Paul Taught AGAINST Lawlessness/ANOMIA

Brother R. Michel Lankford

Paul Taught AGAINST Lawlessness more than any other Biblical Writer

Today’s Question:

Why Do You Believe that Paul the Apostle was NOT Teaching AGAINST Obeying the Old Testament Law? It seems pretty clear that Paul was teaching that.

Part 4: Paul Taught AGAINST Lawlessness

Please remember that I am answering this question in a series of podcasts instead of a single podcast episode, because the answer would be too long otherwise.  This episode is the second in the teaching series dedicated to answering this question.

Here Is a Review of What We Discussed So Far:

1. Paul testified in 6 statements that he was not teaching against the Law of God, (Acts 24:14-16; Acts 25:7-10; Acts 28:17-21). You cannot correctly claim that Paul was teaching against obeying God’s Commandments, when Paul clearly said he was NOT teaching that way.
2. Paul clearly UPHELD the authority, the validity, and the continuing usefulness of ALL Scripture, (Romans 15:4-6; 1 Corinthians 10; 2 Timothy 3:12-17). Paul told his protégé Timothy to CONTINUE in the Scriptures that he had learned since childhood.
3. In Romans 8:5-8, Paul clearly says that not subjecting oneself to the Law of God is carnal minded. Paul said that this was a product of the sinful nature. Paul said that this lifestyle was hostile against God. Living that way cannot please God. Paul said that this mindset and lifestyle leads to death. Therefore, he could not be teaching that people should not submit themselves to the Law of God. He clearly taught the opposite of such a doctrine.

When we look at the surface reading of Bible text, it CAN APPEAR that Paul was teaching that because we are saved by grace through faith in Messiah, that this also means that Paul was teaching that we should now supposedly disregard and disobey the Commandments of God in written Scripture, and especially the Old Testament Commandments. The problem is that the Weight of Biblical Evidence simply DOES NOT support that false conclusion. He does not

In today’s episode, (episode 4), we see further biblical evidence that Paul was not teaching against obeying the Commandments of God, because Paul specifically taught AGAINST Lawlessness, more than any other New Testament writer. Since he taught against lawlessness, that clearly means that Paul could not be teaching the Lawless Grace that people think he was teaching.

Remembering What Lawlessness Means

When people truly understand what LAWLESSNESS means, according to New Testament terminology, there can be NO CHANCE that Paul was teaching that since we are saved by Grace through faith in Christ, this means that we should now disregard and disobey God’s Written Commandments on purpose. The only people who can continue to say that are people who have no regard or understanding of what God says. They have no regard and no respect for what Jesus says. They have no regard, or any true understanding of what Paul said either.

In Greek: Another word for SIN is ANOMIA, or Lawlessness Greek Strong’s # 458-459 –(ANOMIA Lawlessness IS SIN)

• · The condition of being without Law
• · Being ignorant of or ignoring the Law
• · Violating/ Breaking the Law
• · Having contempt for the Law
• · “To be destitute or in violation of the Mosaic or Jewish Law“ A.KA. Illegality;
• iniquity; to break, transgress or walk in violation of the Law- (see also 1 John 3:4)

(See both Thayer’s and Strong’s Original Language Lexicons)

Please do not deceive yourself. This is the New Testament definition for the word lawlessness. Jesus said that people who live like this, are going to be sent to the place of weeping and gnashing of teeth, (Matthew 13:41-42). Jesus said that he will declare to people that he never knew them if they choose to live like this, (Matthew 7:21-23). As you will see coming up, Paul taught against this lifestyle, more than any other New Testament writer. He could not be promoting those attributes as Grace, like so many modern Christians mistakenly believe that he was. He repeatedly taught AGAINST this. There is no way that he was promoting this as being Grace. If he was, Paul would be endangering his own salvation, (according to Christ), and he would be contradicting his own teaching, (e.g., Romans 8:5-8).

What Paul Wrote about Lawlessness, (ANOMIA)

As It Is Written: “I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. (Romans 6:19 NASB95)

• Paul writes that in times PAST we presented our members, (meaning our physical bodies), as slaves to impurity, and slaves to Lawlessness, (ANOMIA), which resulted in further Lawlessness, (ANOMIA). In the past we did that. When we were sinners who were NOT YET Born Again, but we were slaves to our sinful nature we lived in Lawlessness, (ANOMIA).
• Now that we are Born Again through Messiah, should we continue to live outside of God’s Law? Should we continue to disregard and to disobey God’s Commandments, like every sinner does? Not according to what Paul wrote in Romans 6:19
• Paul clearly said that we should NOT CONTINUE to be Lawless, as we were in the past when we obeyed our sinful nature.
• In the past we were slaves to our sinful nature in bondage to Lawlessness, (ANOMIA). Now that we are Born Again by Grace through faith in Messiah, we should now present ourselves to become slaves of righteousness, no longer slaves to lawlessness, but slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification, (being holy and set apart, belonging to YHWH). In the past we lived as lawless people, but now we should NOT continue to be living that way according to Paul.

Paul Said that We Must Separate from Lawlessness

As It Is Written: “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. “Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord. “AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. “And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty. Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1 NASB95)

Beloved, did you pay attention to what Paul actually SAID here? Did you happen to catch the things that Paul specifically said that we MUST SEPARATE FROM, in order for God to receive us as His children, and for God to consider Himself to be our Father?

• Paul reminded us that we MUST SEPARATE ourselves FROM disbelieving, and not live like they do.
• Paul reminded us that we MUST SEPARATE ourselves FROM Lawlessness, (ANOMIA). We should not walk that way anymore.
• Paul reminded us that we MUST SEPARATE ourselves FROM darkness.
• Paul reminded us that we MUST SEPARATE ourselves FROM Belial. Meaning that we MUST SEPARATE ourselves FROM anything satanic, devilish, wicked, or worthless.
• Paul reminded us that we MUST SEPARATE ourselves FROM Lawlessness, (ANOMIA). It’s the SAME Biblical Greek word used here.
• Again, Paul reminds us that we MUST SEPARATE FROM the unbelieving. We must not agree with or imitate them. He mentions that twice now.
• Paul reminded us that we MUST SEPARATE ourselves FROM idols. That is anything having to do with honoring false gods.
• Paul reminded us that we MUST SEPARATE ourselves FROM anything that God considers to be unclean.

Remember, we are supposed to be a living temple for the Holy Spirit of Almighty God to live in us. That’s part of our purpose for living.

Did you notice all of the behaviors that Paul groups together with lawlessness?

• Paul specifically groups the behavior of not submitting to God’s Law, (Lawlessness ANOMIA), in the SAME group with those who are unbelievers who do not believe God or Jesus Christ.
• Paul specifically groups the behavior of not submitting to God’s Law, (Lawlessness ANOMIA), in the SAME group with those who walk in darkness.
• Paul specifically groups the behavior of not submitting to God’s Law, (Lawlessness ANOMIA), in the SAME group with those who walk with Belial. Paul just combined not submitting to God’s Law, (Lawlessness), in the same group with those who are satanic, devilish, wicked, or worthless.
• Paul specifically groups the behavior of not submitting to God’s Law, (Lawlessness ANOMIA), in the SAME group with those who worship false gods.
• Paul specifically groups the behavior of not submitting to God’s Law, (Lawlessness ANOMIA), in the SAME group with things that God considers to be unclean.

Paul clearly says that we MUST SEPARATE FROM all of these things, (including Lawlessness/ANOMIA. He further reminds us of God’s Promise that IF we Come out and Be Separate FROM all these things, then God will welcome us. IF we SEPARATE ourselves FROM all these things, then God will be a father to us. IF we COME OUT and SEPARATE ourselves FROM these things, then God says that he will call us sons and daughters to Himself. God says he will consider us to be his children IF we SEPARATE FROM these things. Do you want Almighty God to consider Himself to be YOUR Father? Do you want Almighty God to consider YOU to be one of His Sons, or one of His daughters? If we want that blessing, even Paul reminds us that we MUST SEPARATE FROM disbelieving. We MUST SEPARATE FROM Lawlessness/ANOMIA. We MUST SEPARATE FROM darkness. We MUST SEPARATE FROM Belial. We MUST SEPARATE FROM idolatry and worshiping false gods.

Remember the promises that Paul says God will grant to those who SEPARATE FROM all these things:

• IF we SEPARATE FROM these things, then God will welcome us.
• IF we SEPARATE FROM these things, then God will consider us to be His sons, or His daughters.
• IF we SEPARATE FROM these things, then God will consider Himself to be our Father.

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, (2 Corinthians 7:1). From Paul’s point of view, these three great promises should be enough to make us willing to separate ourselves from all those filthy things, (including lawlessness).

• Grace CANNOT possibly mean that we should live without God’s Law. The condition of being without Law, that is what lawlessness is, according to the New Testament, and Paul just said that we should SEPARATE FROM Lawlessness/ANOMIA. We just read it.
• Grace CANNOT possibly mean that we should be ignorant of, or to ignore God’s Law and pay no attention to it. Being ignorant of God’s Law; that is what lawlessness is, according to the New Testament, and Paul just said that we should SEPARATE FROM Lawlessness/ANOMIA.

• Grace CANNOT possibly mean that we continue breaking or violating God’s Law. Breaking or violating God’s Law; that is what lawlessness is, according to the New Testament, and Paul just said that we should SEPARATE FROM Lawlessness/ANOMIA.

• Grace CANNOT possibly mean that we should make light of, belittle or have contempt for God’s Law and Commandments. Having contempt for God’s Law; that is what lawlessness is, according to the New Testament, and Paul just said that we should SEPARATE FROM Lawlessness/ANOMIA.

• Grace CANNOT possibly mean that we should live without God’s law given to Moses; because “To be destitute or in violation of the Mosaic or Jewish Law“ A.KA. Illegality; iniquity; to break, transgress or walk in violation of the Law; because that is what lawlessness is, according to the New Testament, and Paul just said that we should SEPARATE FROM Lawlessness/ANOMIA.

I know that it is not as commonplace today to be rational or to be logical, but let’s give it a good try anyway. Paul the apostle is NOT going to say on the one hand, hey people, SEPARATE yourself FROM Lawlessness/ANOMIA, so that God will call Himself your Father, and God will consider you to be His Child, and then turn right around and say, don’t submit to God’s Law. Live outside of God’s Law, and thereby fulfill the characteristics of Lawlessness, because you are saved by Grace through faith in Christ. You CANNOT SEPARATE FROM Lawlessness/ANOMIA, (as Paul told us to separate), and then fulfill the characteristics and behaviors of Lawlessness because we are saved by Grace, at the same time. Paul was not teaching the Lawless Grace that people assume he was. Paul taught AGAINST Lawless Grace again right here.

Paul Links ANOMIA/Lawlessness with the Anti-Christ

As It Is Written: “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God’s temple, proclaiming that he himself is God. Don’t you remember that when I was still with you I used to tell you about this? And you know what currently restrains him, so that he will be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way, and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of his mouth and will bring him to nothing at the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with every kind of miracle, both signs and wonders serving the lie, and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie, so that all will be condemned—those who did not believe the truth but delighted in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:3–12 CSB)

• Paul specifically uses the term Lawlessness/ANOMIA as a defining characteristic of the Antichrist. (The man of LAWLESSNESS). We just read it, right here.
• Grace CANNOT possibly mean that we should live without God’s Law. Paul just described lawlessness as a characteristic of the Antichrist.
• Grace CANNOT possibly mean that we should be ignorant of, or to ignore God’s Law and pay no attention to it. Paul just described lawlessness as a characteristic of the Antichrist.
• Grace CANNOT possibly mean that we should continue breaking or violating God’s Law, especially on purpose. Paul just described Lawlessness as a characteristic of the Antichrist.
• Grace CANNOT possibly mean that we should make light of, belittle or have contempt for God’s Law and Commandments. Having contempt for God’s Law; that is what lawlessness is. Paul just described Lawlessness as a characteristic of the Antichrist.
• Grace CANNOT possibly mean that we should live without God’s Law given to Moses; because “To be destitute or in violation of the Mosaic or Jewish Law“ A.KA. Illegality; iniquity; to break, transgress or walk in violation of the Law; because that is what lawlessness is, according to the New Testament, and Paul just said that Lawlessness is a characteristic of the Antichrist.

• Do Christians not understand that it was Paul himself who openly declared that Lawlessness/ANOMIA, (same Greek word used), is a characteristic and the behavior that identifies the Antichrist?! It was Paul who said that ANOMIA is a sign of Antichrist. So, if Paul was truly teaching ‘Reject God’s Law now because you are saved by Grace and not by works.’ ‘Don’t obey God’s Law now because you are saved by Grace.’ ‘Disobey God on purpose. Do the OPPOSITE of What God’s Commandments and Instructions, tells people to do, because of Grace through Christ;’ that also means that Paul would be PROMOTING the Antichrist, even according to HIS OWN definitions! It gets even more staggering than that. If Paul was truly teaching that we should disobey and walk outside of God’s Law now; which he already identified as a sign and to be the behavior of the Antichrist, then by Paul’s own definition, that would mean that Paul would be teaching, that the Christian, ‘Under Grace,’ should also be thinking and operating in the exact SAME manner that the Antichrist will think and behave.. There simply is NO POSSIBLE CHANCE that Paul was truly teaching that people should disregard and disobey the Commandments of God, because we are saved by Grace. He just described Lawlessness/ANOMIA as a sign of Antichrist! Paul is not going to go to all the trouble of defining living outside of God’s law as a sign of the Antichrist, and then turn right around and tell Christians, hey you are saved by grace, so go ahead and be lawless and copy the attitudes and behaviors of the Antichrist! The whole idea is absurd. If it’s a character that matches the Antichrist, then it CANNOT be the Grace of God at the same time! The whole notion is absurd in the extreme! Please, do not be deceived. Do not deceive yourself. Since Paul said that lawlessness is the character of the Antichrist, then that same characteristic CANNOT be the grace of God, for pity’s sake.

Closing Summary and Review

Why do I say that Paul was not teaching against obeying God’s Law, and Instructions?

• When we understand what the word lawlessness means in the New Testament, we can clearly see that Paul WAS NOT promoting disobeying God’s Commandments, because we are saved by Grace through faith in Christ. The people who think that way, simply do not truly understand the Scriptures, and they don’t truly understand what Paul said. They think they have understanding, but they clearly don’t.
• We just saw that Paul declared that not submitting to God’s Law is a product of the sinful nature. It is hostile against God. It cannot please God. That kind of mindset leads to death, (Romans 8:5-8). Paul himself said so.

• Paul said that Lawlessness/ANOMIA is a characteristic of our old sinful nature. In the PAST, (before we came to Christ), our bodies were slaves to disobeying God’s Law on purpose, but after we come to Christ, we become slaves of righteousness, and therefore we should not continue to walk in Lawlessness any longer, (Romans 6:19).

• Paul specifically included Lawlessness/anomia as part of the list of things that he said we MUST SEPARATE FROM, in order for God to accept us as His Children. He is not going to teach on the one hand that we should SEPARATE ourselves FROM Lawlessness/ANOMIA, because God will accept you as His Child if you do separate from that (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1), but then turn right around and say, well, since obeying God doesn’t cause your salvation, just go ahead and disobey God and be Lawless. Paul would then be overtly contradicting his own teaching in that case.

• We just saw that Paul specifically described Lawlessness/ANOMIA as a defining characteristic and behavior of the Antichrist, (2 Thessalonians 2:3–12). Since clearly Paul said that operating outside of God’s Law is a defining characteristic of the Antichrist, then that also means that walking outside of God’s Commandments CANNOT be a sign that someone is living in the Grace of God. If it did, that would mean that the Antichrist would be walking in the grace of God, (which clearly, he is not). If we apply the Christian line of thinking and point of view concerning God’s Law, if Paul was teaching what Christians think he was, that would also mean that according to Paul’s OWN definitions; a Christian walking in the Grace of God, and the Antichrist would be walking in the exact SAME lifestyle. That’s impossible.

A person can be SEPARATING FROM Lawlessness/ANOMIA, or they can be practicing and doing Lawlessness/ANOMIA, but you cannot be separating from behaviors and then doing those same behaviors at the same time.  It’s impossible. Since Paul clearly lists Lawlessness/ANOMIA as a characteristic identifying the Antichrist, that also means that a Christian living in God’s Grace CANNOT possibly be a person who lives outside of God’s Laws and Commandments.  It can’t be.  There is NO WAY, that a Christian living in the Grace of Almighty God, and the Antichrist should be exhibiting the same mindset, and practicing the exact same lifestyle of disobedience to Almighty God.  That’s clearly impossible.

Thank you for your kind attention….

Brother R. Michel Lankford

Whole Testament Discipleship Success