Bible Question:

If I committed adultery and repented of my sin but my wife does not want to reconcile and remarry me, tin can I marry someone else in the future?

Bible Respond:

It is very common for a person to divorce a spouse who has committed adultery.  Another mutual situation is that the spouse, who has committed adultery, wants to remarry, when their ex-spouse refuses to remarry him or her. The question that many ex-spouses enquire is, "Does the Bible say I can remarry after I committed adultery?" The post-obit will answer this question.

If I committed adultery and my wife divorced me, can I marry again?

Right Response To God's Answer

On occasions a spouse, who has committed adultery, declares that they will remarry fifty-fifty if God says no. The reason that they requite is, "God is loving and He forgives sin." Such an answer presumptuously assumes that God will not discipline them for their flagrant disobedience. They say that God is loving and gracious and they are confident that God would non desire them to alive the rest of their life lone.

The true reason for their disobedience is that they want to remarry. They fail to realize that God is non a fool and is not deceived by their tears and pleading. Galatians 6:7 is a warning!

Exercise not be deceived, God is non mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will as well reap. Galatians 6:vii (NASB)

The Greek word that is translated as "mocked" is mykterizo. It has the idea of not making a fool of someone. That is, nosotros cannot fool God. Scripture repeats this principle in other places (Proverbs 1:31; 22:viii; Hosea viii:7; ten:12). Hither is Proverbs xi:eighteen,

The wicked earns deceptive wages,
But he who sows righteousness gets a true advantage. Proverbs 11:18 (NASB)

This Proverb states that nosotros can do evil and the result may seem to be okay; but the individual will never know the blessing he or he missed. Find that he or she earns "deceptive wages." The individual may like the reward they received for their disobedience, just it is not "a true reward." Therefore, the correct response is always to obey God. The correct response to God'due south reply to the question, "Can I remarry with God's blessing?" is e'er obedience.

When Remarriage Is Permitted

Remarriage is permitted by God in only three situations. The first situation is that your ex-spouse dies (Romans 7:ii-3; 1 Corinthians vii:39).

A wife is jump equally long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to exist married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.  ane Corinthians 7:39 (NASB)

First Situation Allowing Remarriage

This poesy teaches us that when a spouse dies the other spouse is costless to remarry. Simply the apostle Paul says that there is a better style, remain unmarried and serve the Lord Jesus. 1 Corinthians seven:27 echoes the same truth.

Are you bound to a married woman? Practise not seek to exist released. Are you released from a wife? Do non seek a wife.1 Corinthians 7:27 (NASB)

Withal in verse 38, the apostle says that a Christian is free to remarry; just it is amend to not remarry and serve Christ.

Second Situation Allowing Remarriage

The second situation in which remarriage tin can occur is when a Christian spouse is divorced by a non-Christian. The Christian is to let the non-Christian get out. In this situation, the Christian is allowed to remarry, but just in the Lord  (i Corinthians 7:fifteen). That is, the Christian tin only marry a Christian (ane Corinthians vii:39).

Third Situation Allowing Remarriage

The final state of affairs in which remarriage is permitted is when ane spouse commits some form of sexual sin. This is the command of Christ in Matthew five:31-32.

It was said, "WHOEVER SENDS HIS Married woman AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE"; simply I say to you that everyone who divorces his married woman, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced adult female commits adultery. Matthew v:31-32 (NASB)

The Greek word for "unchastity" is porneia. It is recommended that the reader visit "What is the significant of the Greek word porneia in the Bible?" for an caption of porneia.  In brief, porneia covers a wide range of various sexual sins that a spouse could commit that gives the "offended" spouse the right to a biblical divorce. When divorce occurs because of adultery, the divorce is called a biblical divorce. Please visit,  "Why does one have the "right to remarry" afterward a "Biblical Divorce"?  for a more complete explanation of a biblical divorce. In summary, the "innocent spouse" can divorce the "offending spouse." The "offending spouse" is the one who committed porneia.

How To Reap A Truthful Reward

Therefore, a Christian is permitted to marry over again when 1) the ex-spouse dies, 2) the ex-spouse was a non-Christian and chose to leave the marriage and 3) if one is divorced because the other spouse committed porneia. Discover that Jesus does not give the adulterous spouse or "offending spouse" the right to divorce the "innocent spouse." Consequently, Jesus never gives the "offending spouse" the right to remarry. In fact, in the Quondam Testament era the "offending spouse" would have been killed.

If a man is found lying with a married adult female, then both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman; thus you shall purge the evil from Israel. Deuteronomy 22:22 (NASB)

The reverse of the principle as well applies when a adult female has sexual activity with a married man. The message is clear that God never intended for the adulterous to remarry.

Determination:

In decision, if a man or a woman commits adultery and the "innocent spouse" can divorce him or her and afterward refuses to remarry him or her, and then the "offending spouse" may not remarry.

Suggested Links:

If you are divorced and remarry, are you living in adultery?
A Biblical Divorce
Biblical Divorce and Remarriage
Why does i have the "right to remarry" after a "Biblical Divorce"?
Porneia Definition — What is the meaning of the Greek word porneia in the Bible?