2015 IA Truth Research Committee Meeting Resolutions Adapted by WDC

I. If Someone Leaves the Church and Commites Sexual Immorality with a Non-believer of the Opposite Sex but l Later Repents, Receives the Holy Spirit and Becomes Fervent, Can This Believer Marry a Fellow Believer in the Lord? 

Resolution:

1. If this member is married: Once someone leaves the church and has sexual relationships with a non-believer of the opposite sex, one has committed adultery (Heb 13:4) and is not permitted to remarry in the Lord.

2. If this member is not yet married:

(1) Having a sexual relationship before marriage means that the two have become one flesh, therefore must not marry another person.

(2) If the non-believer has left the marital relationship (for example, because of disagreement) but since then has not committed any sexual relationship with another person or has not remarried, one must not remarry (because the marital vow is still binding). If one remarries, one commits adultery (Mt 5:32).

(3) After one has repented and becomes fervent, the believer who had sexual relationships with a non-believer of the opposite sex before marriage may be remarried to another believer if the non-believer has already passed away.

(4) If the non-believer of the opposite sex has gone missing and can neither be contacted nor located, the local church council shall deal with it on a case-by-case basis.

3. Once it has been confirmed that other party (gentile) has engaged in sexual conduct with another person, then he/she will be judged to have committed adultery. After counselling of the member, and discussion and agreement within the Church Council, then the member is able to remarry. However, the wedding cannot take place in the chapel. (2017 WDC-12, TRC: 1)