Can we have free will without temptation?

If we've been programmed from the beginning it shouldn't make any difference. If you believe that, then why would the prodigal son take off to live with the pigs? Temptation seems to always start off with selling us a thought of some grand scheme. Of course then you can also have doom by the temptation to do nothing and stay in complacency and thus become as the second prodigal son with no need to return or remedy, just jealousy and resentment.

Free will and temptation are biblical themes.

But Paul in his writings to the believers in Ephesus while he was under house arrest reminds them (and us) that those who received the greatest gift ever given, as part of a larger body of the Lord, should give others... by the supernatural power within them....
the gift of kindness, compassion, and forgiveness.

Let's start there.
Forgiveness being the core.

Blessings,
Mark

Is there an answer to the question in there? lol

God gave us free will.There will always be temptation .

No

That's usually what I ask myself if I read his replies, so I normally skip them.

I remember well the morning I got saved thirty-some years ago. Sitting all by myself, 4:00 or 5:00 o'clock in the morning ready to give up all hope when God was finally merciful to me. I told God I'd never sin again, and I meant it. Bring on the uncircumcised Philistines! God knew I meant it, but He also knew better. I had a mountaintop experience for a while and I basked in it but I couldn't stay there. That was that blush of first love. It eventually becomes trench warfare with the world, the flesh and the Devil.

Any of you guys think being a Christian is for sissies looking for a crutch, I say join the battle and get back to me. You're in for the fight of your life. As believers we have free will and it's constantly tested.

Yep. In the 1st seven words.
If God inspired and wrote it, the answer is yes.
HT, you on that iPhone again?
Enlarge that font brother.
Enlarge that font!

So true Posco, we’ve been somehow sold a bill of lies that if your life is hard just become a Christian and it will be easier...Paul says if Christ didn’t rise from the grave then Christians are to be most pitied of all people on earth. Doesn’t sound like an easy life at all. But worth it

Amen.

I actually think just the opposite.I pity the people who don't believe in God thru our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.If they are right and I'm wrong we both just rot in the ground.But if I'm right and they are wrong they won't be just rotting in the ground.I have nothing to lose.They have everything to loose.Its so sad to me.

Ah, okay.

Guess I should have asked would we need free will if there was no temptation.

So true Posco.
Being a follower of Christ is the hardest thing I've done. Then i got married and became a dad all while following Christ, leading, teaching, protecting my family. That became the hardest thing I've done.
I've been through more trials and tribulations in life since I became a follower of Christ. At times I think it's too much but then God sets my mind that the end is worth it.

Right now I'm in numerous trials tribulations and storms and there seems like there's no light yet. My family and I are being worked and attacked hard in many areas of our lives. It's brutal, scary and at times too much for us, but the end is for His Glory.

Then no we would not need free will with no temptation but there will always be temptation.

1 Corinthians 15:16–19


16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

......
Because if this life is it, and we are called to live not for the moment but for eternity, we have suffered in vain. But if Christ is risen? This earthly life is but a vapor compared to eternity with God.

Can we have free will without temptation?

In order to answer that question I would have to start off with what is your definitions of free will and temptation? (Definitions matter- it’s like asking someone what is a woman? It’s not an easy answer for some people… Lol)

In my opinion free will is the freedom to act on any impulse that we desire- right or wrong.that there is nothing that holds us back. We have the ultimate fredom to choose…

If that is the case then I would say no you cannot have free will without temptation. You could have temptation without free will , you just couldn’t necessarily act on it… IMO

So did Eve have free will before being tempted or did temptation bring the free will?

I think when Christ returns for good and the sanctification of believers is completed and we are in our new glorified bodies, we will have our will perfectly unified with Gods will, there will be no temptation because satan has been crushed for good and we will no longer have a sinful flesh to be tempted.

I think that’s an answer to the original question

Free will I have often heard of, but I have never seen it. I have always met with will, and plenty of it, but it has either been led captive by sin or held in the blessed bonds of grace.
Charles Spurgeon