What does Romans 7:3 teach about the consequences of adultery? Setting the Scene In Romans 7:3 Paul writes, “So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law and is not an adulteress, even if she marries another man.” Immediate Lesson from the Verse • The moment a married person forms a new marital bond while the original spouse is still living, God’s law brands that act as adultery. • “Called an adulteress” is more than a social label; it is a divinely fixed verdict. • The only event that dissolves the original covenant without guilt is the physical death of the spouse. Why the Label Matters • Scripture treats names seriously; being “called an adulteress” identifies a person under the guilt of violating the seventh commandment (Exodus 20:14). • The law’s verdict places the adulterer in moral debt before God, carrying eternal consequences unless repented of (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Old Testament Grounding • Leviticus 20:10—adultery carried the death penalty, showing its seriousness. • Proverbs 6:32—“He who commits adultery lacks sense; whoever does so destroys himself.” Jesus’ Reinforcement • Matthew 5:32—remarriage after wrongful divorce “causes her to commit adultery.” • Luke 16:18—“Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery.” Spiritual Consequences Highlighted • Separation from fellowship with God (Isaiah 59:2). • Exclusion from inheriting the kingdom unless forgiven (Galatians 5:19-21). • A hardened heart that resists truth (Hebrews 3:13). Relational and Practical Fallout • Trust shattered within families. • Children wounded by broken covenant vows (Malachi 2:14-16). • Christian witness damaged in the eyes of a watching world (2 Samuel 12:14). Contrast: Freedom When the Spouse Dies • The surviving partner is “free from that law.” God Himself ends the covenant at death (1 Corinthians 7:39). • Remarriage after a spouse’s death carries no stain of adultery; God calls it honorable (Romans 7:3b; cf. 1 Timothy 5:14). Hope for the One Who Has Fallen • Adultery is not the unpardonable sin. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us…” (1 John 1:9). • Jesus told the forgiven adulteress, “Go and sin no more.” (John 8:11). Genuine repentance, restitution where possible, and a clean break from sin restore fellowship. Takeaway Romans 7:3 draws a bright, unmistakable line: adultery places a living, covenant-breaking spouse under divine condemnation, while death alone dissolves the marriage bond lawfully. Scripture’s consistent testimony underscores both the gravity of the sin and the gracious road back through repentance. |
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