This is a list of 13 bible verses about second chances in marriage. In some verses, we learn that there are no second chances to repair the relationship, but in others we see bible texts encouraging partners to forgive each other and work out problems.
Marriage is a big commitment, so it’s natural to wonder if you made the right decision. You married your spouse because they seemed like a good match at the time, but with all of life’s twists and turns, there may have been issues left unresolved. Whether you’ve been married for months or decades, a second chance in marriage is worth considering when issues arise.
Psalm 32:1-5:
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity… When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long; But when I confessed my sin to you, I did not hide my iniquity.” (NIV)
Bible verses about second chances in marriage
The Bible does have some good things to say about second chances in marriage and I’ve gathered all 13 of them in one place for you.
Colossians 3:13
Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others
– Colossians 3:13 (NLT)
“Bearing with one another” is the positive attitude believers should exhibit toward one another as suggested by Paul in this verse.
Believers are family, and they should treat one another with compassion and respect. This encompasses both forgiveness and tolerance.
Rather than expecting perfection from others, we must be willing to put up with the eccentricities and foibles of other believers.
Those who embrace Christ as their Savior have had their sins forgiven, therefore we should be motivated to forgive others (Matthew 6:14–15; Ephesians 4:32).
Romans 5:10
For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.
– Romans 5:10 (NLT)
The emphasis in this verse changes to our personal relationship with God. Even though we were God’s enemies because of our sin, those who trust in Christ are reconciled to God through Christ’s death.
In other words, Christ’s death in the place of our sin allowed us to have a meaningful and personal connection with Him, which would not have been possible if He hadn’t died.
God considered us enemies before we arrived at this point because of our disobedient sin; But now He sees us as His cherished children.
Just as we have seen that God does grant second chances, there is also a need to grant second chances in marriage.
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
– Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)
The emphasis in this verse is not simply on general usefulness. Paul is specifically thinking of compassion for the congregation’s other believers.
Paul’s use of the term compassion here emphasizes the idea of expressing sympathy. Believers should be recognized for their kindness rather than their harsh attitude.
The parable of the Good Samaritan depicts Christ’s model of living with compassion for others (Luke 10:25–37).
Forgiveness is a distinctive feature of the Christian religion.
Luke 17:3
So watch yourselves! “If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive.
– Luke 17:3 (NLT)
According to this passage, believers must endeavor to correct those who wrong them while also forgiving them, no matter how many times the offense is committed.
We don’t “carefront” to punish or chastise, but to assist the person in turning away from sin and into God’s flock.
If we are serious about sin, we must also be serious about forgiveness! One of the main reasons Jesus came to earth was to grant forgiveness.
Our job as Jesus’ current presence in the world is to practice extreme forgiveness. And it is always our obligation to facilitate forgiveness and reconciliation, whether we are the offender or the offended!
1 Peter 5:6-8
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time. Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour
– 1 Peter 5:6-8 (KJV)
This verse summarizes man’s and God’s connection. To each other and to God, who opposes the haughty, we must all live in humility.
Christians must submit to God’s tremendous hand, trusting that He will exalt us at the appropriate moment.
We throw our worries on the Father who loves us in humility. We must be attentive and clear-headed while on the lookout for our adversary, the devil, who attempts to ruin us.
We fight him by focusing on keeping our faith strong and trusting God to keep His promises.
Isaiah 57:15
The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.
– Isaiah 57:15 (NLT)
The eternal Creator and Lord of the universe is so lofty and elevated. that He is the most exalted personage, standing in opposition to humanity and all the created celestial hosts.
But despite the thrice-holy God’s exalted splendor and omnipotent splendor, His desire is to regenerate a right spirit in the hearts of lost souls who have died in sin and are at odds with Him.
Despite the fact that He lives in eternity and dwells in lofty, heavenly, and holy realms, He has chosen to live among the meek, modest, and humble of heart.
He has decided to forgive the penitent, resurrect the contrite in spirit, and live in the hearts of those who believe in His name.
Mark 11:23
Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. -Mark 11:23 (NIV)
In this verse, Jesus guarantees that if the disciples have sufficient faith, their desires will be met.
“Doubt” here in Greek is the same term James employs when he compares himself to “a wave of the sea blown and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6).
This isn’t an empty promise, though: there are conditions and expectations connected. To know what God’s will is, we must ask for what is in God’s will to offer (1 John 5:14–15), and we must abide in Christ (John 15:7).
If we do this, our desires will align with those of Jesus, making it easier for God to respond to our prayers. We must also ask with the proper motivations (James 4:1–3).
Bible verses giving second chances
There are many promises in the Bible to give people second chances. A lot of them come from God himself. Here’s a list of some of the best Bible verses about people getting second chances.
1 John 1:9 – Confessing our sins
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
~ 1 John 1:9
The Bible says that if we confess our sins (to God), then God will forgive them. When you confess your sin, you are saying that you have done something wrong and you want forgiveness for it. You are also saying that you want to be cleansed from your sin so that it will not continue controlling your life.
When you ask God to forgive your sins, he forgives them as long as they are sincere and not repeated (James 5:15). God’s forgiveness is not based on how much time has passed since the last time you sinned or how many times you have sinned. It is based on whether or not your heart is right before him.
Acts 2:38 – Repent for the forgiveness of sins
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
~ Acts 2:38 (ESV)
Repentance is an acknowledgment of wrongdoing and an acceptance of responsibility for it. When you sin against God by breaking one of His commandments, you need to repent. God loves us too much not to forgive us if we ask Him. He wants us to be reconciled with Him again so that we can enjoy life with Him forever in heaven (John 14:6).
Psalm 103:10-12
Psalm 71:15 – Salvation
My mouth will tell about your righteousness and your salvation all day long, though I cannot sum them up.
~ Psalm 71:15 (CSB)
You know about my soul in prison. You know about my pain, my sorrows, my struggles, and my fears. You know about the times I fell on hard times and thought that it was over for me. You know about the times that I thought nobody cared about me or loved me.
You know about the times when I was down and out on my luck. But you also knew that there would be a silver lining in all of this for me. You knew that there would be a second chance for me to get back up again and start anew.
You knew that even though I may not have been able to see it at first, there was something better waiting for me if I just kept going forward with faith instead of quitting or giving up on myself or others around me who were also going through their own struggles at the same time as me.
Bible verses for second marriage
Finding Bible verses for second marriage is difficult as you are not going to be told that your first relationship was a sin and that you should move on. You will have to find verses that show remarriage is possible after a divorce which seems to be thought of as an impossible step for Christians who want to stay married.
1 Corinthians 7:39 – Marriage after the death of a spouse
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.
1 Corinthians 7:39 (KJV)
The word “bound” refers to a bond or a tie between two people. The bond between a husband and wife is called marriage. As long as they are married, they are bound together by this bond. When one dies, their marriage ends and the other person is free to marry someone else if they wish (see verses 27-28).
There are several things that need to be understood in order for you to understand this verse correctly:
1) The word “wife” here does not refer to any woman who happens to be married, but specifically means a woman who has been married before (see verse 1). She has already been bound with another man and does not have the right of marriage unless her husband dies (see verse 39).
2) The word “free” means that she can marry again without sinning against God or breaking His law. This does not mean that she can remarry without first getting divorced from her previous husband (which would also be sinning against God).
Deuteronomy 24:1 – The divorce case
“When a man takes a wife and marries her, if then she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, and she departs out of his house,
~ Deuteronomy 24:1 (ESV)
If the man is poor and has no money to pay such compensation, the marriage contract can be torn up before God instead of being canceled by mutual consent. In this case, the wife will not be freed without receiving some payment.
And since it was actually her husband who tore up the marriage contract before God, she will not be able to marry again until seven years have passed since she was divorced
1 Timothy 5:9 –
A widow who is put on the list for support must be a woman who is at least sixty years old and was faithful to her husband.
~ 1 Timothy 5:9 (NLT)
This verse refers to the duty of a man in the home. The first duty is to love his wife, and the second is to honor her. This is not just a command for husbands. It is also a command for wives. A wife should honor her husband, but it is also important that he honors her as well.
The word “honor” here refers to respect and reverence. This does not mean that you should respect or revere your spouse because of their position or title, but rather because of who they are as a person before God.
You should respect them regardless of what they do or don’t do or even how they treat you at any particular moment in time as long as they are acting within the will of God.
You may not feel like respecting your spouse right now, but you need to remember that they have been redeemed by Jesus Christ and therefore we are called to love them with all of our hearts even when it would be easier not too!
