God hates divorce (Mal. 2:16). Any doctrine that minimizes and allows the sundering of what God has joined together is not the truth of God. This is settled, since Jesus said, “So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matt. 19:6).

God has constituted marriage between one man and one woman for life (Matt. 19:4-5). Every cause imaginable to end a marriage will not be accepted by the Giver of marriage. The Son of God approves one exception that ends the lifelong obligation of marriage. That exception allows one person in a marriage to divorce and remarry. It occurs when fornication (sexual immorality) is the cause for putting away the fornicator. Jesus said,

“And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery” (Matt. 19:9).

I recently read a Bible question asked of a preacher about applying the Bible teaching of divorce and remarriage. The question was, “Is an adulterer able (sic) remarry after divorce, or are they to remain unmarried?” I had hoped to see a clear, Bible answer to this candid question. But, the Bible answer to the question did not appear in the posted reply. 

Let us take up the question as it was posed, and allow the Bible to give us the answer. By doing so, we will know the truth, and be better equipped to teach others (2 Tim. 2:2).

As already noted, God-approved marriage is between one man and one woman for life. So, of first concern is to assure that both people in the question are scripturally married to one another (Rom. 7:2-3).

The Bible answer is not hard to give or understand. The adulterer does not have a right to remarry after divorce. Here is why.

The only person who has a right to remarry after a divorce is the one who puts away his or her mate due to the other spouse’s sexual infidelity. Jesus said, “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery” (Matt. 19:9). When the exception is applied (“for the cause of sexual immorality”), only one person is given permission to remarry. Necessarily, then, the one who committed sexual immorality may not remarry after a divorce.

When the exception does not exist (the marriage ends for any other reason), every remarriage results in adultery. They have sundered what God joined together, and are told by the Holy Spirit to “remain unmarried or be reconciled” (Matt. 19:6; 1 Cor. 7:10-11).

When the adulterer remarries, he brings another person into adultery with him (Matt. 5:32). God does not approve the remarriage of adulterers. They have defiled their marriage bed (Heb. 13:4). God will not join them to another.

This does not mean adulterers cannot be forgiven, they can (1 Cor. 6:9-11). It means adulterers are not free to remarry. Better to be a eunuch for the kingdom’s sake, than to lose one’s soul over an unlawful remarriage (Matt. 19:10-12). 

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You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS
 

Possibility of Faithfulness

Scripture Reading:  Philippians 3:12-16
 

1. We are familiar with the impossibility of apostasy, 1 Cor. 10:12; Heb. 3:12-14.
2. Our conduct must be worthy of the gospel, Phil. 1:27; 2:12-13.
3. Paul’s life shows us the possibility of faithfulness, and assures us that God sees and rewards His faithful children, Phil. 3:7-16.

I. PUT NO CONFIDENCE IN THE FLESH, Phil. 3:3-7.
  A. Commit to Unwavering Priorities, Phil. 3:7-11 (Matt. 6:33, 24).
    1. What was “gain to me,” 3:8; Lk. 14:33.
    2. “That I may gain Christ,” 1 Jno. 2:3-6; Jno. 14:21-24; 1 Jno. 2:15; Phil. 3:18-19.
  B. Set Your Goals, Phil. 3:9-11.
    1. To be found in Him, Phil. 3:9; Col. 2:6. 
    2. That I may know Him¬, Phil. 3:10.
    3. That I may know the power of His resurrection, 3:10; Rom. 6:4-9, 10-12. 
    4. Fellowship of His sufferings, Gal. 2:20.
    5. Attain to resurrection of dead, Phil. 3:11.

II. OUR BLESSED ASSURANCE, Phil. 3:12-14.
  A. We will See Christ by Remaining Faithful, 1 Jno. 3:2.
  B. “Not Yet” … Paul was not Finished, 3:12; 1 Cor. 9:24; 1 Pet. 1:9; 1 Kgs. 19:9, 15-16.
  C. “I Press On” – To Lay Hold of the Prize of Eternal Life, 3:13-14; 1 Cor. 9:26-27.

III. PRACTICAL APPLICATION, Phil. 3:15-16.
  A. Mature in Your Faith, 3:15; He. 5:12-14. 
  B. Have the Mind as Paul, 3:15; Col. 3:1-2.
  C. Continue to Live Faithfully, 3:16; Heb. 3:14; 4:11; Gal. 5:6-7; 2 Cor. 5:7.

Conclusion 

It is possible to be faithful, 2 Tim. 4:7-8.

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You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS
 

Bible Authority: Aids and Additions

Scripture Reading:  Galatians 1:6-10
 

1. God has revealed authority in Scriptures generically and specifically:
  a. Generic authority includes choices. 
  b. Specific authority excludes choices.
2. How do we scripturally tell the difference between an aid (that helps us obey God’s word) and an addition that violates God’s word?

I. THE BIBLE DOCTRINE OF AIDS.
  A. Definition: “lit., to bring together…to be an advantage, profitable, expedient…” (Vine, 218). cf. John 16:7
  B. An Aid is a Lawful (helpful) Liberty, 1 Cor. 10:23, 31-33. 
  C. Aids (expediencies) do not Change the Force or Effect of the Authorized Action. 
  D. Aids (expediencies) involve Choices (of liberty).
  E. Aids must Edify, not Cause Offense (stumbling), 1 Cor. 10:23.

II. THE BIBLE DOCTRINE OF ADDITIONS?
  A. Definition: “to put to, to add, join to, gather with any company” (Thayer, 549). 
  B. Concerning Bible Authority, an Addition to God’s Will Changes the Force and Effect of the Authorized Activity.
  C. Additions are Forbidden, not Approved, 2 Jno. 9 (Gal. 1:8-9; Rev. 22:18).

Conclusion
When we add to the will of God we turn away from gospel of Christ to a different gospel; we pervert His gospel and depart His grace, Gal. 1:6.

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Hurricanes Harvey and Irma have heightened Christians’ interest in and relief of affected brethren. Brethren have set up a Facebook  page with information of present needs. The word is getting out, and churches are helping brethren, following the NT pattern (Acts 11:27-30; 1 Cor. 16:1-4).

Others have gone beyond the NT pattern of organization and work of the church. They centralize the benevolent work of many churches, and generalize the recipients of church-provided relief. One such group is “Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort, Inc.” Here is how they describe themselves:

“Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort immediately responds to any major disaster in the continental United States. We contact the leadership of local Churches of Christ in or near a major disaster area. If the leadership says their local congregation wants to help, we send and turn over to that congregation truckloads of emergency food, personal hygiene, infant care, water, cleaning supplies, and pallets of additional basic needs, for them to distribute to the disaster victims. These supplies are to be given to anyone affected by the disaster, regardless of race, creed, origin, gender, or religious preference. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. that employs fifteen paid personnel…Volunteers help us pack the majority of these supplies in our Nashville warehouse so they are ready to be distributed as soon as they’re received, even our truck drivers are volunteers. Local Church of Christ congregations across the country volunteer their time and distribute the provided supplies to the disaster victims in their area.” (http://disasterreliefeffort.org/)

This organization accepts contributions from churches (with no Bible authority to do so). They speak of "‘Church of Christ congregations” – a clear marker of their centralized and institutionalized concept of the church. (Churches do not compose the church, Christians do, Rom. 16:16; Acts 2:47.) God’s pattern of church-to-church benevolent relief is abandoned, and the sufficiency of the local church rejected. Let us follow God’s pattern, not man’s (1 Cor. 4:17; 2 Tim. 1:13; 2 Jno. 9).

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The Spirit's Sword is a free, weekly publication of the Mt. Baker church of Christ, Bellingham, WA
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