licentiousness
Licentiousness is shameless moral looseness, especially sexual sin pursued without restraint or regard for God’s will. In Scripture it describes conduct that treats grace as permission for ungodliness.
At a Glance
Licentiousness is shameless moral looseness, especially sexual sin pursued without restraint or regard for God’s will. In Scripture it describes conduct that treats grace as permission for ungodliness.
Description
Licentiousness is a biblical-theological term for open, unchecked moral corruption, especially behavior that rejects God’s commands and pursues sinful desires without shame or restraint. In many contexts Scripture associates it with sensuality, impurity, and sexual immorality, but the idea is broader than one category of sin; it points to a settled disregard for holiness and self-control. The New Testament warns that such conduct belongs to the old life apart from Christ and must not characterize those who profess faith. It also warns against teachers who misuse the message of grace, treating God’s mercy as a license for ungodly living. A careful definition should therefore connect licentiousness both to immoral behavior and to the attitude that excuses or celebrates sin rather than repenting of it.