Christians: What is the importance/meaning of free will?

You ask a lot of questions, but I think I will start with the last one: "Is it even possible that our tradition has been misguided?"

Yes! I believe that with all my heart.

We are talking about the next life, the resurrection. Will they have free will? Yes. Consider the next two scriptures:

Act_3:23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

Act_7:37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.

The application of these scriptures is in the Kingdom on earth. (The thousand year reign of Jesus and his Bride over the world of mankind) 1 Tim 2:5,6 talk about Jesus being a Mediator between God and Man--this is future, as he is our advocate which is a very different function, because we have a standing before God, the world does not.

Yes, God loves the world, but when a person becomes sin, God cannot look upon him (which is why He turned His back on Jesus on the cross for that moment). Hate is not a sin. We are told to love righteousness and HATE iniquity (it is not love less). When a person becomes inseparable from their sin--when their consciences are seared with a hot iron and immovable from the sin, God's love no longer applies, and neither should ours, if we "have iniquity". We have to have that God-like character, to recognize that this person is unrecoverable and the second death is where they belong.

Just as Aaron was told not to mourn the death of his sons for what they had done, we will not mourn someone's destruction who is so opposed to God and righteousness.

They will neither hurt nor destroy in my holy mountain (kingdom). It will not be tolerated, but that doesn't mean it won't be attempted. All of mankind will be given the opportunity to walk up the highway of holiness (notice now only the narrow way, and broad road to destruction are open). This is the job of the faithful Christian in the next age, to put into action all the lessons they learned while being trained for that position on how to help the world of mankind overcome sin and self. That is the purpose of the reign, but we are told that not all will make it. Jesus will rule with a rod of iron (inflexible), there would be no need of it if the world did not have free will.

The world is not on trial now (judgement begins with the house of the Lord--thats us,and Christendom), they will be given every opportunity in the kingdom to get back what Adam lost. (Restitution). They will be put on trail as Adam was at the end of the thousand years (little season). They will be perfect then and given the opportunity to chose life.

I was once underneath the affect that the rationale Christians "bash" confession is considering that you're asking forgiveness from a clergyman, now not God. Some Christians do not appreciate pergatory considering that it is taught as symbolism within the Bible. There is not any "unfastened" passport. All have got to confess in Christ, be baptized and witness. However, considering that we ALL sin, a Christian might appreciate this sin and ask forgiveness. There is a change among intentional sin and unintended. Intentional is whilst you plan on going out and getting inebriated, stealing, and so forth. Unintentional is like whilst you accidently pass judgement on anyone with out understanding. As lengthy as it is identified after which repented (or if it is a steady obstacle, to get support), Jesus will forgive at any time when. If you are now not sorry for the sin and do not repent, there is also dire penalties. Hope this is helping!

If you're supporting universalism then you're utterly wrong.

Edit: Okay, then, explain what you make of these Scriptures:

Matthew 10:28 "Don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell."

Hebrews 10:31 "It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

Hebrews 12:29 "For our God is a devouring fire."

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."

Revelation 20:10 "Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." (Remember that the beast and false prophet are human)

Revelation 20:15 "And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire."

Revelation 21:8 "But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

well eric clapton said it best, there truly are no tears in heaven and only a very few will be there anyway. i do not believe in hell either just sleep in death where the bible states the thoughts do perish. i have thought out your scenario above on occassion and this is how i roll:

it clearly states in revelation 21:4, and he will wipe out every tear from their eyes and death will be no more neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore the former things have passed away. it is far simpler and rational than your conclusion (no offense). as a human you are using your human intellect to try to explain Gods' supreme power of reasoning and we simply do not have the powers of reasoning that God has.

'Even in the highest ages there are rogues and decoits. This is the level of being that allows for every level of manifestation from Light to darkness, Innocence to evil.

But it is also the level at which the ego/mind cannot discover Truth but attempts to without end. Still the mind and still the tongue and in the silence know the answers to all that confounds you. But otherwise you will never be satisfied attempting to know what the ego/mind cannot know.

Namaste'

How does a human have "free will" if the God thingy knows everything that person will ever do, and has planned accordingly?

It means we have the power and freedom to effect/change our own lives through our choices and also decide our future and pick our destiny.

it means we have a choice

God is "fictitious"