Cheap Grace
Bonhoeffer warns against the dangers of 'cheap grace' and emphasizes the importance of 'costly grace' which requires us to follow Jesus Christ and surrender our lives to Him.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer emphasizes the distinction between cheap grace and costly grace, highlighting the danger of settling for a superficial faith that justifies sin without true repentance. He challenges Christians to embrace costly grace, which requires discipleship, self-sacrifice, and a genuine commitment to following Jesus Christ. Costly grace, exemplified by God's sacrifice of His Son, calls believers to a life of surrender, condemnation of sin, and justification through faith.
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Let the Christian rest content with his worldliness and with this renunciation of any higher standard than the world. He is living for the sake of the world rather than for the sake of grace. Let him be comforted and rest assured in his possession of this grace - for grace alone does everything. Instead of following Christ, let the Christian enjoy the consolations of his grace!
That is what we mean by cheap grace, the grace which amounts to the justification of sin without the justification of the repentant sinner who departs from sin and from whom sins departs.
Cheap grace is not the kind of forgiveness of sin which frees us from the toils of sin. Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession.
Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.
Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble, it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.
Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must the asked for, the door at which a man must knock.
Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: "ye were bought at a price, and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us.
Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Dangers of Cheap Grace
- A. Cheap grace is living for the world rather than for the sake of grace
- B. Cheap grace is the justification of sin without repentance
- C. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance
- II. The Characteristics of Cheap Grace
- A. Forgiveness without repentance
- B. Baptism without church discipline
- C. Communion without confession
- D. Absolution without personal confession
- III. The Nature of Costly Grace
- A. Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field
- B. Costly grace is the pearl of great price
- C. Costly grace is the kingly rule of Christ
- IV. The Call to Follow Jesus
- A. Costly grace calls us to follow Jesus Christ
- B. Costly grace gives us the only true life
Key Quotes
“For the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all that he has.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: 'ye were bought at a price, and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Application Points
- We must be aware of the dangers of cheap grace and its consequences, and instead seek costly grace that requires us to follow Jesus Christ.
- Costly grace is not just a feeling or a decision, but a lifestyle that requires us to surrender our lives to Jesus Christ.
- We must be willing to pay the cost of following Jesus Christ, which is our life, but it gives us the only true life.