Divorce and remarriage

• Mark 10:1-9 – Jesus went all the way back to the beginning to explain marriage.
• Mark 10:10-12 – The laws of marriage work the same way for both husband and wife.
• Compare Matthew 19:8-9.
• God’s plan was one man and one woman for life.
• Jesus re-affirms and re-establishes God’s original plan for marriage and gives God’s present law for mankind.
• All who are put away for any reason and anyone who has put away a mate for some cause other than fornication cannot remarry with God’s approval – their marriage is adultery!
• What are people to do who are in such marriages?
  • Some say, “well, they’re married, so it’s okay.”
    • Mark 6:17 – Herod was in an unlawful marriage and was rebuked for it.
  • Some say, “God wouldn’t break up families.”
    • Ezra 9:3 – Ezra was dismayed at the unlawful marriages.
    • Ezra 9:4-15 – They took this seriously!
    • Ezra 10:1-2 – Now there is hope!
    • Ezra 10:3-4 – They put away unlawful wives and children.
    • Ezra 10:11 – It took time, but they did it!
  • Repent or perish!
    • Repentance demands cessation of all sinful deeds and relationships.
• There are many false doctrines on divorce and remarriage.
  • Alien sinners and marriage
    • Do God’s laws apply only to Christians?
    • The Bible teaches:
      • Men in the world are guilty of specific sins.
        • I Corinthians 5:9-10; 6:9-11
      • We are to reprove the world of specific sins.
        • Ephesians 5:3-13, 11
      • All men are subject to the universal authority of Jesus.
        • Matthew 28:18
        • Ephesians 1:19-23
  • But doesn’t baptism wash away all sins?
    • Baptism does not allow any sinful relationships to be continued or carried over into Christ’s church.
    • Baptism without repentance is NO GOOD. Repentance demands the cessation of all sinful deeds and relationships.
    • Repentance and prayer do the same thing for the Christian (Acts 8:22; I John 1:7-10) that repentance and baptism do for the alien sinner (Acts 2:38 - remission of sins in both cases).
• Conclusion
  • The only God-approved “remarriage” whether involving aliens or Christians is when:
    • One remarries after his/her mate has died.
    • One remarries after putting his/her mate away for adultery.
    • All other remarriages are without God’s approval and are adulterous relationships.
  • There are three groups God will join in lawful matrimony:
    • Those who have never been lawfully married.
      • Genesis 2:18-24; Matthew 19:3-9; I Corinthians 7:2
    • Those whose mate has died.
      • I Corinthians 7:3-9 (marriage must be according to God’s law)
    • Those who have put away a mate because of fornication.
      • Matthew 19:9; 5:32

“Abstain from fleshly lusts”

• I Thessalonians 4:3-8 – God takes this seriously!
• I John 2:15
• This admonition is for all of us!
• Matthew 18:6 – Jesus cares if we cause others to sin!
• It is certainly possible for us to dress in such a way to cause others to sin.
• Genesis 29:17 – “form and face”
• Genesis 39:6
• Esther 2:7

“aliens and strangers”

• We’re different! We don’t belong here.
• Philippians 3:19-20
• Hebrews 11:13
• When temptations arise, we must remember that we are different. Just because other people in the world are doing something, that doesn’t mean it’s okay for us to do the same.
• Hebrews 13:4
• I Peter 4:2-5

“… they may, because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation”

• I Peter 2:15
• I Peter 3:16

Imprisoned in Jerusalem (Acts 21:18-23:35), continued:

“Brethren and fathers, hear my defense” (Acts 22:1-21), continued:

• Acts 22:17-21 – This is the first mention we have of this trance. It is clear that Paul’s travels were being directed from heaven.

“A Roman and uncondemned” (Acts 22:22-30)

• Acts 22:25 – Paul used a legal defense, which is an example for us today. If we can use legal means to prevent persecution, we are permitted to do so.

“Paul, looking intently at the Council …” (Acts 23:1-11)

• Acts 23:1 – Compare Acts 26:9. Paul thought he was doing right even while he was doing wrong. We must be careful – we can all make the same mistake!
• Acts 23:3 – “Whitewashed wall” is probably referring to hypocrisy on the part of Ananias. A whitewashed wall appears clean, but it is only a superficial appearance.
• Acts 23:5 – This could have been sarcasm on Paul’s part. He is seeing that Ananias was not behaving in the manner of a high priest. Ananias also was not the legal high priest according to the Old Law – Caiaphas was.
• Acts 23:6-9 – This was a clever tactic by Paul that resulted in at least part of the council siding with him. See Acts 4:1-2.

From Jerusalem to Caesarea (Acts 23:12-35)

• Acts 23:16 – This is the only mention we have of Paul’s family. We know that his parents were Pharisees, but not much else.

Imprisoned in Caesarea (Acts 24-26)

Felix (Acts 24)

• Acts 24:1-8 – Yet another version of the events! Compare Acts 23:26-30. Paul is now firmly established as an influential Christian.

The transfiguration

• Mark 8:27-30
• Mark 8:31-33 – Jesus begins teaching them that He would be killed. Peter says no because of his misconception about the Messiah.
• Mark 8:34-38 – They must become living sacrifices for Jesus and the gospel’s sake. Don’t be ashamed of Jesus!
• Mark 9:2-13 – Jesus was talking with Moses and Elijah about His death (see Luke 9:31). Jesus had to die for them to be saved (Hebrews 9:15)!
• Mark 9:30-32 – Jesus again tells them He will be killed.
• Mark 10:32-34 – Again, Jesus tells them He will be killed.

30+ years after the transfiguration, Peter uses it to teach a lesson

• II Peter 1:16-18 – They were eyewitnesses of His majesty!
• Peter and the other apostles were eyewitnesses of and participants in many miracles.
• John 15:27 – They bore witness of what they’d seen.
• I John 1:1 – “seen with our eyes,” “bear witness,” “heard”
• II Peter 1:19-21 – We have a more sure word of prophecy. Prophecy shined in the darkness until Christ came to bring the full light.
• Luke 16:29 – Moses and the prophets had been dead 400-1400 years! Today we still have them, along with Jesus and the apostles.

• God revealed these things to them!

Fulfilled prophecy, including some about Jesus

About Jesus, beyond His ability to “fix”

Reverence

Nathan revered God’s word over his own opinion (II Samuel 7)

• II Samuel 7:1-7, 12-13, 17 – Nathan had to deliver the message that would stop the project David was excited about.
• Ecclesiastes 4:13
• I Peter 4:3
• We are all growing. As we learn more about God’s word, we must have the humility to change.
• Luke 16:18

Courage

Nathan rebuked David after his sin with Bathsheba

• II Samuel 11:27; 12:1-15
• It takes courage to tell someone about their sin face to face.
• Galatians 6:1

Initiative

Nathan took action when Adonijah attempted a coup

• I Kings 1:5-27, 32-35, 49-53
• John 12:6 – Judas had greed that was unaddressed.
• Matthew 5:27-30 – Looking with lust is already a problem!
• Is there something in your life that needs adjusting?