The Gospel Restored

Posted by on April 20, 2008 under Sermons

Please ask Chris Benjamin for permission before reproducing
any of the images, graphics, or charts on this page.

Walter Scott (1796 – 1861)

  • Born in Scotland
  • Educated at University of Edinburgh
  • Arrived in Pittsburgh in 1818
  • Met Alexander Campbell in 1821
  • Appointed evangelist by Mahoning Baptist Association in 1827
  • 1,000 baptisms in his first year

The New Evangelism

  • “What must I do to be saved?”
  • Scott’s answer was found in “the ancient gospel.”
  • He later wrote the book, The Gospel Restored.


Familiar 20th Century Version

Walter Scott’s Version

The Gospel Restored

  • Humans Do Three Things:
    – Faith
    – Repentance
    – Baptism
      
  • God Has Three Promises:
    – Forgiveness of Sins
    – Gift of the Holy Spirit
    – Eternal Life

The Golden Oracle

  • What kept the exercise from becoming a legalistic formula?
  • Scott emphasized that the central teaching of the gospel was “Jesus is the Christ.”
  • For Scott, Restoration was centered on Christ for the purpose of unity.

A Frontier Success Story

  • Calvinism – Salvation only for predestined
  • At Calvinistic revivals people sought assurance on the mourner’s bench
  • Scott taught salvation was for any who would believe, repent, and be baptized
  • Independent frontier people received it with joy!

The Significance of Walter Scott

  • “The Plan”
    • The step formula
    • The boldness and confidence
  • Growth of the movement
    • Especially on the frontier
  • Emphasis on Christ and the Gospel
    • The Golden Oracle