Under Law—Lawless

Under Law—Lawless

All those who are under law are toward Christ are a fruit of the One, Jesus Christ. Likewise, all the lawless ones are a fruit of the lawless one, the Antichrist. 2 Thess. 2:8.

The mind that is under law toward Christ is defined by Jesus’ words: “I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” John 5:30. Jesus renounced being like God and came in the likeness of men. Phil. 2:6-7. In this state He had to know God’s will for Himself in all situations, in order to be able to do anything. In the beginning, everyone and everything were under law toward God. All they had to do is to know God’s will, and so they carried it out. There were no powers or principalities that drew them in a different direction. Their desire was to do perfectly what God said.

Then Satan broke away from being a cherub under law toward God to being a lawless spirit. He was no longer willing to submit to God’s eternal laws. He exalted himself, and everything was lost forever. Ezek. 28:3-17. Now it was vital for him to get others to participate with him in this wretchedness. His work began in heaven and continued on earth. In the beginning, man had no self-will. He was created in God’s image, and God was pleased with everything. Then Satan came and convinced man to try something “better” than being under law toward God. Man followed that suggestion, and the battle was lost. From now on Satan had power over man because he now had a self-will; in other words, he was in a lawless state before God.

Jesus Christ’s work of salvation leads man back to fellowship with God by man becoming obedient to God’s law, or being under law toward Christ. 1 Cor. 9:21.

The prince of this world cannot bear it that God’s people become disciples, because then he loses complete power over hem. Therefore he does his very best to prevent this from happening. He uses his old tactic—lying—and with it he overrides most objections. As strange as it may sound, God’s people like to hear lies. Ezek. 13:19.

Satan fools preachers and leaders to speak for their personal gain. Although they do speak about being free from the law, it is essentially lawlessness they speak about, and the people receive it gladly. In this way, an entire host of people are gathered together who call themselves by Jesus’ name. Do not believe every spirit. 1 John 4:1.

This is precisely the word that is tailored for our times. Satan has led God’s people astray, so that in the midst of their lawless state they transform themselves into people who are supposedly under law toward Christ, in the process deceiving others, in droves. Therefore the Scriptures say further: “But test the spirits, whether they are of God,” and we have good reason to do that.

All this talk about “getting away from the law,” and “being careful not to be under the law” is nothing less than the work of the lawless one, and it is even preached in Jesus’ name.

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God . . . .” This word is valid today more than ever before.