[Forest Keeper]

Our Lord Jesus completely gave up His will throughout His entire life even onto a horrible death and submitted to God's will. Why would we, who are to emulate Christ, insist on our "free will"? Shouldn't we submit to the Father just as our Lord Jesus did? Didn't He set us an example to go and do likewise?

I think you hit a home run. It has been said that since Jesus was showing His free will to obey, that it means that we are free to exercise our free will accordingly. Thinking of the most basic thing I could, I was reminded of how all of us are instructed by our Lord Jesus to pray to God: THY WILL BE DONE! We are not to pray for God to bless our free will decisions, and we are not to pray for God to lead us in making our free will decisions. We are to pray only for God's will to be done. That is EXACTLY what Jesus did Himself.

[jo kus]

Our Lord Jesus completely gave up His will throughout His entire life even onto a horrible death and submitted to God's will. Why would we, who are to emulate Christ, insist on our "free will"? Shouldn't we submit to the Father just as our Lord Jesus did? Didn't He set us an example to go and do likewise?

Of course we pray for God's will to be done. But how meritorious is doing something that we have no choice but to comply with? Something is worthwhile to the Father when it is GIVEN UP WILLINGLY! This is a great part of why Christ was so highly exalted. No one had the power to take His life from Him - He laid it down FREELY! And as such, the Church Fathers note this, as well. Free will is MEANT to be given as part of our response of love to God. Without free will, a choice freely made, what exactly are we sacrificing, giving up?

Regards