My husband is committing adultery but also talking about becoming a Christian
Question:
My husband and I have been together for 10 years and married for 2. We have a 7-year-old child together. He admitted to having sexual chemistry with a colleague a few months ago and she started visiting more regularly. I became suspicious but said nothing. My husband cheated on me with her the day after he asked for a divorce. We separated for a month, but he then asked that my child and I move back for financial reasons. He is still in a relationship with the other woman while we are still married. He has not made any attempt to apply for a divorce. However, we sleep in the same bed but have not consummated my return after the separation as he said it will never happen.
He has told me that he wants to be baptized. He is now in the process of being reborn and baptized. My question is: does God command that to be reborn, he must repent his adultery and reconcile with his wife? Can he be reborn if he does not reconcile with his wife? Can you also give scripture to motivate him? Please help. I have been praying for reconciliation daily for months, but he remains cold toward me.
Answer:
Your husband is committing adultery. "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God" (I Corinthians 6:9-10). Without repentance of his sins, which means both a change in attitude and a change in behavior, he cannot be forgiven. As Jesus said, "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3).
Getting a divorce will not change his situation. He will still be in adultery. "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" (Matthew 5:32). Divorce will not solve the problem, it will only make it harder to get out of sin.