To start off frree will is needed in order to enter into faith. Before faith comes you have to repent sins and accept Christ as the only way to be saved. Romans 3:21-24 states that righteousness is from God and is given through Christ because all of humanity has fallen short of God's glory and the only way to be justified is by grace through faith in the redemption of God. Ephesians 2:8&9 states that it is by grace through faith that we are saved therefore we cannot do anything to earn it because it is a gift from God. Without God's grace we cannot live life and through his grace we can cling to the cross of Christ and allow him to save us and relinquish our own abilities and thoughts that we could ever do it ourselves.
Free will allows us to be able to start the relationship with God and by faith receive salvation and grace. Without free will we cannot honestly say that we stopped buying into society's belief that we can do everything ourselves. Free will and faith go hand in hand. Free will affords us the ability to make choices and enter into relationships with God and others.
I urge you to read the summed up bible passages in context not just the short few verses.
