Lawlessness

by P.W. Atkinson, Melbourne, Australia | Category: Foes Of Our Faith | Oct 1970

Lawlessness, as defined in Webster's Dictionary, is the state of being unrestrained by law. It presupposes laws laid down by a controlling body which should be obeyed, yet there are those who set aside these laws and deliberately act as though they did not exist. They will have no restraint placed upon them and, though fully aware of the law's demands, act in a contrary way.

There are lessons to be learned from the scriptural history of man, "for whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning" (Romans 15.4). Let us trace the working of lawlessness as revealed therein.

Following closely upon the sin of Adam, Cain became the first murderer, and many followed in his sinful ways, so that in a comparatively short period of time mankind became so involved in lawlessness that the direct intervention of God became imperative, "And the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thouqhts of his heart was only evil continually.... And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the ground" (Genesis 6.5-7). When the judgement of the Flood came upon the earth only eight souls were saved; Noah and his family being found righteous before God (Genesis 7.7). Thus we learn that lawlessness is contagious because man at heart is sinful and by nature opposes any restraint placed upon him by God.

Passing over to the history of the nation of Israel, we find much to prove that lawlessness is a deadly enemy of the people of God. Not long after the reign of David, lawlessness manifested itself in Jeroboam, causing the division of the kingdom (1 Kings 13.33-34). Spreading throughout the ten breakaway tribes it waxed worse and worse until God brought judgement upon them (2 Kings 17.18,20-23), and they were taken away from their land, to be replaced by men of other nations, by the king of Assyria (2 Kings 17.34).

The remaining tribes of Judah and Benjamin (although there were bright periods when certain of their kings sought the LORD and restrained the people from idolatry) eventually followed the lawlessness of Israel, until God could bear with them no longer-"till there was no remedy" (2 Chronicles 36.14,16). They were taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar and led away to Babylon. Jerusalem was destroyed and the house of God broken down. For 70 long years the people were in Babylon until in the mercy of God a remnant was allowed to return and build again the house and the city.

We see from these examples that lawlessness tends to increase until it reaches a certain peak, when God cannot allow it to go further and must bring down swift and summary judgement upon those who defy His will.

The ultimate peak of the lawlessness of the Jewish nation was reached when, after the Son of God Himself had moved in their midst for 33 years, they cried unto Pilate "Away with Him ... crucify Him.... We have no king but Caesar" (John 19.15). What solemn words they spake, "His blood be on us, and on our children" (Matthew 27.25). They bore the responsibility nationally, and the judgement of God fell upon them for their lawlessness. Jerusalem was razed to the ground. Vast numbers of Jews were crucified and multitudes led away to Rome to die in the sport of the arena, or to be condemned to other fates; terrible retribution for their rejection of God's claims and of His Son.

In the epistle to the Thessalonians we find the apostle Paul writing, "for the mystery of lawlessness doth already work" (2 Thessalonians 2.7). He discerned in that day the working of lawlessness in men's hearts, causing them to be unrestrained by divine laws, either those of nature, or those revealed in the Scriptures of Truth: The working of lawlessness has continued until the present time, and the secular history of man is full of evidence that when nations have thrown off divine restraint there always comes a time when judgement falls upon them. Thus great empires have arisen, flourished and then toppled because they forgot God and His laws. In this revealing epistle, Paul also looks forward to a day yet future (after the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His saints) when a man called "the lawless one" shall be manifested on earth. He is also called "the man of sin", "the son of perdition" and elsewhere, "the antichrist". He will be empowered by Satan himself (Revelation 13.2), and under his influence all godly restraint will be cast off by the majority of mankind (Psalm 2.2).

When this peak of lawlessness is reached the judgement of God will fall upon men, as it fell on previous occasions, but this time with an intensity never before experienced. The description of the coming judgements as revealed in the book of Revelation is terrible, culminating in the coming to earth of the Lord Jesus Christ "in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 1.8). At this time will take place the judgement of the living nations as described in Matthew 25.31-46. The lawless one and his henchman the false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire to endure eternal punishment for their lawlessness (Revelation, chapters 19 and 20). The devil himself will be cast into the bottomless pit and be bound there for 1000 years (Revelation 20.2). Thus the judgement of God will fall, and for the following thousand years the Lord Jesus Christ will reign over the earth in righteousness. At the close of this period Satan will be loosed for a little season and again the lawlessness will be manifested amongst men bringing the final judgement of the great white throne (Revelation 20.11-15). This will be the end of lawlessness and this deadly enemy of man will never again be manifest in the new heavens and the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness (Revelation 21.1).

In the present closing days of the day of grace we are witnessing a great wave of lawlessness sweeping through the nations. Lawlessness is seen in growing proportions, disrupting law and order. Unrest is on every hand and governments are having difficulty in restraining these lawless elements and in retaining effective control. This resistance to restraint is seen in many aspects of life and is affecting both older and younger generations. It is very marked in the throwing off of all moral restraint, manifesting itself firstly in the immodest dress, developing until nudity, immoral acts are being publicly shown, and censorship has almost been abandoned. Suggestive songs and plays are being poured out by radio and television, filling the hearts of men and women with evil continually and producing lack of respect for the word of God and its standards.

What we see developing before our eyes could well be the early working up to that terrible state which will be evident after the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His saints, and should impress on us the nearness of that blessed event. Paul also writes of the "falling away" (the apostasy) which must come before that day of the Lord (2 Thessalonians 2.3). In Christendom today there are those who are throwing overboard every vestige of divine truth they may have held. Never before has there been such blatant public denial of the Virgin Birth of the Lord Jesus, of His physical resurrection, of the necessity of the new birth and many other fundamental truths. At the same time there has been an increase in the propagation of wrong teaching and of anti-Christian literature.

From the lessons of the past already mentioned we first learn that lawlessness is contagious, and that what has a small beginning can spread rapidly and involve others who are weak or susceptible. Lawlessness is thus a great foe of our faith, and believers need to take heed that they do not let its seeds be implanted in their hearts to germinate and cause them to rebel against the restraints imposed by the truth and the word of God.

In Titus 2.13-14, we read, "Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity (lawlessness), and purify unto Himself a people for His own possession, zealous of good works". We should evermore remember that He did not die only to give us eternal life but also to redeem us from all lawlessness. He desired a people on earth who would resist lawlessness and stand in obedient testimony to the truth of the word of God. This people, described as the Fellowship of His Son (1 Corinthians 1.9), should eschew every appearance of rebellion, whether it be in the matter of worldliness or association with moral and spiritual evil. "Beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7.1).

As we see the effect of the propagation of evil through radio, television and the Press, the believer should be very careful of what he hears and sees lest the contagious effect of lawlessness should defile his heart, impairing his communion with the Lord Jesus Christ, or enticing him away from the truth of God. We should watch our dress and demeanour (1 Timothy 2.8-10) lest we become "like them that go down into the pit" (Psalm 143.7).

The general attitude in the world today, when propriety of dress or conduct is mentioned, is "I don't care". The attitude of the true disciple should be different. "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" should govern his whole life. The Scriptures enjoin modesty of dress and sobriety of conduct, and those who love the Lord will willingly obey. It is also vital that we become grounded in the fundamental truths of the word of God, so that when confronted with the lawless suggestion, "Hath God said?" (Genesis 3.1), we shall be able to answer, "Thus saith the Lord" (Ezekiel 3.11), and resist the temptation to join the lawless.

The second thing that we have learned from lessons of the past is that the judgement of God must fall upon the lawless, and for the believer who has known the truth to refuse to obey it there is a solemn responsibility: "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10.31). We are not referring here to eternal judgement, for the believer is in the present possession of eternal life and can never lose it (John 3.16).

Finally, we have the beautiful example of the Lord Jesus Christ of whom it is said, "Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity (lawlessness); therefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows" (Hebrews 1.9). Whilst upon earth in the midst of lawlessness He ever manifested that divine love of righteousness and for this He has been anointed with the oil of gladness. No one has joy as He has. His gladness is above all others and it is because of His faithfulness amidst unfaithfulness.

If we faithfully follow His steps, we shall surely develop a love of righteousness and a hatred of lawlessness. We shall also experience joy and gladness in the knowledge that our lives are pleasing to Him. The psalmist could well say, "Let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee. For Thou wilt bless the righteous" (Psalm 5.11,12).

"Oh let me hear Thee speaking in accents clear and still, Above the storms of passion, the murmurs of self-will; Oh speak to reassure me, to hasten or control; Oh speak and make me listen, Thou Guardian of my soul.

P.W. Atkinson, Melbourne, Australia | Oct 1970
Foes Of Our Faith