OK. That is absolutely consistent with what you have said before, I agree.
Since we can do NOTHING to achieve heaven by ourselves, we are born in a state where we cannot achieve heaven - which many will say is a state of sin. It is not personal sin, but it is sin just the same, because anything without God is sin.
If I understand your use of the phrase "personal sin" correctly, I'd say we're singing the same tune.
We CAN choose good, sometimes, as God has placed His Law into all men's hearts - with sufficient grace to obey it. Most men, though, without knowledge of Christ, will not obey this law.
Before I even attempt a guess ---- His Law in our hearts?
Scripture points to also being sorry for involuntary or unknown sins. We are urged to examine ourselves, but to also be sorry for any ways in which we offended God, intentionally or not.
That's a good point. I know for sure this idea is in the OT. Is it also in the NT?
God bless.
God has placed His "law" in our hearts, meaning that we naturally know (without knowledge of the Mosaic Law) that it is wrong to kill or steal someone's wife, or dishonor their parents. It is "implanted" within them. We just "know" it's wrong. Unfortunately, some people disobey this law written on their hearts.
Regards