Click to join the conversation with over 500,000 Pentecostal believers and scholars
Click to get our FREE MOBILE APP and stay connected
| PentecostalTheology.com
Divorce and Remarriage: Is there an allowable limit?
Phil Brown Jr.
An allowable limit? I would say as long as within scripture, the allowable limit is the same limit Jesus told Peter to forgive someone.
Varnel Watson
what would that be for pentecostals? Phil
Phil Brown Jr.
First of all I must state that it is was never Gods intention for anyone to be divorced. Jesus makes this clear in Matthew 19:4-6. Divorce would not even be a discussion had mankind been obedient in the Garden. Due to our sinful nature and hardness of heart when it comes to adultery, Jesus states it is allowable, however not preferred, for those to divorce on the account of adultery (Mat 19:8-9). What happens to someone if they become divorced outside of this, is there no forgiveness? Of course there is. The only unforgivable sin is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. What is the limit of forgiveness? Jesus says 77 times in Mat 18:22. Continual forgiveness.
Varnel Watson
wow – so 7 times divorce is OK ??
Phil Brown Jr.
Did Jesus not forgive the Samaritan woman at the well?
Varnel Watson
did she have 7 husbands or 5? you assume too much
Phil Brown Jr.
On what basis do you place a limit on what God will forgive in regards to divorce?
Varnel Watson
A feature of John’s Gospels is that conversations often take place on two levels. For example, when Nicodemus visited Jesus at night, Jesus told him, “… no one can see the kingdom of heaven unless he is born from above” or “born again.” Nicodemus misunderstands Jesus to be speaking about physical birth, when Jesus is actually talking about supernatural rebirth in baptism (John 3:1-12). The same might be true here.
On the earthly level, Jesus and the Samaritan woman are discussing her current matrimonial history, but there seems to be more going on here. The Samaritan’s personal history seems to have run parallel to the religious history of Samaria.
Samaria was once part of the northern kingdom of Israel, which had broken off from the Davidic Kingdom. It had set up its own monarchy and form of worship until Assyria invaded and sent most of its inhabitants into exile. The king of Assyria brought pagans into Samaria to settle there (1 Kings 17:24).
Interestingly enough, 1 Kings 17:30-31 tells us there were five groups that settled there, each worshipping their own pagan gods: The Babylonians worshipped Marduk; the men of Cuth worshipped Nergal; the men of Avva worshipped Nibhaz and Tartak; the men of Sepharvaim worshipped their city gods; and King Hadad worshipped Anath.
Even though the Israelites were joined in covenant to the one true God, they intermarried with these foreigners and adopted their worship and practices. This is why the Jews wouldn’t have anything in common with Samaritans — because their assimilation with these pagans had defiled them. Samaria, like the woman at the well, had five husbands and was estranged from her true husband.
If this is true, the transition from talking about “five husbands” to “true worship” naturally follows. Samaria’s checkered past had distorted its worship, insisting that true worship must take place on Mount Gerizim, not in the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus’ message to the woman and Samaria is that he fulfills all that the temple signified and will unite Samaritans, Jews, and all peoples together to worship God in spirit and truth.
Phil Brown Jr.
What happens when someone gets divorced outside of adultery. Jesus said they commit adultery right? Is there no forgiveness for adultery? Did God not tell Hosea to marry a harlot so he could experience what God experiences through His covenant with Israel? Does God not forgive us? I am not condoning the abuse of grace. I said we should not get divorced, as it is not the intentions of God. However God does not limit His grace in this regard. It is only specifically limited to the sin of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
Phil Brown Jr.
We are not called to place limits on Gods grace, especially not called to add limitations that are not in God’s word. That would be the same mistake the pharisees made.
Phil Brown Jr.
What scripture do you know of that places a limitation on much divorce/adultery God will forgive?
Robert Erwine
Only death ends a marriage. If you “divorced ” and he or she is still living you are guilty of adultery if you marry another.
Phil Brown Jr.
Does not Jesus make provision for the case of adultery? If someone is guilty of adultery, is there no room for forgiveness? If not, please cite where it states that in scripture.
Robert Erwine
Phil Brown Jr. , jesus does not as out of the hardness of hearts that Moses allowed divorce, many people twist jesus’words in this instance.
Robert Erwine
Some will cite God divorcing Israel yet deny replacement theology . It cant be both ways .
Varnel Watson
both ways may be – but 7 times is too much
Phil Brown Jr.
Seven times is a lot. I would hope and pray no one ever gets a divorce. Does God forgive someone if they have been divorced 7 times or more Troy Day? If not, according to what scripture?
Varnel Watson
what exactly are you asking Phil Brown Jr. ?
Phil Brown Jr.
What scripture puts a limit to Gods forgiveness in reference to divorce/adultery.
Varnel Watson
Jesus forgave woman with 5 husbands – not sure if this is what you mean by putting a limit on it A bit strange
Robert Erwine
5 men she was sleeping with, not in covenant marriage .
Phil Brown Jr.
Troy Day I say it as putting a limit because you say 7 is too many, as if there is a quantifiable limit on how many times someone can get divorced before God won’t forgive them.
Varnel Watson
7>5 We have scripture for 5 not for 7 Robert Erwine Argumentative if Jesus meant men or husbands with andropos
Phil Brown Jr.
Do we also have scripture citing the ONLY unforgivable sin is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
Varnel Watson
We do have a passage that’s pretty clear on that
Michael Todd Combs
7
Louise Cummings
5 and the one she was living with was not her husband.
Varnel Watson
Michael Todd Combs I think Phil Brown Jr. wants to know where did you get the number 7 from?
Robert Erwine
when the woman responds, “I don’t have a husband” and Jesus replies, “You are right in saying, ‘I do not have a husband.’ For you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband” (John 4:17-18). Jesus was gentally telling her the truth and she responds with ” This man is a prophet “
Varnel Watson
husband in greek is anthropo – also means just a man
Ron Raney
You can be forgiven, several times, but I am sure the Lord has a limit, I will leave judgment to Him that knows all things, the spirit will not always strive with man