God's Word does permit remarriage when a spouse dies; however, the Bible discourages it in other cases, except when a person is deserted by an unbeliever or adultery is committed by the other partner that causes the marriage to end in divorce.

What Scripture says

"But if the unbelieving partner (actually) leaves, let him do so; in such (cases the remaining) brother or sister is not morally bound. But God has called us to peace" (I Cor. 7:15 Amplified).

"I say to you: Whoever dismisses (repudiates, divorces) his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery" (Matt. 19:9 Amplified).

"A wife is bound to her husband by the law as long as he lives. If the husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she will, only (provided that he too is) in the Lord" (I Cor. 7:39 Amplified).

"My desires is to have you free from all anxiety and distressing care. The unmarried (man) is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; but the married man is anxious about worldly matters, how he may please his wife. And he is drawn in diverging directions-his interests are divided, and he is distracted (from his devotion to God). And the unmarried woman or girl is concerned and anxious about the matters of the Lord, how to be wholly separated and set apart in body and spirit; but the married woman has her cares (centered) in earthly affairs, how she may please her husband. Now I say this for your own welfare and profit, not to put (a halter of) restraint upon you, but to promote what is seemly and of good order and to secure your undistracted and undivided devotion to the Lord" (I Cor. 7:32-35 Amplified).

If Reconciliation Is Not Possible

In I Cor. 7:15, it appears that a believer who has been abandoned by an unbeliever is not morally bound to remain married. If so, the believer may remarry only in the Lord.

In Matt. 19:9, Scripture suggests that when fornication has been committed by a party in the marriage, the innocent party may remarry only in the Lord.

In I Cor. 7:39, the Word is very clear that when a spouse dies, the remaining person is free to remarry only in the Lord.

In I Cor. 7:32-35, the Word discourages remarriage for the reasons stated. Ponder these words carefully, for they may protect you from further failures and help you to receive clear direction from the Lord concerning His will for you.

When a marriage has dissolved, for whatever reason-fornication, adultery, etc. -every effort should be made to restore the relationship. It seems that our primary difficulty as humans is in the area of forgiveness, yet we are exhorted in Scripture to forgive in order to be forgiven (Matt. 6:14,15).

In regard to divorces and remarriages that have occurred before becoming a Christian, it seems clear that all such things are part of the old life you have left behind (II Cor. 5:17). In other words, if you were married, divorced, and then remarried, and then are born again in the midst of your second marriage, you should not divorce your present spouse to return to the first.

All remarriage plans other than those on the permissive scriptural grounds previously stated must be dealt with as sin and confessed (I John 1:9). Seeks sound biblical counsel from a local pastor or counselor before any final remarriage plans are made.

Once you receive sanction from the Lord concerning your remarriage plans, then you are scripturally bound and accountable to all of God's Word concerning marriage.

As You Pray

In all cases where remarriage is being considered, you should confess your sin and repent of any part you may have had in your previous marriage failure. If there is any guilt, bitterness or unforgiveness from the previous marriage, pray and ask God to set you free. Pray for God's clear direction in your new life.

References/Homework

Read The Christian Family by Larry Christiansen

I Cor. &;2,8,9 Let every man have his own wife
Let every woman have her own husband
I Tim 5:14 Younger widows to marry

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