Truth Magazine

By Johnny Stringer

Marriage is to be permanent. Unless one puts away his mate for the cause of fornication, he is bound to his spouse for as long as they both live; consequently, if he contracts a second marriage while the first mate is still alive, the second marriage is adulterous (Rom. 7:2-3; 1 Cor. 7:39; Matt. 19:3-9; Lk. 16:18).

Forgiveness Conditioned On Repentance

Like all sins, adultery can be forgiven. Forgiveness for any sin, however, is conditional: there can be no forgiveness apart from repentance (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 8:22). This means that one cannot continue impenitently in any sin and be forgiven. A liar must quit his lying; a thief must quit his stealing; and an adulterer must quit committing adultery. One who is involved in an adulterous relationship must sever that relationship.

The important point to remember is that one who is divorced continues to be bound to his first spouse (Rom. 7:2-3). Since he is bound to his first spouse, he commits adultery every time he has intercourse with his second spouse. He must quit if he is to be forgiven. He cannot continue to sleep with one mate while he is bound by God’s law to another.

Even If It Preceded Baptism

Some think that since one is forgiven of his sins at baptism, he can continue living with whatever mate he has at the time of his baptism, even though the marriage is adulterous according to Jesus’ teaching. Baptism does not bring forgiveness, however, unless there is repentance (Acts 2:38). If the relationship is adulterous, one must quit it.

Furthermore, while the penitent believer is forgiven of all the sins that were committed before baptism, his baptism does not bring the forgiveness of sins committed after baptism. If, for example, one is a liar, he will be forgiven of all his past lies when he is baptized (if he is a penitent believer); but he cannot tell lies after his baptism and expect them to be forgiven because of his baptism. The same is true of adultery. God will forgive the penitent believer of all his past acts of adultery when he is baptized, but he cannot continue to commit adultery with the same person after his baptism and expect these continued acts of adultery to be forgiven because of his baptism.

Some seemingly believe that when one is baptized, the second marriage is somehow made legitimate. No, if it is wrong to sleep with a person before baptism, it is wrong to do the same thing afterwards. The reason the second marriage is adulterous is that the divorced person is still bound to the first spouse (Rom. 7:2-3). Baptism does not change that. One is still bound to the first spouse after baptism, just as much as he was before baptism. Baptism does not erase the first marriage. Since one continues to be bound to his first spouse, his relationship with the second spouse is still adulterous, and he must quit committing adultery, just as he must quit any other sin.

Sometimes men invoke 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 to prove that one is not to sever the marriage relationship he is in at the time he becomes a Christian. Paul does in these verses teach that the Christian is not to think his baptism warrants a renunciation of his earthly status and the legitimate relationships he sustains. It should not even have to be mentioned, however, that this passage has reference only to relationships which are legitimate. Paul had been discussing the marriage of believers and unbelievers, and he had shown such marriages to be legitimate. If this passage is not limited to legitimate relationships, but is to be pressed to mean that adulterous marriages are to be continued, then it must also be pressed to mean that one who becomes a Christian is not to sever a homosexual marriage if he sustains one at the time of his baptism!

A Difficult Duty

The extreme difficulty of ending an adulterous marriage cannot be denied. Whether one is willing to do so is a real test of his dedication and devotion to Christ. It demonstrates whether he really loves Christ above everyone and everything else (Lk. 14:26, 33). The one who is truly converted will stand the test and quit his adultery.

Sometimes one will say that he loves his mate too much to end his relationship with her. In the first place, he should not love his mate more than he does the Lord. In the second place, if he really loves his mate, he will not want to see her lost, and he will be willing to sacrifice his relationship with her for the sake of her soul. Does one really love his mate when he continues in a relationship with her which will damn her soul for eternity? You see, then, that whether one is willing to fulfill this duty is not only a test of his love for the Lord; it is also a test of his love for his mate! Love is sacrificial. To refuse to sacrifice his relationship with his mate for the sake of his mate’s soul is in fact an act of selfishness, not love.

Surely it is hard to give up the pleasure that the adulterous relationship brings. One must remember, however, that the brief period of pleasure that such a relationship may bring on earth is not worth an eternity of agony in Hell.

It is especially difficult to end an adulterous marriage when there are children involved. Parents in an adulterous marriage are concerned about the bad effect it will have on their children if they end their marriage. There is not denying that the action will have a bad effect on the children. The fact, however, that there will be a bad effect on the children whether the marriage is ended or not. Consider the bad effect it will have on the children to grow up and lean that their parents are living in adultery! Which will have the better effect on the children: learning that their parents had such little regard for the word of God that they openly defied it and lived without shame in an adulterous relationship, or seeing that their parents are so devoted to the God of Heaven that they were willing to make an extreme and agonizing sacrifice in order to please Him and reach Heaven? Indeed, the children will be hurt whichever course is taken; but we must never think that it will be better for the children if we do wrong than it will be if we do right.

It is an agonizing thing for me to teach this difficult duty. You could not pay me enough money to say what I have said in this article.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 6, pp. 170, 180
March 21, 1985

By Bill Cavender

“The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him…. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Rom. 8:16-17; Gal. 4:6-7).

The Greek word kleronomos (one who obtains a lot or portion; lit. to possess a lot) is translated by our English word “heir.” Webster defines an “heir” as “one who inherits, or is entitled to inherit.”

All of the children of God are His heirs: “if children, then heirs.” Paul tells us how we become children and heirs: “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:26-29). All of God’s children are in His family, the church, which is the house(hold) of God (1 Tim. 3:15; Heb. 3:6; 10:21; Gal. 6:10). There are no children of God, no heirs of God, outside of God’s family, the church of Christ and of God to which the saved are added by the Lord Himself (Acts 2:38-41, 47; Mark 16:16; Col. 1:13; Eph. 5:5,23; 1 Cor. 12:13).

The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the sons and heirs of God. He bears witness by revealing all of God’s truth through the inspired men in the New Testament (1 Jn. 5:5-13; 1 Cor. 2:8-13), teaching and telling us how to believe and obey God to become His children (Heb. 5:8-9). Our spirit bears witness by hearing, understanding, believing and obeying from our hearts these truths revealed by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 6:16-18; 1 Pet. 1:22-25; 1 Cor. 15:1-4). “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Rom. 8:14). We are led by the Spirit, as He tells us in the word of God what God would have us to believe and obey. We follow the Spirit by doing what He instructs us to do.

Every man can know, and does know, by his knowledge of God’s will whether or not he has sincerely, willingly, obediently and understandingly, done God’s will from the heart, and whether or not he continues to do it as the Holy Spirit teaches. Those who abide in the truth, revealed by the Spirit, continuing in faithfulness, are heirs who have the hope and

promise of an eternal inheritance in heaven.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 6, p. 172
March 21, 1985

By C. Titus Edwards

Sex

One of the biggest problems that young people must deal with is sex. As one begins to mature, the sexual urge grows strong. Sexuality is a part of being human; we were made either male or female. Sex is a natural desire, but it must be understood and controlled as the Bible teaches. We live in a sex-saturated society. Our sexual instincts are appealed to almost everywhere we turning jokes, television shows, movies, music, recreation, and even in commercials. With so much sexual stimulation to handle, it becomes a major problem.

Let me begin by pointing out that all sex is not bad! We normally paint such a dark and forbidding picture of sex that people end up believing that it is inherently evil. Such is not truel It was God who created man with sexual attraction and provided for its joyful fulfilment. God created sex, not only to have children, but for pleasure. Sex is a pure and holy thing. It is beautiful and honorable. It is a great blessing of God that a husband and wife find each other sexually attractive and share together in marital love (Prov. 5:1520). But the key here is that sex is between a husband and wife in marriage! “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled; but whore mongers and adulterers God will judge” (Heb. 13:4). Paul instructed that people should marry, so that they could have sex without sinning (1 Cor. 7:14).

The flip side of all of this is that sex outside of marriage is wrong! It is not only sinful, but shameful, and dishonorable. Fornicators (“whore mongers”) shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire (Rev. 21:8). Fornication is a perversion of that which is good; Satan tempts people who are not married to have sex.

Aaron Hass, in his book Teenage Sexuality claims that by the time young people reach 16, 42% will have engaged in sex. Other statistics indicate that 50% of girls 15 to 19 and 70% of boys 17 to 21 have already had sex. But it starts before that. Hass claims that 50% of boys by the age of 13 have been involved in petting (handling the sexual part of another’s body) and 90% of boys have done so by age 18!

Young people, please guard your hearts against fornication! That is where it all begins (Mt. 15:19). Do not dwell on sexual fantasies. “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof” (Rom. 13:14). This simply means not to place yourself in tempting situations. Watch how you dress. Be careful of the places that you go. Recognize that mixed swimming, dancing, telling filthy stories (or listening to such), and petting are going to arouse you to sin. The key is making up your mind in advance. Determine that you are not going to commit fornication, and then not allow yourself to get into a situation where you will be tempted to do so!

Sex, like all sin, will “take you further than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.” Look at the case of David and Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11). His desire for her not only led to fornication, but lying, drunkenness, murder, the death of a child, evil, and shame. In the case of Tamar and Amnon (2 Sam. 13:1-29), after Amnon had sex with Tamar (against her will), he hated her (v. 15), though previously he loved her (vv 1-2). Sex will change a relationship! Recognize also, that there is a difference between lust and love. But the example that all of us should follow is that of Joseph (Gen. 39:7-13). Joseph knew that having sex with Potiphar’s wife would be a great wickedness and a sin against God; therefore, he refused. So can you!

The fruits of sinful sex can be seen in venereal disease, illegitimate pregnancy and children, abortion, and suicide. Practice self control with your desires and say no to fornication. “Flee fornication” (1 Cor. 6:18) that you may keep yourself pure by “keeping yourself” until marriage. How wonderful it will be to know that you are totally and exclusively your spouse’s.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 6, p. 171
March 21, 1985

By David McClister

One of the most beautiful statements in all the Bible is found in 1 Peter 5:7 – “casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you” (ASV). The apostle here combines commandment and fact in a most assuring way for every Christian. How great it is to know that we are not faced with the unpleasant task of having to worry our lives through or become dragged down by the day-to-day problems which are seemingly capable at times of piling up much faster than we can deal with them. By the grace and love of God, we are spared from the nervousness which plagues those outside of Christ. All we need to do when the worries come is hand them over to God and let Him take care of them.

What a blessing this is! Yet all too often we neglect it and find ourselves needlessly grappling with our fears and worries. We often spend far too much time worrying about the bills, getting out of debt, the security of our jobs, our health, our safety, and a host of other things which really distract us from our main job of being the people of God first and making spiritual things our primary concern. Before we know it we are so bogged down in anxiety that we have lost sight of our spiritual concerns and have become like the rest of the world – spending all our time minding the things of this life, rather than paying attention first to the things of heaven.

For this reason, it is good to step back once in a while and evaluate just how we are living our lives. We all need, from time to time, to pull ourselves up from the details of the bills, job, etc. and make sure that heaven still is our chief desire. That is not to say that we must abandon all responsibility, but that we must ever be sure that we are not losing sight of our most important responsibility, which is obeying God. But even more than this, we need to take all of those cares and worries and deposit them squarely into the hands of God. He is far more capable of dealing with them than we are, for He is, after all, the Creator of all things. Surely a God as powerful as the one we worship can handle the problems we mortals face. Yet the facts are more encouraging still.

Did you ever wonder why it is that God wants us to let Him handle our worries? It is not because God particularly enjoys having problems heaped upon Him, even though He can deal with them easily. No, God wants to take on our problems so that we can keep our sights set on heaven without any distractions. We need to realize that God wants us to be saved. The Scriptures plainly teach, “The Lord is . . . not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9), and “. . .God our Savior. . . would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4). God is on our side! He wants to see us be faithful to Him, and so He will deal with our problems so that we can concentrate upon being faithful and making it to heaven. This is a piece of what it means that “he careth for you.”

Thus we are commanded to cast our cares upon God. The apostle Paul issued the same exhortation in Phillipians 4:6: “In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” This is not merely an option open to the Christian, nor is it a casual suggestion. It is a commandment of the Lord delivered by His apostles. The plain and simple fact is that God does not want us wasting our time worrying over things that have not yet happened to us. He wants us to spend our time wisely (Eph. 5:15f), concentrating on the good we may do in His service now. Let God take care of the problems of the future. As Jesus said, “Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Matt. 6:34). It is a matter of letting God be God, letting faith be faith, and letting today be spent in His service.

God has designed the Christian life to be one of supreme serenity and peace, and there is no good reason why any Christian’s life should be otherwise. Sure, troubles will come. They come to all men. But the great thing about our life in Christ is that we do not have to face them helplessly or alone. God has volunteered to handle our fears, cares, and anxieties for us. Now, with such fears out of the way, how much time do you suppose that leaves us for pleasing God? All of it! And what shall be the result for us? “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7).

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 7, pp. 193, 217
April 4, 1985