Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his book, Cost of Discipleship (p45-60), said:
CHEAP GRACE is deadly enemy of our church. We are fighting to-day for costly grace. Cheap grace mans:
CHEAP GRACE is deadly enemy of our church. We are fighting to-day for costly grace. Cheap grace mans:
Grace sold on the market like cheapjack's wares. The sacraments, the forgiveness of sin, and the concolations of religion are thrown away at cut prices.Then he mentioned about COSTLY GRACE:
Grace as doctrine, a principle, a system. It means forgiveness of sins proclaimed as a general truth, the love of God taught as the Christian "conception" of God. ... Cheap grace therefore amounts to a denial of the living Word of God, in fact, a denial of the Incarnation of the Word of God.
The justification of sin without the justification of sinner. Grace alone does everything, they say, and so everything can remain as it was before. ... the grace which amounts to the justification of sin without the justification of the repentant sinner who departs from sin and from whom sin departs. Cheap is the grace we bestow on ourselves.
The preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession.
The grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.
The treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all that he has.
The gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.
It calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ.
The sanctuary of God; it has to be protected from the world, and not thrown to the dogs.
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