What is Antinomianism?

Definition and Core Concept

Antinomianism is the belief or teaching that since believers are saved by grace through faith, there is no further obligation to follow any moral law or command. The word “antinomian” comes from two Greek terms: “anti,” meaning “against,” and “nomos,” meaning “law.” At its core, antinomianism proposes that under the New Covenant, Christians are completely exempt from all moral guidelines because divine grace supersedes any need for abiding by commandments.

This view typically arises from an interpretation of passages in Scripture concerning grace, such as Romans 6:14–15, “For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” Antinomianism wrongly concludes that grace abolishes moral responsibility, rather than seeing grace as God’s enabling power to live righteously.

Historical and Theological Background

Throughout church history, debates have arisen over how the believer relates to God’s law. During the Reformation era, figures like Martin Luther encountered antinomian teachings from those who interpreted Luther’s emphasis on justification by faith alone as freedom from any moral or ethical requirements.

Earlier controversies can also be traced in the early church. Some Gnostic groups in the second and third centuries held a view similar to antinomianism, teaching that the material world was either irrelevant or inherently evil, and therefore outward moral choices had no bearing on salvation. Over time, official church councils, leaders, and theologians progressively addressed these misunderstandings to reaffirm that God’s unmerited grace results in transformation, not permissiveness.

Key Scriptural Passages

1. Romans 6:1–2: “What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase? Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?”

• Here, Paul warns against using grace as license for sin, refuting foundational antinomian reasoning.

2. James 2:17: “So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead.”

• James underscores that genuine faith naturally produces works of righteousness. Works do not save, but they are the evidence of saving faith.

3. Galatians 5:13: “For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another in love.”

• Christian freedom is not lawlessness; it is an invitation to live in love through the Spirit’s power.

4. 1 John 2:3–4: “By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments. If anyone says, ‘I know Him,’ but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

• The apostle John directly connects love for God and fellowship with Him to the keeping of His commandments.

Distinguishing Law and Grace

Antinomianism commonly stems from misunderstanding how Jesus fulfills the law (Matthew 5:17) and how the believer’s life is transformed by the Holy Spirit. The law itself, while not the source of salvation, points humankind to the standard of God’s holiness and reveals our need for redemption.

• Law as a Teacher: Galatians 3:24–25 teaches that the law functioned as a guardian, leading us to Christ. Once we come to faith, we are justified—but the moral principles behind God’s commands remain instructive.

• Grace as Empowerment: Grace empowers believers to live a life reflecting God’s character. Ephesians 2:10 states, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.” The faithful keep God’s commands not as a means of earning salvation, but as a response to God’s love and an outflow of the Holy Spirit’s work in their lives.

Potential Misunderstandings

1. Confusion About Justification and Sanctification: One common misconception is that once justified, people need no ethical framework. Scripture teaches that justification by grace through faith leads to a lifelong process of sanctification. This process involves growing in holiness, which includes aligning actions and lifestyle with God’s revealed will.

2. Misapplication of Freedom in Christ: Freedom won by Christ’s sacrifice does not mean believers are free to ignore moral truths. Instead, believers are liberated from the curse of the law so that they might truly honor God through the Spirit (Romans 8:4).

3. Mistaking Human Merits for God’s Grace: While salvation is entirely by grace, a believer’s transformed character will produce evidence of that grace through obedience and good works. These works do not earn salvation but testify that salvation has taken place.

Outcomes of Antinomian Teaching

1. Moral License: In contexts where antinomian ideas have taken root, moral boundaries can erode, leading to practices that contradict the holiness of God and harm societal integrity.

2. Spiritual Apathy: If individuals believe they have no obligation to follow moral imperatives, fervor for discipleship and spiritual growth can diminish.

3. Undermining of Witness: The watching world often judges the credibility of faith by the behavior of Christians. Antinomian practices can compromise the believer’s call to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13–16).

Balancing Law and Gospel

The overarching story of Scripture shows that God’s commands and Christ’s atoning work form a cohesive narrative. The moral precepts in the Old Testament point forward to Christ’s perfect fulfillment. In the New Testament, Christ and the apostles repeatedly stress love and holiness (John 14:15, Romans 13:8–10) as manifestations of genuine faith, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

From a theological standpoint, the healthy biblical balance is recognizing both God’s righteous standards (law) and His gracious provision for our inability to meet them (gospel). Believers live out God’s commands in a relationship of gratitude, transformation, and worship.

Practical Implications for Believers

1. Pursuit of Holiness: Transformed hearts seek to obey God out of love and gratitude. Believers resist lawlessness, acknowledging, as Paul states, “You were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:20).

2. Reliance on the Holy Spirit: Obedience is not achieved solely through human effort. The Holy Spirit indwells and enables believers to fulfill the righteousness that God’s law demands (Romans 8:1–4).

3. Community Edification: Biblical commands often direct how we treat one another in community. By following these principles, believers foster unity, bearing one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).

4. Guarding Against Extremes: Scripture calls believers to avoid the extremes of legalism (justification by works) and antinomianism (denial of moral obligation). God’s Word calls for balance—trust in Christ’s finished work on the cross and the Spirit-led desire to live according to His will.

Conclusion

Antinomianism overlooks the clear scriptural teaching that grace both saves and sanctifies. Rather than discarding moral commands, the believer’s response to God’s redeeming work is one of loving obedience and gratitude. The consistent witness of Scripture—from Old Testament law through New Testament epistles—underscores that trusting in God’s grace does not negate the call to holiness. Instead, it provides the foundation and power to live a life pleasing to God.

As Paul reminds the early churches, Christian freedom is not an invitation to sin, but a liberation to pursue righteousness in the power of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:13). When understood correctly, the law and grace together portray the fullness of God’s redemptive plan and bring clarity to the believer’s joyful obligation to reflect His character in every aspect of life.