This work is supposed to be a hand book on how the Calvinist Christian should perform his daily life's duties and how he should act in his beliefs. He outlines his beliefs in chapters titled: "Knowing God and knowing ourselves," "The Law of the Lord," "Faith," "Prayer," "The Sacraments," "Order in Church and State." He explains very clearly what it takes to be a good Christian; he defines what is needed to be accepted into the kingdom of heaven. .
He explains that knowing God is loving Him and trusting in His Plan, which we as humans cannot, and should not, understand. "Since God's majesty is intrinsically above and beyond the power of human understanding, and just cannot be grasped by it, we must adore its loftiness rather than scrutinise (sic) it, so as not to be entirely overwhelmed by such brightness." (Calvin 3) Calvin advocates true trust and full dependence on God to be able to live out God's plan. He emphasizes that God created all, that he knows all, and has a plan for all. We as humans cannot understand true limitless power and knowledge, so we must not attempt to understand it. We must accept that God is good, his plan is good, and therefore, the good life comes from Him. .
Calvin's outline of the Lord's Laws is simply a retelling and an explanation of the Ten Commandments and why they are so important to keep and to hold dear. He explains that God has already laid down a plan for who can reach the "ultimate" good life in Heaven. "In the Law of God a truly perfect standard of righteousness is given to us who, with good reason, can be called the eternal will of the Lord, for there, fully and clearly contained in the two Tables, is all that he requires of us." (Calvin 10) We must strive for it by living our life according to the Ten Commandments. Striving for such ends will create a better life on earth, the very act of living a Christian life will bring us closer to God, and therefore to the good life.
