In other words, could Jesus have used reason and given the facts as they were know at the time and concluded that he didn't believe in God (like modern atheists have done), or was he programmed to automatically believe in God because he was the His son?
2007-08-25 03:28:32 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, he was free to choose, that's what makes the sacrifice so profound.
And do you automatically believe everything your father tells you?
You might argue that this was a different situation, but, no, it's not really
2007-08-25 03:33:21 · answer #1 · answered by Kathi 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Jesus was not just God's Son, He was God (as part of the Holy Trinity).
However, when He became a man for a time, He submitted to some of the limitations of humanity, one of these being self-awareness, the Church fathers teach us.
That means that as a tiny infant, even though He was God, Jesus did not "know" it yet. This was gradually revealed to Him, as we see at age 12 He tells His mother "I must be about my Father's business." This is the first time He shows awareness of His divinity.
And yes, Jesus does have a will, but it is a perfect will, since God is perfect and Jesus is God. Therefore, Jesus can never choose evil or believe what is false (i.e. that God does not exist).
2007-08-25 10:33:14 · answer #2 · answered by Veritas 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
And they came to a country place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit down here, while I pray." And he took with him Peter and James and John, and he began to feel dread and to be exceedingly troubled. And he said to them, "My soul is sad, even unto death. Wait here and watch….Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Yes, Jesus had free will, at least in the same way humans do, that is why he could be afraid and doubt.
Other great prophets rebelled against God as well, so maybe Jesus could have -- I think under Christian theology Christ was so perfect, it was inconceivable that he would, though.
2007-08-25 10:38:46 · answer #3 · answered by Daniel 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What a foolish question. Jesus WAS God, come to earth in the flesh. Free will means so much more than belief in God.
Yes. Jesus had free will. He even prayed that the cup pass from His lips, if that were possible, meaning that as a man, he was subject to the weaknesses of the flesh, as all men are, but He overcame this, and went to the cross, as was God's will.
2007-08-25 10:36:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
He was given "Free Will" and "Free Thought" as anyone else that has been created. Satan became Satan out of his own free will. Satan knew that Jesus had the same free will; otherwise, he would not even have tried to tempt Jesus after he was weak and hungry and the end of his forty days of fasting.
2007-08-25 10:36:07 · answer #5 · answered by Aeon Enigma 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If Jesus did not have free will then he could not have been a sacrifice for our sins or for that matter even please GOD. It would of been real hard for Jesus to not believe in himself. He spent a lot of time trying to convence others that he was really human. That is when he refers to himself as "The son of man."
2007-08-25 10:30:55 · answer #6 · answered by Bye Bye 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That would have been God that gave us "Free Will and Free Thought"
Jesus just showed how to use it wisely
Don't worry they crucified him for doing it and just said he died for our sins to make us feel better
People only fear what they don't understand to live in fear is to be control
Love & Blessings
Milly
2007-08-25 10:35:01 · answer #7 · answered by milly_1963 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
are you automatically programmed to believe in YOUR father?
2007-08-25 10:32:26 · answer #8 · answered by spike missing debra m 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Why would he be our saviour unless he willingly gave himself up on the cross.
2007-08-25 10:32:48 · answer #9 · answered by Monkeymoo 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋