Future Grace: The Purifying Power of the Promises of God

The Biblical Path to Severing Sin and Pursuing Holiness

How can we overcome sin and live in a way that honors God? Many believers attempt to walk upright out of gratitude for what Christ did in the past. But John Piper encourages men and women to look ahead to the grace God provides for us daily—putting faith into action by laying hold of God’s promises for the challenges we face.

Future Grace offers meditations grounded in solid biblical reflection to help readers understand that the penalty of sin is paid by the righteous blood of Christ, while the power of sin is broken by banking on the promises of Christ. By cherishing these promises, readers will be better equipped to break free from anxiety, despondency, covetousness, lust, bitterness, impatience, pride, and misplaced shame, enabling them to pursue superior pleasure for the ultimate glory of Christ.

• Explores Sanctification: Helps readers put sin to death and trust in the power of God instead 
• Practical: Application chapters show how to sever the clinging roots of 8 common sins, including anxiety, pride, shame, impatience, covetousness, bitterness, despondency, and lust
• Written by John Piper: Author of Desiring God; Don’t Waste Your Life; Providence; and more

Publisher’s Preface
Preface to the 2012 Edition
Introduction: Why and How This Book Was Written 
Introduction: For Theologians

Part 1: A Foe to Faith in Future Grace
Chapter 1: The Debtor’s Ethic: Should We Try to Pay God Back?
Chapter 2: When Gratitude Malfunctions
Chapter 3: Faith in Future Grace Versus Anxiety: Applying the Purifying Power

Part 2: Free and Future Grace
Chapter 4: The Life That’s Left Is Future Grace
Chapter 5: The Freest of All God’s Acts
Chapter 6: Faith in Future Grace Versus Pride: Applying the Purifying Power

Part 3: The Crucial Place of Bygone Grace
Chapter 7: Looking Back for the Sake of the Future
Chapter 8: The Solid Logic of Heaven
Chapter 9: Four Pillars of a Precious Promise
Chapter 10: Faith in Future Grace Versus Misplaced Shame: Applying the Purifying Power

Part 4: Windows on the Work of Faith
Chapter 11: A Love Affair with God’s Law
Chapter 12: “I Will Put My Law Within Them”
Chapter 13: Faith in Future Grace Versus Impatience: Applying the Purifying Power

Part 5: The Nature of Faith in Future Grace
Chapter 14: What Guards the Glory of God’s Sovereign Grace
Chapter 15: A Taste of Spiritual Beauty
Chapter 16: Satisfied with All That God Is for Us in Jesus
Chapter 17: Faith in Future Grace Versus Covetousness: Applying the Purifying Power

Part 6: Unmerited, Conditional Future Grace
Chapter 18: How to Trust Conditional Promises
Chapter 19: How Many Conditions Are There?
Chapter 20: What Faith Alone Can Perform
Chapter 21: Faith in Future Grace Versus Bitterness: Applying the Purifying Power

Part 7: The Sanctifying Power of Faith in Future Grace
Chapter 22: Creating Love in a Desire Factory
Chapter 23: Loving Ministry More Than Life
Chapter 24: Faith in Future Grace Versus Despondency: Applying the Purifying Power

Part 8: Battling Against Unbelief in Future Grace
Chapter 25: The Struggle Is as Easy as Dropping a Nut
Chapter 26: Sin Is Worse Than Satan
Chapter 27: Faith in Future Grace Versus Lust: Applying the Purifying Power

Part 9: The Finality of Future Grace
Chapter 28: The Future Grace of Suffering
Chapter 29: The Future Grace of Dying
Chapter 30: The Rebirth of Creation

Part 10: Longing for God and Living by Faith
Chapter 31: The Debt I Owe to Jonathan Edwards

Name Index
Subject Index
Scripture Index
Desiring God Note on Resources

John Piper is founder and lead teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. He served for thirty-three years as a pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is the author of more than fifty books, including Desiring God; Don’t Waste Your Life; and Providence.