The concept of autonomy comes from two Greek words: autos (self) and nomos (law), meaning “self-rule” or “self-law.” Autonomy, or self-governance, suggests that an individual is their own authority, determining their own rules, morality, and way of life. It is a concept that not only resonates deeply with modern culture’s emphasis on independence, self-determination, and personal freedom but also explains why we, humanity, are deeply unhappy.

In the context of Scripture, autonomy presents a sharp contrast to the Law of Christ and the life of obedience under the New Covenant. To live autonomously is to reject God’s authority in favour of one’s own. It is the essence of humanity’s rebellion against God, stretching back to Adam and Eve’s decision in the Garden of Eden: choosing to live by their own wisdom rather than trusting in God’s Word.

TORAH LAW AND AUTONOMY: THE HUMAN STRUGGLE

The Torah (God’s law given through Moses) was meant to reveal God’s will for His people, a divine standard for righteous living expressed in 613 Mitzvot, or laws. Yet, it also exposed the heart’s tendency toward autonomy—our resistance to submit to God’s law and our inclination to go our own way.

Paul addresses this tension in Romans 7, describing the frustration of knowing the law but lacking the power to fulfil it. The law revealed sin but can not transform the sinner. Instead of producing life, the law brought death, not because it was flawed but because humanity’s autonomous nature refused to obey.

• Torah Law Exposes Autonomy: The Torah shows that human beings, left to their own devices, will always prioritise autos nomos (self-rule) over submission to God.
• The Law Highlights Dependence: The law’s purpose was to show humanity’s inability to live righteously apart from divine grace, pointing us to our need for Christ (Galatians 3:24).

THE LAW OF CHRIST: TRUE FREEDOM IN SUBMISSION

The New Covenant introduces us to the Law of Christ (Galatians 6:2)—a law not written on tablets of stone but on hearts, not imposed externally but lived out through by the Spirit through us. This law is rooted in love:

“A new command I give you: Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34).

At first glance, the Law of Christ might seem like a return to rules. But it is fundamentally different from both autonomy and the Torah law:

• Not Autonomy: The Law of Christ rejects self-rule. It calls believers to submit to Christ as their Lord and to live under His authority.
• Not Torah Legalism: The Law of Christ is not about earning righteousness through external compliance but about Spirit-empowered obedience flowing from a heart transformed by grace.

In this way, the Law of Christ resolves the tension between autonomy and Torah law:

1. Autonomy’s Illusion of Freedom: Living for self seems liberating but ultimately leads to bondage—bondage to sin, selfishness, and separation from God.
2. Christ’s True Freedom: Submitting to the Law of Christ means being freed from the tyranny of self and empowered to live a life of love, holiness, and purpose.

HOW THE LAW OF CHRIST RELATES TO TORAH LAW

The Law of Christ does not abolish the Torah but fulfills it (Matthew 5:17). It captures the essence of what the Torah sought to teach: love for God and love for others.

Paul explains this beautifully:

“For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’” (Galatians 5:14).

• The Spirit Overcomes Autonomy: While the Torah law exposed sin, the Spirit empowers alignment with God. The Law of Christ is internal, transforming hearts rather than merely governing behaviour.
• Grace Replaces Legalism: The Law of Christ sets us free from the burden of earning righteousness. Obedience is no longer about following rules to gain favour but about responding from a place of transformation

AUTONOMY VS. SUBMISSION: THE CHOICE WE FACE

To live autonomously is to claim self-rule, but this path leads to frustration, alienation, and spiritual death. To live under the Law of Christ is to relinquish control, submit to His authority, and experience the true freedom of walking in love and obedience.

Autonomy says, “I am my own.”
The Law of Christ says, “You are not your own; you were bought at a price” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

When we embrace the Law of Christ, we find what autonomy could never provide:

• Freedom in submission.
• Love that fulfills every command.
• A relationship that empowers obedience.

Will you continue striving under the illusion of self-rule, or will you surrender to the Lordship of Christ and discover the life of love and grace He has promised? The choice is yours—but the results are eternal.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

• In what areas of your life are you still holding on to autonomy, and how might that be hindering your relationship with Christ?
• In what way do we not trust or understand the instructions we read in Scripture?
• How does the Law of Christ, as a law of love and grace, differ from the legalism of trying to earn righteousness by following rules?
• What does true freedom look like in the context of submitting to Christ’s authority, and how can you begin to live more fully in that freedom?