Soverign Grace
Well-Known Member
Marriage has always been a public announcement of commitment between a man and woman for life. Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding/marriage. Sexual relationships do not constitute a marriage. Jesus told the promiscuous woman at the well with 5 husbands, her present boyfriend was not her husband.
In the OT Moses allowed divorce and remarriage on grounds of adultery because the State executed adulterers. In Matthew 19:9 Jesus assumes this in the "except clause". But if the execution does not take place, any remarriage, even of the innocently divorced wife from the adulterous husband constitutes adultery. Not only for them, but for those they marry.
Christians always fled violence so separation is good but remarriage is not. Forgiveness is mandatory but reconciliation is based on wisdom in avoiding abuse.
It's interesting because I was reading that when two people have sexual relationships they're "joined" - I don't know if this is true or not. I know the Bible says "two shall become one" - does this mean only in marriage or can it mean in a sexual relationship? There is so much fornication nowadays that we must really have a lot of spiritual cross-currents going on.