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Answer
First John 3:4 states, “Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.” The term “lawlessness” in this context originates from the Greek word anomia, which signifies “an utter disregard for God and His laws.” This Greek term also gives rise to the word antinomianism, which denotes the belief that Christians are not expected to obey any moral laws set by God. Every sin constitutes a transgression against God because it goes against His moral standard for humanity. As God created us «So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. », (Genesis 1:27), He has the authority to establish boundaries for us. Any breach of these boundaries amounts to a violation of His law, indicating that every sin is an act of lawlessness.
Those who follow God will reject lawlessness. The blessed individual is characterized as one “whose delight is in the law of the LORD” «But his delight is in the law of the LORD; And in his law doth he meditate day and night. », (Psalm 1:2). The psalmist expresses, “I long for your salvation, LORD,” and “your law gives me delight” «I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; And thy law is my delight. », (Psalm 119:174). The distinction between lawlessness and love is stark: “Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law” «Their heart is as fat as grease; But I delight in thy law. », (Psalm 119:70).
Scripture differentiates between individuals who sin, a reality that applies to all of us (Romans 3:10,23;1 John 1:8), and someone who “practices lawlessness” (Matthew 7:23; Matthew 13:41). A lawless person is one who has given himself or herself over completely to a sinful lifestyle. Lawless people either do not believe in God or refuse to acknowledge His right to rule their lives “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, There is none that doeth good.”, (Psalm 14:1). Even those living in lawlessness can find forgiveness if they turn from their sin and receive Christ’s righteousness and salvation (2 Corinthians 5:21; John 3:16-18).
Those who persist in lawlessness will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:20-21). Jesus warned that in the end times lawlessness will increase and “the love of many will grow cold” “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”, (Matthew 24:12). When an attitude of lawlessness pervades the atmosphere, people stop wondering about right and wrong. They no longer know or care that absolute moral standards exist. Lawless people may consider themselves very religious and spiritual, but they have defined God as they wish Him to be, not as He is.
The Antichrist who is prophesied to appear in the end times is described as a “man of lawlessness” “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;”, (2 Thessalonians 2:3,8) «And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: », (2 Thessalonians 2:3,8). Daniel says he will be a king who “will do as he pleases” «And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. », (Daniel 11:36). The Antichrist will be one who knows who God is but declares himself to be above God, just as Satan did (Isaiah 14:14;1 John 2:22;1 John 4:3;2 Thessalonians 2:4). He is called “lawless” because he will spurn all authority and be completely given over to sin. Those who follow the Antichrist during the tribulation will follow him into lawlessness, to their own destruction. Those who receive his mark will never be able to repent and find forgiveness, but will be tormented forever in the lake of fire (Revelation 14:9-10).
Lawlessness results in a culture running wild «Where there is no vision, the people perish: But he that keepeth the law, happy is he. », (Proverbs 29:18). The time of the judges was so tumultuous because, in part, “all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes” «In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.», (Judges 21:25, NLT). We are s
Seeing the effects of lawlessness in much of the world today. God’s laws—and even secular society’s laws—are rejected as obsolete, superfluous, or repressive. Each person is a law unto themselves, and the result of that kind of lawlessness is anarchy and chaos. Sin must not be justified with a shrug and a “nobody’s perfect.” Every sinful act is an instance of lawlessness because it violates God’s standard of holiness and His perfect character.
