In these times, life in America often mirrors a dangerous permissiveness, where we halt our moral judgment to tolerate and even facilitate behaviors that defy ethical standards. This eagerness to display tolerance overrides both traditional biblical morality and common sense. A clear example is the widespread acceptance of homosexuality, a practice once widely condemned, now supported under the guise of Constitutional rights and freedoms, ignoring the societal decay and public health consequences that follow. Similarly, we endure public theft by our own government, as politicians promise largesse from the treasury, bribing citizens with taxed earnings, leading to a precarious national debt exceeding $60 trillion when counting future obligations. This fiscal indiscretion is tolerated as long as it benefits individuals. The Western world has elevated tolerance to a chief virtue, yet it is not virtuous to accept destructive behaviors. As Solomon wisely warns, tolerating sin brings inevitable consequences, burning both individuals and society. For Christians, the safest course is to adhere to the rules laid down in God's Word, practicing them constantly to avoid the dangers of lawlessness.

In the current state of society, a profound decay of Western values is evident, particularly in the United States, where an alarming attack on the concept of law and order is unfolding. Social order is disintegrating as justice is turned back, righteousness stands afar off, truth falls in the streets, and equity cannot enter, reminiscent of the disorder and lawlessness described in Isaiah 59:14. This rejection of law, rooted in a refusal to submit to any biblical code, permeates from leadership to the very foundation of society itself. Compounding this societal decline is an ancient ideology aimed at undermining God's chosen path for His people. This philosophy, known as Gnosticism, from the Greek root meaning to know, posits that the physical universe is corrupt while the spiritual realm is pure. It suggests that a part of God resides in all mankind, requiring special knowledge, or gnosis, to return to heaven. Gnosticism promotes the rejection of God's law, a concept termed antinomianism, meaning against law, and asserts that the laws of a lesser creator are invalid. This influence has deeply embedded itself in many religious circles, fostering the belief among millions of Christians that God's law was abolished with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, replaced solely by grace and faith for salvation. As God's people, it is vital to recognize and resist these distortions, proving through Scripture that His laws remain upheld throughout. The pervasive influence of Gnosticism, seen in the early churches and addressed by the apostle Paul in Galatians and Colossians, must be countered with the truth that Scripture does not contradict itself and is inspired by God for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. Jesus Christ Himself affirmed the enduring nature of the law in Matthew 5:17-19, declaring that not one jot or tittle shall pass from the law until all is fulfilled, and emphasizing that keeping and teaching the commandments determines greatness in the kingdom of heaven. Furthermore, in Matthew 19:16-19, He directly instructs that entering into eternal life requires keeping the commandments, clearly referencing the Ten Commandments. The Book of Revelation 14:12 reinforces this by identifying the saints as those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Thus, in spite of societal lawlessness and ideological distortions, God's law remains the guide for His people's progress toward eternal life in His kingdom.

Jesus teaches that love is the foundation of the law, reflecting God's character and guiding us to live in harmony with Him and each other. Our Savior lived this love, declaring in John 15:13-14 that the greatest love is to lay down one's life for friends, and that friendship with Him is built on obedience to His commands. Yet, many who call themselves His followers worship on different days and follow traditions that violate God's commands, in ways He taught against. In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus warns that not everyone who calls Him Lord will enter the kingdom, but only those who do the will of His Father. The apostle John emphasizes in I John 5:3 that loving God means keeping His commandments, while Paul in Galatians 5:14 affirms that loving one's neighbor fulfills the law. When He returns, Jesus will recognize His friends—those who obey His commandments, worship the Father as instructed, and live a life rooted in love for God and others, not merely by profession, but in deed.

Peter warns that misusing the apostle Paul's teachings can lead to destruction, a judgment from God on the disobedient. He cautions against falling from steadfastness and being led away by the error of the lawless, those who disregard God's established standards and laws. The term "lawless," derived from the Greek word athesmos, indicates individuals who oppose instituted law, custom, ordinance, precept, or rule, without necessarily being deeply depraved. In this context, lawlessness refers to ignoring God's laws, a danger for the untaught and unstable who misinterpret Paul's writings and avoid the narrow way that leads to eternal life. In the book of Romans, often misunderstood like a partially known song, nominal Christianity emphasizes verses that seem to suggest God's law is done away, particularly regarding the seventh-day Sabbath. Hostility to God's law surfaces in the carnal mind, using select passages from Romans to justify breaking the fourth commandment, while rarely questioning other commandments. When Paul upholds God's law in his writings, nominal Christianity becomes uncomfortable, waiting for lines that appear to dismiss the law's relevance. Peter's caution highlights the need for diligence to avoid such misinterpretations and the error of lawlessness.

In his first epistle, the apostle John gravely warns of the pervasive spirit of lawlessness that threatens the faithful. He declares in I John 3:4 that whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness itself. This stark reminder underscores the critical importance of obeying God's commandments to maintain fellowship with Him. John emphasizes that living in full enjoyment of the family relationship with God requires adherence to His law, as disobedience severs the bond between the children of God and their Father. Furthermore, John contrasts the children of God with the children of the devil, stating in I John 3:10-11 that those who do not practice righteousness or love their brother are not of God. This lawlessness, manifested in the refusal to uphold righteousness and brotherly love, reveals a heart aligned with the spirit of error. The apostle urges vigilance against such influences, which stand in opposition to the truth and threaten to distort the gospel of Jesus Christ, leading believers astray from the path of obedience and fellowship with God.

The issue of lawlessness stands as a critical concern within the framework of true Christian belief and practice. It is evident that the conduct of many who profess Christianity does not align with the biblical standards of righteousness, largely due to the influence of doctrines that reject God's law. Gnosticism, with its antinomian stance—meaning against law—allowed individuals to selectively adopt beliefs that suited their comfort, disregarding God's revealed Word. This rejection of law has persisted into modern Christianity, where similar tendencies to dismiss the commandments are justified by false teachings. One such deceptive doctrine is dispensationalism, which suggests that God's approach to salvation has varied across different eras, implying that law-keeping was once required but is now replaced by grace alone. This view distorts the unity of grace and law, presenting them as opposing forces rather than complementary elements in God's plan for the Kingdom of God. In truth, the law is an expression of God's grace, providing essential guidance for a righteous life. The Gnostic influence, particularly through figures like Nicolas and Simon Magus, further promoted lawlessness by encouraging behaviors and beliefs contrary to God's commands. Jude's writings vividly condemn such false teachers, describing them as ungodly men who turn the grace of God into lasciviousness—a license to sin—and deny the Lord Jesus Christ. This rejection of law is not merely a historical issue but a present challenge within modern Christianity, where the same inclination to bypass God's commandments creates doctrinal confusion and moral compromise. Paul's teachings in Romans 6 emphatically counter this lawlessness, asserting that baptism into Christ signifies a death to sin and a call to walk in newness of life, devoted to God's way. He rejects any notion that grace permits sin, urging believers to yield themselves to righteousness—defined as keeping God's commandments—rather than to unrighteousness. The biblical definition of love, as expressed in John 14:15, reinforces this by stating that loving Christ means keeping His commandments. Ultimately, the pervasive lawlessness stemming from Gnostic roots and perpetuated in modern interpretations undermines the personal relationship with Christ that is central to true faith. Without striving to live as He did, in obedience to God's law, one cannot claim to truly know or love Him. The call remains clear: to reject the error of lawlessness and to live in submission to God's eternal principles, as a demonstration of faith and devotion to the One who lived and died for us.

In the Olivet Prophecy of Matthew 24, Jesus Christ warns of a time when lawlessness will abound, causing the agape love of many to grow cold. This love, a dutiful and obedient love given by God, is shown through submission to His law and sacrifice toward others. When lawlessness increases, signifying disobedience and compromise with God's standard of righteousness, this submissive love toward God and sacrificial love toward man begin to wane. Jesus Christ describes this as an ongoing breakdown in the relationship with God, the source of agape love, which becomes evident in strained human relationships. The presence of false prophets, who compromise God's holiness, further leads to lawlessness, separating people from God. Despite this, Jesus Christ urges endurance, promising that he who endures to the end shall be saved, emphasizing the need to maintain God's love even amidst lawlessness.