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"God doesn't always get what he wants." ~~ Soothing Dave

Do you believe this, or don't you?

I believe that the question of free will versus determinism is larger than our ability to understand.

That said, we must operate in the realm of free will. We have choices and we will be held responsible for them. In that fashion we must operate under the assumption that what we choose matters and that it can be opposite than God's will for us.

In this way, and this is what I meant way back when, God does not always get what He wants.

On a higher level, discussing aspects of creation and how God made the world to be, we have a different scenario. But in practical terms as a Christian living day-to-day, it is simply dangerous and preposterous to posit a world in which there is nothign we can do that will displease God, or which is not what God wants of us. How is sin possible if we are all just doing what God wants?

But if I have only quoted your own words back to you (and Dave.. we know I have) -- it's not MY fault that your ashamed of your own beliefs, and don't want them brought up in discussion.

Who said I am ashamed? My beliefs do not always serve as a good bumper sticker, and can be taken out of context and misunderstood. Necessitating long boring elaborations. But in this case, it's just irrelevant to bring up into a conversation where you won't even address the very first thing I said, that "the works of the law" means something specific.

I believe that the question of free will versus determinism is larger than our ability to understand. That said, we must operate in the realm of free will. We have choices and we will be held responsible for them. In that fashion we must operate under the assumption that what we choose matters and that it can be opposite than God's will for us. In this way, and this is what I meant way back when, God does not always get what He wants. On a higher level, discussing aspects of creation and how God made the world to be, we have a different scenario. But in practical terms as a Christian living day-to-day, it is simply dangerous and preposterous to posit a world in which there is nothign we can do that will displease God, or which is not what God wants of us. How is sin possible if we are all just doing what God wants?

Did God harden Pharoah's heart against the Hebrews? (Yes, or No?)
Was it a Sin for Pharoah to deny the Hebrews their freedom? (Yes, or No?)

Yes, you said "the works of the law" are the Old Covenant Law!

I'm using your own definition, yet every time I bring up an example of Old Covenant Law (like every one of the five I have posted above), your response boils down to "Well, actually, those Works of the Old Covenant Law do Justify" (this I know, for the Council of Trent tells me so?)... never mind that Paul says, the Works of the Law don't Justify.