From the Pulpit: What is antinomianism?

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I am sure most believers understand some of the dangers of legalism. To proclaim that legalism is bad isn’t controversial in evangelicalism. But, as for the other ditch on the other side of the narrow road which we call Antinomianism, we are less familiar today. The word is a compound word putting together: the Greek “anti” meaning against, and “nomos” – meaning law. The etymology of the Word means of course then—“against law”. But in its usage in church history it has had a broader meaning.

The word was first coined by Martin Luther who had trouble with a disciple of his who started complaining about Luther’s teaching being legalistic because of his emphasis on the law of God in Christian living. Luther responded with calling this sect Antinomian. After this, Protestants from about every stripe began to use the term for those who fell off the narrow road into the opposite ditch of legalism. 

Just as the legalists have their warning passages in Scripture so too the Antinomians. Jude in his little book deals with this error, he tells us “certain people have crept in… who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (Jude 4). Although Jude would have loved to talk about more positive things concerning their common faith (vs. 3), he felt compelled to address this dangerous error. People were coming into the church and putting a distorted emphasis on grace that allowed people to live in unrepentant sin. We might call these 1st century Antinomians. 

We see this error today when people treat the commands of Scripture as options. We see this today when a cheap grace gospel is preached that says: You just need to assent to the facts about Jesus but you don’t need to embrace Him as Lord of your life; you don’t need to repent of your sins; you don’t need to follow Jesus. All you have to do is believe the facts about Jesus. You don’t have to take up your cross and follow Him to be His disciple; in fact you don’t even need to be a disciple. We see this error when Christians believe that God’s moral prescriptions have no place in Christian living today. We see this in churches that ordain practicing homosexuals; we see this in churches that baptize and accept into the membership people who are living publicly in rebellion to God’s Word. 

Let’s be clear and make a qualification: Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Jesus came not for the righteous but for sinners. The gospel is a free offer for people who are broken and bruised by the fall. Jesus is the friend of sinners. But when Jesus saves us he rescues us from a lifestyle of sin (1 Cor 6:9-11; 1 Jn 2:4). A gospel that leaves people unchanged and continuing in rebellion to God is a dangerous ditch. 

“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior… Jesus Christ our Lord” (Jude 24-25).

 

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