148Lawlessness

anomia — Greek

The English Bible rarely lets this word speak in its own voice. Anomia is a-nomos — without law. The King James renders it ‘iniquity’ almost everywhere, a word that sounds like general wickedness, and the law drops out of the reader’s view. But John defines sin with it outright: “sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4) — in the Greek, sin is anomia. And Yahushua’s sentence on the crowd who called Him Lord is “depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:23) — ye that work lawlessness. They had prophesied, cast out devils, and done many wonderful works in His name. What they had not done was keep the code.

The Root

anomia (G458) — lawlessness; the condition of being without law. Paired with anomos (G459) — lawless, without law.

The Courtroom Word

A standing term — the condition of living outside the code, the state by which sin is defined.

Its Role in the Court

Transgression is a single breach; lawlessness is a condition — a life standing outside the code altogether. John uses it to define sin itself, which means sin cannot be recast as a mood of the heart while the law is set aside. Yahushua names it as the ground of rejection at the judgment, ruling by the authority the Father committed to Him (John 5:22). Paul names ‘the mystery of iniquity’ already at work (2 Thessalonians 2:7) — the counterfeit court’s whole project is to make lawlessness look like liberty. The word answers the teaching that the law was removed: removing it is the very thing the word condemns.

Proof Texts

1 John 3:4 “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” Sin defined as anomia.

Matthew 7:23 “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” The sentence on the lawless.

Matthew 24:12 “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” Lawlessness and love set against each other.

2 Thessalonians 2:7 “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work.” The counterfeit already at work.

In Plain Terms

Lawlessness means living without the law. The King James usually hides it behind the word ‘iniquity,’ but John uses it to define sin itself. Yahushua turns away people who did great works in His name — because they worked lawlessness.

Bring It Home

‘I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.’ Those men prophesied and cast out devils in His name. Read the word under the English and the charge comes clear: ye that work lawlessness. Their works were many. Their walk was outside the code.

Courtroom Roles

The lawless (the party outside the code) whose works stand with no law beneath them.
Yahushua (the one who speaks the sentence) by the authority the Father committed to Him.
The law (the standard) the line whose absence the word names.

In the Break

The mystery of lawlessness already at work — the code removed, and the removal sold as liberty (2 Thessalonians 2:7).

Where It Sits

IThere Is a Court

IIThe Court Runs on One Code

IIIYou Are Named on the Docket

IVThe Acquittal

VYour Life Is the Testing

VIIt Is All Entered as Evidence

VIIThe Bench Convenes

Movement II — The Court Runs on One Code. The standard on that bench is the Torah — the covenant terms, sworn and binding, not private feeling.