Walter Scott was born October 31, 1796 in Moffat, Dumfrieshire, Scotland and made his way to America July 7, 1818. An influential leader in the restoration movement during the early 1800’s, he passed away April 23, 1861 during the beginning of the Civil War.
Scott was a powerful evangelist who labored with Alexander Campbell and others as they presented the call to go “back to the Bible.” His biographer, William Baxter documented Scott’s presentation of the Gospel as he went through the countryside preaching in the villages.
Riding into a village near the close of the day, he (Walter Scott) addressed himself to the school children who were returning home from school in such a way that he soon had quite a circle of them gathered round him. He then said to them: “Children, hold up your left hands.” They all did so, anticipating some sport. “Now,” said he, “beginning with your thumb repeat what I say to you: Faith, repentance, baptism, remission of sins, gift of the Holy Spirit – that takes up all your fingers. Now, again: Faith, repentance, baptism, remission of sins, gift of the Holy Spirit. Now, again, faster, altogether: Faith, repentance, baptism, remission of sins, gift of the Holy Spirit” – and thus he continued until they all could repeat it in concert, like a column of the multiplication table. They were all intensely amused, thinking that he was a harmless, crazy man. He then said: “Children, now run home – don’t forget what is on your fingers, and tell your parents that a man will preach the gospel tonight at the school house, as you have it on the five fingers of your hands.” Away went the children in great glee, repeating as they went, “Faith, repentance, baptism, remission of sins. gift of the Holy Spirit” – and soon the story was rehearsed in nearly every house of the village and neighborhood. (The Life of Elder Walter Scott. The Bethany Press, SI. Louis, MO 1926.)
Walter Scott was not the author of the Gospel, remember Jesus saves, through his death, burial, and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-3). Restoration is all about “uncovering” what God has already recorded and bound upon man in the dispensation we are living under (for us today, the New Testament). Scott presented faith to change the heart, repentance to change the life, baptism to change the state, remission of sins to cleanse from guilt, the gift of the Holy Spirit to address the power of sin in our lives and eternal life in heaven as the result of living the faithful Christian life.
Many of us grew up with the steps, hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized. These points are Scriptural and tend to summarize everything from our works of obedience, whereas Scott’s points remind us that God provided the plan of salvation and He is the one who produces remission of sins, gives the gift of the Spirit and grants us eternal life.
On Scott’s headstone at his grave at Mays Lick, Kentucky: ”The words which thou gavest me, I have given unto them” (John 17:8). May we present the gospel to the lost and fulfill His Will through us.
SM
