Attitude toward law is very revealing. It shows the person

1
Lawlessness
Introduction

• Attitude toward law is very revealing. It shows
  the persons ability to conform, his values, and
  his respect. Such is also true in religion,
  directly considered, as we shall see.
  Notwithstanding, there is an anti-law movement
  underway, seen in every sector of our culture.

2
Lawlessness
Introduction...

• Be it immediately known that the scriptures
  condemn lawlessness
• Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin
  for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin,
  because he is born of God (I John 3 9, see v.
  8).

3
Lawlessness
Definition

• Anomia lit., lawlessness (a, negative, nomos,
  law), is used in a way which indicates the
  meaning as being lawlessness or wickedness. Its
  usual rendering in the NT is iniquity, which
  lit. means unrighteousness. It is used (a) of
  iniquity in general(twice) "iniquity"
  (unrighteousness, lawlessness (AV,
  iniquity) (twice), RV, (doeth) ...
  Lawlessness and lawlessness (AV,
  transgresseth the law and trangression of the
  law (W. E. Vine).

4
Lawlessness
Definition...

• Lawlessness involves attitude. James taught
• For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet
  offend in one point, he is guilty of all (Jas.
  2 10).
• James is describing one who keeps what he wants
  and then flagrantly rejects other parts (see
  context).

5
Lawlessness
Presence of law

• The reality of sin necessarily presupposes the
  existence of law, because without the breaking
  of law, sin does not exist.  Law, indeed, is
  part of the system of grace (Gal. 6 2).  We are,
  though, under the "perfect law of liberty" (Jas.
  1 25).  Albeit, there are commands that must be
  respected and obeyed, there is the matter of
  authority to which we must submit (Heb. 5 8, 9,
  Col. 3 17).

6
Lawlessness
Definition...

• Every one that doeth sin doeth also lawlessness
  and sin is lawlessness (I John 3 4, ASV).

7
Lawlessness
Pertinence

• The Greek anomia is found fourteen times in the
  Greek New Testament. Hence, a relevant study.
  The grace only and no law movement stands
  diametrically opposed to what we shall see taught
  under lawlessness.

8
Bible Facts About Law

• There is one law giver.
• 1. Jas 4 12.

9
Bible Facts About Law

• Man must keep Gods laws.
• 1. 2 Tim. 2 5.

10
Bible Facts About Law

• Law must be lawfully used.
• 1. I Tim. 1 8.

11
Bible Facts About Law

• The perfect law of liberty.
• 1. Jas. 1 25.

12
Bible Facts About Law

• Without law, there is total chaos. There must be
  law, respect for law, and adverse consequences
  when there is disregard for law.

13
Lawlessness
What taught about lawlessness

• Jesus hated iniquity and/but loved
  righteousness Hebrews 1 9.

14
Lawlessness

• Jesus is the greatest exemplar the world has ever
  known (John 15 12).  In fact, He is our example
  (I Pet. 2 21, Heb. 12 2).  Consider Jesus'
  mindset toward lawlessness
• "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).
• The word "iniquity," that which Jesus hated, is
  our word anomia, lawlessness.

15
Lawlessness
What taught about lawlessness

• Religionists rejected on Judgment Day due to
  lawlessness (anomia) Matt. 7 23.

16
Lawlessness

• "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,
  shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but he
  that doeth the will of my Father which is in
  heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord,
  Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in
  thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name
  done many wonderful works? And then will I
  profess unto them, I never knew you depart from
  me, ye that work iniquity ("lawlessness, dm)"
  (Matt. 7 21-23).

17
Lawlessness
What taught about lawlessness

• . Workers of iniquity bundled and burned at
  time of Judgment Matt. 13 41.

18
Lawlessness

• Regarding the parable of the tares, Jesus taught
  the following (notice the matter of "iniquity" or
  anomia, lawlessness).
• "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 And
  shall cast them into a furnace of fire there
  shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth" (Matt.
  13 41, 42).

19
Lawlessness
What taught about lawlessness

• Lawlessness cancels out love Matt. 24
  12. (What we need is more love and less
  emphasis on law.)

20
Lawlessness

• Many of the advocates of antinomianism,
  lawlessness, want to be viewed as loving and
  kind.  Rather, their appeal to love is simply a
  means of manipulation and deprecation of those
  standing for the truth.  "Those who insist on
  truth are not loving," say they.  Consider Jesus'
  teaching and the relationship between "iniquity"
  (lawlessness) and love.
• "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall
  deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound,
  the love of many shall wax cold" (Matt. 24
  11-12).

21
Lawlessness
What taught about lawlessness

• The mystery of iniquity was at work in
  Pauls day 2 Thes. 2 7 (notice the lawless
  one, v. 8, ASV).

22
Lawlessness

• There was a great apostasy or falling away
  prophesied in scripture (cp. Acts 20 28ff. , I
  Tim. 4 1-4). 
• This "man of sin" being thus described in the
  text of 2 Thessalonians 2 arrogates to himself
  that which only belongs to God so that he, "as
  God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself
  that he is God" (vs. 3, 4). Catholicism, the
  apostasy that occurred, is a system of
  lawlessness and rejection of the authority and
  law of God.

23
Lawlessness
What taught about lawlessness

• No fellowship between righteousness and
  iniquity (lawlessness) 2 Cor. 6 14.

24
Lawlessness

• When some think of "fellowship," they think of
  eating food and drinking drink (the social
  gospel). However, the idea of fellowship in the
  scriptures pertains to jointly performing the
  will or law of God. 
• "Be ye not unequally yoked together with
  unbelievers for what fellowship hath
  righteousness with unrighteousness? and what
  communion hath light with darkness? And what
  concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part
  hath he that believeth with an infidel? (2 Cor.
  6 14, 15.)

25
Lawlessness
What taught about lawlessness

• Lawlessness is associated with hypocrisy
  Matt. 23 28.

26
Lawlessness

• Those who "contend for the faith once delivered
  to the saints" are often painted as hypocrites. 
  Yet, hypocrisy is biblically associated with
  disregard for law.   Speaking contextually of
  many of the Pharisees of his day, Jesus described
  them as follow
• "Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto
  men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and
  iniquity" (Matt. 23 28).
• The word "iniquity" is anomia or lawlessness. 
  While they outwardly expressed desire to conform
  to law, they were hypocrites and did not care
  about law. 

27
Lawlessness
Conclusion

• For this is the love of God, that we keep his
  commandments and his commandments are not
  grievous (I John 5 3, notice love and
  commandments blend and love prompts keeping
  commandments).