MARRIAGE IS NOT A SIN
It has been contended that where a person is divorced before baptism, they are at liberty after baptism to remarry. The argument has been advanced that baptism washes away a person's past life, enabling them to have a fresh beginning, and so marriage which was the subject of a divorce before baptism has been washed away. But in what sense is baptism a fresh beginning?Romans is quoted extensively, and the phrase "but ye are washed" (1 Cor 6:111 Cor 6:11 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.). But in what sense is baptism a fresh beginning? And from what are we washed? Are our former relationships washed away? Of course they are not! Otherwise, a husband or wife, on being baptized, would have washed away their marriage-covenant, (which according to Scripture is for life), and would have to be remarried. And if they had children when they were baptized, it would make those children bastards. It would also mean that God does not recognize a marriage-covenant contracted in the world as of the same status as one contracted by a brother and sister in Christ, which, of course, He does. After baptism our father and mother, brothers and sisters, are still our father and mother, brothers and sisters. Baptism does not wash away relationships! Neither does it wash away solemn covenants made while in the world! In Rom 1:31Rom 1:31 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: the Godless are condemned for being covenant-breakers. SHALL WE ENTER INTO THE SAME CONDEMNATION?
The context of the phrase "but ye are washed" in 1 Cor 6:11 shows that it refers to the washing away of sins. When Ananias was sent to restore Paul's sight he said, "Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins" (Acts 22:16). In Rev 1:5 we read, "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood". "Marriage is honourable in all, and the (marriage-) bed undefiled; but fornicators (pornos) and adulterers (moichos) God will judge"MARRIAGE IS NOT A SIN! If it was, those who come to the Truth as married persons would have to renounce their marriage at baptism. Do we find this being demanded of them? Certainly not! "Marriage is honourable in all, and the (marriage-) bed undefiled; but fornicators (pornos) and adulterers (moichos) God will judge" (i.e. condemn, Heb 13:4). As we demonstrated at the beginning of this article, marriage is a gift from the Almighty, a Divine institution, a wonderful blessing pronounced upon Adam and Eve, AND UPON ALL THEIR DESCENDANTS. The fact that man has misused this marvellous blessing is not God's fault. It is entirely man's! And if we agree to divorce for any reason we are joining in its misuse. It is not marriage which is a sin, but divorce, and if either of these is washed away by baptism it must be divorce. In reality, the divorce never existed anyway, for the almighty neither recognizes nor countenances man's foolish ways. Rather than wash away marriage, conversion and baptism should bring with it a keener awareness of the sanctity of marriage — the symbol of the faithfulness of Christ and his bride — whether one's partner is in the truth or not.
Those who assert that a person who has been divorced before baptism can remarry after baptism point out that while people are unbaptized they are not responsible to the Law of Christ. We heartily agree! But once they have come to the truth, and been baptized, it offends against that Law, either to instigate divorce, or take part in remarriage after divorce. Once baptized, we are responsible, and cannot, must not, be a party to such things.