Antinomianism comes from two Greek words. Anti mean “against” and nomos meaning “law”. So the literal meaning of the word is “anti-law” or “against the law”. In theological terms antinomianism is the view that Christians are not obligated to follow moral, religious, or social laws. The Bible teaches that the observation of the moral law of the Mosaic Covenant does not bring salvation. Christ fulfilled the demands of the Old Testament law when he died on the cross. It is important to point out that Christians are not under the Mosaic Law.
The Bible teaches that Christ is the end of the law to all who believe. Romans 10:4 says, “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” The teaching that there is no moral laws for Christians is both false and unbiblical. We are required to obey the laws of the land in which we dwell in and we are subject to the law of Christ.
The apostle Paul addressed the topic of antinomianism in Romans 6:1-2. One of the attacks on salvation by faith through grace is that it is a licence to sin. The view that salvation and grace gives us a freedom to sin is false and unbiblical.
The Bible’s teaching is that we should use our freedom to please God and to do good works for the glory of God. Romans 12:1-2 says, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Antinomianism is unbiblical as it has a wrong view of the grace of God.
God commands us to obey the law of Christ. Matthew 22:37-40 says, “And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment. “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” We are under the law of Christ as Christians. The law of Christ does not merit or maintain salvation. Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”
God expects Christians to live a life of morality, integrity, respect, and peace. The life of the Christian is one of honour to God and to each other. Christ has freed us from the burden of the Old Testament law of sacrifices.
We are to strive to live a life of holiness and righteousness before God. 1 John 2:3-6 says, “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”
Christians are under grace, not law. Which means that salvation and living a Christian life is through God’s grace rather than through strict adherence to a legalistic system of rules, focusing on faith in Christ and His sacrifice rather than works.
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