Sexual Immorality and Adultery--What is it?

The New Testament describes three circumstances where a marriage is either not recognized or dissolved. Under such circumstances, annulment or divorce and subsequent marriage or remarriage are permissible without transgressing God’s law of the 7th Commandment, "You shall not commit adultery."

These circumstances can be summarized as: 

1.    Fraud/annulment (deception before marriage).  
2.    Sexual immorality. 
3.    An unbeliever “not pleased to dwell” with a believer. 

Sexual immorality is biblical grounds for divorce. Christ gave this as the “exception” clause, although the divine intent was for marriage to last until death. If a divorce does occur as a result of porneia (sexual immorality), the marriage covenant may be loosed, and remarriage may be permitted. Those remarrying in such a case would not be living in adultery.