Jesus’ Law on Marriage
We continue our study of false doctrines concerning divorce and remarriage:
3} THE SIN OF ADULTERY IS WASHED AWAY AT BAPTISM, AND THE MARRIAGE IS SANCTIFIED.
Arguments are offered as follows:
A) All past sins are forgiven at baptism, and since sanctification occurs at that point, one may remain married regardless of previous unscriptural divorces.
B) Adultery is just a one-time act, and if it occurred before baptism, it is forgiven as is any other sin.
C) When we force people to separate in order to obey the gospel, it requires them to live a celibate life, which is more than can be expected. It inflicts hardship on children and, we are told, would be contrary to the loving nature of God.
THE TRUTH IS: (point by point)
A) At baptism all past sins are forgiven that we have repented of (Acts 2:38). If unscripturally divorced and remarried people may remain married after baptism, may the drunk continue his drinking, the idolater his false worship, etc. Study 1 Cor. 6:9-11 carefully.
B) In Matt. 19:9, "committeth adultery" is in the present tense in the original Greek, denoting continuing action.
C) When God requires unscripturally married people to separate, it is possible to do so (Matt. 19:12) and is the kind of sacrifice that Jesus said we may have to make (Luke 14:26). We wonder why folks who make this argument never consider these hardships when they divorce to fulfill their own desires, but are unwilling to do so to fulfill God’s will. God's love is seen in His own marriage law, and note that He has required separation in the past (Ezra 10:10,11).
Continue to study with us ...
- by Greg Gwin
