| Acknowledgments | 13 |
| Introduction: Back to the Bible | 17 |
1 | Why Do We Exist? | 23 |
| Lessons from the Creation of the World | |
| The Image and Kingdom of God | |
| The Creator/Creature Distinction | |
| The Function of Creation | |
| God the Creator and Sustainer | |
| The Nature of Idolatry | |
| Honoring God as God | |
| The Implications of Idolatry | |
| The Lesson from Creation | |
2 | What Does It Mean to Know God? | 41 |
| The Covenant God of the Sabbath | |
| The Problem with People | |
| The Sabbath as a Signpost | |
| The Good News of God's Rest | |
| Keeping the Sabbath | |
| The Sabbath as a Statement of Faith | |
| The Covenant Relationship at Creation | |
| The Covenant Structure of the Bible | |
| The Unity of the Bible | |
3 | What Went Wrong and What Has God Done About It? | 61 |
| Self-Reliance and the Call to Rest | |
| The Fall from the Sabbath | |
| From the Fall to the Flood | |
| Back to the Sabbath: Step One--Mercy After Judgment | |
| Back to the Sabbath: Step Two--The Election of Abraham | |
| Learning the Lesson of God's Character | |
| Back to the Sabbath: Step Three--The Exodus as a Fulfillment of Creation | |
| Back to the Sabbath: Step Four--The Reestablishment of Rest | |
4 | Why Can We Trust God, No Matter What Happens? | 83 |
| The Focus and Foundation of Faith | |
| Manna from Heaven and the Call to Faith | |
| The Inextricable Unity of Faith and Obedience | |
| The Glory of God as the Assurance of Salvation | |
| The Glory of God as the Basis of Mercy | |
| The Glory of God and Human Expectation | |
| The Foundation, Focus, and Obedience of Faith | |
| The Glory of God and the Life of Dependence | |
5 | Why Does God Wait So Long to Make Things Right? | 107 |
| "Saved in Hope"--Living for the Future | |
| The God of Hope | |
| God's Purpose in Unfulfilled Promises | |
| Learning to Hope After the Exile | |
| The Old Testament Pattern of Hope | |
| The Resurrection of Jesus and the Hope of Christians | |
| The Role of Suffering in the Life of Hope | |
| The Holy Spirit and Hope | |
| The Cross of Christ and the Hope of Christians | |
| The Certain Hope of God's People | |
6 | Why Is There So Much Pain and Evil in the World? | 129 |
| Suffering and the Sovereignty of God | |
| Suffering and God's Sovereignty: Three Common Approaches | |
| Suffering and God's Sovereignty: A Fourth Approach | |
| The Sovereign God as the God of Love | |
| The Character of God's Sovereignty in Suffering | |
| Suffering as a Christian | |
| Suffering in the Footsteps of Jesus | |
7 | Why Do God's People Suffer? | 149 |
| The School of Affliction | |
| Suffering as a Schoolmaster | |
| Suffering as a Taskmaster | |
| Suffering as a "Blind Date" with God: The Lesson of Job | |
| Suffering as a Midwife for God's Glory: The Example of Paul | |
8 | Why Do God's People Obey Him? | 167 |
| Holiness and Hope | |
| Hope and Desire | |
| Future Grace | |
| Hope and History | |
| Hope and Obedience to the Law | |
| Hope, Future Grace, and Obedience | |
| The Pathways to Holiness | |
9 | What Difference Does Jesus Make? | 187 |
| Faith, Forgiveness, and the Freedom to Obey | |
| Jesus' Inescapable Demands | |
| The Fulfillment of the Law | |
| The New Covenant | |
| The Law of the Gospel and the Gospel in This Law | |
| The Heart of the Good News | |
| The Scandal of the Cross | |
| Saved by Grace | |
| Conclusion: Who Are We? | 211 |
| The Marks of a Christian | |
| "Godly Grief" | |
| The Gift of the Gospel | |
| "The Obedience of Faith" | |
| The Marks of God's Presence | |
| The Sum of the Matter: A New Creation for God's Glory | |
| Notes | 222 |
| General Index | 247 |
| Scripture Index | 250 |