Thursday, 7th July, 1960.
Late that night we went home with Bro. Richard Stone where we were to stay for the night.
Friday, 8th July, 1960
There was not so much luxury about the Stone's home. The three of us were placed in a small bedroom that contrasted somewhat with the lavish conditions we were beginning to accept as a due part of life!
Next morning we met Sis. Stone, whom we had not seen the night before. We soon put her at her ease, and with the boys helping in the kitchen, and brewing the tea, we all felt comfortable with each other.
Bro. Stone had taken the day off in order to have a chat. He tackled me upon the sacrifice of Christ. He takes the stand adopted by the late Bro. Fry that Christ died only for himself in the sense that the sins of his fellows were imputed to him. I told him, as is a fact, that his teaching would be looked upon as clean-flesh in Australia. He was shocked at this. I assured him that it was so, and then proceeded to question him as to why the altar had to be cleansed by blood before it could be used, why the tabernacle, and holy vessels, had so to be cleansed? These were holy things, designed only for worship, yet accounted as unclean, and unfit for proper use until ceremoniously cleansed. He found it difficult to answer my questions, and I pointed out that these things had been made up by a sinful people, and that defilement was contagious. Therefore, though having committed no actual sin, they were accounted unclean because of their contact and association with that which is unclean. So with the Lord Jesus. He had inherited the results of sin, though himself was innocent of sin. Those results are defiling, and from these he had to be cleansed. This could only be done through death - by destroying the defilement he had inherited. His resurrection was to a new way of life, free from all defilement; therefore death was absolutely necessary. He had to die for himself, and by his own redemption, he redeemed those "in him." Only those "in him" can be redeemed, and as we are "in him" surely the defilement of the multitudinous Christ is very real.
As we discussed together the beautiful doctrines associated with the atonement, Bro. Richard became more at ease, and he entered freely into our discourse. When he found that we were prepared to openly speak concerning these matters without condemning him or charging him with "clean flesh," he entered more fully into them, and a most interesting and helpful conversation followed. He took many notes upon the points we raised.