Does God allow ex-spouses to engage in sexual intercourse after divorce?

Bible Question:

Bible Answer:

It is not uncommon for some divorced couples to engage in sexual activity and intercourse after they have been divorced. There are also instances where married individuals later have sexual intercourse with an ex-spouse. The question we are concerned with, “Does God allow former spouses to continue engaging in sexual intercourse after they have divorced?” The answer to this question is given in 1 Corinthians 7:2.

But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband. 1 Corinthians 7:2 (NASB)

What Is The Meaning of Immoralities?

In this verse God gives every man and woman a serious reason to get married. He says that if a person is struggling with immoralities, the person needs to get married. But what is the meaning of the word immoralities? The Greek word that is translated as immoralities is porneia. This word refers to a wide variety of sexual sins including fornication. It may also include masturbation. For an explanation of fornication see “What is the correct meaning of fornication in the Bible?” In brief, fornication refers to any sexual activity prior to marriage. Sexual activity that occurs after a person is married with anyone who is not your spouse is called adultery. Both fornication and adultery are sins.

Get Married Rather Than Burn

Therefore, God is warning every man and woman that it is a sin to engage in sexual activity with anyone if you are not married to them. Fornication or immorality is a sin that must be avoided. Consequently, God commands us to get married rather than burn.

But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. 1 Corinthians 7:9 (NASB)

The Greek word for “burn” is pyroo. This word has the meaning of “heat of passions, inflamed or burn with sexual passions.” The word is very descriptive. Every sexually active adult understands the burning sensation of sexual passion.

If we combine verses 2 and 9 together, God is telling every male and female who has sexual urges to get married so that you can have sex. Otherwise, you are in sin and eventually God will discipline you. The message is that God does not approve of someone returning to their former spouse to have a sexual encounter when you are not married to them.

Conclusion:

God warns us that it is sin to have sexual activity with anyone who is not your spouse. This includes anal sex, oral sex, masturbating each other, and sexual intercourse. 1 Corinthians 7:1 includes any sexual activity, such as fondling the private parts over or under clothes, and any activity that is designed to excite and entice. In that verse men are warned to avoid touching a woman. The word for touching has the idea of stimulating one’s sexual passions (hapto). Therefore, if you long for sexual encounters with anyone, God says get married.

Bible Question:

Bible Answer:

What Is The Meaning of Immoralities?

Get Married Rather Than Burn

Conclusion:

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