This document outlines 6 basic marital situations regarding marriage, divorce, and remarriage: 1. Married and bound - Those in a legal and scriptural marriage. 2. Unmarried and unbound - The single, widowed, or innocent party after a divorce involving infidelity. 3. Unmarried but bound to another - Those divorced without biblical grounds who are not free to remarry. 4. Married but bound to another - Those who divorced without grounds and remarried, living in adultery. 5. Married but unbound - An innocent third party married to a divorcee without grounds. 6. Unbound but bound to God - Those

1. Marital
Situations
Preaching on Marriage / Divorce / Re-marriage is
a difficult topic.
Not because the Bible is unclear.
Because there are so many variables, so many
“what if” circumstances.

2. My preference

I would rather teach this topic in a class that is
open for discussion.

There are too many different scenarios that
must be considered.

We could spend weeks discussing all the
possible situations involved.

TODAY – I am just going to cover the very
basics. There are 6 marital situations.

3. 1 – Married and Bound

Scriptural marriage / Legal marriage

Matthew 19:6 So then, they are no longer two
but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined
together, let not man separate."

Romans 7:1-2 1 Or do you not know, brethren
(for I speak to those who know the law), that
the law has dominion over a man as long as he
lives? 2 For the woman who has a husband is
bound by the law to her husband as long as he
lives. But if the husband dies, she is released
from the law of her husband.

4. 2 – Unmarried and Unbound

Single, widow, widower

“Innocent party” who divorced their spouse
because that spouse committed fornication.

The widow, widower and the innocent party
after a divorce – are free to marry the same as
the single (never married) person.

5. 3 – Unmarried and Bound to
Another

When there is a divorce for some cause other
than fornication - - -

They are divorced under the law of the state

But they are bound under the law of God

1 Corinthians 7:10-11 10 Now to the married I
command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to
depart from her husband. 11 But even if she
does depart, let her remain unmarried or be
reconciled to her husband. And a husband is
not to divorce his wife.

6. 4 – Married and Bound to Another

When the divorce is for a cause other than
fornication - - -

And have entered another marriage.

They are in a legal marriage to the 2nd
spouse.

They are still bound to the 1st
spouse by God.

They are living in adultery.

NOT: Just an act of sin, but they are in a state
or condition of sin.

7. 5 – Married and Unbound

An innocent 3rd
party who is married to one who
has divorced for a cause other than fornication

Matthew 5:32 But I say to you that whoever
divorces his wife for any reason except sexual
immorality causes her to commit adultery; and
whoever marries a woman who is divorced
commits adultery.

They have entered into a sinful relationship –
but in the law of God they are not bound.

8. 6 – Unmarried and Bound to God

When one is put away because of their
fornication:

When one is divorced for any other cause:

They are not free to marry another

BUT they are able to repent, live for God,
continue to be faithful to the church and live
eternally in heaven

9. The Basics

In this lesson we covered the basics

There are still many “what if” situations that
need to be considered

I realize that there are many other
circumstances that need personal discussion

The BASIC RULE – Marriage is one man and
one woman for life. This was God's intent from
creation.

10. The Basics

In this lesson we covered the basics

There are still many “what if” situations that
need to be considered

I realize that there are many other
circumstances that need personal discussion

The BASIC RULE – Marriage is one man and
one woman for life. This was God's intent from
creation.