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.
Perhaps... but I do hold that Scripture is the sole and final authority in all matters of faith and practice. Thus, I am confident that sound exegesis can defend the biblical doctrine of Original Sin vs. what the Roman State Church and Greek/Russian Orthodox denominations believe.
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.
I'm not at all surprised you aren't hearing anything even remotely close to what Ralph Erksine preached, even in the OPC. I am very familiar with the OPC and even studied at WTS (Philly), albeit years ago when even then the seeds of destruction had already been sown. It is a very sad situation to see a once solidly biblical denomination die. But this really isn't unusual. When I began my trek at WTS, R.C. Sproul, Sr. gave the commencement address and stated that no Protestant seminary had ever lasted more than 50 years before it started going 'downhill'. That year WTS was celebrating its "Jubilee Year" (50th anniversary) from its founding in 1929. Sproul was correct....
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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.
Can I also
assume that you are also leaning toward the other doctrines of Eastern Orthodoxy which rest on their doctrine of "Ancestral Sin", e.g., a total denial of vicarious, substitutionary penal atonement? And, that no one is born under God's judgment until they actually commit sin? And that justification is not a one-time declaration of God upon a sinner at the moment that true saving faith rests upon Christ but rather a life-long journey of doing good, etc.??
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'll certainly grant you that "Ancestral Sin" may seem more 'logical' to you, but for me I can find no biblical support for it whatsoever and that is what is most salient.
I'm not looking to argue/debate. Thank you for listening.
1. I am not looking to debate either for I think in this case it would not be productive given what you have said of yourself in this matter.
2. There is no charge for my listening.
3. I'm just curious if you have ever read John Murray's book,
The Imputation of Adam's Sin? I would highly recommend that you do if you haven't. The late professor's grasp of the Bible's teachings and the use of sound logic is extraordinary. It's unfortunate that there are few, if any men teaching today who are of the same caliber and godliness. The same could be said of the late Dr. John Gerstner. He is another man of God who was mightily gifted in the Scriptures as well given a life that was an expression of true godliness.
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