Lawlessness, in the sense Jesus employs the term, refers to breaking God's law—sinning as a way of life, as defined in I John 3:4. This concept becomes central to understanding whom Christ will recognize as His own at His return. In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus warns that many who call Him "Lord, Lord" and even perform notable works in His name will be rejected, with Him declaring, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" This stark warning reveals that mere profession of faith, religious activity, or invoking His name is insufficient; those who practice lawlessness—who live in ongoing disregard for God's commandments—will be turned away despite their claims of devotion. This warning connects directly to the broader argument concerning Jesus' attitude toward God's law. Since most Christian groups teach that the Old Testament law was abolished at the cross, viewed as burdensome and irrelevant, this creates a direct contradiction with Christ's own words and example. Jesus explicitly stated in Matthew 5:17 that He did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it, and He tied eternal life to keeping the commandments (Matthew 19:17) and love to obedience (John 14:15). If the law has truly been abolished, then sin itself could not exist, since the law defines sin (Romans 7:7); this would eliminate any need for repentance, grace, or forgiveness—a conclusion that contradicts the whole of Scripture. Revelation 12:17 further confirms this, showing the dragon's rage against those who keep God's commandments, proving that commandment-keeping remains valid and identifiable in the end times. The link between lawlessness and false worship is also significant. Jesus condemned those who honored Him with their lips while their hearts remained distant, worshipping Him in vain through man-made traditions (Mark 7:6-7). This mirrors the broader pattern of lawlessness—outward religious profession divorced from genuine obedience to God's revealed commandments, including His Sabbath and appointed feasts. Ultimately, the warning against practicing lawlessness serves as the counterpoint to true fulfillment of the law, which Jesus defined as love for God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40). Genuine friendship with Christ is built on obedience to His commands, as He stated, "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you" (John 15:14). Therefore, those practicing lawlessness—professing Christ while disregarding His commandments—stand in direct contrast to those He will recognize as His own: individuals who demonstrate their love through obedience, worship God according to His instructions, and order their lives around love for God and others, rather than relying on religious labels, activities, or empty claims of relationship with Him.

Practicing lawlessness means transgressing God's law through sin, as defined in 1 John 3:4, and results in rejection by God even when individuals claim to worship Him. Jesus states in Matthew 7:21-23 that not everyone who addresses Him as Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of the Father; many who prophesy, cast out demons, and perform wonders in His name will be told to depart because they practice lawlessness. This rejection occurs because such people come with hearts influenced by the spirit of Satan rather than God's Spirit, producing evil works marked by bitterness, envy, and disobedience instead of righteousness. The material connects this to the first recorded worship in Genesis 4, where Cain brought an offering yet was rejected while Abel was accepted, since Cain yielded to the wrong spirit and allowed sin to fester at the door without repentance, leading to murder. God does not accept worship from those who fail to keep His Sabbath or other commandments, as they violate His law and cannot make time holy on their own. True acceptance requires worshiping in spirit and truth by yielding exclusively to God's Holy Spirit, maintaining a pure heart without hidden agendas or guile, and producing the fruits of righteousness that God imputes as acceptable. Those who persist in lawlessness, even while professing faith, remain outside the kingdom, as their deeds reveal alignment with the kingdom of Satan rather than the will of God.