Feature 5 – Lawlessness
During the Great Tribulation, lawlessness will abound. Matthew 24 and 2 Thessalonians 2 testify to this truth. The definition of lawlessness is not recognizing the Bible as absolute moral truth and not being obedient to the Bible. Even many Christians believe that good works are not required after salvation. However, the Bible teaches that if a person is truly saved (the saving faith of Jesus Christ), then good works and obedience to the Bible will follow (although not perfect since people are still in the unsaved flesh). Additionally, just prior to the Great Tribulation, there will be an Apostasy (falling away) first. This period of time is also characterized by lawless behavior.
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Lawlessness Verses in the New Testament
Are Christians Bound to the Law?
The Ceremonial Law is Fulfilled by Christ
Lawlessness Verses – Great Tribulation
Lawlessness of the Antichrist (Man of Sin)
Lawlessness
What is Lawlessness?
- Iniquity (Greek words G458 (anomia), G459 / G460 (anomos))
- Gr: anomia (literally, without law)
- ‘a’ (without) + ‘nomos’ (law)
Lawlessness Verses in the New Testament
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
(Mat 7:23)
The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
(Mat 13:41)
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
(Mat 23:28)
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
(Mat 24:12)
And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.
(Mar 15:28)
For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for () the things concerning me have an end.
(Luk 22:37)
Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
(Act 2:23)
For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
(Rom 2:12)
Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
(Rom 4:7)
I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
(Rom 6:19)
To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
(1Co 9:21)
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
(2Co 6:14)
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
(2Th 2:7)
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:
(2Th 2:8)
Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
(1Ti 1:9)
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
(Tit 2:14)
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
(Heb 1:9)
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
(Heb 8:12)
And their sins and iniquities() will I remember no more.
(Heb 10:17)
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
(1Jn 3:4)
For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds
(2Pe 2:8)
Are Christians Bound to the Law?
For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. (Rom 2:13)
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. (Rom 3:28)
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. (Rom 3:31)
What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. (Rom 6:15)
Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. (Rom 7:12)
How Christians Keep the Law
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:10)
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Php 2:12-13) (For = because)
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that says, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keeps his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. (1Jn 2:3-5)
Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44)
The Ceremonial Law is Fulfilled by Christ
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. (Col 2:14-17)
Lawlessness Verses – Great Tribulation
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
(Mat 24:12)
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
(2Th 2:7)
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:
(2Th 2:8)
For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds
(2Pe 2:8)
Lawlessness of the Antichrist (Man of Sin)
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 (2Th 2:3)
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work … and then shall that Wicked be revealed (2 Thess 2:7-8) (Iniquity, wicked = lawless)
… with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2Th 2:10-12)
Days of Noah
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Mat 24:37-39)
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually…But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (Gen 6:5-8)
Days of Lot
Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. (Luke 17:28-30)
And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds) (2 Pet 2:7-8)
…the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round…And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them…(Gen 19:4-5)