Does God's Marriage Law Apply to Christians Only?
Brad Hopkins
(edited and adapted by Jack Critchfield)

One of the arguments that has been advanced about what to do about the problem of divorce and remarriage says that, if a couple divorces and remarries unscripturally before they become Christians, that God's laws on the subject do not apply. The only marriage Matthew 19:9 applies to is the one a couple is in when they obey the gospel. Because God's law applies to Christians only.

If this is so, then what sin is it that we have to repent of in order to become Christians, murder, lying, adultery, homosexuality, drunkenness, gambling? It could not be these, because they would be sins only for Christians. After all, non-Christians cannot be expected to live up to the Christian standard. And yet, the Bible says that God calls on all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30).

The truth is that all are expected to live up to God's standard. According to Romans 3:9, all are under sin which means all have violated God's law. Now, Romans 3:19 says, "Whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law." Does this mean the law of God applies only to the followers of God? No! The same verse says, "that all the world may become guilty before God."

If we're going to make the laws of God apply to Christians only, then there is no law for the rest of the world. If there is no law for the world, then there is no sin in the world, there is only sin in the church, for "sin is not imputed when there is no law," (Rom. 5:13). In that case, the worst thing we could do for our fellow man is to teach them to be Christians: for until they became Christians, they would be safe from sin.

Yet the two great prophets of the New Testament, Jesus and John the Immerser, taught that God's standards apply to everybody. It is ironic that both of them taught non believers the truth about divorce and remarriage, and expected them to live up to it.

In Mark 6:17-19, John rebuked Herod (who was neither Jew nor Christian) because he was married to a woman to which he had no right to be married. "For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her. For John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not;" (Mark 6:17-19).

Jesus told the Samaritan woman, who was also neither Jew nor Christian, "You have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband." "The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw." Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You have well said, 'I have no husband,' "for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly." (John 4:15-18)

The word of God applies to everyone, not just to those who believe it (John 12:48). We must do what Jesus did and teach those in the world to repent and come out of their sin. Divorce and remarriage, except in the case of a cheating spouse, is adultery and it is sin. You cannot repent of a sin and then continue in it (Acts 3:19).

Undoing old sinful habits hurts sometimes. It can be rough on the kids. It is hard on the couple. But what hurts worse is being lost in hell. If we really love someone, we will tell them the truth, even if they hate us for it.

Let us never seek to water down the commandments of God. By doing so we would only consign more souls to the fires of hell. Above all, remember the Lord's promise, "Then Peter answered and said to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?" So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life." But many who are first will be last, and the last first." (Matthew 19:27-30)