What Does the Bible Say About Divorce?
Brother Andrew Taaca: Some people wonder why married members of the Church Of Christ are prohibited from getting a divorce. What’s the basis in such a prohibition, when separation and divorce are considered by many as a popular option when a marriage is not going as planned?
Brother Mark Crelencia: Stay tuned for the answer, here, on The Message.
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How Does God Feel About Divorce?
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Minister of the Gospel
Brother Andrew Taaca
Brother Andrew: Dear viewers, there are varying opinions about divorce. But Brother Mark, what we need to know is how does God feel about divorce?
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Topic: What Does the Bible Say About Divorce?
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Minister of the Gospel
Brother Mark Crelencia
Brother Mark: Let’s read the answer, Brother Andrew and dear viewers, in the Holy Scriptures, here in the Book of Malachi 2:14-16:
“Why has God abandoned us?” you cry. I’ll tell you why; it is because the Lord has seen your treachery in divorcing your wives who have been faithful to you through the years, the companions you promised to care for and keep. You were united to your wife by the Lord. In God’s wise plan, when you married, the two of you became one person in his sight. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. Therefore, guard your passions! Keep faith with the wife of your youth.
For the Lord, the God of Israel, says he hates divorce and cruel men. Therefore, control your passions—let there be no divorcing of your wives.
[Malachi 2:14-16 The Living Bible]
Brother Mark: So, dear viewers, how does God Himself feel toward divorce? The Bible says that God hates divorce.
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God hates divorce
Brother Andrew: Therefore, since the very beginning, our Almighty God does not permit divorce, or for a married couple to separate. As it is clear, what is written in the Holy Scriptures, there will be no divorcing of your spouses.
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Married people should not divorce their spouses
The sanctity of marriage still applies today
Brother Mark: But Brother Andrew, some of our viewers might be wondering and arguing that the law of God forbidding divorce was only implemented during the ancient times. So, [how] about in our time in the Christian Era? Brother Andrew, does the prohibition of divorce still apply?
Brother Andrew: Yes it does, Brother Mark, and we can read the answer here in the Book of Matthew 19:3-6:
Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”
“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
[Matthew 19:3-6 New International Version]
Brother Andrew: So, it is clear from what we have read, dear viewers, what our Lord Jesus Christ teaches concerning married couples who are made one, or joined together in holy matrimony. Christ said what God has joined together, let man not separate.
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What God has joined together, man must not separate
Brother Mark: Therefore, dear viewers, when married couples inside the Church Of Christ separate, or divorce each other, it’s not a small thing. In the eyes of our Almighty God they’re violating His divine will.
Now, when we come back, we will answer the following question: Will one who divorces his or her spouse, and marries someone else, be saved?
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Will those who divorce their spouses and remarry someone else be saved?
Song about conflict in marriage
Brother Mark: But first, let’s watch this Christian music video entitled “His Love Never Ends”.
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“His Love Never Ends”
Lyrics, Music, Arrangement & Vocals by CJ Stogsdill
Produced by INC Media Services
I know that life
Can be so hard at times
Sometimes you feel like it’s
Not going the way you want
It makes you want to break down and cry
But despite all the pain and sufferings
This life brings you
You’ll always have hope for the day
The Lord God will wipe your tears away
When you are lonely, just call unto Him
When you’re feeling down and out
Just pray unto Him
He will guide you through all the darkest times
Have faith in our Lord God: His love never ends
Have faith in the Lord,
He will give you strength to go on
In this cruel and wicked world
He’s shown us the path to salvation
His love is forever
He is kind and true to His people
The one chosen nation in these last days
We’re making our way to His heavenly kingdom
When you are lonely, just call unto Him
When you’re feeling down and out
Just pray unto Him
He will guide you through all the darkest times
Have faith in our Lord God: His love never ends
Learn the ways of the Lord
Keep them in your heart
And live according to His holy word
He loves us
In Him, let’s place our complete trust
He loves us
When you are lonely, just call unto Him
When you’re feeling down and out
Just pray unto Him
He will guide you through all the darkest times
Have faith in our Lord God: His love never ends
[“His Love Never Ends”, Lyrics, Music, Arrangement & Vocals by CJ Stogsdill,
Produced by INC Media Services]
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Brother Andrew: Welcome back, beloved friends. Brother Mark, as we watched that Christian music video, it really represents many married couples, because there are those times where there’s the ups, there’s also the downs. But what was nice in the video is—what we should all learn from—which is to turn to God during those times there may be some differences, maybe conflicts, with one’s spouse. Because with the help of our Almighty God, like what we’ve seen in the video, they will be able to work things out.
Brother Mark: Dear friends, we can rewatch this video and others like it on incmedia.org.
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Learn more on incmedia.org
Remarriage after divorce
Brother Andrew: The question now is, Brother Mark, will one who divorces his or her spouse and marries someone else, still be saved?
Brother Mark: Well, dear viewers, it’s considered a sin according to our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. In the gospel according to Luke 16:18 and I quote the following:
“Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
[Luke 16:18 New International Version]
Brother Mark: Dear friends, what sin is committed by anyone who divorces his or her spouse and marries another? Well, such a person commits adultery. Now, will adulterers be saved, Brother Andrew?
Brother Andrew: Well, Brother Mark, let’s find out the verdict of our Almighty God, here in I Corinthians 6:9-10:
Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
[1 Corinthians 6:9-10 New International Version]
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Topic: What Does the Bible Say About Divorce?
Brother Andrew: So here, we can see that God laid down His sentence concerning the adulterers. They will not be saved. As proof, Apostle Paul says that such people will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Brother Mark: And so, Brother Andrew and dear viewers, let’s understand that the sin of adultery is not a minor offence.
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Anyone who divorces and marries another commits adultery
Brother Andrew: That is correct, Brother Mark, and those who are found guilty of such offence, they are expelled from the Church.
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Adultery is evil before God
Brother Andrew: Just as idolaters and murderers will not be saved, so will those who divorce their spouse and marry another, will not be saved as well.
Brother Mark: So, what does God command married couples in order for them to be saved? He commands them to not separate, as stated by the Apostles in I Corinthians 7:10:
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
[1 Corinthians 7:10 New International Version]
Brother Mark: According to the Holy Scriptures, what is God’s commandment to married couples? They should not separate or divorce.
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Married couples should not separate or divorce
Brother Mark: So, all married couples should respect that commandment of our Almighty God.
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God’s command to the married couple should be respected
What is the Bible’s instruction if a couple is separated?
Brother Andrew: But, Brother Mark, what if they’re already separated? What is the instruction then?
Brother Mark: Let’s continue reading, Brother Andrew and dear viewers in verse 11:
But if a wife does leave, she should remain single or get back together with her husband. And a husband should not divorce his wife.
[1 Corinthians 7:11 Easy to Read Version]
Brother Mark: And so, dear friends, what is the strict instruction to everyone who, for whatever reason, is separated from his or her spouse? The Bible says he or she should stay single or not marry again.
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Couples who have separated should stay single and not remarry
Brother Mark: But what is the best solution so that married couples will not fall into temptation and further displease God?
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Reconciliation of husband and wife is the best solution
Brother Mark: They should reconcile with their spouse. God’s law forbids them to be married to someone else aside from their living spouse. And so members of the Church Of Christ are very fortunate, because before a couple gets married, they undergo marriage seminars so that both the would-be husband and the would-be wife will understand first the laws of God that govern married life.
Brother Andrew: That is correct, Brother Mark. This includes the responsibility of the husbands to the wives and likewise the wives to the husbands, even the shared responsibilities of the husband and wife. In this way, the Christian couple may reap the many blessings that the Lord God has in store for those who are loyal to His commands regarding married life. Therefore, the message of the day is this: God does not allow divorce.
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Message of the Day : God does not allow divorce
Brother Andrew: Married couples should not use marital problems as a reason to divorce, rather they should resolve their conflicts so that they can honor the sanctity of marriage.
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Message of the Day
Conflicts should be resolved to preserve and honor the sanctity of marriage
Brother Mark: Thank you for joining us on this episode of The Message, but before we part ways, please join us in a short prayer.
Brother Andrew: Our Almighty and loving Father in Heaven, we thank You, dear Father, for the words that we have received concerning the husbands and the wives. Through this, dear Father, we can see Your great love and concern. May You give us a humble heart and mind that we will always follow Your teachings and commands regarding the married couples, dear Father, that we will do everything that is pleasing before Your holy sight.
May You please bless all of our viewers. May Your words be found in our lives, dear God, that we are able to follow Your teachings and commandments, that we will always walk worthy before Your sight.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, You are the throne of grace. We thank You, dear Lord, for opportunities like this. Please, Lord Jesus, may Your blessings remain in our lives and please bring our prayer to our Father, that we may always receive the guidance and blessings that we need. Dear Father, we do believe You have accepted our prayer in the name of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. Amen.
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