Did I have the right to remarry?
Question:
When God forgives you does he wipe your slate clean? Several years ago I suspected my husband of adultery. His boss told me he had information about the situation and we agreed to meet at his house at lunch to discuss it. As we talked, I became emotional and he tried to comfort me. One thing led to another and we ended up having intercourse. I repented of my sin and was baptized into Christ. I never told my husband. I did everything I could to be a faithful wife. After about seven years I confirmed that he was having an affair. I found letters to the other woman. We went to two marriage counselors. He didn't want to work things out and he moved out. I then proceed to get a divorce. I have since remarried because he committed adultery and would not reconcile. Did I have the right to divorce and remarry?
Answer:
The tangles we end up making of our lives.
The adultery, as you realize, was wrong (Hebrews 13:4). However, you took steps to change your life and live righteously. You would be in the same boat as some of the Corinthian brethren. "And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (I Corinthians 6:11). Among the sins some had committed was adultery (I Corinthians 6:9). The sins you had committed in your past are no longer charged to your account in the eyes of God.
Meanwhile, your husband was committing adultery, but it appears he took no action to rectify the situation. When caught he chose to leave rather than repair the breach created by his sins. This lead to your divorcing him. As far as I can tell you had the right to remarry as you were not guilty of adultery (that sin was corrected), but he remained in his sin. He forfeited his right to remarry.
"And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery" (Matthew 19:8).
The sad thing is that it didn't have to be. He could have remained in the marriage.
