Mon - Oct 26,09 - Exerpts of Costly grace by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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 sin 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 upon ourselves.

Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church doctrine, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ.

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 call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.

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 it is grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son, and 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.

Cheap grace has turned out to be utterly merciless. Instead of opening up the way to Christ it has closed it. Instead of calling us to follow Christ, it has hardened us in our disobedience.

Happy are they who, knowing grace can live in the world without being of it, who, by following Jesus are assured of their heavenly citizenship that they are truly free to live their lives in this world. Happy are they that know that discipleship simply means the life which springs from grace, and that grace simply means discipleship. Happy are they who have become Christians in the sense of the word. For them the word of grace has proved a fount of mercy.