A Question Concerning Marriage
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesA querist asks, “If a man and woman get married then get divorced, then the man goes and remarries, we know that he (and his new wife) has committed adultery. But say him and his new wife get baptized into the church …. are they forgiven and does their marriage now find God’s blessing or are they still living in a adulterous marriage?”
The implication of this question is that one who begins a manner of life before obeying the gospel, which God disapproves following salvation, may nevertheless continue to live in this state with the approval of God, after obeying the gospel. The fallacy of this contention is obvious. Jesus said in Matthew 19:9-ASV:
“And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery.”
The word, “Whosoever” in this verse embraces all people, in and out of the church.
It is not possible for one to be scripturally baptized who has not repented (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; Acts 17:30). Repentance requires the termination of sinful conduct as a prerequisite to baptism (Romans 6:1-2; 2 Corinthians 7:10). In Matthew 3:8-ASV, the Bible also speaks of bringing “forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance.” The fruit of true, genuine repentance would not allow “staying in” a sinful relationship but “getting out” of such a relationship.
According to the teaching of the inspired Scriptures, baptism does not wash away past sins of those unwilling to terminate those sins (i.e., illegal husbands and illegal wives). Thus, these individuals may not continue in a relationship that was wrong prior to baptism.