,
“Have you not read that He (God)
who made them at the beginning
‘made them male and female,’
and said, ‘For this reason
a man shall leave his father and mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh’?
So then, they are no longer two but one flesh.
Therefore what God has joined together,
let not Man separate.” (Mankind … Men and Women)
(Matthew 19:3-6)

“For the woman who has a husband
is bound by the Law to her husband as long as he lives.
But if the husband dies,
she is released from the law of her husband.
So then if, while her husband lives,
she marries another man,
she will be called an adulteress;
But if her husband dies, she is free from that Law,
so that she is no adulteress,
though she has married another man.”
(Romans 7:1-3)

“Now to the married I command,
yet not I but the Lord:
A wife is not to separate (depart) from her husband.
But even if she does separate (depart),
Let her remain unmarried
or be reconciled to her husband.
And a husband is not to divorce his wife.”
(1 Corinthians 7:10-11)

In God’s Law we find “Adultery” is a serious offense …

“Now the works (or fruits) of the FLESH are evident,
Which are:
Adultery,,
Sexual Immorality (“Porneia” … sex outside of marriage)
Uncleanness,
Lewdness,
Idolatry, (Anything that replaces God as our comforter)
Drugs, (‘Pharmakeus’… also translated ‘sorcery’/occult)
Hatred,
Contentions,
Jealousies,
Outbursts of wrath,
Selfish ambitions,
Dissensions,
Heresies, (Anything that mocks God or Jesus)
Envy,
Murders, (Gossip and Slander are called “little murders”)
Drunkenness,
Revelries, (Power of a group drawing us away from God)
and the like,
Of which I tell you beforehand, (This is a warning!!)
Just as I also told you in time past,
That those who practice such things (willfully)
Will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God.” (Serious stuff!!!)
(Galatians 5:19-21)

As human beings we ALL can make a hundred excuses for why were justified in doing any number of things, but remember, God looks into our hearts and knows exactly what our intent is and why we do things. We can’t fool God.

I suggest you do your own Bible study concerning the penalty for adultery as written in God’s Law.

However, as we will find later in this study, God is a forgiving God filled with an abundance of Grace and Mercy.

Jesus warns many who call themselves “Christian”…

“NOT everyone
who says to Me (Jesus), ‘Lord, Lord,’
shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
(These people consider themselves Christians!)
Many (‘most’ or ‘majority’ who call themselves Christian)
will say to Me in that Day (of Judgment)
‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied (taught)
in Your Name,
cast out demons in Your Name,
and done many wonders in Your Name?
(They may have been very busy in church)
And then (at the Judgment)
I (Jesus) will declare to them
‘I never KNEW you,
DEPART from Me (from Heaven and into Hell)
you who practice Lawlessness.'”
(Matthew 7:21-23) (Sinning willfully with no repentance)

We are told to “examine” ourselves …

“Examine yourselves,
to see whether you are in the faith.
Test yourselves.
Or do you not realize this about yourselves,
that Jesus Christ is in you?
Unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”
(2 Corinthians 13:5)

We are also to listen to God’s loving Wisdom and advice …

“Love forgets mistakes …
Nagging about them
parts the best of friends.”
(Proverbs 17:9 TLB)

DEALING WITH THE PAIN OF DIVORCE

For those who suffer heartbreak through divorce …

“When the righteous cry for help,
the Lord hears and delivers them
out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
MANY are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him (and her) out of them all.”
(Psalm 34:7-19)

“And He (Jesus) was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah.
And when He had opened the book,
He found the place where it was written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
(Messiah means “Anointed One”)
To preach the Gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me (Jesus) to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
(This prophecy continued on in the book of Isaiah)
Then He closed the book,
and gave it back to the attendant and sat down.
And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue
were fixed on Him.
And He began to say to them,
“Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
(Luke 4:17-21)

Remember, Jesus KNOWS how our pain and suffering feels because HE has felt it all!

Feeling rejected and grieving?

“He (Messiah) is despised
and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows
and acquainted with grief.”
(Isaiah 53:3)

Feeling betrayed by the one you once called “friend”?

“Even My own familiar friend
In whom I trusted,
who ate My bread,
Has lifted up his heel against Me.”
(Psalm 41:9) (Jesus was betrayed by his very close friend)

Not feeling attractive enough?

“He (Jesus/Messiah) had no beauty or majesty
to attract us to Him,
Nothing in His appearance
that we should desire Him.”
(Isaiah 53:2 NIV) (We are drawn to Him through His love)

Feeling low and despised?

“The Redeemer of Israel,
their Holy One,
To Him whom man despises,
To Him whom the nation abhors.”
(Isaiah 49:7)

Please remember, God loves you more than words can say. He knows the pain and heartbreak we feel … for He has felt it, too. The Bible says our spirit inside us will someday “groan” to leave this earthly body. The Bible clearly warns there will be difficulties, pain, and suffering in this life, especially for those who place their love, faith, trust, and obedience in Jesus Christ. Our real life, in Heaven, is yet future …

“The Spirit Himself
Bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God,
And if children, then heirs —
Heirs of God
and joint heirs with Christ,
IF indeed we SUFFER with Him“
(Romans 8:16)

Do not feel alone in your, fears, worries, and anxieties!

The Bible tells us that no temptation (test or suffering) will overtake us that is not common to all men and women …

“No temptation (trial or test) has overtaken you
that is not common to Man (Mankind … all men and women).
God is faithful,
and He will not let you be tempted (or tested)
beyond your ability,
but with the temptation (or test)
He will also provide the way of escape,
That you may be able to endure it.”
(1 Corinthians 10:13)

In the book of Psalms we find God helps prepare us

The book of Psalms contains many examples of the types of pain, fears, and distress that can accompany divorce …

“Turn to me and be gracious to me,
For I am lonely and afflicted.”
(Psalm 25:16)

“The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
Bring me out of my distresses.”
(Psalm 25:17)

“Have mercy on me, O Lord,
For I am in trouble;
My eye wastes away with grief”
(Psalm 31:9)

The Psalms also provide the counsel we need …

“Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
Wait for the Lord!”
(Psalm 27:14)

“Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the Lord.”
(Psalm 31:24)

“Rest in the Lord,
And wait patiently for Him”
(Psalm 37:7)

“I sought the Lord, and He answered me
And delivered me from all my fears.”
(Psalm 34:4)

Then one day when it’s all behind you …

“Blessed be the Lord!
For He has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to Him.”
(Psalm 28:6-7)

God’s Instructions to us are easy to remember

God’s instructions on how to overcome the fears, distress, afflictions, and suffering associated with life (and divorce) are simple and straight forward:

Place Your Faith (and Love) in God
Fear God and You Will Be Blessed
Place Your Hope in God
Place Your Trust in God
Then Wait for God

The “waiting” is the most difficult because the enemy (Satan) uses this waiting time to attack our faith, while God uses these hours, days, weeks, months, or years to test our faith!

Don’t feel embarrassed to fear, love, trust, or obey the Lord, for it pleases the Lord, and someday you will see how lovingly He blessed you by leading and carrying you through all these difficult times of fear, anxiety, stress, and trouble.

“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
For my soul trusts in You;
And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
Until these calamities have passed by.”
(Psalm 57:1)

As hard as it may seem … WE MUST FORGIVE … and be thankful!

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
Compassionate hearts,
Kindness,
Humility, (esteeming others better than ourselves)
Meekness, (not seeking revenge)
and Patience, (slow to anger, trusting God in bad times)
Bearing with one another (no arguing or complaining)
and, if one has a complaint against another,
FORGIVING each other.
As the Lord has forgiven you,
So you MUST also forgive.
And above all these put on love,
which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
to which indeed you were called in one body.
And be thankful!”
(Colossians 3:12-15)

We need God’s strength through His Holy Spirit to obey

“Forgetting that which lies behind,
and reaching forward to what lies ahead.”
(Philippians 3:13)

Pray for His help to forget the pain, the failures, and the fear from the past. Then move on day by day, in faith, towards the promise of God that lies ahead.

GOD’S GRACE, MERCY, AND FORGIVENESS

Jesus came into the World to save sinners

“This is a faithful saying
and worthy of all acceptance,
that Christ Jesus came into the World
to SAVE sinners”
(1 Timothy 1:5)

The Bible warns we are ALL sinners

“If we say that we have no sin,
we deceive ourselves,
and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins
He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned,
we make Him a liar,
and His Word is not in us.”
(1 John 1:9)

“Nor is there salvation in any other,
For there is no other name under Heaven given among men
by which we MUST be saved.”
(From ALL our sins and from Hell)
(Acts:4:12)

“If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and just
To forgive us our sins
And to cleanse us
from ALL unrighteousness.”
(1 John 1:9)

“Confess” means to agree with God that it was wrong.

IF we repent, confess our sins, and sincerely believe Jesus Christ suffered and died for all of our sins on the Cross, and was raised from the dead third day then we will be saved and all our sins forgiven …

“Do you not know that the unrighteous
will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God”
Do not be deceived.
Neither fornicators, (any sex outside of marriage)
Nor adulterers,
Nor homosexuals,
Nor sodomites,
Nor thieves, …
Will inherit the Kingdom of God.
And such WERE some of you. (We are all sinners)
But you were washed
(by the innocent blood of Jesus shed for all our sins)
But you were sanctified
(sanctified means “set apart” by God through Christ Jesus)
But you were justified
(justified means “just as if your sins had never happened”)
in the Name of the Lord Jesus
and by the Spirit of our God.”
(1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

The Bible says when we turn away (“repent”) from our sinful ways, confess and agree with God that we have sinned against Him, and place our trust and love in Jesus Christ to save us, we are then “indwelt” by the Holy Spirit … and the proof we are sincere in our faith is we should start seeing a change in our lives and attitudes and start acting differently AFTER we receive Jesus (Yeshua) as our Lord and Savior than we did BEFORE we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior (who bore all our sin and guilt upon Himself to SAVE us from Hell) …

Please Remember …

The Kingdom of Heaven is available to every man, woman, boy, and girl in this world, no matter who they are, where they live, or what they have done. It is freely offered to any and all who will receive it.

Simply learn of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, invite Him into your life as Lord, believe He died on the Cross for all of your sins and rose from the grave (as the Bible prophecies of Messiah said He would). Learn of Him and believe in Him … for He was the only one who has ever loved you enough to substitute Himself for you on the Cross. He shed His blood, suffered, and died on the Cross to save you from your sins and from the utter darkness and torment of Hell, if you will accept it, believe it, and trust in it. That is why Jesus is called Savior.

He now lovingly and graciously offers you life in Heaven (and we are warned it is a “take it or leave it” proposition.) We have to consciously receive it and accept it in faith. If you sincerely admit you have sinned (which means you will need a Savior to get into Heaven) and ask Jesus to come into your life and honestly try to stop doing (and saying) those things God says are wrong, you will go to Heaven … and with open arms and tears of joy He will receive all who will come to Him in faith and in love … It’s God’s Promise!!!

The only unpardonable sin is to reject God’s love and His free offer of life in the Kingdom of Heaven by rejecting Jesus Christ who stepped forth from Eternity (“From of old, from everlasting” (see Micah 5:2), not to condemn the sinner, but to save the sinner (from the torments of Hell) and who willingly and lovingly shed His blood on the Cross so we can be washed clean of all our sins.

God’s Gift to All Mankind

We just have to receive it in love, faith, and trust,
With great thanksgiving, appreciation, and gratitude.

“For God so loved the World
that He GAVE His only begotten Son, (see Psalm 2)
That whoever BELIEVES in Him
should NOT perish (in Hell)
but have everlasting life (in Heaven).
For God did not send His Son
into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world through Him
might be saved (into Heaven).
He who believes in Him is not condemned (to Hell);
but he who does not believe (in Jesus Christ)
is condemned (to Hell) already.”
(There is no second chance for any who reject Jesus Christ.)
(John 3:16-18)

Jesus greatly LOVED us to save us from Hell …

All God asks is we love Him for all He did for us.

Grace and Shalom