Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 12/30/2011

Question
First I thank you for the sermon from Bruce Lackey on marriage, divorce,and remarriage. It was helpful in some ways for me but I am not sure what I am to do now that I understand how God feels about marriage, divorce, and remarriage. I am a new member of a Fundamental Independent Baptist Church and still growing in Christ. My 1st husband and father of my 3 kids is a Alcoholic. We have been divorced sense 1999, due to the nature of things my kids and I are to have zero contact with him, I have not lived in the same state as him for over 10 years.  I accepted the Lord Jesus as my savior Jan 9th 2006 and I am so grateful Jesus called me to him. I absolutely love Jesus and learning to be a Christian however my husband is still unsaved. Our church is preparing for a Marriage Seminar in Savanna, GA so I have been  reading & studying the Bible on marriage and now I am not sure what the expectations of God is for me.
I believe now that I have committed adultery by getting remarried after my ex divorced me and I have asked for forgiveness and most scripture is for the 1st marriage but now that I am saved and married to an unsaved man I am not sure what scripture applies to me or my marriage? The bible reads that I was to have never remarried, so now that I am what am I supposed to do? What does this mean?

Answer
Hi Tina,
  Thank you for your question.   Lots of people are in the same situation as you are and God has made provision for that also.   He knows we fail, but our failures are under the blood of Jesus Christ and we are already forgiven.  The question is as you stated is what to do now.

  Note what Paul instructed the Corinthians.  "And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him." (1 Corinthians 7:13)   So unless there is abuse or something of that nature the wife should stay with her husband.    

   Also note 1 Corinthians 7:17, 20, and 24.   "But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. (1 Corinthians 7:17)

   "Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called." (1 Corinthians 7:20)

   "Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God." (1 Corinthians 7:24)

   God says to remain in the situation you are in which means the second marriage.  You cannot undone the marriage or return to the former marriage, so remain where the Lord has allowed you to be.
    
    As verses 21-23 state, as a servant of Jesus Christ, His bond servant, serve Him..... God tells us that as stewards of our lives and what the Lord has given us we are to be faithful. "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." (1 Corinthians 4:2)

    You clearly love the Lord and want to live for Him, then do so and be assured you sins are forgiven and will not be remembered.   You confessed them as 1 John 1:9 says and you can know the Lord will cleanse you having forgiven.

     Love your husband and your family and live a godly example before them.  "For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy." (1 Corinthians 7:14) In other words, you may be able to win your husband to the Lord through you testimony of godly living.  

    I hope this helps.   The Lord is certainly working in your heart as shown by your desire to do what He desires for you.   God will bless you, your family and marriage as you serve Him.
Cooper Abrams
Bible-truth.org
Romans 12:1-2