Marriage is for a Lifetime
Glenn B. Ramsey

Words that are happily and permanently fixed in the memories of many people are, "I take thee. . .to be my lawfully wedded wife; to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse; for richer or poorer; in sickness and in health; to love and to cherish till death do us part." These words of the marriage ceremony have their basis in the Word of the One who created man and woman. The Scriptures say in Genesis 2:23-24: "And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." Jesus said, "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" (Matt. 19:6). Paul stated the permanency of the law of marriage in Romans 7:2 when he wrote, "For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband."

It seems that today most people assume that marriage is not a permanent (for a lifetime) institution. The fact that there are five or more divorces for every ten marriages should cause God-fearing people to shudder and mourn. They should mourn because of the sins that cause this breaking up of the divine institution of marriage. They should shudder and tremble when they consider what the consequences will be to those who transgress God’s law.

God’s ideal will has always been that there should be "one man for one woman for life." When Jesus was asked about the reasons for "putting away" (divorce) he referred his questioners to the Scriptures of Genesis chapter 2. That chapter clearly shows God’s will in the matter. The Pharisees, wanting to justify themselves and entangle Jesus in a dilemma, asked Him about Moses and his granting a writing of divorcement. Jesus said, "Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered (allowed) you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so" (Matt. 19:8). Then our Savior Himself gave the only exception to the law of "faithful until death" when He said, "Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery" (Matt. 19:9).

Regrettably many today have no qualms about going directly against God’s original will. The Hebrew writer warned that those who violate the honorable institution of marriage by being unfaithful to their mates will be judged of God (Heb. 13:4). And "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb. 10:31). Though men and women may not fear God now, and may continue to live contrary to His will, they will fear Him on Judgment Day. But it will be too late then to repent and change!

Many have asked this writer, "But what can we do about the many who have divorced and remarried in an unscriptural way?" The thing for such people to do is to repent of their sins and put away the partner that God is not pleased with. The next thing for all of us to do is to get back to the will of God in our examples as husbands and wives and in our teaching to our young people the sacredness and permanency of marriage. It will be the greatest blessing you can give your sons and daughters to teach them that when they commit to marriage it MUST be "till death do us part."

How wonderful is the honorable institution of marriage (Heb. 13:4). How blessed is humankind to have a loving heavenly Father who provided for man’s most intimate and genuine needs in providing a permanent partner in this life! How can anyone even contemplate being able to improve on the plan that the One who created man has revealed to us in His Word? May we all honor God by marrying for a lifetime!

Editorial: We Want to be More Spiritual
Malcolm L. Hill

I hear the statement often that we want to be more spiritual. I am told that we need to get our heart and soul into the worship and service of God. That crowd says that the church is too dead and lifeless, too cold and indifferent. I must say that there is some truth to what these people are saying. I do not uphold cold and heartless worship and service to Christ because the Bible does not do such.

But I am puzzled by folks who talk as some do. They tell us that we should be more spiritual and from the heart in our worship and service to God. But do you know what this kind does? They clap their hands, they swing and sway, they lift their hands and move them above their head, they whoop and holler, moan and groan, and make sounds like instruments of music. Some are now using instruments of music and praise teams to be more spiritual and to get their hearts right with God. Pray tell us how external things help the inward man to get his heart right with God. How does the banging on a piano or organ help the heart of God’s people? God is not worshiped with man’s hands as though He needed such (Acts 17:24-25). Bishop T. D. Jakes may bang on drums and play his piano, organ, and his bugles but what does that prove? It proves that he does not respect God and His Word. Do you think it makes him more spiritual and more devoted to God from his heart? Only a denominational person and one ignorant of Bible teaching would say so.

The Catholics have their crosses because they say it helps them to be more spiritual and to have a better heart. They have pictures of Mary and other saints. This, according to them, helps their inward man to know and understand God and His Word. They say it helps them to be better. There are external things done by many and most religions in the world because they say it helps them with their heart and soul to be what their God or gods want them to be. How can an external thing help one to be more devoted and devout in heart and soul?

"God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). God wants our spiritual service (Rom. 12:1). Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God in the jail (Acts 16:25). They did not make music with sticks and by rattling chains. They did not hum and swing and sway or raise their hands. The Bible says nothing about this. Such things do not make one more spiritual. If so, how would it be? Christians are to sing from their hearts unto God (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16-17). You never read of Jesus waving His hands in a worship service or swinging and swaying and carrying on in like fashion. Why? Because He did not do such and such is not necessary to please God and make one better at heart. Where would you turn in the Bible to find Christ saying, "Give God a big hand clapping applaud. Praise Him in this way"? I have never understood why people are clapping their hands and for what when it comes to God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Why not let each member of the church take a bottle of soda pop to church with them and let the preacher tell them when to take a drink of it and then let the preacher say, "Let’s all give a big belch to God!" This would be just as scriptural as the preacher telling the congregation to give God a big round of applause, would it not?

Let me show you where these unscriptural things I have mentioned lead to. If we can put into the worship of God what we wish, then why not ask husbands and wives to kiss each other as a part of worship since they are to love each other (Eph. 5:25)? This will help them to learn to love each other more. Why not have a common meal in worship to God and ask several to give thanks since we need to be thankful and this will help us to be thankful (Phil. 4:8)? All of us agree that we should be humble. Why not have the whole congregation line up at the back of the auditorium and crawl down the aisle? You see this would teach them to be humble. Why not ask the members to walk on the edge of an elevated place during worship? This would help them see that one does not walk close to sin because he could fall from grace. Why not have a hand washing in worship (James 4:8)? This would teach us to have clean hands as we live from day to day. Why not have weight lifting in the worship? This would teach us to be strong and grow in Christ. There is no end to such silliness. The Catholics along with some others have taken this kind of thing to extremes and now some of the brethren are about to catch on to such.

Why not stay with the Bible and the Bible only and please God (Col. 3:17)? God is a spirit and we must worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

Say it the Bible Way
Malcolm L. Hill

"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Pet. 4:11). Many of us were brought up to call Bible things by Bible names. It was not an uncommon thing for our elders to correct us when we talked about the Bible in Bible things in an incorrect way. To be quite frank with you, I thought that the mature Christians of that day were a bit too strict. But since those times I have come to appreciate them. Most members of the church pay little attention to the way they talk about Bible things anymore. This brings about ignorance and unconcern with reference to God and His Word. Let me make some suggestions if you will.

Do not say:

1. "Church of Christ doctrine." Better say, "The Bible teaches," "The New Testament teaches," "God’s Word says."
2. "The church of Christ teaches this or that." Better say, "The Bible teaches this or that," The Word of the Lord teaches."
3. "Church of Christ people." Better say, "Christians," "God’s children," "The people of God."
4. "Church of Christ preachers." Better say, "Gospel preachers," "Evangelists," "Ministers of the Gospel."
5. "My elders." Better say, "The Lord’s elders," "The elders, "God’s shepherds," "The overseers of the church."
6. "I can prove my doctrine or position by the Bible." Better say, "The Bible teaches this position," "This is Bible doctrine."
7. "My church." Better say, "The Lord’s church," "The church of Christ," "The church of God."
8. "The church." If you are talking about the church building, then call it the church building.
9. "We have a kitchen in the church." If you have a kitchen in the church building where you attend, then say you have a kitchen in the church building or meeting house.
10. "My pastor." Better say, "The minister," "The Gospel preacher."
11. "I joined the church." Better say, "I obeyed the Gospel, "I was born again," "I am a Christian," "I belong to Jesus Christ."
12. "Our denomination." Better say, "The New Testament church," "The church that belongs to Christ," "The body of Christ."
13. "I believe in tithing as a Christian." Better say, "I believe we should give as we have been prospered."
14. Do not call the church building the house of God. Better say, "This is the place where the family of God meets or worships."

We must all realize words mean something and we can never be too careful to say things as God would have us say them. Only a Pharisee would call those Pharisees who do these things. The reason he is a Pharisee is because you must do everything according to his way. He is more interested in his customs and man-made things than he is in following and loving God with all his heart. A great deal of our trouble today is because of the laxness that has been found among Christians. If we stay with the truth the truth will stay with us. If we leave the truth then the truth will leave us.

Marriage and Divorce Under the Law and Pentecost
Holger W. Neubauer

Those who have not been content with God’s simple and yet direct teachings concerning the issue of marriage, divorce and remarriage think they have found an advocate with the day of Pentecost. However, upon closer inspection it will be seen that this argument is but a crippled attempt to justify adulterous marriages, as their alleged helper turns to accuse them again.

The day of Pentecost is an exceedingly unique situation that is parallel to no situation today. The day of Pentecost was the end of the law of Moses as the first covenant was taken away by the second (Heb. 10:9). Since no one now living ever lived under the law of Moses, or under any other law than the law of Christ, what happened on Pentecost is not necessarily parallel for today. For instance, suppose a Jew had divorced and remarried for reasons consistent with Deuteronomy 24:1-4 but in violation of Matthew 19:9. If the law of Moses allowed a remarriage, was the Jew forced to give up his spouse because the conditions of Matthew 19:9 had not been met? Not without God holding a man accountable for what God Himself had given a liberty to do. God cannot be guilty of enforcing a law ex post facto. However, had Herod and Herodias showed up at Pentecost they would have had to separate before baptism. The law of God was violated as John the Baptist exposed the marriage as "not lawful" (Mark 6:18). No unlawful marriage was corrected by baptism at Pentecost. Marriages in harmony with the law of Moses were allowed and marriages that violated the law of Moses were not allowed.

Today there is but one law—the law of Christ. Everyone now living was born under the law which states, "Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery" (Matt. 19:9). The very fact that the Savior issued forth the Great Commission demands the conclusion that every living soul is under New Testament law (Matt. 28:19-20). All must comply with the conditions of the Gospel or be lost (II Thess. 1:7-9; John 12:48). The Gospel involves every aspect of New Testament doctrine (I Tim. 1:8-11; Gal. 2:5, 11-14). Since Matthew 19:9 is a part of New Testament doctrine (Luke 16:16), and if an individual is under one law (baptism), we can know he is under every law (James 2:10).

Sin is defined as "transgression of the law" (I John 3:4). The law that will judge all men now living is the "perfect law of liberty" (James 1:25). What was allowed under Moses was because of the "hardness" of heart (Matt. 19:8). This obviously is in contrast to Jesus’ words, "except it be for fornication," because Matthew 19:9 is not legislation for the hardness of heart. Therefore, the Mosaic concession in Deuteronomy 24:1-4 is not parallel to what Jesus taught on marriage, divorce and remarriage. There was a time when God suffered nations to walk in their own ways (Acts 14:16), but now commands all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30-31). The Mosaic concession which allowed divorce and remarriage for reasons other than fornication was legislation written only for the Jews and before Christ (Deut. 5:1-5). Jesus’ legislation on marriage and divorce is for Jew and Gentile, alien and Christian alike. The day of Pentecost cannot be used to justify adulterous marriages today because no one now living ever lived under the law of Moses. All men today are subject to the law of Christ.

Breaking Up a Home is So Bad
Malcolm L. Hill

I do not know of anything that is more sad than breaking up a home. One party goes this direction and the other party goes that direction. Many hearts ache and break when such takes place. The trauma in the mind of little children cannot be estimated. It is the end of the world for them. It is hard to think of a world without mom and dad. You see, they go together in the home and in the mind of the children. Where will dad live and where will mom live are questions in the minds of the children. How will we live and who will protect us since dad is gone? If mom goes, who will feed us and take care of us in the home? Who will love us and put us to bed and do the chores for us around the home? On and on go the questions of children in a broken home. It makes me want to weep as I write these lines.

I would like to appeal to husbands and wives to work out their differences and keep the family together. Wrong may have taken place no doubt, but two wrongs never have made a right. There is nothing that God will not forgive if one will seek His forgiveness. By keeping a home together souls may be saved eternally, breaking hearts can be healed, little children can have the security they need along with the guidance of a mom and dad. This will help children to grow up and be great and good citizens. Homes in most cases do not have to be broken asunder. They can be restored by the help of God and by a man and woman doing what is right. I plead with one and all for the sake of happiness in this life and eternity to work out your differences. Be a man and be a woman about the matter. Get rid of selfishness and self-centeredness and make the world a better place in which to live.

Reasons for Remarriage
Dan Jones

Marriage is a divine institution that was designed for man’s good (Gen. 2:18-24). Marriage and the home are the very foundation of society. In the marriage relationship love, companionship, security, happiness, and many other blessings can and should be enjoyed. When God’s marriage laws are respected and honored there is great benefit for all. But when these laws are rejected and trampled upon it can only result in disaster and chaos for the human family. More importantly, those who defy God’s will in this area (or any other) will suffer eternal consequences (John 12:48; Rom. 6:23).

Marriage is supposed to be a lifelong relationship. From the very beginning it was said that man was to "cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh" (Gen. 2:24). Jesus acknowledged the permanence of marriage in Matthew 19:5 by quoting the passage cited above and then added in verse 6, "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."

"Let not man put asunder"—would it not be wonderful if every person contemplating marriage, every man and woman scripturally united to a mate, every marriage counselor, every divorce lawyer and every judge in divorce court truly understood the weight of those words? How much better this world could be if divorce were not even considered an option except in those extreme cases when one marriage partner is guilty of fornication (Matt. 5:31-32; 19:9).

Unfortunately, this does not describe the world in which we live. Many of those who officiate at wedding ceremonies still cite some form of Jesus’ words quoted above. Brides and grooms say "I do" to vows that include the phrase "till death do you part" or "as long as you both shall live." Evidently those promises are often made with crossed fingers and a winking eye! Remember that about one-half of all marriages in this country end in divorce.

In a sense, however, divorce is only half of the problem. While unscriptural divorce is bad enough, a high percentage of those thus divorced will remarry. And it is not unusual for those who divorce and remarry contrary to Bible teaching to do so two, three, or more times. What a sad commentary on our society. How awful it is that people so quickly and easily forget the sacred, solemn, serious nature of marriage. Those who do so should recall the words of Hebrews 13:4: "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge."

To make matters worse, there are some, even in the Lord’s church, who add to the problem by concocting every kind of idea and theory imaginable in an effort (an unsuccessful one) to justify and condone unscriptural divorces and remarriages. Those who treat this matter so lightly in their teaching and in their advice to others should remember passages like Galatians 1:8-9, Revelation 22:18-19, James 3:1, and others of similar import.

The Bible spells out in plain, simple language what God wants man to know and do regarding the marriage relationship. Remarriage is divinely sanctioned only under certain, clearly defined, and easily understood circumstances.

In Romans 7:4 the apostle Paul explains that the law of Moses is dead (has been taken out of the way, Colossians 2:14) and that the law of Christ is binding upon all. He illustrates his point by stating some facts regarding marriage (Rom. 7:1-3), making application of these things to our spiritual relationship to Christ. A woman, Paul says, is bound to her husband as long as he lives. However, if and when the death of her husband occurs, she is not considered an adulteress if she marries another man. Thus, remarriage is permitted when one loses a mate in death.

In Matthew 19:9 Jesus gave fornication as the only heaven-approved reason for divorce and remarriage. When a married individual sins against his/her mate by committing fornication, the innocent party (only) has the right of putting away that guilty spouse and remarrying. So, remarriage is allowed for the innocent mate in a case involving fornication.

Again, when a scripturally married couple separate or divorce for reasons other than fornication, inspiration has decreed that they are either to remain unmarried or be reconciled (I Cor. 7:10-11). Thus, "remarriage" is not only permitted, it is divinely desired if it restores the original relationship that should never have been disrupted.

Truth is generally always much simpler than man tries to make it. Man has done and continues to do much in an effort to complicate, confuse, and cloud various issues regarding divorce and remarriage. Many desire justification for ungodly, unwholesome, and unauthorized "marriages." However, what God has authorized through the law of Christ is unchangeable. To be acceptable to God in marriage or in any other relationship or circumstance, we must follow the divinely inspired will of the Lord (John 8:32; 17:17; II Tim. 3:16-17; Col. 3:17; II Pet. 1:3).

I Corinthians 7:2-5 and Marriage
Kerry Duke

Married people need the Bible. How many heartaches would be avoided if people followed it! How much happier husbands and wives would be if they humbled themselves and yielded to its teaching! Men and women have always craved romance and fulfillment, excitement and pleasure. But often they do not find what they seek. And even when they do, they discover that the ecstasy the world offers quickly fades. This disappointment keeps men and women continually moving from one relationship to another. It is the reason that newsstands are filled with magazines whose covers promise articles that will help people find sexual fulfillment.

Do we believe the Bible is all-sufficient? If so, we must believe it contains what we need about this subject. Of the many verses in Scripture about true intimacy, few are as specific as I Corinthians 7:3-5:

Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for you incontinency.

Couples would do far more for their marriage by studying verses like these than by reading magazines and books on the subject. Many of those writings actually harm rather than help, and even the ones that are helpful cannot compare to the pure directions of Scripture.

Paul says the sexual relationship in marriage is really about one thing: giving. Notice the word benevolence (v. 3). We use that word a lot in regard to the work of the church, but isn’t it interesting that the only time the word is used in the King James Version is here? And what could be more contrary to the way that most people, even married people, think about this subject? Sex in marriage, Paul says, is about giving, but the world says it is about getting. Is it any wonder, then, that many married people are so unhappy? Are we really surprised that people are so sexually immoral? Simply satisfying a physical desire has never brought real, lasting happiness to anyone.

The benevolence of this verse means a good will and kindness toward one’s mate. It is a desire to please your mate, to make him or her happy. Do you see why many married people are discontented and unhappy? Few married people are truly concerned about making the other person happy! How tragic and selfish! Selfishness is often a culprit in marriages experiencing sexual unfulfillment. Circumstances beyond the couple’s control may hinder the frequency and intensity of their sexual relationship, but there is no excuse for selfishness. It is sinful. Selfishness is always hurtful; it always makes people miserable, especially those who are selfish But when a giving, caring attitude is present, then this true benevolence will abound. The wife who really cares about her husband will want to please him because she lives to make him smile and be happy and she truly enjoys doing so. The husband who really loves his wife will want her to feel warm, loved, secure, and special; he will do this for her apart from any pressing urge to please himself. Such a benevolent disposition toward sex in marriage is far different and deeper and much more lasting than the momentary excitement of a fragile relationship based on purely selfish motives.

Husbands and wives are to give their bodies to each other. After all, Paul says that each has the right to the other’s body. The wife has the power or right to her husband’s body, and the husband has a right to his wife’s body. They are equally privileged. Far from lowering the status of women, Paul elevates wives, granting them the same right to sexual fulfillment in marriage that their husbands have. When either of them denies this right to the other, that person has sinned. This is the sin of defrauding or depriving a mate of what God has entitled that spouse to have. Abstaining from intimate contact should only be done in extreme circumstances and then by mutual consent so that the couple can pray and fast. Since fasting and praying are mentioned together in Scripture during times of severe trial and special times of devotion, the idea Paul stresses is that husbands and wives should abstain from intimacy as the exception and not the rule to their relationship. After this time passes, they are to "come together again" (v. 5). The reason couples are to rekindle their intimate relations is to keep Satan from tempting them for this incontinency, or, as the New King James Version reads, "lack of self-control." When couples are apart intimately, their strength to resist temptation grows weak. When healthy intimacy is present in their marriage, they are less vulnerable to temptation. When they give themselves to help each other, they help one another spiritually! How they react sexually to each other can make temptation either harder or easier to resist! And all of this depends on giving! In light of these consequences, what more important gift should married people give?

The Neubauer-Maxwell Debate
Ronald D. Gilbert

A brief background for this debate is in order. Some of the brethren in South Carolina were having a problem with the director of the Central Carolina School of Preaching in Kingstree, South Carolina. Braker Carter, then director, was embracing the teaching that non-Christians in adulterous marriages can stay in those unions after "repenting" and being baptized. Meetings were held in South Carolina by several brethren. Brother Carter was relieved of his duties as director of the school by the board of that school. On May 15, 1999, a forum was called by brother Carter at the church building in Dunbar, South Carolina. Brother Jack Evans, President of Southwestern Christian College in Terrell, Texas, was to come to Dunbar on July 10, 1999, for a seminar on marriage. At that meeting, Jack Evans spoke first, followed by Melvin Sapp, instructor at CCSP. Brother Evans taught and defended the view that non-Christians in adulterous marriages can "repent" and be baptized and remain in those same relationships, and they are no longer adulterous. Among those present for that seminar was Holger Neubauer.

The church in Monroeville, Alabama was facing similar problems with false teachings on marriage, divorce, and remarriage. Brother Melvin Sapp was asked to speak there on that topic. An invitation was extended to James Maxwell, Vice President of Southwestern Christian College, to come and defend his position on this topic. Brother Sapp had been having some problems with his lungs and was unable to debate, so Holger Neubauer was invited to participate in the debate. James Maxwell affirmed the proposition: "The Holy Scriptures teach that non-Christians in an adulterous marriage can repent and be baptized and continue in the marriage, being sanctified and justified." Holger Neubauer affirmed the proposition: "The Holy Scriptures teach that repentance requires that non-Christians in an adulterous marriage sever the marriage before being baptized." Our thanks to brother Melvin Sapp for providing this background information.

This debate was conducted at the Union High School gymnasium in Monroeville, Alabama, on August 25 and 26, 2000 (audio and video tapes are available).

Tennessee Bible College has received some criticism concerning our October/November 1999 issue of Living Oracles which dealt with Christian schools. What was said concerning Southwestern Christian College was documented as well as what was said concerning the other schools. However, some felt Southwestern Christian College was misrepresented and that Jack Evans and James Maxwell do not believe what they were charged with believing.

The debate was well attended with about 120 present for the first session and about 80 for the last session. Malcolm L. Hill, President of TBC, served as moderator for brother Neubauer. Herman Wesley of Montgomery, Alabama, served as brother Maxwell’s moderator for the first session. Brother Carl Gaines of Lake Charles, Louisiana, served as brother Maxwell’s moderator for the last session. Also seated at brother Maxwell’s table helping in the debate were: Walter Hulett of Fort Walton Beach, Florida; Jasper Newsome of DeRidder, Louisiana; and Sidney Leverette of Monroeville, Alabama. Melvin Sapp served as master of ceremonies for the debate.

Brother Neubauer did a tremendous amount of preparation for this debate. He knew his material. In my humble opinion, Holger Neubauer is one of the finest debaters we have today. His knowledge and zeal are impressive. His arguments are well thought out and he thinks well on his feet.

Brother Maxwell distributed a handout the first night of the debate which, among other things, defined adultery. His handout stated, "The adultery mentioned in Matthew 19:9 is not SEXUAL SIN, but putting a spouse away and remarrying." As I sat and listened to brother Maxwell in this debate, he reminded me of a Baptist preacher who tries to explain away the plain teachings of the New Testament. Baptists say that in John 3:5 "water" doesn’t mean water. They say that water there has nothing to do with baptism but a physical birth.But according to them "Spirit" in the same passage means Spirit. If adultery doesn’t mean adultery in Matthew 19:9, how do we know fornication means fornication? Perhaps what the Lord was saying was if your spouse ever becomes an unfaithful Christian by committing spiritual adultery, that is becoming a member of a denomination, then you have the right to divorce her and marry again! Desperate men do strange things to defend their false doctrine.

Perhaps someone should get brother Maxwell to explain John 8:3-4. There the Bible says a woman was taken in adultery and brought to Jesus. He might say the word adultery there doesn’t mean adultery but covenant breaking. Maybe his explanation would be there was no sex act involved, but the woman was down at the courthouse filing for divorce; thus, she was caught in the "very act" of breaking the covenant!

He further showed that he does not understand the biblical doctrine of repentance. He stated, "When one repents and is washed in baptism his sins are forgiven (Acts 2:38), and he is SANCTIFIED and JUSTIFIED (I Cor. 6:11). There should be no FURTHER GUILT FOR ANY ACT OF SIN because GOD JUSTIFIES US or PRONOUNCES US AS INNOCENT, as if the sin had never been committed. God is NO RESPECTER OF SINNERS, INCLUDING ADULTERERS."

Brother Maxwell is teaching that those of I Corinthians 6 who were in adulterous marriages before their baptism are in scriptural marriages after baptism. Go back and read his proposition; that’s what he is saying. One wonders which of the other sins listed in I Corinthians 6 baptism will wash away and the person can continue to live in and practice those same sins with God’s approval? What about fornication, idolatry, being effeminate, thieves, drunkards, revilers, extortioners? Does baptism wash away these sins while at the same time allowing the person to continue in them, or does repentance demand that they get out of these sins?

Brother Maxwell gave up his proposition and went down in defeat when he attempted to answer a question posed by brother Neubauer. Brother Neubauer asked, "If Herod, who had unlawfully married his brother Philip’s wife (Mark 6:17-18), had desired to be baptized into Christ on the day of Pentecost, would he have been required to give up his wife before baptism?" Brother Maxwell answered, "Yes!"

I encourage everyone to get tapes or videos of this debate. Brother Neubauer did an outstanding job in defending the truth. You need to listen for yourself and see the position taken by the Vice President of Southwestern Christian College on the topic of marriage, divorce, and remarriage.

[Note: Audio tapes may be ordered from brother Maxwell or from brother Neubauer here at TBC. The cost for audio tapes is $10.00 per set (which includes tax and shipping). Video tapes can be ordered from Sumter church of Christ, 1235 Cottingham Drive, Sumter, South Carolina 29154. Video tapes are $30.00 per set (which includes tax and shipping).]