Expert: Joe Norman - 1/10/2011

Question
I was married to a man who cheated on me. I then left him. We were seperated for two years. I chose to live with a man during those two years befor the divorce was finalized. Does this give me reason to get married to another later on because I committed adultery too in the marriage?

Answer
Hi JJ,

I am not clear on something. Are you planning to marry someone new that is not the man you lived with for two years before your divorce was final?  First off, I think you know that it was a sin to live with a man you are not married to even if you aren't married and single. So yes you did commit adultery by living with that man before your divorce was final and because you were not married to him. But I don't see anything in God's Word that indicates you are no longer able to marry anyone and must remain alone and celibate. Adultery is forgivable. Your first husband cheated on you so you had every right to divorce him but you also committed adultery by living with a man outside of marriage when you were still bound legally to your first husband.

So here are two questions - What was your sin? How do you repent of that sin? Your sin was adultery. You repent from adultery by not only confessing your sin to God and being sincerely sorry for the sin, but vowing to God you will do your best not to commit adultery again. Now if you do choose to get married again (which is your right) you must do your best to remain faithful to your new husband and that will ensure you have truly repented of adultery. It is like most any other sin.

There is no example of anyone being told they were living in an "adulterous marriage" and must divorce and live celibate the rest of their life if they can't return to their original spouse. No one in the entire Bible was told such a thing. Also there is no evidence in the entire Bible that God doesn't recognize some divorces as ending a marriage. Divorce ALWAYS ends a marriage.

I encourage you to read my previous answers to others on divorce and remarriage if you want to read my analysis of passages in the Bible which speak on divorce and remarriage. Also please study I Corinthians 7:26-28.

If you have a follow up question I am most happy to answer that or if you have new questions, please just ask and I will do my best to answer. Then study what I teach carefully to determine if what I teach is true.

In Christian Love, Joe Norman