J. Ryan Lister - The Presence of God: Its Place in the Storyline of Scripture and the Story of Our Lives

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Ryan Lister knows more about the biblical teaching concerning Gods presence in the world than anyone else I know. And there is no theme more important to our relationship with God. Listers book is a great antidote to the temptation to see God only as a concept, doctrine, or formula, or to regard him only as a force in the world outside ourselves. This book shows that God is our friend and Father, and that in him we live and move and have our being.

John M. Frame, J. D. Trimble Chair of Systematic Theology and Philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando

We need more biblical theologies like this one! Ryan Lister has identified a central biblical theme that we easily take for granted. With the unity of Scripture to the fore, he has provided us with a diligently researched study of one of the golden threads that highlight the glories of Christs person and work. This is thematic biblical study at its best.

Graeme Goldsworthy, Former Lecturer in Old Testament, Biblical Theology, and Hermeneutics, Moore Theological College

Ryan Lister provides a great service to the people of God by tracing the theme of Gods presence from Genesis to Revelation, showing that it is not only central to the Christian eschatological hope, but also the gracious means by which God moves fallen sinners to that glorious beatific vision.

Steven B. Cowan, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religion, Lincoln Memorial University

The whole of the Bible, from soon after the entrance of sin in Genesis 3 to Revelation 22, can be read as the story of God coming nearer. The Presence of God is filled with insight that unpacks the fullness of Scriptures development on this theme, but also shows how precious the concept of Gods presence with his people is for our lives. Lister has been very careful to represent clearly and appropriately the development of this beautiful biblical theme, and he has done this in a way that is highly relevant for Christian identity and Christian living. Do yourself a favorread this book and rejoice that God has chosen to come near.

Bruce A. Ware, Professor of Christian Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

The much misunderstood notion of the presence of God is central to the Bibles story from beginning to end. Ryan Lister explains how it is both Gods goal for us and the means by which God accomplishes his redemptive mission. This fresh approach to biblical theology presents it as an unfolding drama, with many practical and pastoral implications. In particular, it shows that a sound and scripturally mature analysis of the presence of God can help answer this worlds deep-seated spiritual desires.

David Peterson, Former Principal, Oak Hill College; Senior Research Fellow and Lecturer in New Testament, Moore Theological College

Ryan Lister provides an exegetically grounded theology of relational divine presence that is traced along the Christ-centered storyline of the Bible. This work is an outstanding model of evangelical scholarship, and Listers conclusions invade every square inch of our lives as we seek to fulfill the primary reason for our existenceknowing the holy God who mercifully draws near to his people.

Erik Thoennes, Professor and Department Chair of Biblical and Theological Studies, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University; Pastor, Grace Evangelical Free Church, La Mirada, California

Gods presence is fundamental to Gods story. It is a profound reality. While we have access to this reality in part through our experience of it, the reality is even more than what we experienceit is deep theology grounded in what God has said in his Word about himself. Listers work examines this fertile soil of Gods self-revelation, out of which our experiences can flourish with renewed vigor.

Mike Wilkerson, author, Redemption: Freed by Jesus from the Idols We Worship and the Wounds We Carry

THE
PRESENCE
OF
GOD

ITS PLACE IN THE STORYLINE OF SCRIPTURE
AND THE STORY OF OUR LIVES

J. RYAN LISTER

FOREWORD BY THOMAS R. SCHREINER

The Presence of God: Its Place in the Storyline of Scripture and the Story of Our Lives

Copyright 2015 by J. Ryan Lister

Published by Crossway

1300 Crescent Street

Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law.

Cover design: Faceout Studio

First printing 2015
Printed in the United States of America

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway. 2011 Text Edition. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are from The New American Standard Bible. Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

Scripture references marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture references marked NRSV are from The New Revised Standard Version. Copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Published by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.

Scripture references marked RSV are from The Revised Standard Version. Copyright 1946, 1952, 1971, 1973 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added by the author.

Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1-4335-3915-2
PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-3916-9
Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-3917-6
ePub ISBN: 978-1-4335-3918-3

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Lister, J. Ryan (John Ryan), 1978

The presence of God: its place in the storyline of Scripture and the story of our lives / J. Ryan Lister; foreword by Thomas R. Schreiner.

1 online resource

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.

ISBN 978-1-4335-3916-9 (pdf) ISBN 978-1-4335-3917-6 (mobi) ISBN 978-1-4335-3918-3 (epub) ISBN 978-1-4335-3915-2 (tp)

1. Presence of God. I. Title.

BT180.P6

231.7dc23 2014036329

Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

To Chase Elizabeth,
one of Gods greatest
testimonies to me
that he is
still present
to bless his people

Psalm 16:11

The goal of theology is to get us back to the garden of Eden. Actually, the goal of theology is to bring us into the heavenly city, for the heavenly city of Revelation 21 and 22 is even better than the garden. Gods presence in the garden was lost because of the sin of Adam and Eve. But God will never abandon the New Jerusalem, the heavenly Jerusalem, the new heavens and new earth. John tells us that there is no night there, and there isnt any need for the sun or the moon because the light of the city comes from the Lord and from the Lamb. What makes the New Jerusalem new, what makes it heavenly and glorious, what makes it more desirable than anything you have ever experienced is the presence of God.