The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-17
CONIENTTON SERMON
BY REV. DIR. DICKINSON
Birmingham Minister breaches Before Great
ence on The Religion Of the
Risen Lord"

The annual sermon delivered before
the convention by Rev. Dr. A. j. Dick
inson. OF Birmingham. Ala, was on
the subject THE Religion Of the
from the twentieth chapter Of John,
twenty-first and twenty-second verses.
DR.. Dickinson said in part:
DR.. Dickinson's theme was "rhe
Religion Of the Risen Lord" His text
was taken from the twentieth chapter
of John, twenty-first and twenty
second verses DR.. Dickinson said in
part:
Probably never in It's history has the
church met more perplexing situation
than that which faced 1t on the first
Lords Day. Tho empty tomb, the an
gelic annunciatlon OF his resurrection,
the ephiphanies of the Lord, tho mes
sages reminding them Of tho engage
lnent to meet Him In Calico, amaze
them; and they wonder what 1t all can
mean. New matters, which we do not
as yet understand In their practical re-
lations to life, 1t Is difficult to believe.
Hence, some thought the reports were
but idle tales but others took them
more seriously; and there arose COM
muning and questioning among them
concerning those things which had
| happened which has never ceased unto
this day. Tho day wears away, some
believing and some dlsbelieving, but
neither knowing quite what to make
of tho situation. In the afternoon Peter
announces that he hns seen the Lord,
and 1t settles all doubt as to the fact
OF His resurrection. But what does
1t nll mean, and how shall they bear
themselves towards their risen Lord?
In tho evening Cleopas and his COM
panion return from their journey to
| Emmaeus, and are greeted with the
| glad acclaim "The Lord Is risen In
1 deed, and hath appeared unto Simon.
Cleopas rchearses to them how Jesus
mot them in tho way as they COM
muned and questioned concerning the
| life, death and resurrection OF Jesus of
Nazareth, and, In answer to his own
! question as to what sort OF things
they WERE" had opened to them In all
1 tho Scriptures that 1t behooved the
i Messiah to suffer these things and
enter into His glory; and how their
4 hearts burned within them under the
1 new appreciation OF this Messianic in
4 tcrpretation Of the law and tho pro-
.|phets: and how Ho was known to them
lin the breaking Of bread, and vanished
out OF their sight. So their faith IN
4 Him as Messiah revives, and their hope
l that It Is He who should redeem Israel
springs up again. But what does II
mean that the Messiah is risen from
i the dead? rs they communed aHe
i questioned about this, Jesus came and
stood in their. midst and said, "Good
a evening" They are terrified and NJ
frighted, and supposed that they befelt
spirit. He hnstens to reassure then
by showing them Ills hands and III.
side. Having thus identified Himself
shout of Joy goes the rounds; ant
He takes fresh start, greeting then
again, Good evening; as tho Fnthe
Ihath sent Nc, even SO send you.
n land when He had said this Ho breathot
on them, and saith unto thom, "Recelv
Il 70 tho Holy Spirit; whose soever sin
We forgive. they are forgiven unit
them; whose soever sins We retain, the.
slare retained" Thus lie makes nnsWe
to their communings and questioningf
and leaves them to weigh the words
tho risen Messiah; md the day ende
that gave to tho world the religion 9
tho risen Lord, s.,
n II Israel had taken hold OF the tfu
3 Mcssnnic ideal and glyen her ne