Only three types of people have the right to be married or remarried: 1.) those who have never been married before (1 Cor. 7:2); 2.) those who are scripturally divorced as the innocent party with fornication being the sole reason (Matt. 19:9); and 3.) those whose spouse died (Rom. 7:2-3). The concept of who should be married or remarried is not complicated or complex but scripturally very simple. God is not trying to fool or confuse anyone. It is his desire that all understand and abide by his will. Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32; cf. Eph. 5:17). So regardless of anyone’s position or opinion, there is only one truth to this subject that we can all understand alike. When there are disagreements as to what God’s will is, we may all be wrong but it is scripturally impossible for us to all be right. But we know God is correct and his word is right. As the scripture says, “let God be true, but every man a liar” (Rom. 3:4). Therefore, bible authority is extremely important (Col. 3:17).
Now concerning the subject of marriage, Jesus said from the beginning of creation it has been God’s responsibility alone of joining men and women together in marriage (Matt. 19:4-6). So, how can a marriage be right if it is contrary to God’s will?
Same-Sex Marriages are sinful since God is vehemently against homosexuality. The word of God has condemned this transgression under every dispensation of man (Gen. 13:13; 18:20; 19:1-28; Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Rom. 1:24-27; 1 Cor. 6:9). No manmade laws can change the word of God (Matt. 24:35; 1 Pet. 1:25).
Shacking Marriages are wrong too. This is when two people live together as though they are married but are not married. Marriage is honorable (Heb. 13:4). Shacking up is sinful. Relationships such as this are biblically defined as the sexual sin of fornication (1 Cor. 6:9; Gal. 5:19-21). Marriage is the remedy for those eligible (1 Cor. 7:2).
Unscriptural Marriages are remarriages with people who are no longer eligible for marriage. Someone in this type of marriage divorced for the wrong reasons, something other than fornication and then remarried. Or, they were the guilty party who was put away for fornication and they remarried which they should not have done (Matt. 19:9).
Many folk are happily married in relationships that are against God’s will. The teaching of Matthew 19:4-12 is not difficult to comprehend if folk want to obey. Yet, many without a shred of bible support or shame take vows of marriage over and over only to break them over and over. This is against God’s will
(Eccl. 5:4-6). Jesus told the woman at the well, “For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly”(John 4:18). When Herod was married to his brother Philip’s wife John told him, “…It is not lawful for thee to have her” (Matt. 14:4). Marriage was established in the beginning between male and female for life (Gen. 1:27; 2:24-25; Matt. 19:4-6). The only exception for divorce now given is sexual immorality which allows the innocent spouse to put away/divorce the guilty spouse. The “whosoever” in Matthew 19:9 applies to everyone just as it does in John 3:16.
