Cheap Grace
Cheap Grace
This morning, as I often do, I found myself thinking about something that has been stirring in my heart — and Dietrich Bonhoeffer came to mind.
Remembering Bonhoeffer
I first learned about Bonhoeffer back in 2016 through a book that, in hindsight, I believe the Spirit placed in my hands at just the right time. I wrote about that experience in my earlier post “The Prophecies.”
As I revisited his Wikipedia page today, one of his books caught my attention again: The Cost of Discipleship. Reading the summary reminded me how deeply his message aligns with the concerns I’ve been carrying about the modern church.
Cheap Grace vs. Costly Grace
Cheap grace is forgiveness without repentance, baptism without discipline, communion without confession. It is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.
“Of course you’ve sinned, but everything is forgiven — so stay as you are and enjoy the comfort of grace.”
In contrast:
Costly grace is the call of Jesus to follow Him.
It is forgiveness spoken to the broken and contrite.
It is costly because it requires submission to Christ’s yoke —
and grace because His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
Bonhoeffer warned that as Christianity spread, the church slowly accommodated itself to the world. Obedience was softened, discipleship diluted, and grace became something assumed rather than treasured — even sold.
Psalm 51 and the Heart of True Repentance
Our pastor’s sermon this morning was on Psalm 51, David’s cry after being confronted by Nathan. It is one of the clearest pictures in Scripture of costly grace — grace that meets a broken heart, not a hardened one.
Two points from the sermon stood out:
- Owning our sins.
- Deeply wanting to change — becoming a new person.
1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Related Reflections
This also reminded me of another post I wrote: “God Hates The Deeds and The Doctrines of the Nicolaitans — Revelation 2:6 and 15.”
And if you’re longing for a fresh expression of faith, consider the simplicity of Quaker gatherings — where you wait quietly, empty yourself, and listen for the Holy Spirit.
A Final Word
Jesus paid a high price for our salvation. Let us never treat that price lightly.
1 John 3:16
“We have come to know love by this: that He laid down His life on behalf of us, and we ought to lay down our lives on behalf of the brothers.”
Cheap grace asks for nothing. Costly grace asks for everything — and gives us Christ in return.
