A Sermon Review of : "Andy Stanley- Shocking Statement of Jesus Part 5: A Shocking Reversal"

Andy Stanley ~ “We believe the goal of marriage is"oneness." But God says, in fact, the result of marriage is"oneness." In this message, Andy Stanley explores Jesus' shocking statements about marriage, divorce, and remarriage. And he explains why trying to "un-one" what God has joined may just be harder than we think.”

http://www.northpointministries.org/messages/shocking-statements-of-jesus/part-5

Andy Stanley is one of the most influential preaching pastors in the country. His sermons can be heard all over the world via the internet from North Point Ministries. In this particular sermon series, Andy is telling us about the shocking things Jesus says in the word of God. This particular session focuses on what Jesus says on the Sermon of the Mount concerning divorce and then what Jesus says to the Pharisees on divorce. This particular sermon is 53 minutes:03 seconds long.  

Andy does a wonderful job of explaining the situations on the Mount and then the Pharisees then trying to trick Jesus' teachings on divorce. Andy also does a wonderful job explaining that marriage is a covenant that no man may break, and that divorce was something never issued by God. Andy also explains that the “exception clause” specifically pertains to the betrothal and not to a consummated marriage. 

Andy highlights certain words that he wishes to show that specifically iterate what Jesus is trying to convey. Andy uses these words to make the audience aware that marriage is according to God’s design and not man’s design. Andy’s main point here is that people try to make two what God has made one. Andy is specific that “remarriage” after divorce of a living spouse is adultery. (23 min. to 30 min.)    

After the 30-minute mark Andy wants to reel us back and says that this teaching of Jesus seems condemning. Andy says that this teaching is not condemning them. This is where things go sour because Andy Stanley is saying that Jesus does not condemn them. Andy is almost right in this because Jesus did not condemn, Jesus came to save us because we are condemned already. (John3:16-18) However, Andy makes the audience believe that divorce is wrong, but that divorce and remarriage are forgivable without repentance.   

Andy briefly and selectively uses the story of the woman of John 8 who was caught in adultery. Andy says…

(Jesus) “Who goes to a women caught in adultery and He shoos all the people condemning her…get out of here leave her alone. Caught in adultery..Look at me..God in a bod…not condemned.” Then he says to those who commit adultery as if speaking for Jesus …”It was adultery…You did’nt know ...cause no one explained marriage to you ...aren’t you glad I am here?” 

Let’s look what really happened to the women caught in adultery.

John 8: 3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

⁶ This they said,tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down,and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

 7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last:and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her,Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

First of all, these men were trying to trick the Lord. Notice they ONLY bring the woman of adultery. The question I have is, "Where is the man of her committed adultery?" The Law of Moses says both the man and woman were to be stoned (Lev 20:10, Deut 22:22) And these scribes and Pharisees just bring the woman?

Did this woman know that she committed adultery? Of course she did. Jesus is not condemning her because her sin of adultery has already condemned her. The law says that she must die. Jesus knew the Law, and makes it clear that He is the One who made the law and He is the One who fulfills the Law.  She and everyone else, including Jesus, knew that she was an adulterer.  As always, Jesus points sinners to Himself. Jesus requires repentance of sin and forgiveness because of what He did for us on the cross of Calvary. The only person who had the right to condemn her was a person who never sinned. The only Person who had the right to condemn her is the only Person who can save her! Jesus has every right to condemn her but instead offers her forgiveness, but commands her to repent. He says…go, and sin no more.

Andy Stanley makes a critical mistake because he correctly says that Jesus did not condemn her but Jesus did say …go, and sin no more. However, though Andy says this, he will try to convince the audience that the adultery is not a permanent state of adultery even though marriage is a permanent state of oneness. Andy then continues to prove that marriage is a one-flesh covenant because he makes a point that a divorce paper does not "un-one" a one-flesh covenant.  

Then the most important statement of this whole sermon comes more than half way through the 34^th minute…He asks this rhetorical question…A question many in adultery ask..

“People ask…Does that mean that I am living in a perpetual state of adultery? I don’t think so”…. Andy says… “The act of marriage is the act of adultery.” …when all along he says that marriage is an unbreakable covenant that no man can separate. What?!? If two people believe they are making vows of "marriage", but in truth these are vows of "adultery", does their vows make them married? 

PLEASE PAUSE THE VIDEO!!!!

You have two choices from this point on…

1. Choice one....You can continue to agree with Andy Stanley and remain in your “remarriage” believing Jesus forgives you because you believe that you sought forgiveness in your “remarriage” thus justifying your adultery. What Andy Stanley will do is end his sermon believing that a second marriage after divorcing a living spouse is not a permanent state of adultery. He will twist the word of God to scratch your itching ears. The consequences of this action will leave you in a state of adultery which God’s word specifically says that no adulterer will enter the Kingdom of God. (1 Cor 6:9) You are living by the Law, thus you shall be judged by the Law.
2. Choice two...You can trust in the word of God. The word of God calls remarriage after divorcing a living spouse permanent adultery. You must repent, dissolve the adulterous union and seek restoration of your first covenant marriage. If this is not possible because your first covenant spouse “remarried” someone else, you must tell them that they are in a permanent state of adultery. If this is not an option, you must remain single and stand until they repent or die. Scripture is clear that only death breaks a marriage covenant.   

I see you have decided to read on. Wonderful. God’s word always leads to repentance to those seeking to be obedient to Him. You will find that God is merciful and gracious even when we make poor decisions. Therefore, since we read other scripture that corresponds with Matthew’s gospel on divorce we see that “remarriage” is always adultery and remains adultery until repentance.   

Mark 10: And he saith unto them,Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

Luke 16:18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.

Both Mark and Luke’s gospel say that “remarriage” is adultery. If you remain in the adultery, it will always be adultery until you repent and break away from adultery. Compare this to a thief who steals something. If the thief stops stealing and repents of stealing, he is no longer a thief. If he continues to steal, he will always be a thief. If a homosexual continues in a homosexual lifestyle instead of repenting, we cannot call them a repentant homosexual. Thus, if a couple knowingly remains in unrepentant adultery, they are adulterers until they break the adulterous union.

You may say…where is the scripture to support a permanence of adultery?

 Romans 7:2,3 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as heliveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. 

Physical death of the body is the only way a one-flesh covenant ends. A marriage cannot remain a marriage when one-flesh is dead. The word of God says that we may only marry in the Lord. A “remarriage” is not a marriage inthe Lord because God calls this union adultery.

1 Cor 7:39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will;only in the Lord.

This is very easy to understand that God’s word is clear that divorce is the result of a hard heart. Ironically enough, Andy Stanley never highlighted “hard heart”. Andy was correct that divorce was used as a concession to protect women, but men and women became hardhearted and divorced for any reason and created loopholes to do so. What is also clear is that nowhere in scripture will you find anything good that comes from a “remarriage” after divorce of a living spouse. Jesus never said to remarry after divorce because in every case this is adultery. Only hardhearted people divorce.

What God calls for is repentance of sin. Andy Stanley and many pastors like him will say that God forgives us if we seek forgiveness in a “remarriage”, but God says that he wants us to seek forgiveness in a marriage. Therefore, IF anyone divorces, they must remain single and/or reconcile their marriage. 

The Gospel is for people who know they are sinners who repent of sin and believe that Jesus Christ atoned for their sins on the cross. The Gospel is not to create loopholes to stay in a “remarriage.”    

Andy Stanley believes that if you seek forgiveness and repent of the sin of adultery, you can remain in your adulterous marriage. Continue to listen to the sermon….This is what Andy says…If you want to justify your decision…follow Andy Stanley, and many pastors like him. However, Andy Stanley who believes that adultery is not a permanent sin even if you remain in the adultery will not judge you on the last day.

Andy Stanley cannot answer these questions believing as he does…  

I beg you to answer these questions and see if Andy Stanley knows the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ or is preaching a different Jesus.

Andy Stanley?...

What do you tell the wife who knows in her heart and by God’s word that her marriage is a lifetime one-flesh covenant? She is determined to stand for her marriage and she will remain single until death so her marriage is restored?

What do you tell the man who knows that his “remarriage” is adultery and wants to divorce his “second” wife to reunite with his first covenant wife?

What do you tell a man who wants to repent and leave a marriage of a woman he married who lied about her divorce to marry him?

What do you tell a couple that wants to divorce because God has convicted both of them that their “marriage” was adultery and remains adultery until they break apart?

What do you tell a man who refuses to repent of adultery even though his wife forgives him and just wants him back? He then goes to your church and seeks to “remarry” his adulterous lover? Will you forgive him if he asks to be forgiven? Will you marry him to his adulterous lover?

Is a “remarriage” valid in God’s eyes if God calls anyone who marries after divorcing living spouse adultery?   

Does God forgive those who choose not to forgive? In other words, does God forgive a woman who cannot forgive a spouse that sinned against her? She then divorces her husband to marry another man. She watches your video “Shocking Statement of Jesus Part 5: A Shocking Reversal” then seeks forgiveness of her remarriage to remain in her “remarriage.” All the while, she never forgives her first husband.  

If you can answer these questions by watching the remainder of Andy Stanley’s video, I want to see those answers. Andy Stanley is a false teacher. He follows a false Jesus. He cannot answer these questions based on his interpretation that remarriage after divorcing a living spouse is not a permanent state of adultery. He cannot. He has already been warned. 

God loves us and wants all of us to repent of sin. If you are in a state of adultery, you need to end this now. The world will not understand this, but God says we must not love the world. You need to trust God and be a living example to those around you. Your children need to see repentance and a hate for sin. Your very salvation depends upon this because by remaining in adultery, you say that you are unwilling to forgive and/or repent. You create a god in our own image. Please consider God’s word, repent, and be reconciled to the lover of your soul. The Lord Jesus Christ is full of mercy for those who …go, and sin no more.

In Christ’s love,

Neil