Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture does not believe in salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone. Instead he believes that for a man to abide in Christ he must be doing something which is keeping the law. Specifically he is to keep the sabbath and the feasts. A man is not secure in his salvation because he can lose it at any moment if he is not keeping the law. In effect Tim is not a Christian in any sense of the word nor does he believe Jesus Christ actually saves.
It is this legalistic doctrine which led me to remark that Tim, being married to a twice divorced woman, is in a constant state of adultery and is thus a hypocrite. Jesus condemns marriage to a divorced woman as adultery. Tim did not take too kindly to that truth and he has written a whole article to justify the unjustifiable. Let's take a look at his arguments.
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| https://thegodculturephilippines.com/what-does-the-bible-really-say-about-divorce/ |
The topic of divorce has been debated throughout the centuries. While many sincere believers have wrestled with its implications, Scripture is not silent, and it is certainly not open to endless interpretation. When Moses wrote the Law concerning marriage and divorce, he did not preach flexible theology or moral relativism. He gave clear parameters — ones affirmed directly by Yahusha Himself.
In recent days, an anonymous blogger has weaponized these passages — not for theological clarity, but as ammunition for personal attacks. This must be addressed. Not because we are concerned with his opinions, but because truth matters — and so does protecting the integrity of Scripture from those who twist it to justify their own sin.
As can be seen this article is a response to me. And no I have not weaponized the words of Christ. I have only used them to expose Tim and his false soteriology. Soteriology is the primary issue here.
1. Yahusha Affirms Moses’ Law (Matthew 5, Matthew 19, Luke 16)
Each time Yahusha addresses divorce, He begins with what the Pharisees or people had said, then corrects their twisted version of the Law.
So what does the Law of Moses say about divorce? Oops! That origin of Messiah's words is negligently omitted from the questionable attack blog. Another example of malicious intent in willful defamation. Yahusha brings us Moses and the Blogger ignore the Son of Yahuah and calls himself the judge... Hmmmm...
This section is completely irrelevant. The issue is not divorce, which Jesus said was justified in the matter of fornication (adultery), but the issue of marrying a divorced woman. If Tim's wife committed adultery he is free to divorce her and remarry as long as the woman is not a divorcee.
It is interesting that Tim does not cite Luke 16:18. He only mentions it and then says verse 17 affirms the Mosaic Law. Here is the passage in context:
Luke 16:14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.
Note that Jesus says the law and prophets were until John. That means the law and the prophets have reached their proper end. John was born to prepare the way of the Lord, to proclaim the arrival of Jesus Christ. The law stands as a schoolmaster to lead us to Christ and not as a way of life for us to follow.
Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Tim rejects this doctrine and teaches the exact opposite.
19:30 So this is another example that we aren't to just have faith in Yahusha. That’s not enough. That’s not it. No, no, no, no. We are to keep His commandments.
Sabbath Series: Part 5: The End Times Sabbath
40:11 The law is what redeems us.
He rejects justification by faith in Jesus Christ and says the law is what redeems us.
2. The Law of Moses on Divorce and Remarriage (Deuteronomy 24:1–4)
“When a man hath taken a wife... and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement... and when she is departed... she may go and be another man's wife.”
Moses, under the inspiration of Yahuah, made clear that a woman may remarry after a lawful divorce due to “uncleanness” (i.e., adultery). Yahusha never nullified this law—He reaffirmed its moral integrity and corrected the abuse by the Pharisees, who were divorcing women for “every cause” (Matthew 19:3).
The argument here is that the Mosaic Law allows divorce and remarriage and even allows the divorced woman to remarry. Tim claims Jesus reaffirmed Deuteronomy 24. He quotes it in a choppy manner with plenty of ellipses to hide what the law actually says. Here it is in full:
Deuteronomy 24:1 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife.
3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;
4 Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
Moses allows divorce for any reason, not adultery. In fact, adultery is actually punishable by DEATH, not divorce.
Deuteronomy 22:22 If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.
If the husband grows to hate his wife he can give her a bill of divorcement and send her on her way. True, she can become another man's wife. However, she cannot become a priest's wife.
Leviticus 21:7 They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God.
In this verse a whore is equated with a divorcee. Both profane the priest. Tim, as a minister, should take heed to this verse.
Tim claims Jesus "never nullified this law." That is not true. Jesus overturns the Mosaic Law in Matthew 19 saying the law of divorce for any cause was given because of the hardness of their hearts.
Matthew 19:3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
There it is as plain as day. Jesus overturns Moses saying divorce is only permissible in the case of adultery and forbidding marrying a divorced woman because it is adultery. He does not qualify the status of the divorced woman as having been wronged by an adulterous husband. He does not say "whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery except she was put away because her husband committed adultery." It is a total ban. Jesus does not cite Deuteronomy 24 but refers to the creation ordinance in Genesis 2 for this doctrine! This proves the law is not the final moral authority.
Marriage is not merely a legal recognition of the union of a man and woman but an unbreakable, spiritual covenant bond which reflects the union of Christ and His Church.
Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
This being the case how much more should spouses forgive one another even in the face of adultery? We sin against Jesus Christ every day and yet he does not and never will divorce his Church. He forgives and loves her. Do note that Jesus permits divorce in the case of adultery and does not command it. Forgiveness is also a remedy for broken marriages.
The bond of marriage is only dissolved by death.
Romans 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
3 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.
4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
The depth of those verses is beyond this article but they show that Christians have ONE spiritual husband: Jesus Christ. As a woman is bound to her husband so long as he lives and is freed by his death, so we are dead to the law through Christ and married to Him. We are not divorced from the law, we are DEAD to the law and married to Jesus Christ.
The indissoluble nature of the marriage bond is why Jesus Christ declares marrying a divorced woman is adultery regardless of the cause of her divorce.
📜 What the Bible Actually Teaches About Divorce and Remarriage
The topic of divorce has often been mishandled—not just by critics, but sometimes even by churches, theologians, and bloggers who cherry-pick verses without understanding their Torah context or Messiah's intent.
Let’s walk through this properly and Biblically:
📖 1. The Law of Moses – Divorce Is Not Ideal, but Permitted for Infidelity
Deuteronomy 24:1-2 (KJV)"When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleannessin her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife."✅ Moses permits remarriage after a legal divorce, especially in the case of "uncleanness" (which Hebrew scholars widely agree refers to sexual sin such as adultery or fornication).
Wrong. Moses allows divorce for ANY CAUSE, not just adultery. If this law is still in force today then a man can divorce his wife because he has grown to hate her and not only because she committed adultery. We saw above Jesus tells the Pharisees that Moses gave this law due to the hardness of their hearts.
📖 2. Yahusha’s Words – Affirming Moses, Not Overriding
Matthew 5:32 (KJV)"But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery."
Matthew 19:9 (KJV)"And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery..."
✴️ Yahusha explicitly affirms that adultery or fornication is a legitimate cause for divorce.He is not introducing a new law, but reinforcing the intent of Moses’ Torah—clarifying it against Pharisaic abuse and misuse of divorce for “any reason” (Matthew 19:3).
Wrong! While Jesus Christ allows divorce in the case of adultery he does not affirm the law of Moses. He overrides it, says the law was given because of the hardness of their hearts, and limits adultery as the only reason for divorce. There is no "clarifying it against Pharisaic abuse and misuse of divorce for “any reason”" because the law itself allows divorce for any reason.
Deuteronomy 24:3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house
Moses said you can divorce your wife if you hate her for being fat, lazy, and unable to cook or clean. Jesus forbids this part of the law by referring to creation.
If Jesus really did reaffirm the Mosaic law concerning marriage and divorce then then polygamy remains regulated.
Exodus 21:10 If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.
But Jesus never affirms this. Likewise, Tim never brings up this part of the law. He is focused on sabbath and feast keeping and ignores most of the other laws such as the necessity of washing after relations with one's wife and the prohibition on shaving.
Leviticus 15:18 The woman also with whom man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the even.
Leviticus 19:27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.
Therefore Tim's legalism is false because it is selective. He does not follow the law. That is why we need the grace of Jesus Christ and why righteousness comes from Him alone.
📖 3. Messiah Defends the Integrity of the Torah
Luke 16:17-18 (KJV)
"And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery..."Here again, context matters. Yahusha just said that not even one letter of Torah will pass away. He is not abolishing Moses’ law—He is calling people back to its righteous use, not its perversion. Think about. That was the very message John the Baptist was called to preach, a return to the law as lawlessness is the definition of sin (1 John 3:4). A church teaching there is no law is teaching lawlessness. John the Beloved said that is the definition of sin.
Yes, context matters. Here it is again:
Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
The law and the prophets were until John. John came to proclaim the Messiah, not to return people to the law. He came to prepare the way of the Lord!
Matthew 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
That is basic Bible teaching and Tim, a Bible teacher for 30 years, messes it all up saying John the Baptist was sent, not to prepare the way of the Lord but to return people to keeping the law correctly. And he dares to claim he is not legalistic!
⚖️ Legalism as a Weapon
...the difference between a teacher and a bully.
The God Culture is not legalistic, but accused as such by an extreme legalist by his own behavior. Hypocrisy! A continued double standard by an imposter whose only interest is to defame and defile.
Wrong! Tim's teaching is legalistic through and through. It's been documented in his own words in many articles and it is documented in this article once again. I am only judging Tim by his own standards in order to show the weakness of his graceless soteriology. Tim is contradicted by his own theological commitments.
Finally, Tim offers a justification for his and Anna's "marriage."
🛡️ The Truth About Tim and Anna – A Biblically Grounded Union
Let us now address the reckless accusation made by the anonymous blogger, who publicly labeled Tim and Anna adulterers without knowing the facts—and worse, without any regard for the biblical standards of judgment, truth, or love.
✅ Tim and Anna’s Marriage Is Biblically Valid
Anna was divorced due to infidelity—a matter well-documented and confirmed by experts in Biblical unions. This blogger is not.
Tim did not break up any marriage, nor did Anna.
Their marriage came after a lawful, biblically justified divorce under the condition Yahusha and Moses both affirmed—fornication/adultery.
Thus, they were free to marry in the eyes of Torah and Messiah. And it is a good thing they did.
📖 Deuteronomy 24:2 – “...she may go and be another man’s wife.”📖 Matthew 19:9 – “...except it be for fornication...”📖 Luke 16:17 – “...not one tittle of the law shall fail.”
If these verses hold true—and they do—then Tim and Anna’s marriage is righteous, and anyone declaring otherwise is bearing false witness and violating Torah themselves.
Instead of justifying why it is ok to trample on the words of Jesus Christ who forbade marriage to a divorced woman as adultery Tim justifies his and Anna's divorces. But that's not the subject. The subject is: is it allowable for a man to marry a divorced woman? Jesus answers resoundingly NO, and calls it adultery. It is also ridiculous for Tim to appeal to Church authorities having "vetted" his second marriage to a twice divorced woman and approving it when he rejects everything the Church teaches. If they are wrong about the Trinity and the nature of salvation, as Tim believes, then he ought not to trust their judgement about his marriage.
Certainly divorce and remarriage is a very painful topic for many thanks especially to the no-fault divorce laws in the USA and around the world. Millions of people are currently living in adultery because they married divorced women. It is a tragedy. That does not change the fact that those marriages, including Tim's, constitute adultery. Once again, let me reiterate that Tim's adulterous marriage would never have been brought up if he did not teach righteousness comes not from Jesus Christ but from the law and the law is what redeems us.
16:44 Abraham kept the law and the sabbath. And so did Isaac and Jacob. I mean how can they be called righteous if there was no law by which they could be judged as righteous? The very notion is ridiculous from the start.
Soteriology is the primary doctrine undergirding this issue. As a man who lives day-to-day in adultery Tim is in no place to speak of righteousness via the law. One who teaches that righteousness comes through the law cannot dismiss Christ’s explicit prohibition on remarriage without collapsing his entire legalistic system. What he needs is the grace of God. It is too bad that Timothy Jay Schwab who is the God Culture exhibits every trait of a vessel of wrath fitted to destruction.
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