Setting the Record Straight on MDR (1)
2000051
Subject: MDR
Introduction:
A. Studies/sermons on this subject are not always pleasant. But they are necessary.
1. The subject that we will be addressing in both sermons today is important because this issue is dividing the Lord's body at a rapid pace.
2. Souls are at stake because of false teaching.
3. Today's sermon was not planned - but is the result of a request by a few brethren here.
4. It is a privilege to honor this request. Hope that everyone will listen today w/an open mind and heart and honestly evaluate the Scriptures that are taught.
B. Statistics say that 33% of all new contacts have been divorced and remarried.
1. We are also reminded of the divorce rate w/in America today - right around 50%.
2. We all know of someone who has been/is involved in a divorce - either family or friends or co-workers.
3. We must work to understand the society that we live in and work to bring people in it to the truth of the gospel of Christ.
C. Even though it is not that pleasant to talk about - MDR is a subject that needs to be addressed w/in churches of Christ today. Today's lesson will be a simple attempt to clearly refute false teaching and biblical error on the subject.
I. Basic Rules of Engagement for a subject like this:
A. All Scriptures on any given Bible subject should be applied to the subject; as opposed to taking stands on one passage to the exclusion and/or contradiction of others.
1. 2 Tim. 3:16-17 - the word of God is truth - truth does not contradict itself.
2. Example? What is baptism for?
a) Acts 2:38 - remission; Gal. 3:27 - to get into Christ;
b) 1 Cor. 12:13 - to get into the body; 1 Pet. 3:21 - Salvation.
c) The idea of what is expressed concerning baptism is found in a variety of scriptures.
3. Same is true with MDR. There are variety of Scriptures which give man all that is necessary to know God's will on the subject.
B. Care should be given that one passage, one phrase, or one word is not "over emphasized" to prove a point that the inspired writer did not mean to make. See 1 Pet. 4:11.
C. Everything should be done in love. See 1 Cor. 16:14.
1. Speech, persuasion, reasoning, contending, study, action, re-action, etc.
D. The Bible is God's word and shall have the last word - Col. 3:17.
1. Commentaries may be helpful - but they are of men and subject to error.
2. Traditions are comforting - but just b/c it done in past not necessarily right.
3. Personal inferences/judgments may/should guide individual consciences - but if God's word doesn't say it, it should not be bound upon others!
E. In this morning's lesson we will attempt to solve a problem that confuses many: that is - properly defining what fornication and adultery are. We will then answer:
1. Is adultery merely a "breaking of the marriage vows/covenant?"
2. Is there such thing as living in adultery or having an unlawful marriage?
F. In tonight's lesson we will discuss:
1. Unlawful marriages: What does repentance require?
2. What about 1 Cor. 7?
II. The texts in question: Mt. 5:31-32; 19:9; Mk. 10:2-12; Lk. 16:18. We primarily wish to focus on the Matthew account.
III. What is "Fornication" as used in Mt. 5:31-32; 19:9?
A. From porneia. Vines: illicit sexual intercourse. Strongs: to act the harlot; literally indulge in unlawful lusts.
B. Bauer: "prostitution; unchastity; every kind of unlawful intercourse."
C. Thayer: "illicit sexual intercourse in general; including homosexuality and incest, etc."
1. It = a general term for sexual immorality.
2. From 1 Cor. 6:12-20 we see it is primarily a sexual sin committed with the body.
D. Sometimes fornication is used in a figurative way to refer to spiritual unfaithfulness - especially in the OT.
1. But…."Fornication" in Mt. 5:31-32; 19:9 is used in a LITERAL sense. How?
a) Jesus talking of a literal marriage; literal divorce; and literal adultery. Therefore: the context DEMANDS that the fornication here be taken literally.
b) "fornication" x-lated as: marital unfaithfulness - NIV; sexual immorality - NKJV; immorality - NASV; unchastity - RSV
2. But what about Mt. 5:28?
a) Some have described the word here as a poetic metaphor. Figurative in nature.
b) Same thing in 1 Jhn. 3:15 - whoever hates his brother is a murderer.
c) Sin in 1 Jhn. 3:15 NOT literally murder - but hate. Just as sin in Mt. 5:28 is NOT literally adultery - but lust.
d) These texts demonstrate the end results of evil thought.
E. Conclusion:
1. "fornication" in Mt. 5:31-32; 19:9 should be understood in it's broadest and most basic sense - as being generally descriptive of extramarital sexual intercourse.
2. The statements of Christ here make allowance for one to divorce his spouse if they willingly have sex outside marriage.
IV. What is "Adultery" as used in Mt 5:31-32; 19:9?
A. From moichos. Vines: one who has unlawful intercourse with the spouse of another. Thayer: to have unlawful intercourse with another's wife.
B. Adultery is a more specific term than fornication.
1. Donnie Rader: generally refers to sexual activity between a married man and a woman not his wife or between a married woman and a man not her husband. (p. 13)
2. Generally: fornication is the broader term that includes adultery.
a) whereas adultery describes ONLY PART of what is INCLUDED IN fornication.
C. It must be understood that adultery is a sexual act. See both OT & NT.
1. Lev. 20:10; Pro. 6:24-25; 29; Hos. 2:2; Heb. 13:4; Rev. 2:20-22.
2. John 8:4 - the act the woman was caught in was sexual intercourse.
D. Conclusion: In Mt. 5:31-32; 19:9; Mk. 10:11-12; Lk. 16:18 Jesus' use of adultery is reference to forbidden sex.
V. Is Adultery merely a "breaking of the marriage vows/covenant?"
A. Some teach: adultery is nothing more than a breaking of marriage vows/covenant - The concept is that the unscriptural divorce & remarriage (thus breaking the covenant of the first marriage) constitutes adultery and not the unlawful sexual activity.
B. While adultery does involve a "breaking of the covenant" it is not merely unfaithfulness to the covenant!
1. Jhn. 8:4-8. Woman caught in the act. (of adultery)
a) was she caught in the act of divorcing/remarrying (breaking wedlock) or in the sex act?
b) It is obvious that adultery here not only involves covenant breaking but also illicit sexual relations!
2. Would this definition apply to passages that speak of spiritual adultery? Spiritual adultery mentioned in Jer. 3:8-9; Ezek. 23:37; Hos. 4:3.
a) Would those guilty of spiritual adultery simply have to say "I'm sorry" and then continue in sin? Certainly not!
b) Not only would confession of sin be necessary - but a cessation of the sinful behavior.
3. Mt. 5:32. Woman who put away (for cause other than fornication) commits adultery when she remarries.
a) Was she the one who broke the covenant (by getting the unscriptural divorce?)
b) No…her husband did!
c) But she still guilty of adultery when she remarries.
VI. Is there such thing as living in adultery or having an unlawful marriage?
A. Some: adultery is not something one lives in. It is the guilt of a onetime sin.
1. logical conclusion of this: after their first marriage is dissolved - then a couple is free to continue in the second marriage after they repent of the sin of "covenant breaking" from the first marriage.
B. While there is NO SPECIFIC term living in unlawful marriage one can apply the principles taught clearly in Scripture.
1. Gk. wd in Mt. 5:31-32; 19:9 xlated commit adultery is in the PRESENT tense!
2. Strongs definition.
a) present tense tells us the "adultery" here is continuous action!
b) Latkovsky: the present tense of the Greek form "commits adultery" means continuous action at anytime, i.e., as long as the condition of the second marriage continues to exist.
c) Thus the NT shows that one can commit adultery everytime they engage in sex - from the first time to the last!
d) As long as one continues to commit adultery (in this case - remain in unlawful 2nd marriage) he remains in a sinful relationship and his soul is in danger of hellfire! (1 Cor. 6:9)
C. But we're not done yet. Examine Col. 3:5-7.
1. one can live in adultery! Paul said so.
2. Remember adultery is a more specific part of fornication.
3. This shows that it was more than a onetime act!
D. Still not convinced? See Romans 7:2-3.
1. focus on words adulteress here.
2. Strongs definition! NOTE CONTINUOUS ACTION IS OBVIOUS FROM THE TEXT!
3. Just because the bible nowhere specifically mentions the phrase "living in adultery" or "unlawful marriage" does not mean that one can't "live in adultery".
4. It is implied in the Scriptures. We must not go beyond that which is written! (1 Cor. 4:6)
E. Since adultery can be "continuous" in nature - then there can be unlawful marriages.
1. unlawful marriage: to be married (joined) to one while bound to another.
2. The "bond" is a covenant w/God that joins us to our mate.
a) Mt. 19:6 - God is the one who joins (bonds/yokes together). God is the only one who can loose the bond!
b) McMurray: the bond is the responsibility that God places upon men and women when they enter marriage. It is a responsibility of constraint and restraint that men can neglect, BUT NOT REMOVE. Men do the joining; God does the binding. Men can put asunder the "joining", but only God can determine that one is not "bound" anymore - i.e., that they are free from the responsibilities of marriage.
3. To be joined as Jesus uses it in Mt. 19:9 & in Rom. 7 - means the marriage - the becoming of one flesh.
a) this marriage/joining may be lawful (Rom. 7; 1 Cor. 7; Mt. 19:6)
b) this marriage/joining may be unlawful (Mt. 14:3-4; 1 Cor. 6; Gen. 20:1-7)
4. This marriage/joining can be broken by men b/c Jesus warned them not to do so in Mt. 19!
Conclusion:
A. In this AM's Lesson we have worked on answering:
1. What is the proper definition of "fornication" as used in Mt. 5:31-32; 19:9?
2. What is the proper definition of "adultery" as used in Mt .5:31-32; 19:9
3. Is adultery merely a "breaking of the marriage vows/covenant?
4. Is there such thing as "living in adultery" or an "unlawful marriage?"
B. Again,…tonight we will discuss:
1. What is repentance?
2. Are those in unlawful marriages required to repent?
3. What about 1 Cor. 7?
C. Know that today's lesson has not been primarily focused upon one's need to come to Christ.
D. But if you need to obey gospel - NOW is the time!
1. God's plan of salvation.
2. Repent? Ask for prayers?
E. I N V I T A T I O N
