The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-10-10
DECLARATION
OF PENT|COST
REV. THos. LENNox DELIVERED
THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF
SERMONS SUNDAY EVENING AT
FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

At the First Christian church Sun
day evening Rev. Thos. Lennox de-
livered the first Of series If sermons,
his subject being THE Declaration of
Pentecost." He said in part:
1T is our purpose tonight to lead
you in the study of one of the greatest
events in the history of the christian
religion-the significance of Pentecost.
Pentecost has some big declaration
from God for the church of Christ and
a lost world. To see these declara-
tons, and apprehend their place and
meaning in the plan of human re-
demption, is a task of great moment
as related to the interest of the re-
Egion of Jesus Christ.
Il. I believe that in the events
Of Pentecost we have the keys to
the Christian institution. On that day,
the apostle Peter made his first use OF
the keys of the kingdom of heaven
This being true, it must follow that
a failure to see the true meaning Of
Pentecost will lead men into all man
ner of error respecting the doctrine
and faith of primatice Christianity.
When we come to see that Pentecost
marked new beginning-the begin
ming of a new dispensation in Gods
purposes and plans of religion-then
we viii have placed ourselves in po-
sition to understand and read Alright
the declaration of this marvellous day.
In the light of these things, we af-
firm that: rated the giving of the low
on Sinai. it was fitting that it should
give place on that day to the reign
of grace and truth under our Lord
Jesus Christ. Under that law, 1t was
written that by works of the Law no
flesh could be justified; but the strong
son of God had so fulfilled it's de-
mands that he could climb up the
heights of Calvary and nail 1t to the
cross. On the evening Of that Friday
as there bore his bleeding body to the
tomb, his cricified hand clutched, as a
trophy of his triumph on the field of
divine glory, the Cancelled curse of
ruined race-'the handwriting that
was against us'-the law. Would you
put your neck again into that old
yoke of death? Thank God for the
victory Of grace over the law and
for the dawn of the day of the liberty
of the sons of God.
Christ Formally Justified.
"3. On Pentecost, Christ was for
mally justified before his crucifers in
Jerusalem. Roman and Jewish courts
numbered him with the transgressors
in his death. Not being a Roman cit
izen, he could not appeal unto Caesar
as did Paul; but as the first citizen
of heaven and earth he made his ap-
thaean grave he swept with angelic
cohorts the everlasting gates of the
eternal city. And when the day of
Pentecost was fully come God sent
his holy Spirit to Jerusalem saying,
Let all the house Of Israel know as
suredly. that God hath made that same
Jesus, whom We have crucifed, both
Lord and Christ The highest court
the supreme court of the universe
the tribunal of God reversed the de-
cree Of the courts OF men. and on
Pentecost Jehovah handed down his
decision Of his Messianic justification.
Thank God for that declaration. King
Jesus reigns up yonder tonight on
that throne made whittier before all
the eyes of the universe. because he
has touched IT with a crucified hand.
and made the reconciliation of the
earth, his footstool, the symbol of
cross.
"a. On Pentecost the hrst complete
gospel sermon was preached. Many
sermons had been preached before.
John had thrilled all Israel with his
rugged eloquence and a greater than
John had delivered sermontc master
piece of the ages from his mountain
pulpit; but 1t remained for the Cali
leian fisherman to proclaim to the
world its first sermon Of the perfected
gospel. 1t was a distinct step for
have a new theme, a new message,
new power and a new life to set be-
fore men. That new theme was the
risen and reigning Christ whom we
have crucifed. Ella Wheeler Wilcox,
in her famous poem on The Radiant
Christ says:
'The mortal sorrow of the Nazarine
too long has been faiths symbol and
its sign.
Too long a dying savior has suffered.
Give us the glowing emblems which
shall mean:
Mankind awakened to the self divine
the living presence of the radiant
Christ.
Release the suffering Savior from the
cross, and give the waiting world its
radiant God
TT isn't necessary for me to tell
you that l do not like that kind OF
poetry. am surprised that Ella