Lawlessness

Why is it that despite the preaching of the gospel, the world appears to be in a worse state than what it used to be? What are we as believers doing wrong?

When you take a look in the news and read about the rampant crimes, the glamourisation of unrestrained lusts, and the promotion of idolatrous lifestyles, what is your response? Are you bothered by what you see? Or have you become desensitised to the perverseness that is presently seeking refuge in the land? Our country’s descent into social and moral disorder, highlights a simple fact that the sinful character of civilization is as a result of the present ‘Age’ of evil we are living in. Lawlessness is in our midst, more specifically the spirit of lawlessness is in the air and if you do not know what to do in this advanced technological age, mingled with human wisdom and might, you may become a victim of lawlessness.

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. ( 2 Thessalonians 2:7).

Recognising lawlessness.

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (1 John 3:4).

Lawlessness is generally recognised as the behaviour that refuses to be governed by the authority of the law of God, or the behaviour that has no regards for God’s commands. This behaviour is illegal in its standing, rebellious, perverse and prideful in nature and anybody who is considered lawless is rejecting God’s rulership in their lives. In the New Testament the Greek word ‘anomia’ is translated as iniquity, meaning "the condition of one without law”. In the book of first John, lawlessness is described as sin. All sin is lawless because it fails to comply with the standards of God’s righteous character.

Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. ( Matthew 24:12 ).

Recognising the presence and expression of lawlessness in our society can open your eyes to see the spiritual reality of human life: which is that there are two opposing spirits currently at work in the world. People are not lawless for no reason, they are lawless because they have submitted their lives under another authority other than the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit and the spirit of this world do not agree. The Holy Spirit is Holy and the spirit of this world is evil. In order to understand the conflict between these two spirits that are at work in the world, let us look at what the scriptures say.

The Holy Spirit and the Spirit of this World

As believers we are all familiar with the Holy Spirt as a person. We are aware of some of his other names such as the Spirit of Truth ( 1 John 4:5-6), the Spirit which is of God (1 Corinthians 2:12), and the Spirit of Life (Romans 8:2). But what about the spirit of the world? (1 Corinthians 2:12). The spirit of the world otherwise known as the spirit of error can lead a person into a strong delusion. (2 Thessalonians 2: 11). How many people do you daily pass in the street, who you know are living a life based on a lie? They are living in error before the Lord. But why have they chosen to live this way? The answer is because Satan is the deceiver of this world (Revelation 12:19). His spiritual influence deceives people so that they choose to sin and rest their hopes on falsehood ( Hebrews 1: 3:13). Satan is the prince of the power of the air ,it is his spirit that is at work in the children of disobedience ( Ephesians 2:12, Ephesians 2:2-4). It is his spirit that has been identified as the spirit of this world.

Lawlessness and you.

Lawlessness is a relational problem that affects God’s established order and commandments. The sin of rebellion against God, is the first relational error a lawless society commits. This is because anyone who can disregard God, can also disregard human authorities and defy laws of social systems that brings relational harmony and social security.

“We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers.” 1 Timothy 1:9

I believe that one of the reasons why people feel empowered to live outside the confines of their 'obedience to God’s will' found in his commands, is because their behaviour has been influenced by the spirit of this world. This spirit has glamourised and deceptively presented 'disobedience towards God', as a socially acceptable conduct, despite the harm it may cause our society. Social unrest is not a social reality that came to past by chance, social unrest is a by-product of disobedience.

So how do you impact a lawless world as a believer in Christ ?

• Understand that God is in full control of his world. Christ’s ultimate victory on the cross revealed God’s plan to eliminate lawlessness forever. God is the ultimate spiritual authority over all life, every other authority must submit unto him ( Matthew 13:41-43, Psalm 24).
• Walk in obedience. Your obedience to God's commands reveals your love for him. As you willingly submit to the authority and will of God, you will demonstrate to the world what it looks like to imitate Christ. Scripture tells us that Christ fulfilled the highest moral duty for human life. He demonstrated his faith in his Father by aligning to his divine will and commandments. You too, can demonstrate your faith in God and his Son Jesus Christ through your actions and obedience to God's will ( John 14:15).
• Walk in the light of truth. Error can only be corrected when the truth is presented before it. A believer must know the word and live by it, so that sinners will encounter the knowledge of life.
• Be filled with the Holy Spirit. How can a person encounter life and receive it, if you yourself are not a carrier of light. Be a light bearer, so that the people who are walking in darkness can obtain deliverance from it as they engage Christ the light of life through you.
• Preach the gospel of salvation. Christ died on the cross to redeem us and forgive us for our lawlessness. Christ wants to purify a people unto himself (Titus 2:14, ESV). People need to hear this salvation truth.
• Understand that ‘making the world a better place’ is not attainable through philanthropies, social media presence or even social intellectualism. These social strategies are just that, methods used for influence. Rather evangelism, is where the believer applies the remedy of the gospel that transforms lives.
• Stop trying to fix the behaviour. If you want the state of the world to change. Begin with the single unit that makes up society: man. A man must be regenerated by the Holy Spirit so that his soul will be delivered from the sin nature and it’s ability to blind the hearts of men.
• Stay rooted and grounded in Christ. Spend time with the Holy Spirit. Fast and pray. Meditate on the word of God and be led by the Spirit of God. Remember Saints, you belong to a body of people ‘called in the name of Jesus’. You are ‘reborn’ to serve the Lord in Spirit and Truth. Let your life evangelise the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered” ( Psalm 32:1) (ESV)