Why do we even have free will?

[friend of]

God gave us free will, but expects us to obey Him in everything and deny ourselves and never follow our hearts because they are evil? Why give us free will at all?

 

[Jonaitis]

God gave us free will, but expects us to obey Him in everything and deny ourselves and never follow our hearts because they are evil? Why give us free will at all?

Our spirit, which is renewed by grace, has the "conscious volition" to resist the flesh, which is corrupt.

When we deny ourselves, we are denying that part of us that remains fallen.

 

[Strong in Him]

God gave us free will, but expects us to obey Him in everything and deny ourselves and never follow our hearts because they are evil? Why give us free will at all?

He doesn't expect us to obey him; he wants us to obey him out of love. We do not follow him because there is no alternative; we choose to follow him.
He doesn't expect us to never follow our hearts - he gives us gifts, passions, hopes and dreams. If we are wise, we will discern which dreams are from him and will glorify him, rather than ourselves.

 

[SeventhFisherofMen]

God gave us free will, but expects us to obey Him in everything and deny ourselves and never follow our hearts because they are evil? Why give us free will at all?

Because He still wants us to choose Him, to choose life. He gives a choice so that we are not forced. What kind of relationship would it be if your significant other was forced to be with you, forced to love, would you truly feel loved by them? No, but when they choose to love you that is good in God's eyes and i understand why

 

[Tolworth John]

God gave us free will, but expects us to obey Him in everything and deny ourselves and never follow our hearts because they are evil? Why give us free will at all?

God doesn't want mindless robots.

 

[bling]

God gave us free will, but expects us to obey Him in everything and deny ourselves and never follow our hearts because they are evil? Why give us free will at all?

Ordering us to obey and expecting us to obey is not the same thing.
Trying to obey on our own sure does point out our need for help and forgiveness.

 

[Fervent]

I'm confused at your question, and think it places us as far too central to the issue. God giving us free will is not about how it impacts us, necessarily. While we can often find the reason for something within our needs, the ultimate question is how God is impacted. So that some may use their free will for their own destruction, God's glory is more thoroughly reflected in a people who love Him not out of obligation or coercion but because He is lovely. So God's glory is more fully reflected in humans with free will then in self-aware programs without true volition.

 

[Clare73]

God gave us free will, but expects us to obey Him in everything and deny ourselves and never follow our hearts because they are evil? Why give us free will at all?

If your heart is evil, you have not been born again.