Colin S. Smith, The Plan (The Gospel Coalition Booklets; Wheaton: Crossway, 2011), pp. 15, 21–22, 29:

The Old Testament is the story of God’s amazing promises. Step back and try to take it in:

1. God promises to give life to people who will reflect his glory.
2. God promises to destroy evil and rid the world of its curse.
3. God promises to bless people from all nations.
4. God promises to reconcile sinners to himself through a sacrifice for sins.
5. God promises that his people will live under the blessing of his rule forever.
6. God promises that all his people will walk in all his ways.
7. God promises to bring new life from the grave. . . .

Here is the breathtaking sweep of what God promises us in Jesus Christ. Jesus came and lived and died and rose again so that:

1. We might become a new creation fully reflecting the image of God.
2. We might be delivered from the curse of evil.
3. We might enjoy the blessing of God together with a vast company of redeemed people from all nations.
4. We might be reconciled to God through Christ, who offered himself as the sacrifice for our sins.
5. We might live under the blessing of God’s rule forever.
6. We might walk in God’s ways, loving him with all our heart and our neighbor as ourselves.
7. We might receive new life from the grave. . . .

God works through the debilitating trials of your life to form a unique reflection of Christ in you that will endure for his glory and to your joy forever. On that day, all that God promises will be ours:

1. We will fully reflect the image and likeness of God.
2. We will be delivered from the curse of evil.
3. We will share the joy of eternal life with redeemed people from all nations.
4. We will enter the presence of God redeemed by the blood of Jesus.
5. We will live this life under the blessing of Christ’s rule in his kingdom forever.
6. We will love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and we will love our neighbor as ourselves.
7. We will rejoice forever in this new life from the grave that is ours through Jesus Christ our Lord.