If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
-Hebrews 10:26-27, NIV
Divorce is not always a sin.
If it was, then the author of Jeremiah was suggesting God sinned when ascribing the metaphorical action of divorce to God (see Jeremiah 3:8).
Circumstances exist where divorce is not sin.
But adultery is always sin.
“Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14, KJV) has not changed since the days of Moses when this law from the Ten Commandments was given.
So, the application of the truth is simple taken in conjunction with the instruction from Hebrews 10:26-27:
Someone continuing in adultery is someone who ought to expect God’s judgment and hell-fire.
So, the greater spiritual peril exists for those engaging in adultery not those engaging in divorce–which may or may not be sin depending on the circumstances.
Divorce is not without its issues just as declaring bankruptcy for a defunct business is not without its trouble. But spiritual triage suggests godly pastors and other Christian leaders ought to take adultery and the need for repentance from such sin as the greater problem.
It really surprised me that so many Christians have never heard of HEB 10:26-27.
Have you written on divorce even if the adultery has stopped.
The repentance is there. But I don’t care. I feel too little too late is a thing.
I would consider any such repentance suspect if it is done with the expectation–read, entitlement–to you staying married to your cheater. Such comes across as consequence avoidance rather than relationship repair, IMO.
It only took one act in both the Old Testament (see Deuteronomy 22:22) and the New Testament (see Mt 19:9) for the marriage to be over acceptably for a faithful spouse. I don’t see it written that repentance changes that permission to divorce.
You can forgive him but still divorce him. Forgiveness does not magically fix the relationship he destroyed by cheating. That’s called reconciliation. It is perfectly–and wisely, IMO–acceptable to forgive someone and not trust them. I guess that’s what I see divorce saying. You are no longer trusting them to be in such a binding relationship.