Pastor Tim, I am a divorced Christian man who’s remarried. Am I considered an adulterer since I remarried? Will God forgive me for this? I am an Independent Baptist and I love the Lord! I’m thankful for your answer and I appreciate this web site. Keep up the good work and may God bless you. Your brother in Christ.
M. Walters
Hi brother Walters. Your question’s a good one and the answer’s misunderstood sometimes! Doesn’t God forgive his children when we ask him? It’s true that Jesus says in Matthew 19:7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 19:8: He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. We can’t deny this. Nor should we… But there’s only one sin (Matthew 12:31) that won’t be forgiven, and this ain’t it! The act of fornication or adultery isn’t blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. If we commit a sin and repent, don’t we have the ability to go before God and be forgiven of that sin? Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. This isn’t a license to sin however! James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, lets look at the marriage! Hebrews13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. If your testimony is that you love the Lord, you can receive forgiveness by repenting and then asking the Lord. Luke 7:37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 7:38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 7:39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.7:40: And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 7:41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 7:42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 7:43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 7:44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 7:45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 7:46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 7:48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
So either God’s dealing with you about unconfessed sin, or you’re being persecuted by other members of the body judging you. If it’s the unconfessed sin, you know what to do about it, but if it’s them judging you then: John 8:6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.