God with Us: An Introduction to Adventist Theology

by John C. Peckham

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 “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 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.

Genres: Theology

800 pages, Hardcover

Published August 15, 2023

Reviews

[Garhett Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s hard to put down a good book. It’s especially difficult when the book illustrates a story that catches the interest, complete with complex characters, drama, and real emotion. Usually, the type of book that people would identify as a real “page turner” doesn’t have the word “theology” on the front cover. The endearing aspect of this theological volume is that it is beautifully narrated by the most wonderful and accurate story ever told. The title itself shares the overarching theme of scripture and of Adventist Theology. God longs to be with us, and has always longed to be present with us. Whether we are discussing eschatology, the Sabbath truth, or the investigative judgment, God is motivated by the desire to be present with us in a deeper and better way. In each chapter, Peckham uses the Biblical narrative to illustrate and shed light on Adventist theology, opposing views, and difficult questions in a way that is simple and easy to follow. Although the subtitle states this book is an introduction to Adventist theology, it is much more than just that. Peckham keeps God central in all of the themes and questions, and as the reader find answers to some of life’s most difficult questions, they also find a relational God who has been right there with them the whole time. Peckham goes to great lengths to make the relationship that God desires to have with us as real as possible, as is evident by his chapters on the personhood of each of the members in the heavenly trio. Peckham takes special care to present the sanctuary message with clarity, and spends time not only on the investigative judgment, but also thoroughly explaining the importance of the vindication of God’s character, and why that is even necessary at all. Peckham dedicates an entire section to explaining the concept of Sola Sciptura, specifically in regard to the gift of prophecy and the ministry of Ellen White. He masterfully explores this topic in a way that recognizes the importance of the authority of the Word of God, and also fully appreciates the ministry of Ellen White and her writings. Peckham mentions Last Generation Theology and briefly describes the impact it has had on the Adventist Church, while giving an honest opinion of where the church theologians weigh in on the topic. He does not go out of his way to condemn its proponents, staying true to the focus of the book, the fundamental beliefs of our church and the Biblical, logical, and relational significance that we have to offer.

As a Pastor, I have hoped for a book that both myself and lay members could utilize that contained a more detailed explanation on not only our beliefs, but a solid understanding of questions regarding the canonization of scripture, the trinity, the personhood of the Son and Holy Spirit, as well as the Great Controversy theme. This volume not only gave me a quick resource to deal with my own questions, but also became a guide to interacting with other Christians who may hold different belief systems. This book not only covers Seventh Day Adventist doctrine, but also delineates where we stand in the doctrine of Christianity as a whole, complete with similarities and differences.The competing theories are clearly marked so the reader doesn’t get lost in the competing teachings and belief systems. Peckham doesn’t labor in the complex details of all of these beliefs, but gives a general and relevant explanation of them. This book clearly defines the logic behind each of the competing theories and gives critical observations of them while not attacking or trivializing the content. I greatly appreciated the gentle, yet convicting narrative that closed every section, and the appeal followed.



While I understand that this book was written with the formal classroom in mind, I am extremely excited about the potential that this book offers in the local church. It will serve as an amazing resource for discipling leaders, inquisitive minds, or that family member who has always been skeptical of your church and wants an in-depth confession of what you “really” believe. I recently bought this book for each of my elders, and within a few days they were completely blown away by its readability and its easy-to-use content index for answering questions on the fly. I have been around Seventh-Day Adventism all of my life, and have taught our church’s teachings to many people. This book was not just a review of what I believe, but I learned how our beliefs flow together with the story of scripture, and definitely improved my ministry as a local pastor and soul winner. This book has certainly earned a spot on any Seventh-Day Adventist’s shelf of must-read books.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book functions as a textbook on Adventist theology. It's put together in a way that anyone could read and understand, not too academic, but it's thorough. I liked how at the end of each chapter there was an extensive recommended reading list of both Adventist and non-Adventist authors. It's well worth the time for any Adventist or one who is interested in what Adventists believe.