Would I still have the right to remarry if I slept with another man before my divorce was final?
Question:
Hi!
I have a serious question: My husband walked out on me after 20 years of marriage. He has had numerous affairs. He has been gone for 2 years. I finally filed our divorce five months ago and it may be over within the month. For the past year, he has been living with another woman. If I were to sleep with another man before our divorce is complete, is this forgivable? Would I still be free to remarry? Or would it be adultery if I remarried? I've read all the verses related to this but this question is not answered.
Answer:
You are contemplating committing adultery, on purpose, pre-planned, and you're wondering in advance if you can get forgiveness for the sin you are planning to commit. This is the spiritually sick type of thinking that had gotten Israel into trouble with God.
" "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?" Says the LORD. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats. When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts? Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies - I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword"; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken" (Isaiah 1:11-20),
The people of Israel thought they could have it both ways. They committed sins and then offered up sacrifices to "pay" for the sins. It is completely backward! The idea of being God's children is to avoid sin and live righteously. That is why God found their sacrifices disgusting.
You're doing the same thing. You want to commit sin and are thinking to justify it by asking for forgiveness later. "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" (Romans 6:1-2).
The plain and simple fact is that sex is only to take place with the person to whom you are married. Your divorce is not final. You are still married to your husband. You are not free to marry anyone else until that divorce is completed; thus, you are not free to have sex with anyone else.
Since you are divorcing your husband for his infidelity, you will be free to marry again. Only after you are married can you have sex with your new husband.
