The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-05-24

l-l Inc Iltt OF the SDlTlt. .....s. 49,
2 Effect on c.ty's MultituI>s.......V-. OLD
8. Peters Sermon.
ts) Prophecy FULFILLED H-2l
(b) Jesus the Christ..-.-....vs. 2-Sb
co The call 10 Repentance.....vs. 3-4y
L. A Multitude Baptized ...........Vs 4-f'
The Gift Of the Spirit Pentecost
was The fiftieth day after the passover
and one of the three great feasts OF
the Jews. II has been remarked that
a Jewish tradition made Pentecost
the anniversary of the giving OF the
law from Mount Sinai. 1t may well
have been that upon the anniversary
Of the revelation that marked the be-
ginning of the Old Testament dispen-
sation. the gift Of the Holy Spirit
should mark the beginning Of a new
dispensation. No longer is it the cd
Mosaic law. but the love Of Christ,
that constraineth us.
II is TO he noted that the descent OF
the Spirit Was made manifest in three
significant symbols. In the Bible the
Spirit is likened 10 three things with
out which life would be impossible on
earth: air Tor wind). fire and water.
The first two of these are mentioned
in our text. The Spirit is like the wind
because il is invisible and powerful,
vet gentle and delicate. II is the
breath of life to all things living. 1t Is
like fire in that it is purifying and gives
comfort and light. Fire worship Is one
of the religions OF the east. being con-
sidered the source of all life. Water
Is not mentioned in the passage. but
~ -. a a.. c...ts = f+1... nx-~
bolized in the power Ito speak with
other tongues representing the chief
method of spreading the truths of the
Gospel and its universality. All peo-
pies are'to hear it. all peoples, of what
ever nationality. Of whatever age, OF
whatever experiences. can understand
il. each in their own tongue.
Effect On the Citv's M~ultitudes.-
Such great power became Immediately
manifest not only among tire few. but
among the many. Strangers in Jeru-
salem from far-away nations were
surprised to hear themselves addressed
In their own language. The Jews. not
understanding any but their W Ian
guage and seeing the commotion
caused among the foreigners as well
as their wv people. accused the apos-
ties Of being drunk with wine.
Peters Sermon.~Ihe charge Of
drunkenness was out Of all keeping
with the facts of the case. Drunken
ness stood then rs il stands now for
RIGHTEOUSNESS. The descent Of the
Holy Spirit meant directly the oppo-
site; for il came not upon The s~elf-in-
dulgent. but upon those who submit
led themselves TO the Divine law of
love. The Bible speaks Of men pos
sessed Of demons; maniacs they
were, defying all law, human or Di-
vine. So we have come nov TO speak
Of those upon whom the Spirit OF
Christ has come as possessed" OF the
Holy Spirit. Demoniacs and Chris.
tians (using both terms in their
strict and deriyative as opposed
to their acquired meanings) are al
the very opposite spiritual extremes
Peter became the spokesman Of the
followers OF Jesus and explained to
the multitude that had gathered ~
Row the phenomenon was the full
filing Of prophecies ell the Jews had
long accepted as messages from
God: (2) that il was another proof oil
the Messiahship Of the Jesus they
had cruciied; and CD that salvation
should thenceforth come only through
faith in the risen Christ.
A Multitude Baptized.-The imme
date effect Of this sermon Greatly the
effect Of the ~outpouring Of the Holy
Spirit) was the inquiring OF a great
multitude Of the way Of salvation
Peter says: Repent and be baptized
This was the beginning OF the Chris
tian church. for thus il showed IT.
power to attract TO itself the people
About 1900 were baptized that very
day, land fear came upon every soul
and many wonders and signs we're don'
by the apostles"