God with Us: An Introduction to Adventist Theology

God with us.

They comprise, perhaps, the most profound assembly of three words in any language. They express the inexpressible sum of the Gospel. They describe the absolute foundational idea in the resolution of the great universal conflict between good and evil.

This is a book of theology—an accessible, thoughtful study of the God who is with us. And this is a book particularly of Seventh-day Adventist theology, a system which, by its very name, expresses two of the most profound illustrations of, and yearnings for, God’s presence with us in time (the Sabbath), and in physical reality in the certainty of His soon return (the second Advent).

In this highly readable and deeply thoughtful work, author John C. Peckham frames the matter this way: “The theme of divine presence that is so integral to Adventist theology is itself a central theme of the Bible. Indeed, the matter of God’s presence with us is so prominent in Scripture that some would even identify it as the main theme of Scripture. The story and teachings of Scripture revolve around the matter of divine presence, with God Himself becoming human in Christ—becoming ‘God with us’—standing at the pinnacle of the story of redemption. As we will see, God’s work of redemptions itself is the work of reconciling humans to Himself so that we can be with Him again in the special ways He intended from the beginning, temporarily ruptured by the entrance of evil.”

God with Us: An Introduction to Adventist Theology presents each element of foundational Seventh-day Adventist teaching as yet another illustration of the loving God who is truly with us in every one of those clear biblical teachings.

About the Author

John C. Peckham (PhD, Andrews University) is research professor of theology and Christian philosophy at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Andrews University. He is the author of numerous articles and books, including Divine Attributes: Knowing the Covenantal God of Scripture (Baker Academic), The Doctrine of God: Introducing the Big Questions (T&T Clark), Theodicy of Love: Cosmic Conflict and the Problem of Evil (Baker Academic), Canonical Theology (Eerdmans), and The Love of God: A Canonical Model (IVP Academic, and the winner of the 2015 IVP Readers’ Choice Award).    

Contents

Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Competing Theories in Christian Theology
Abbreviations

PART ONE THE STORY OF GOD WITH US: A PRELUDE
CHAPTER 1: The Story of God with Us: Presence Ruptured and Renewed
CHAPTER 2 : The Story of God with Us: Presence Coming and Coming Again
CHAPTER 3: Is the Story True? Presence with Us in Truth

PART TWO GOD WITH US IN THREE PERSONS
CHAPTER 4: Christ: God with Us in the Flesh
CHAPTER 5: The Holy Spirit: God with Us in the Spirit CHAPTER
6: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: The Trinity of Love

PART THREE GOD FOR US WHO LOVES, PROVIDES, AND REVEALS
CHAPTER 7 : The Almighty Creator Who Suffers with Us: The Covenantal God of Love
CHAPTER 8: The Eternal, All-Knowing God Who Dwells with Us: The Ever-Present God of Love
CHAPTER 9 : The God Who Provides All Good Things and Conquers Evil: Divine Providence and Cosmic Conflict
CHAPTER 10: The Testimony of the King: Divine Revelation and Scripture as Covenant Witness Document Excursus: The Emmaus Approach: How to Understand Scripture and Do Theology

PART FOUR GOD FOR US WHO MAKES US, SAVES US, AND COVENANTS WITH US
CHAPTER 11: God Creates Us in God’s Image: Human Nature, Identity, and Value
CHAPTER 12: Life and Death: Human Freedom, Sinfulness, and Conditional Immortality
CHAPTER 13: God Saves Us: The Process of Salvation
CHAPTER 14: God Covenants with Us: Understanding Covenant and Law
CHAPTER 15: The Gift of the Sabbath: Temple in Time and Day of Rest, Grace, and Deliverance

PART FIVE GOD WITH US AGAIN, FOREVER
CHAPTER 16: God Makes a Way to Dwell with Us: The Sanctuary
CHAPTER 17: God with Us in the Church: The Fellowship of the Lamb
CHAPTER 18 : The Mission of the Church: The Way of the Lamb vs. The Way of the Dragon
CHAPTER 19: The End of the Beginning: Last Things

Epilogue: Ask, Seek, Knock Appendix: Seventh-day Adventist Fundamental Beliefs Endnotes

Reviews

“God with Us: An Introduction to Adventist Theology presents each element of foundational Seventh-day Adventist teaching as yet another illustration of the loving God who is truly with us in every one of those clear biblical teachings.This excellent piece of theological work will lead to John Peckham being regarded as one of the most authoritative voices alive today on Adventist theology. A must read for anyone interested in the contemporary shape of not only Adventist theology but also broader evangelical theology.”
          Sung Wook Chung Professor of Christian Theology Denver Seminary

“God with Us is classic Peckham—carefully reasoned, meticulously shaped, yet winsomely user-friendly for life beyond the academy. Again and again I found myself bowing to worship this beautiful God who loves and wants us. How glorious the truth He is still with us—and still for us, too.”
          Dwight K. Nelson Former Lead Pastor Pioneer Memorial Church, Andrews University

“The breadth of Peckham’s book is impressive as he traces the deep concern of Adventist theology with ‘the hope and expectation of communion with God in space and time.’ But don’t be daunted by its breadth. The book presents an exquisite distillation of scores of themes and topics—of the whole story of salvation in the Bible—offered by someone who has thought deeply about them. If you are looking for clear, accessible writing tracing the grandest stories and themes while unpacking gentle, persuasive, reasoned faith, you’ve found it.”
          John McVay President Walla Walla University

“Peckham has marvelously demonstrated how the various biblically-based doctrines of the Adventist church form a coherent whole and “come alive” when set within the Grand Story of Scripture as the story of ‘God with us.’ Peckham’s characteristic thoroughness, clarity, precision, depth, spirituality, and relevancy are in full display here. This book is destined to become the standard primer of Adventist theology.”
          Richard M. Davidson J. N. Andrews Professor of Old Testament Interpretation Andrews University

“Peckham provides a clear and engaging synthesis of biblical theology and Christian doctrine to present Adventist beliefs. Rooted in the hope of Christ’s future return and God’s promises to dwell with His people, the book will benefit readers from all faith traditions and deserves a wide readership.”
          Adam Harwood McFarland Chair of Theology New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

“Peckham presents a comprehensive, scholarly, and easy-to-understand abridged description of the systematic way in which the Adventist church understands biblical doctrines. Because of Peckham’s solid knowledge of Scripture and of the twenty-first century theological landscape, God with Us will be useful as a textbook for college and seminary students. It will also help committed Christians deepen their faith and guide post-biblical and post-Christian seekers after truth to find the “unknown” God of Scripture.”
          Fernando L. Canale Professor of Theology and Philosophy, Emeritus Andrews University