Thursday night, March 7, 2013 blog entry

March this year is a chance to reflect on the Resurrection. Sunday, we talked about Peter and his transformation by Jesus. Real Hope, we said, comes when we finally love Jesus more than life, more than being cool, more than our fear of death. Next Sunday, we will build on that hope, that Real Hope, and see that Real life, daily walking with Christ is also more than possible through Christ! Because HE died and lives again, we can live real life. 

Last night i was emotionally involved as I wrote to you about my friend as I think about his faithfulness through personal loss. Tonight i want to introduce you to another friend, David Braden. He has lived real life through the death of his wife, and has remained faithful to Christ. I asked David to share a few thought with you about one of my favorite restoration figures, Walter Scott. Here is a small portion of his compilation: 

"Walter Scott (1796-1861) was the great evangelist of the early Restoration Movement.  Scott is believed to have baptized over thirty thousand people during his lifetime.  He is probably responsible for more people being baptized than any person in the history of America.  ... Scott’s method of preaching included what he referred to as the “Ancient Gospel.”  When he was about to preach in a town, he would walk among the children and teach them on their fingers his easy way to remember the Gospel. … In a nutshell the Ancient Gospel was according to Scott, arranged into Six Items:

Faith
Repentance
Baptism

Remission of Sins
Gift of the Holy Spirit
Eternal Life

This two-fold division is important. Scott was immensely successful. … They could simply believe the message of faith in Scott's preaching and respond as those of the first century had done.
As with all schemes however change often takes place over the course of history. Scott's formulation never loses sight that Christ is the object of our faith, adoration and love. Scott's formulation tells what God has done, is doing and will do in the future. We have responded in Faith to the Golden Oracle. We repent of our sin to God. We in our Faith are baptized in the name of the Messiah. As a result God forgives our sin. God grants the gift of himself in the person of the Holy Spirit. … Perhaps we should rethink our position on the “steps” of salvation and renew again the Ancient Gospel on the basis of Jesus Christ and him crucified."

I can email you the rest of the article, if you wish, or give you a printed copy if you prefer,,. I wanted to put the spotlight on my friend David tonight for a couple of reasons. First, I was glad to learn about this man, Walter Scott as a resource for helping all the "branches" of the restoration movement to move forward to greater clarity and continued biblical purity. Second, I was glad to let you know that in spite of the loss of his wife to death, David has been and is an inspiration as a dad, a Christian, and a friend.

God bless you tonight, dear friends. It is a wonderful thing to know folks who live real life because they know the Real LORD, who came to life for you and me! I hope this month will be a great one for all who truly love our Risen LORD!
big marv