The Bible has a lot to say about lawlessness, which is essentially living in rebellion against God’s laws and commandments. Lawlessness is a rejection of God’s rightful authority over our lives. It stems from a heart that is bent on fulfilling selfish desires rather than submitting to God’s will. The Bible warns that lawlessness will increase as we approach the end times.
Definitions of lawlessness in the Bible
The main Greek word translated “lawlessness” in the New Testament is anomia. It literally means “without law” or “contempt and violation of law.” A few key verses give insight into its meaning:
- “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.” (1 John 3:4)
- “And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:10-12)
- “Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day [Christ’s return] will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
These verses connect lawlessness to rebellion, falling away from God, false teaching, and rejecting God’s authority. The “man of lawlessness” refers to the Antichrist who will oppose God and seek worship for himself.
Results of lawlessness
The Bible makes it clear that lawlessness leads to destruction and judgment:
- “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” (John 3:36)
- “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” (Romans 1:18)
- “They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.” (Romans 11:20-22)
- “But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.” (Romans 2:5)
This lawlessness earns God’s wrath and judgment, both in this life and especially on the final day of judgment before Him. The verses warn against pride and rebellion that rejects God’s offer of mercy and salvation.
Examples of lawlessness
The Bible contains many examples of lawlessness among God’s people and those who reject Him:
- Genesis 6 – Widespread lawlessness on the earth was a key reason God sent the Flood in Noah’s day.
- Sodom & Gomorrah (Genesis 18-19) – These cities were destroyed for their grievous sexual immorality and lawlessness.
- Period of the Judges (Judges 21:25) – “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Anarchy and rebellion against God’s law led to chaos.
- Northern kingdom of Israel (Hosea) – Hosea proclaimed judgment on Israel for its idolatry, injustice, and disobedience to God’s commands.
- Judas (John 17:12) – Judas exemplified the “son of destruction” who operates with lawlessness.
- The Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2) – The coming “man of lawlessness” will exalt himself above God. Many will be deceived by his miracles, signs, and wonders.
Even believers can be tempted to operate in lawlessness at times by rejecting God’s authority and right to command our obedience. The Bible includes warning against lawlessness even among Christians (Matthew 7:21-23, Romans 6:1-2).
The danger of lawlessness
Lawlessness is extremely dangerous because it:
- Rejects God’s rightful authority over every area of our lives.
- Stems from a prideful, rebellious heart.
- Leads people into deception and false teaching.
- Produces all kinds of other sin and wickedness as people throw off moral restraint.
- Earns God’s wrath, discipline, and eternal judgment instead of His mercy and grace.
- Causes societal breakdown, chaos, injustice, and oppression when rampant.
- Blinds people from seeing their need for a Savior.
Lawlessness is essentially treason against the King of Kings. It poisons our relationship with God and threatens eternal ruin. Even believers open themselves to God’s discipline if they reject His commands and operate in unrighteousness.
God hates lawlessness
The Bible makes clear how much God hates sin, wickedness, and rebellion against His law:
- “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” (Proverbs 6:16-19)
- “The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.” (Psalm 11:5)
- “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” (Romans 1:18)
God’s laws and commands reflect His holy nature. Rejecting His authority is offensive to God because it treats Him as irrelevant and says we know better than our Creator. All sin flows from rejecting God’s right to rule over the universe and our lives.
God judges lawlessness
The Bible emphasizes that God will judge unrepentant lawlessness and rebellion:
- “It is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17)
- “By the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.” (2 Peter 3:7)
- “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things [sexual immorality, impurity, greed] the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” (Ephesians 5:6)
- “For we know him who said, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:30-31)
God’s judgment for lawlessness and rebellion will come on the final Day of Judgment before His throne. But He also brings disciplinary judgment and consequences in this life designed to spur us to repentance and turn to Christ.
The gospel is the answer to lawlessness
The root problem behind lawlessness is the sinful human heart in rebellion against God. The good news is that Jesus Christ came to set sinners free from slavery to sin!
Through Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross, those who repent and believe can be forgiven, declared righteous, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit who empowers us to obey God. Believers are no longer under the tyranny of sin but have been set free to grow in obedience and holiness in Christ.
The gospel offers pardon for rebellion, cleansing from sin and wickedness, and power through the Spirit to walk in God’s ways. Through Christ, God grants us the grace and mercy we desperately need instead of the judgment our lawlessness deserves.
When someone truly understands the gospel, it leads them to turn from lawlessness and gladly submit to Christ’s lordship. The redeemed heart now delights in God’s law rather than rebelling against it (Psalm 1:2, Psalm 119:47-48, Romans 7:22).
Key New Testament verses on God’s gracious answer to lawlessness:
- “For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:3-4)
- “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)
- “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.” (Romans 6:22)
- “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.” (Titus 2:11-12)
This is the power of the good news! God graciously gives freedom from slavery to lawlessness and new power to obey Him when we turn to Christ.
God calls Christians to reject lawlessness
The New Testament letters repeatedly command Christians to reject lawlessness and grow in obedience to Christ:
- “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” (1 Peter 1:14-15)
- “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” (1 Peter 2:11)
- “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.” (Romans 6:12-13)
- “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” (Romans 13:14)
Christians must fight to not be shaped by the sinful patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of their minds (Romans 12:1-2). Part of our salvation is being set free from bondage to lawlessness so we can walk in God’s ways by the power of the Spirit.
Signs of lawlessness in the end times
Jesus and the New Testament authors warn that lawlessness will increase as the end times approach:
- “And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:12)
- “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
- “Scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, ‘Where is the promise of his coming?’” (2 Peter 3:3-4)
- “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.” (1 John 2:18)
As the return of Christ draws closer, we should expect to see increased rejection of God’s laws, embracing of all kinds of sin and unrighteousness, false teaching within the church, people mocking the idea of future judgment, and rebellion against authority. But God calls the church to be light in the darkness by renouncing lawlessness and preaching salvation in Christ.
Practical ways for Christians to combat lawlessness
Here are some key ways believers and the church can stand against the tide of growing lawlessness:
- Preach the gospel of grace: Share the good news of freedom from sin’s dominion and new life in Christ. The gospel provides the only lasting solution to lawlessness.
- Teach and obey God’s Word: Instruct people in God’s commands and model obedience in our own lives. Reject antinomian attitudes that downplay the importance of God’s law.
- Warn of future judgment: Urge people to repent in light of coming judgment for lawlessness and rebellion against Christ (Acts 17:30-31).
- Expose sinful culture: Shed light on the lies and sin being promoted in our culture and media. Affirm God’s standards of righteousness and truth.
- Live holy lives: Pursue personal holiness and self-control empowered by the Spirit. Follow the example of Daniel who refused to defile himself by the culture’s lawlessness (Daniel 1:8).
- Pray for revival: Only a widespread work of God’s Spirit can restrain the advance of mass lawlessness. Plead for Him to act mightily.
Standing against lawlessness requires both proclaiming truth and modeling obedience to God’s commands. The church must hold fast to righteousness even as lawlessness abounds. God will use faithful believers to be salt and light if we rely on His strength and refuse to compromise.
God’s ultimate victory over lawlessness
Despite the rise of evil, God remains in complete control of human history. One day the all-powerful King of Kings will return to judge the world and put down all rebellion forever:
- “Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?’” (Revelation 6:15-17)
- “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, ‘Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.’ He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.” (Psalm 2:1-4)
- “Then comes the end, when he [Christ] delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:24-26)
The day will come when Christ defeats His enemies and ends the curse of rebellion and lawlessness for those who have rejected Him. God’s kingdom will reign unopposed for eternity. What amazing hope we have to be on the winning side of this great cosmic battle!
Even when lawlessness seems prevalent, we can trust that our victorious King sits enthroned in heaven and will make all things right. He calls His people to reject lawlessness, walk in obedience, and faithfully testify of His coming kingdom and righteous judgment.
