The Knowable God pt. 2: The Son 1-4 May 2019
Do you know what God is like? Study Jesus. This is the necessary implication of the Gospel. The Gospel declares the superiority and finality of God's self-disclosure in His Son (Heb 1.1-2). From the prophets who taught and spoke of Him, to His cross and further in the ministry of His apostles, Jesus has exegeted the Father, giving us the knowledge of God.
'The nature of Jesus is the nature of God' (Murray Harris)
Nothing is more important than what a person believes about Jesus Christ. To understand Christ correctly is to understand the very heart of God, Scripture, and the gospel.
For instance John Stott said, 'Understanding the biblical language regarding the death of Christ requires correct conclusions regarding the person of Christ. The core teaching of penal substitution is rooted in the proper identity of Christ'.
We can't afford to be Christians without knowing Jesus in truth and Spirit.
For every Christian, ministry, church, and leader, therefore, the study of Christ is both a duty and privilege, absolutely necessary in handling God's word faithfully. Jesus himself understood and taught that both Scripture and God's plan of salvation are Christocentric.
The knowledge of Christ is therefore also indispensable for the proper reading and interpretation of Scripture, and the Fellowship is excited to finally dedicate a Thinking Theologically Conference (TTC) to studying the person of Christ. As the Gospel Growth Fellowship is concerned with Christians in the Klang Valley knowing how to read the Bible centered around Christ (biblical theology), and thinking theologically so we can do faithful ministry in Christ's church, this year's TTC on Christ aims to help Malaysian Christians build up the church in this way.
Additionally, TTC is as always an exercise in learning the skills critical for thinking theologically. As Herman Bavinck has put it: 'The doctrine of Christ is not the starting point, but it certainly is the central point of the whole system of dogmatics.' At the centre of all theological systematics and reflection is Christ, so your time at TTC should lead directly to how we think and do ministry.
At TTC, we will be able to work on this doctrine by working together in:
- Seminars with experienced seminar leaders to build our understanding.
- A huge number of electives to explore topics that will help us to think theologically.
- Small group bible studies to get close to the text.
- Talks to keep us on track.
- Rest time to recharge and think clearly.
- The largest gathering of Klang Valley Christians to think theologically and do ministry.
We can all agree that a Christian is by definition someone who has followed Christ, but it is not true to say that every Christian has a correct Christology. Every pastor, church leader and small group leader is rightly concerned that all of Jesus' disciples know and confess Christ in truth. This second TTC in the series on the Knowledge of God is just what is needed.
'All of our efforts at theology ultimately rise and fall with Christ alone.' (Stephen Wellum)
Rev. Robin Gan
- Founder, Gospel Growth Fellowship (2006)
- Founding Elder, Christ Evangelical Reformed Church (2008-Present)
- Deacon, Anglican Diocese of Malaysia (2006-08)
- Curate, St. Andrew’s Cathedral (2005)
- Curate, St. Paul’s Kogarah (2004)
- Curate, FOCUS UNSW (2002-03)
- Bachelor of Divinity & Diploma of Ministry, Moore Theological College (2002-05)
- Ministry Training Strategy under Philip Jensen (2000-01)
- Regional Marketing for Sony Asia Pacific (1997-99)
- Youth and University Work Leader in Adam Road Presbyterian Singapore (1997-99)
- Bachelor of Commerce, UNSW Australia (1996)
Since 1997, Robin Gan has been ministering to students and adults from a wide variety of churches. His concern is for the gospel to grow churches in Malaysia through faithful ministry of the Word of God. To that end, he founded the Gospel Growth Fellowship. He also planted and currently pastors Christ Evangelical Reformed Church with the goal of raising a new generation of Christians who are committed to Jesus' mission.
- The Historical Jesus
- Athanasius
- Islam on Jesus
- Jesus compared to Buddha
- Jesus in Roman Catholicism
- Jesus as a Hindu God
- Charismatic Jesus
- The liberal Jesus
- How to Talk to Youth about Jesus
- How to Explain the Person of Christ to Kids
- Jesus in Worship
- Jesus and Prosperity
- Gentle Jesus Meek and Mild
- Jesus the Revolutionary
- Jesus in China
- The Struggle to Understand Jesus' Nature
- The Different Views of the Atonement
- The Miracles of Jesus vs Science
- Jesus and Ministry