Yes Pilgrim, you understand me. I just want to say that I expect we could both quote each other, bible verses, doctrines; each of us justifying our case, to no end.

To save us time, I admit that I am being led away from the Reformed and Catholic definition of original sin. But the thing is, I love the OPC church I'm going to... and Erskine's is not the message I'm hearing. Perhaps it's a case of emphasis. No, one cannot take one scripture verse and see the whole picture, but I would never put an Erskine on my wall.

Last Sunday the pastor spoke of the "Mercy Seat"... speaking of God's Mercy, not wrath.

I'm not a universalist, but indeed I'm leaning to what I understand is a more scriptural and logical understanding of original sin; and that would be more in keeping with Eastern Orthodoxy. I don't know of the influence/lack of influence of the Eastern Orthodox church upon the Reformers, but speaking to the belief that the Holy Spirit has been active throughout Church history, including the Eastern church, long before Augustine, held a different concept of original sin.

You are probably well informed of the Eastern interpretation of "ancestral sin". My conviction, to date, is that the Eastern Orthodox understanding of original/ancestral sin is more logical than the Reformed position.

I'm not looking to argue/debate. Thank you for listening.