Betrayal in Marriage – When Your Christian Husband Has Been Unfaithful

But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this cause, a man shall leave his father and mother, and the two shall become one flesh; consequently, they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate” (Mark 10:6-9 NASB).

God had a plan from the beginning. He had a plan for families to be the safest place and most secure union on the earth. He planned for spouses to put their mate before themselves. He planned for the marriage bed to be holy and undefiled.

He planned for children to have parents who would put the interests of the children over their own interests.

Today, our society has put its seal of approval on divorce. Our society has also broadly endorsed “live-in partners” instead of “until death do us part commitments.” Friends, society (i.e. “the world”) is usually wrong. It usually believes and acts contrary to the precepts found in scripture. It usually sides with the plans of Satan: to kill, steal and destroy.

As Christians, we need to clearly understand and firmly believe what the Bible says about these issues:

1. Divorce is permitted if there has been infidelity.

“He said to them, ‘Because of the hardness of your hearts, Moses permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning, it has not been this way. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery’” (Matthew 19:8-9 NASB).  

2. If an unbelieving spouse wants to leave, let him leave.

Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace. (I Corinthians 7:15 NASB.)

3. The believer who divorces commits adultery if they remarry.

 He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.” (Mark 2:11-12 NIV).

4. The believer who keeps the marriage together is keeping the unbelieving husband and the children under the protective covering of God.

 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.  (I Corinthians 7:14 NASB).

The GOOD NEWS

There is GRACE. God, in His great mercy, is willing to forgive your sin and wipe that sin away. He is willing to restore you to wholeness. He promises in His Word that He will forgive and forget.

God removes our transgressions.

…as far as the east is from the west,

so far does he remove our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12 ESV).

God cleanses us when we confess our sin.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9 ESV)

God forgives because it is His nature to do so.

But I wipe away your sins because of who I am. And so, I will forget the wrongs you have done.  (Isaiah 43:25 CEV).

If given the chance, fight for your marriage. Fight for your children. Fight for your grandchildren. Leave them with a godly legacy. You best reflect Christ when you forgive, just like you have been forgiven. If divorce has already occurred, free yourself and accept God’s forgiveness today!

Robin Bertram is an author, speaker, ordained minister, and the executive producer and former host of the nationally and internationally syndicated television show, Freedom Today. She has been a leader of media leaders for 15 years and has placed several Christian programs onto the national and international stage. She is the author of No Regrets how loving deeply and living passionately can impact your legacy forever (Charisma House Publishing) and Hidden Treasures (Abingdon Press).