How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?

-2 Corinthians 6:14b, NLT

Cheaters have declared allegiance to the Kingdom of Darkness by their choices and actions.

They speak in the language of their chosen kingdom–i.e. lies–and they choose to walk in darkness instead of light. This is the fundamental problem presenting to Christians dealing with adultery:

We have a kingdom conflict!

It is the Kingdom of God versus the Kingdom of Darkness. While cheating is a problem, it reveals the deeper conflict. In other words, the problems facing marriages is MUCH deeper than adultery. The fissure is deep within the Cheater’s heart.

Unless the Cheater repents and turns away from the Kingdom of Darkness by renouncing their lies choosing to walk in the light, there is no hope for a godly marriage with them.

Cheaters have to unlearn a way of life. They must unlearn living for the Kingdom of Darkness. That is why it is SO hard to come back from adultery. It is a character and lifestyle change that most Cheaters are unwilling to undergo.

God understands this.

That is why I believe God grants faithful spouses the mercy of divorce from Cheaters with no shame (see Mt 1:19, Mt 19:9, etc). It is a Kingdom conflict where His followers need not remain associated with such darkness.