Sorting out Marriage and Divorce inthe Bible

Deuteronomy 24; Matthew 5, 19; 1Corinthians 7

Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage

A Chart to Unscrew an Inscrutable Mess

Dr. Jay A. Quine

1 Corinthians 7:8-24

But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I. But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband (but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife.
But to the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her. And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy. Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?
Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And so I direct in all the churches. Was any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? He is not to be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God. Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called.
Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that. For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord’s freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ’s slave. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.

Category	Paul’s Instruction	Concession “but if”	The Result
Unmarried (widowers?) (divorced?) & Widows	Remain Unmarried v. 8	Continued lack of self-control vv. 2, 9	Remarriage is allowed, v. 9 (within restrictions detailed below)
Married Believers	Do not divorce v. 10	Divorce occurs v. 11	Remain unmarried or be reconciled (unless pornea, Matt 5:32; 19:9)
Mixed Marriages (i.e., believer and unbeliever)	Do not divorce vv. 12-13	Divorce occurs (by abandonment because of faith)	Remarriage is allowed (but to a believer, v. 15)
Virgins (the never married) v. 25	Remain unmarried v. 26	You marry, v. 28	It is not sin, v. 28
General Overall Principle	Remain in your marital status, vv. 8, 20, 26, 40	Changes in marital status (within the limits), vv. 21, 28, 39	It is not sin

The preferred marital status is to remain unmarried!

But no matter what your status, remain in the marital status you are in. God does not require a change!

Other Articles Concerning the Corinthians

• Comments on Corinthians by Dr. Jay Quine (churchwritings.wordpress.com)
• Reconciling the Order of the Corinthian Letters (churchwritings.wordpress.com)
• Concern for the Corinthians -- comments by Jay A. Quine (houstonchurchsigns.blogspot.com)
• How did the Apostles Die? by Jay A. Quine (houstontheology.blogspot.com)

God's Diet for Your 2012, by Jay Quine

God’s Diet for Your New Year

Do you think God would provide us with an impossible-to-keep diet (like the no carbs diet or the no chocolate diet!)? Do you think the Lord in His simplicity would provide us with a diet so complex that no one can figure out (I just heard one that corresponds to your blood type and DNA mapping). It the Bible’s straightforward and simple manner which is always clear, we bring you the “2012 Biblical Diet” to adopt for your new New Year’s Resolution.

It’s simple: Don’t eat so much. That’s right. Eat what you want, but not so much. Just because it is in the fridge, doesn’t mean it has to be eaten. Just because it is really good doesn’t mean it’s all for you. Did you miss dessert? It’s okay.

The Lord God Almighty’s diet is simple: Don’t eat so God-awful much!

Here are some motivational principles (and additions):

Proverbs 25:28 “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls (or a bulging belly and pants that don’t fit).”

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law (there is no law that says you have to eat everything on you plate!).”

1Corinthians 6:19 “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own (so put down the fork).”

There are no restrictions on what we eat. We can enjoy the variety of fruit, vegetables of all kinds, meat, and seafood, breads and desserts! But temperance in the amount you eat. Consider splitting an entree at the restaurant. Just because it is offered doesn’t mean you need to take it. Your new diet will be balanced, and biblical.

1Corinthians 10:31 “So whether you E A T or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

Related articles

• "But I Transgress," by Jay Quine (jquine.blogspot.com)
• Your Physician Should Pray to Avoid Malpractice! by Jay Quine (jayquine.org)
• Jay Quine asks, "What if God defriended you?" (jayquine.org)

Do Not Harden Your Heart! by Jay Quine

Exodus 12:3, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14

Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying: In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household... 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of 6 and ye shall keep it unto the fourteenth day of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at dusk. the first year; ye shall take it from the sheep, or from the goats; 7 And they shall take of the blood, and put it on the two side-posts and on the lintel, upon the houses wherein they shall eat it... 12 For I will go through the land of Egypt in that night, and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. 13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and there shall no plague be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. 14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial, and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

For four hundred years the Jewish people were enslaved in Egypt. That is so many generations that they would forget what freedom was like. Finally God acted to rescue them and free them from slavery. He raised up a leader whose name was Moses.

Many times God asked Moses to speak to pharaoh to release the Jewish people. But the Pharaoh was stubborn, and refused to listen. Nine plagues and nine miracles were performed in front of Pharaoh, warning him to let the Jewish people go. But he refused to listen. Then Moses announced one final plague. Let’s read to us right out of the Bible (infra).

Pharaoh was warned, but he refused to listen. The death of every first born child of every family in one night unless they believed that God would do what He said he would do.

Why would God do this? What purpose is served by God to take the life of the first born in every single family? The purpose is stated very clearly in Exodus 11:7 “So that you may understand how the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.”

There is a difference between how the Lord treats His people, and how He treats those who are not. But rather than turn to Him and become one of His people, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened against God. His heart was hardened. 17 times it says that Pharaoh hardened his heart against God. Do not continue to harden your heart against God. Let’s look to see what happened to Pharaoh.

To say that His heart was hardened is not merely a metaphor on his stubborn refusal to turn to the Lord in faith, but also about his destiny in eternity. According to Egyptian religious beliefs, there was an afterlife—especially for Pharaoh. If the Pharaoh ruled well, and had a good heart and would enter into paradise and join his eternal queen Isis. But if he was cold and cruel, and his heart was hard, then he would not. To determine whether pharaoh’s heart was soft or hard their gods would take his heart and weigh it on a balance. On the once side of the balance would be his heart, and on the other would be a feather. If his heart were good, it would be as light as a feather. But if his heart were hard like a stone, then he wouldn’t make it.

Pharaoh’s heart was heard and he refused to listen to Moses or the true God. To say that his heart was heard is to say that even in his own religious system he is not going to make it. You will not make it if you are Egyptian, or Indian, or American or Persian with a heart that is hardened against the true God.

Trust in God... He will do as He says!

Related articles

• A Crucified but Risen Christ! by Jay A. Quine (houstonchristianbookstore.blogspot.com)
• Remember the Cup and the New Covenant, by Quine (houstonchristianbookstore.blogspot.com)
• "But I Transgress," by Jay Quine (jquine.blogspot.com)
• Jay Quine on Certainty (churchwritings.wordpress.com)

Please consider supporting this work:

The Importance of Living Disciplined, by Jay Quine

Proverbs 1:8 The Hebrew word for "Discipline" (musar)
Today’s athletes are amazing. Their skill and talent astonish us. How can they be so fast, so strong, and yet so graceful? But there is a danger in watching a championship game, or final Olympic event. We don’t see the tough, hard, long training that it took to get to that level as the best of the best. Bible notes that tough, hard training is the formula for success. The Hebrew word is musar. Proverbs tells us, “Hear, my son, your father’s musar.” Dad should instruct his children in a disciplined, deliberate, and diligent fashion so that his children excel in skill and talent. This is Dr. Jay Quine. Dad, take time with your kids. Get them in the game. Keep the standards high. Remember the word musar, for their training in life .

Related articles

• College word study, by Quine (jayaquine.tumblr.com)
• Quine on being "blessed" (jayaquine.tumblr.com)
• Quine on the Word "Character" (jayaquine.tumblr.com)
• The Waiting of All Creation, by Jay Quine (houstontheology.blogspot.com)
• Biblical Word Study on "Covet", by Jay Quine (jayaquine.blogspot.com)
• Remember the Word "Character" by Dr. Jay A. Quine (jay-quine.blogspot.com)
• Jay Quine on Certainty (houstontheology.blogspot.com)
• Jay A. Quine comments on Jesus as the "bread" (jayaquine.blogspot.com)
• Dr. Jay A. Quine reflects on Jesus' use of "blessed" (jay-quine.blogspot.com)
• Jay Quine Remembers a Word of Assurance! (jayaquine.blogspot.com)

the outcomes of taking the sign ministry to some new level could be amazing.

Image via WikipediaI read articles recently titled "It's Not really Church As Typical. " That questioned me to dig deeper when i prepared this composing. In doing a few research, I discovered the website CrummyChurchSigns. com. It's a fun site where the webmaster, Joel Bezaire, along with other contributors submit chapel sign photos with sayings which are either so "church speak" or sublime how the average passerby frequently doesn't understand the actual message. I must acknowledge that after several years of studying chapel signage, being accountable for the sign's information at our chapel, and even reading through books about chapel signs and advertising outreach, I'd not regarded as how silly some messages may appear to the unchurched passerby.

Many discussions and writings inside the Christian community today appear to revolve around the way the church can alter its outreach towards the unchurched "explorers. " Obviously, a major concern is how you can connect without sprinkling down the gospel. Therefore... What's that need to do with the church's lawn sign and it is message? Well, Let me submit to you how the local church's lawn sign could be a very effective device to encourage, challenge and even minister towards the daily "explorer" passing by on the way backward and forward. The basics of the well thought away sign include determining the church, probably the numerical address, a place dedicated to messages/ announcements and also the proper lighting with regard to easy nighttime presence.

Another very essential requirement would be dimension. Appropriate size for just about any signage is dependent upon the speed associated with traffic passing through, the distance how the sign is located in the roadway, the comparison of colors, typestyle, and the kind of lighting. All of those considerations are best handled through the professionals who supply the signs. Generally, the bigger the sign, the more impact it'll have. It's a truth of life... knowledge breads something. Regarding signage, most from the people driving through are locals. They soon "zone out" and therefore are immune to viewing what they drive by every single day. That is an essential reason to be certain a sign is actually aesthetically pleasing, large enough to become seen and incorporates a note area that may be changed regularly. Whether you select a message area such as the older changeable notice type or the actual newer moving information LED type sign is merely a function of the desire, affordability, as well as local zoning rules. Without question, the actual newer moving information LED signs may attract more visitors.

Studies being carried out across America still validate how nicely the movement attracts the attention. These new BROUGHT signs are really simply a computer powered light system. They are simple to program from within your facility and much more fun to operate how the older changeable notice signs. Another obvious benefit of the moving information LED sign is actually that huge amounts of messages can be programmed to show by the moment, hour, day or week just one sitting. What the information says is the most crucial aspect of this type of sign. You do not have to have a "crummy" chapel sign... you can participate a revolution happening outside the chapel walls of The united states, starting with your own lawn sign! By using your sign for that greater good from the community in addition to announcing your providers and events, you will catch the passerby's curiosity. How?

Never depart the message region blank. That will communicate that you simply (the chapel) has nothing to express.
Don't leave the dated message upward beyond its period.
Be sure your own message are good ones.
Speak the language from the populace, not "churcheeze. inch
Encourage as nicely as challenge your own readers. Use bible occasionally.
Announce neighborhood wide events as well as activities.
Have enjoyable! Use the indication creatively.
The outcomes of taking the sign ministry to some new level could be amazing. One this kind of pastor/friend of my own, Rev. Steve Molin, (the. k. a. "The Sign Guy") in our Savior's Lutheran Chapel in Stillwater, MN, is really well known with regard to his sign creativeness that Tundra Movies has released the DVD titled "If there have been no more Lutherans, would there be Green Jell-O? inch So, if such as me, you don't would like a crummy church sign up your lawn, and believe it isn't church as typical, you may wish to rethink your current sign and it is usage. Perhaps a person, or a church member that has a passion for that unchurched and a means with words, may want to step-up the "Signkeepers Ministry. " A smartly designed sign is worth a major expense. A well utilized sign can make a major effect on your community!

Electronic Church Signs in Houston

Congregations that are looking to buy Digital Chapel Signs should be careful, and they ought to always follow the next steps below to be able to purchase an effective sign from the proper provider.
The BROUGHT church Sign is really an outside Marquee indication. It's generally surrounded through brick, 1 electric, and something full colour led display that's dual sided. Implementing one of these simple signs at the place associated with worship may actually permit you to communicate together with your congregation, in addition to with additional members from the community, whilst spreading your own message associated with faith along with attractive design.

If one happens to generate past sufficient churches, you're bound to determine that a minimum of half of these are right now using electronic church signage like a clever technique by which mostly mix a ethical message having a quick witted "saying" using the hopes of attractive to total strangers in addition to members.

But you shouldn't be fooled, digital chapel signs aren't just with regard to curbside use to be able to attract much more members! Several churches have discovered other methods to implement these types of signs in the areas of their own worship space for example in car parking lots(for directional purposes), and even inside to encouraged special visitors, promote forthcoming events, make announcements and also to provide obviously marked areas for example restrooms as well as places with regard to children.