Radidio said:
I know all the reasons why God forgives our sins by grace and mercy but I really have difficulty with this scenerio:
"I'm walking the street and Jesus sudenly appears and I ask him a question about somethig that has been bothering me for some time. I ask him about getting married again because I was divorced by leaving my wife and then marying another divorced lady. He says "But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery". Then I say well what about God's grace and mercy and He says "What did I just tell you?".
Now I know that this is just hypothetical but if I had that personal, upclose encounter and these words came from his mouth, how could I dispute what he says? Talking to pastors and others in the "know" hasn't reassured me totally that I don't have some responsibilty in this matter except his command to Magdelen "go and sin no more" and that God WILL forgive me "as far as the east as from the west" but.........to me that seems to deliberate a sin and one of premeditated thought. Or does it mean that the previous divorce was forginven me and is no more and I can get remarried? I just have a problem with a direct commant from Him and not just subscribed old testament law.
That's a really good question. The way i see it is this:
1.) We are absolutely required to follow the Law. Not to the best of our ability, but completely; perfectly. (First use of the Law)
2.) Christ paid the penalty for our transgressions, so we are no longer under the curse of the Law. It can not condemn us.
2a.) God's Word is still God's Word. His Law shows us His Will for us. (Third use of the Law)
3.) If we love Him, we
will be moved tokeep His commandments. We are still of the old Adam, so we will not keep them perfectly, nor in every detail, but our motivation is changed to not exclusively hate His Law.
4.) Now, because of #2 above, instead of condemnation when we do break God's Law, we are:
4a.) ... Concious that we have transgressed (Second use of the Law)
4b.) ... Repentant and saddened that we have offended our Father
4c.) ... Joy filled that we are still His children
When teaching on the Law and the Gospel, Martin Luther was asked by one of his students: "
Do you mean to tell us that because we are Christians, we can do whatever we want, any time we want".
What do you think Martin answered him?
Luther replied to the student: "
Yes, indeed, you can do whatever you want, whenever you want."
Shocking, huh?
Then Martin followed up with this: "
Now... WHAT do you want?"
So, should the person on the street you describe marry again?
- No.
Will the act of marying, damn him? Or will the act of 'not marying', save him?
-- Once again, no.
On the other hand, would a person who is genuinly in Christ disobey His direct command? If he did (in a time of weakness (we all still have the old Adam, and must drown him daily), would he then demand that the act was not sinful, or would he be sorrowful and repent, while still continuing to fulfill all his responsibility his this 'new' wife?
