In The Spirit of the Gospel, Watchman Nee penned, “There are two different approaches in the preaching of the gospel” (and what I call either the factual or practical model):
• “Tell the sinners how the work of the Lord Jesus has satisfied God’s demand. The purpose of such preaching of the gospel is to make known to sinners the nature of the gospel [factual].
• And lead the sinners to the place where the Holy Spirit is able to apply the work of Christ upon them. Such preaching of the gospel is for acceptance, not for understanding [practical].”
What is the gospel? The gospel—good news—is that we can be saved from our sins. It is the good news that we can be delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of the Father’s beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (see Colossians 1:13-14 ESV).
Factually, these are the essential points to the gospel:
• Jesus Christ is the Son of God
• His genuine humanity as the Son of Man
• His death for our sins
• His burial
• His resurrection
• His subsequent appearances
• His future coming in judgment
In reality, the gospel is Jesus Christ, the One who came to seek and to save the lost.
Not only did Jesus preach the gospel, He “became” the gospel; and His life is the model in proclaiming it—whether teaching the gospel factually or sharing it practically for acceptance.
To effectively work within the gospel paradigm, we must strive to be like Jesus.
As Jesus was, we must be emptied of self, anointed of the Spirit, and shrouded in love.
It is then we can see the lost as sheep, helpless and harassed, and who are without a shepherd.
That is the gospel modeled; that is the gospel paradigm.
