R. MOODY: Christ says, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” What is it to be converted?
Mr. Radstock: To be “converted” is to turn to God, who is the only one that can save. We cannot save ourselves even by our religion. Therefore, in order to salvation we must turn to God, who alone has the grace, the wisdom, and the power to save.
Mr. M.—What is it to be born of the Spirit?
Mr. R.—Man, by nature, cannot enter into the thoughts of God. He cannot hold communion with God until he has a new nature. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: he has no capacity until he has the new life which God will give him by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Mr. M.—Can he get that to-day if he repents?
Mr. R.—Yes. Repentance means a change of mind—a turning away from his own thoughts to hear the voice and the message of God. If we listen to the voice of God and confess our sins, God is “faithful and just to forgive us our sins.”
Mr. M.—To whom are we to confess our sins?
Mr. R.—When the light of God comes in, we see that we are guilty before him; then we are constrained to go and lay our case before Him. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us.
Mr. M.—There is a passage that says the Lord Jesus Christ bear our sins. In what sense did He bear our sins.
Mr. R.—The Lord Jesus Christ had really laid to His charge sins which He had never committed. He was punished as if He had been the sinner. Therefore on the cross He cried out, “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” God was dealing with Jesus as if He had really been the guilty one.